A brand new genetic tool to increase
profitability
Though environment, nutrition and
global management practice are the main causes, metabolic diseases are also induced
by genetic variance observed in the dairy bovine population. This variance has
been recently calculated by the Canadian Dairy Network (CDN) and will be
introduced as a new trait named “Metabolic Disease Resistance” (MDR). MDR
genetic selection will help to decrease fees related to ketosis, displaced abomasum
and other metabolic disorders linked to these diseases.
Clinical Ketosis (individual with
symptom) as well as Subclinical Ketosis (asymptomatic individual) are
characterised by an abnormally high concentration of ketone bodies circulating
in blood, usually at the very beginning of the lactation, and caused by
negative energy balance. Ketosis can impair immune response, impact
reproductive performances, decrease production, higher the culling risk and
shows as a risk factor for several metabolic disorders.
Among
metabolic diseases for which ketosis is a risk factor, displaced abomasum is
one of the most costly. Caused by a gas accumulation in the abomasum, displaced
abomasum often leads to a surgery and can impact milk production up to 300 kg
during the lactation. As much as for ketosis and displaced abomasum cases,
older cows seem to be affected the most in terms of frequency and economic loss
compared to their 1st lactation counterparts.
Figure 1 (CDN, 2016) shows a correlation between MDR genetic
values and % of females that aren’t experiencing metabolic disorders. A sire
with a 115 score would see almost 100% of his daughters being healthy, while a sire with a 85 score would
have around 17% of his daughters experiencing metabolic diseases.
Metabolic Disease Resistance index is a brand new genetic
tool to help dairy breeders to increase their profitability with the selection
of the best sires available. Here is a list of bulls currently available
through the STgenetics Canada network that will help decrease your expenses
related to metabolic diseases:
|
551HO03130 |
MEGA-WATT RC |
108 |
|
551HO03141 |
MEGA-DART |
108 |
|
551HO03170 |
ADMIRE |
106 |
|
551HO03385 |
PROGRESS P RC |
106 |
|
151HO00728 |
SLADE |
106 |
|
151HO03121 |
APPLEBOY RED |
106 |
|
513HO03194 |
LAWYER |
105 |
|
147HO02472 |
KOBRA |
105 |
|
147HO02426 |
DELIGENT |
105 |
|
147HO02431 |
RANSOM |
105 |
Source :
CDN 12-2016