Evaluation of the Genetic Relationship between Longevity and Growth, Milk Yield and Fertility Traits in the Sahiwal Breed in Kenya

Abstract

Direct selection for longevity results in improved health and fitness and even milk production of cows. However, longevity is lowly heritable and phenotypic information is obtained at the end of an animal’s life. Traits expressed early in life and which are favorably correlated to longevity can be useful in selecting for this trait. The aim of this study was to estimate genetic correlations between longevity and age at first calving, first lactation calving interval, number of services per conception, first lactation milk yield, and first parity lactation length. Heritability estimates for measures of longevity were also calculated. The measures of longevity were time between birth and last milking in days (Long1), time between first calving and last milking record in months (Long2), number of lactations initiated (Long3), and total number of days in lactation over all lactations (Long4), total milk yield over all lactations (kg) (Long5). A series of five-variate animal models were fitted to estimate the nature and magnitude of genetic and phenotypic correlations between each measure of longevity and the fertility and production traits. Genetic correlations between measures of longevity and age at first calving, calving interval and number of services per conception were negative ranging from −0.14 ± 0.05 to −0.96 ± 0.06, −0.06 ± 0.03 to −0.67 ± 0.08 and −0.02 ± 0.02 to −0.73 ± 0.34, respectively. Correlations between measures of longevity and first lactation milk yield ranged from 0.88 ± 0.01 to 0.97 ± 0.03. Those with first parity lactation length ranged from −0.10 to 0.72. Long1, Long4 and Long5, which measure time between birth and last milking day, total number of days in lactation over all lactations and total milk yield over all lactations (kg), respectively, had the highest heritability estimates. These three could How to cite this paper: Musingi, B.M., Mahianyu, L.M. and Musingi, D.M. (2022) Evaluation of the Genetic Relationship between Longevity and Growth, Milk Yield and Fertility Traits in the Sahiwal Breed in Kenya. Open Journal of Animal Sciences, 12, 16-35. https://doi.org/10.4236/ojas.2022.121002 Received: September 7, 2021 Accepted: November 7, 2021 Published: November 10, 2021 Copyright © 2022 by author(s) and Scientific Research Publishing Inc. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution International License (CC BY 4.0). http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Open Access B. M. Musingi et al. DOI: 10.4236/ojas.2022.121002 17 Open Journal of Animal Sciences therefore be used to directly select for longevity. Among the traits studied, first lactation milk yield and age at first calving had the highest genetic correlation with measures of longevity. Therefore, first lactation milk yield and age at first calving could, therefore, be used to indirectly select for longevity.