Estimation of the genetic parameters for Somatic Cell Scores in the first lactation of Romanian Black and White cattle

Abstract The aim of study was the estimation of the genetic parameters of somatic cell score of Romanian Black and White cattle population. Test-day records of somatic cell count (SCC) of 305 days lactation were from Romanian Black and White cattle population from experimental farm of our institute. The mean of somatic cell count of milk in the first lactation of Romanian Black and White cows was 291966.89. The genetic parameters were estimates with random regression test-day animal model. The heritability for somatic cell score (SCS) ranged from 0.0473 to 0.147. The breeding values for the best cows for somatic cell score were between -35.566 and -191.358. The genetic correlations between somatic cell count milk records test-day were positive. The phenotypic and genetic correlations between somatic cell count and milk yield were negative.