Genetic relationship of energy balance predicted from milk traits with fertility in Japanese Holsteins

We predicted the energy balance of cows from milk traits and estimated the genetic correlations of predicted energy balance (PEB) with fertility traits for the first three lactations. Data included 9,646,606 test-day records of 576,555 Holstein cows in Japan from 2015 to 2019. Genetic parameters were estimated with a multiple-trait model in which the records among lactation stages and parities were treated as separate traits. Fertility traits were conception rate at first insemination (CR), number of inseminations (NI), and days open (DO). Heritability estimates of PEB were 0.28–0.35 (first lactation), 0.15–0.29 (second), and 0.09–0.23 (third). Estimated genetic correlations among lactation stages were 0.85–1.00 (first lactation), 0.73–1.00 (second), and 0.64–1.00 (third). Estimated genetic correlations among parities were 0.82–0.96 (between first and second), 0.97–0.99 (second and third), and 0.69–0.92 (first and third). Estimated genetic correlations of PEB in early lactation with fertility were 0.04 to 0.19 for CR, −0.03 to −0.19 for NI, and −0.01 to −0.24 for DO. Genetic improvement of PEB is possible. Lower PEB in early lactation was associated with worse fertility, suggesting that improving PEB in early lactation may improve reproductive performance.