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Linear Conformation Traits in Latvian Blue Cows in Relation to Possession to Gene Pool and Discarding
- Source :
- Rural Sustainability Research, Vol 41, Iss 336, Pp 2-7 (2019)
- Publication Year :
- 2019
- Publisher :
- Walter de Gruyter GmbH, 2019.
-
Abstract
- Latvian Blue (LZ) cows are kept for a variety of herd colors and because of national cow breed value. Resources of LZ cow breed remained low over the last decade. The aim of the study was to evaluate LZ cow breed linear conformation traits and analyze results in relation to their possession to the gene pool (GF) status and productive lifetime in 2017-2018. Information of the Agriculture Data Center Republic of Latvia (LDC) and linear evaluation in vivo were used. The number of LZ cows registered in LDC in 2017-2018 was 1648 and only 339 cows were gene-pool animals (LZ GF), and 140 of LZ GF animals were culled because of different reasons in 2017-2018. There were registered 544 (190 primiparous of them) closed standard LZ cow lactations in 2009 and only 292 (64 primiparous of them) in 2018. The oldest LZ GF cow was 16.3 years old; 20% of LZ GF cows were more than 10 years old, and only 10% were younger than 5 years. The overall exterior rating was established more than 80 points for 64.4% of the evaluated LZ GF cows. Some LZ GF linear conformation traits did not change significantly (p>0.05) with age – exterior, milking properties and cow’s temperament. Udder parameters, rump and foot angle became worse with animals advancing in age and could be improved by breeding. No statistically significant differences (p>0.05) were established regarding all parameters of conformation traits among LZ and LZ GF dairy cows except a tendency of larger body depth in LZ GF (p=0.054). In conclusion, the linear conformation traits of LZ cows, despite the presence of genetic influence of other breeds, do not differ significantly from the gene pool animals. Rump angle, udder and teat qualities became worse with age in LZ and LZ GF cows. Legs and hoofs were stable parameters inherited by the LZ offspring.
- Subjects :
- 050101 languages & linguistics
010504 meteorology & atmospheric sciences
Rump
Agriculture (General)
Geography, Planning and Development
Biology
01 natural sciences
gene pool
S1-972
Milking
Animal science
medicine
0501 psychology and cognitive sciences
Udder
Dairy cattle
0105 earth and related environmental sciences
Global and Planetary Change
Ecology
Age differences
05 social sciences
food and beverages
latvian blue cow
Breed
medicine.anatomical_structure
Herd
Gene pool
General Agricultural and Biological Sciences
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 22560939
- Volume :
- 41
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Rural Sustainability Research
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....cc5059055aa6e2baeb51f2bc0f6c9013
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.2478/plua-2019-0001