Genetic parameters for Icelandic dairy cows using a random regression test-day model

Abstract

A total of 480,495 test-day yield records of 33,052 cows were used to estimate the genetic parameters for daily milk yield (MY), fat yield (FY), protein yield (PY) and somatic cell score (SCS) of Icelandic dairy cows in the first three lactations with a random regression model. Heritability of all traits was lowest in early lactation in all lactations and highest in mid-or late lactation. Heritability of lactation yields for the first lactation was 0.43, 0.39 and 0.41 for MY, FY and PY, respectively, but was estimated as lower when using a lactation model. Heritability of SCS in the first lactation was 0.23 using the random regression model but 0.15 using the lactation model. Heritability of persistency of lactation MY, FY and PY were 0.14-0.24 in all lactations and genetic correlations to the whole lactation SCS were-0.08 to-0.13. Heritability of yields had increased from previous estimates for the breed. Genetic variation of persistency in the population makes change of the lactation curve possible through selection.