Effect of temperature-humidity index on the evolution of trade-offs between fertility and production in dairy cattle

CONCLUSIONS: Within the range of weather conditions studied, increasing temperatures are not expected to exacerbate the fertility-production trade-off. However, our results indicated that the animals with the best breeding values for production today will be the most affected by temperature increases, both in terms of fertility and production. Nonetheless, these animals should remain among the most productive ones during heat waves. For Montbeliarde, the current selection program for fertility seems to be adequate for ensuring the adaptation of fertility traits to temperature increases, without adverse effects on production. Such a conclusion cannot be drawn for Holstein. In the future, the incorporation of a heat tolerance index into dairy cattle breeding programs would be valuable to promote the selection of animals adapted to future climate conditions.PMID:38553689 | DOI:10.1186/s12711-024-00889-4

Source: Genet Sel Evol - March 30, 2024 Category: Genetics & Stem Cells Authors: Aur élie Vinet Sophie Mattalia Roxane Vall ée Christine Bertrand Anne Barbat Julie Promp Beatriz C D Cuyabano Didier Boichard Source Type: research