Aspects of behavioural genetics in cattle 1st communication

作者：Brade Wilfried^*; Brade Edwin

来源：Berichte uber Landwirtschaft, 2017, 95(1).

A targeted selective manipulation of behavioural traits can be explained by the fact that breeders regularly prefer animals which are easier to handle. In selected functional cycles, behavioural changes can be supported by an increased milk yield in dairy cows.
When all other variables are constant, the increased energy needs and nutritional requirements of the high-yield cow lead to the high-yield animal taking comparatively longer to 'feed' than the lower-yield animal.
Thus, the high-yield cow has less time to rest/lie down, as the different behaviours are interrelated. The farmer must take due account of this circumstance through appropriate nutritional and stock management if unfavourable developments in terms of the total time available and, therefore, stress are to be avoided. It is also more difficult to identify oestrus for high-yield cows, as an increasing milk yield means a decreasing amount of time spent 'standing') (= recorded using a radiotelemetry system as an experiment). A change in the occurrence of oestrus of high-yield cows requires a more intensive herd care/observation as the yield increases or the use of additional technical aids (e.g. pedometers) in larger herds.

• 出版日期2017-5