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Journal of Undergraduate Research

Keywords

genetic genealogy, dairy cow, production-related metabolic diseases, PRMD

College

Life Sciences

Department

Biology

Abstract

Dairy cows are bred and utilized to produce large quantities of milk daily and are held to high production standards. Greater production or manipulated production activity can affect the homeostasis state of an animal and lead to production-related metabolic diseases (PRMDs). In a previous study focused on predicting PMRDs in dairy cows utilizing carbon and nitrogen stable isotope ratios performed at Brigham Young University, the results suggested that there is a correlation between carbon and nitrogen stable isotope ratios in hair, freeze-dried feces, erythrocytes, plasma, and PRMDs. In collaboration with this study previously and based on the results, it was important to determine the heritability and genetic correlation of PRMDs which was the purpose of this project. By determining heritability of PRMDs it could allow for improved genetic selection of sires and dams, which could ultimately lead to a decrease in the incidence of disease prevalence within a herd. Additionally, it could have major economic implications as better genetic selection against PRMDs would decrease costs associated with lower numbers of days in production, decrease hospital costs, and decrease the number of diseases related to the incidence of PRMDs.

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