EVALUATION AND SELECTION OF HOLSTEIN FRIESIAN DAIRY BREEDING BULLS IN VIETNAM

The scientific meanings Results of this thesis can be used as a sources of literature ofthe progeny testing for HF dairy bulls with the highest of effectivenessand accuracy though 4 ste

NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ANIMAL SCIENCES

PHAM VAN TIEM

EVALUATION AND SELECTION OF HOLSTEIN FRIESIAN DAIRY BREEDING BULLS IN VIETNAM

Major: Animal production

The thesis was completed at: National Institute of AnimalSciences

Supervisors:

1 Associate Professor, Doctor Nguyen Van Duc

2 Doctor Le Van Thong

Thesis can be found at:

1 National Library

2 Library of National Institute of Animal Sciences

3 Library of Vietnam Ruminant Breeding Center

1 RATIONALE

It is difficult to select dairy bulls because milk characteristicsare not manifestation Therefore, several indirect methods have beenused for dairy bull selections One of them, which has the highestaccuracy and effectiveness, is progeny testing Progeny testing isbased on the pedigree, individual performance, and the lactation milkyield of paternal half-sib sisters and daughters

In Vietnam, cattle frozen semen has been produced and usedsince 1970 After 45 years, most of bulls used for producing frozensemen, are imported and mainly selected by their pedigree andindividual performance Recently, some studies using progeny testingfor selection of Holstein Friesian (HF) dairy bulls have done inVietnam However, there has been no study combined all 4 steps of theprogeny testing in a selection program For the above reason, in order toselect the best Holstein Friesian breeding bulls for producing frozensemen, contributing to faster, effectve and sustainable development in

Vietnam dairy sector, one study: "Evaluation and selection of Holstein

Friesian dairy breeding bulls in Vietnam" was undertaken

2 THE OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

To select the best HF bulls for dairy cattle breeding developmentprogram in Vietnam via four steps of progeny testing

To confirm the accuracy of dairy bull selection with 4 steps

3 SCIENTIFIC AND PRACTICAL MEANINGS OF STUDY

3.1 The scientific meanings

Results of this thesis can be used as a sources of literature ofthe progeny testing for HF dairy bulls with the highest of effectivenessand accuracy though 4 steps: pedigree, individuals, and milk yieldpotention EBV of bulls canculated from milk yield per lactation ofpaternal half-sib sisters, and daughters

This thesis also confirms that the progeny testing with 4 stepscan be applied succesfully in Vietnam conditions.

3.2 The practical meanings

Thesis is a scientific documentation, and could be used as amaterials for teaching, research at universities and institutes as well asdairy farms The methods and results in thesis can help to select the bestdairy bulls for suitable breeding programs aiming at improving milkproduction in dairy cattle sector

4 THE NEW CONTRIBUTiON OF THE THESIS

- The thesis is the first scientific work to sucessfully evaluate andselect Holstein Friesian dairy breeding bulls though 4 selection steps ofprogeny testing: pedigree, individual, paternal half-sib sisters, anddaughters in Vietnam

- Selection of dairy Holstein Friesian bulls for milk yield based

on EBV of the first lactation milk yield of paternal half-sib sisters anddaughters has a high accuracy

- The results of the thesis demonstrate that the effectiveness foreach step of progeny testing for Holstein Friesian dairy bulls is differentand the effectiveness for selection is the highest when 4 steps of progenytesting for Holstein Friesian dairy bulls fully implemented

Chapter 1 LITERATURE REVIEW

1.1 PEDIGREE BASED SELECTION FOR DAIRY BULLS

Based on pedigree and phenotype values, as well as the bulland cow genotype, good mothers and fathers were selected to matewith each other in order to get young bulls of high-predicted geneticmerit for progeny testing

1.2 INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCE BASED SELECTION FORDAIRY BULLS

Growth and reproduction traits of HF bulls were used forevaluating in order to select the good bulls for paternal half-sib sisterselection step

1.3 SELECTION FOR DAIRY BULLS BY ESTIMATED BREEDINGVALUES CALCULATED FROM THE FIRST LACTATION MILKYIELD OF THEIR SISTERS AND DAUGHTERS

HF bulls were selected by estimated breeding value of the firstlactation milk yield of paternal half-sib sisters and their daughters.These two selection steps give high accuracy and efficiency because itbases on the genetic merits of characteristic selection

The selection for dairy bulls based on estimated breeding value

of the milk potential had done in a long time and obtained greatvalues

a In the world

Zhang et al (2000), reported that the estimated breeding values(EBV) for milk yield per lactation of HF cows in China ranged from -1.160,29 to +2.052,75 kg of milk

In addition, Powell et al (2005) calculated the national EBV formilk yield per lactation of 100 highest milk yield potential bulls from 10countries and found out that on average, dairy bulls of Canada had thehighest EBV for this trait (+1785 kg of milk per lactation) and dairy bulls ofAustralia had the lowest EBV for this trait (+745 kg of milk per lactation)

According to Gonzalez-Recio et al (2005), for bull participating in theinternational testing, average EBV for milk yield per lactation was +335 kg

When using HF bulls from USA and from Ecuador for heifers

in Ecuador, Mashhadi et al (2008) found out that if 10% of HF bullswith the highest EBV was selected, EBV of USA HF bulls was +760

kg of milk/lactation and EBV of Ecuador HF bulls was +576 kg ofmilk/lactation EBVs of bulls in Iran for this trait ranged from -265 to+1287 kg of milk/lactation

b In Vietnam

Pham Van Gioi (2008) reported that the highest EBV for milkyield per lactation was +1469.5 kg and the lowest EBV was 378.6 kg,with reliability of 67-79% Le Ba Que (2013), estimated that EBV of 9

imported HF bulls from United State and Cuba for the milk yield per thefirst lactation varied from +36.62 to +1,064.58 kg

According to Le Van Thong et al (2013), using data fromdaughters, EBV of 12 imported HF bulls from United State and Cuba forthe milk yield per the first lactation ranged from +53.15 to 1,232.8 kg

Using data from parental haf-sib sisters, Le Van Thong et al.(2014) also revealed EBV of 15 bulls born in Vietnam for the milk yieldper the first lactation ranged ranged from -899.1 to +666.0 kg of milk.1.4 CURRENT SITUATION OF SELECTION FOR DAIRY BULLS

1.4.1 In the world

In Japan, dairy bulls have been selected by progeny testing withfour steps: 1) The creation of young bulls with a high-predicted geneticmerit for progeny testing (fathers and mothers of bulls selected forannual mating; 2) Selection of potential young bulls from data of theirphenotype, growth rate and semen quality in individual testing; 3)Creation of daughter herds from semen of selected bulls and 4)Recording the milk yield per lactation of daughters and data analysis

In Canada, every year, 400 dairy bull calves from nucleus dairyherds have been chosen and transported to the stations for evaluation andselection In the stations, parameters utilized for evaluation and selectionincluded: growth rate; phenotype, resistance to disease; semen quality,fertility and milk yield of paternal half-sib sisters and daughters

1.4.2 In Vietnam

Recently, there have been several studies on selection of HFdairy bulls by the progeny testing However, no study has beencompleted all 4 steps of the progeny testing

For example, from data on growth rate and semen production

of young bulls, Le Van Thong et al (2013) selected 20 elite bulls withdifferent ranks (10 HF bulls and 10 Brahman bulls) Nine HF bullswere evaluated and selected from data on the milk production ofdaughter herds (Le Ba Que, 2013)

In another study, Le Van Thong et al (2014) selected HFyoung bulls using data from pedigree, individual performance and alsogrowth rate of paternal half-sib sisters and daughters

Chapter 2 MATERIALS AND METHODS

2.1 SUBJECTS, LOCATION AND TIME OF STUDY

2.1.1 The subjects of study

Thirty five male calves were born in nuclear herd, which satisfiedall standard points of selection for breeding In which, 23 calves were born

in Moc Chau Farm (Son La) and 12 calves were born in Dairy CorporationPioneer (Tuyen Quang) After weaning, the best 15 calves, which havegood body condition, high growth rate, breeding soundness, mother milkyield is higher 7,000 kg per lactation and father milk potential is above12,000 kg of milk, were selected and raised at the Research and Frozensemen production Moncada Station to evaluate and select for breeding

2.1.2 Location and research conditions

- Bulls were raised and their semen was collected in Moncada Stationfor Research and Frozen Semen Production (Tan Linh, Ba Vi, Ha Noi)

- 40 - 45 paternal half-sib sisterssisters with complete data of milkyield per the first lactation/bull in Moc Chau and Duc Trong - Lam Dongwere used for analysis

- 50 daughters of each bull in each locations were selected toensure that each bull had above 40 daughters, which finished their firstlactation Thus, data on the milk yield per first lactation of 40 daughters ofeach bulls were used for stasistical analysis

- Semen of young bulls was collected twice a week

- Milk yield was recorded twice a day for whole lactation

- The identification of young bulls of high-predicted geneticmerits for progeny testing.

- The parental milk yield potential of father and mother ofbreeding male calves

- The effectiveness of pedigree based selection

2.2.2 Individual performance based selection for Holstein Friesian bulls

- Growth rate of the bulls

+ Body weight at birth, 6, 12, 18 and 24 months of age

+ Cross body length, wither height, chest girth of HF young bulls

- Some parameters of semen production of each young bulls:semen volume (V), sperm motility (M), concentration (C), live spermrate, sperm grade (VMC - total number of forward movement/ejaculate,post-thawing motility (Ap), number of straws produced perstandardized ejaculate

- Effectiveness of individual performance based selection for HolsteinFriesian bulls

2.2.3 Selection for Holstein Friesian bulls by EBV calculated from the first lactation milk yield of their sisters

- Milk yield of 305 days lactation and standardized milk yield( 4% fat in milk) of the paternal half-sib sisters in the first lactation

- Milk quality in the first lactation of the paternal half - sibs herd.

- Estimated breeding values of the first lactation milk yield oftheir paternal half-sib sisters

- Effectiveness of selection for Holstein Friesian bulls byEBV of the first lactation milk yield of their sisters

2.2.4 Selection for Holstein Friesian bulls by EBV calculated from the first lactation milk yield of their daughters

- First lactation milk yield 305 days and standardized lactationmilk yield of their daughters

- Milk quality of daughter herd in the first lactation.

- Estimated breeding values of the first lactation milk yield oftheir daughters

- Effectiveness of selection for Holstein Friesian bulls byEBV of the first lactation milk yield of their daughters

2.3 METHODS

2.3.1 Pedigree based selection for Holstein Friesian bulls

Pedigree based selection for male calves were mainly based on

the merit of parents According to Vietnamese standad TCVN 3982-85:mothers of male calves selected as potential bulls had to have: milk yield ofmore than 7,000 kg/lactation; fat content in milk of eqivalent to or more than3.5%; protein content in milk of eqivalent to or more than ≥3.0%; and fathers

of male calves selected as potential bulls had to have milk yield potential ofequavelent to or more than 12000 kg/lactation

2.3.2 Individual performance based selection for Holstein Friesian bulls

2.3.2.1 Growth rate

- Body weight was measured at birth (kg) using 100 kg NhonHoa scale (made in Vietnam); at 6, 12, 18 and 24 months of age using anelectric scale (Digi-Star US)

- Cross body length, wither height, chest girth of HF young bulls were measured using the ruler (Digi-Star US) and tape of Vietnam

- Growth rate, body weight of young bulls were evaluatedusing Decision 1712/QD-BNN-CN (2008, Ministry of Agriculture andRural Development) as a standard

- Sperm concentration (C): was measured using colorimetriceqipment (Photomaster SDM5)

- Live sperm rate: was measured according to the Milovanov method.-Sperm grade (VMC - total number of forwardmovement/ejaculate) was calculated by multiplying V, A and C

- Post-thawing motility (Ap %): 1-2 straws randomly taken for

check sperm motility using a microscope connecting with a computer

-Number of straws per standardized ejaculate(straws/ejaculate) were recorded

2.3.3 Selection for Holstein Friesian bulls by EBV calculated from the first lactation milk yield of their sisters

2.3.3.1 First lactation milk yield 305 days and standard milk yield of sisters

- 305 day milk yields of the first lactation of paternal half-sib sisterswas measured by weighing twice per day, 1 day per month, and thenconverted to 305 day milk yield of the first lactation (Matsumoto Shigeo,1992)

- Standard milk yield was calculated by converting 305 daymilk yields 305 days to 4 % fat milk yiels using the equation (NguyenHai Quan et al.,1995)

2.3.3.2 Milk quality in the first lactation of the paternal half - sibs herd

Milk fat and protein were analyzed by LCUMA equipment(LactiCheck Ultrasonic Milk Analyzer)

2.3.3.3 Estimated breeding values of milk potential calculated from the first lactation milk yield

of the paternal half-sib sisters

EBVs of milk potential of each HF bull were calculated from thepaternal half-sib sister milk yield using the index selection method

2.3.4 Selection for Holstein Friesian bulls by EBV calculated from the first lactation milk yield of their sisters

2.3.4.1 First lactation 305 day milk yield and standard milk yield

of their daughters

Measurements were similar to these of sisters

2.3.4.2 Milk quality of daughter herd in the first lactation

Measurements were similar to these of sisters2.3.4.3.

Estimated breeding values of milk potential calculated from the first lactation of their daughters

Measurements were similar to these of sisters

2.4 DATA ANALYSIS

- Before statistical analysis, data expressed in a form ofpercentage were changed to another form using the following equation:

Y = Degrees {asin[sqrt(x/100)]}

After statistical analysis, these data back were changed to the

- The least-squares mean and standard errors were determined usingProc GLM, SAS 9.1

- Estimation of variance components was done using VCE6

- Estimation of parameters in equations to calculate EBV of eachbull were done using the ZPLAN+ program (Florence Ytournel 2011)

Chapter 3 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

3.1 PEDIGREE BASED SECECTION FOR HOLSTEIN FRIESIAN BULLS

3.1.1 Identification of young bulls of high-predicted genetic merit for individual testing

15 male calves of 35 HF male calves meeting all requirement for

a progeny testing study were selected (10 male calves born in Moc Chau,accounting for 66.66% and other 5 born in Tuyen Quang, accounting for33.33%) The remarkable feature of all calves selected was black andwhite and their average birth weight was 40.27 kg

3.1.2 Parental milk yield potential of father and mother of male calves selected

Table 3.2 Father milk potential and mother milk

yield

Bull ID

Father milk yield

potential(kg/lactation)

Mother milk yield

3.1.3 Effectiveness of HF male calves via pedigree selection

15 male calves were selected from 35 HF male calves, meetingrequirements for progeny testing Selected calves were better inconformation, growth rate, and reproductive soundness The averagemilk yield potential of selected calves were 10,247.67 kg/lactation and79.17 kg (equivalent 0.78%) higher than milk yield potential of 35 HF

3.2 INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCE BASED SECECTION FORHOLSTEIN FRIESIAN BULLS

3.2.1 Growth rate of the HF bull

3.2.1.1 Body weight

Average body weight of HF male calves at birth, 6, 12, 18 and 24months of age were 40.27; 192.60; 287.27; 400.13 và 495.67 kg,respectively According to Decision 1712/QĐ-BNN-CN (Ministry ofAgriculture and Rural Development, 2008), body weight of breeding bull had

to be 35-45 kg (at birth), 140-160 kg (6 months), 230-270 kg (12 months),400-450 kg (24 months) Thus, 3 bulls (ID: 290, 299 and 2100), did not meetthe standard weight at 24 month in Decision 1712/QĐ-BNN-CN

Table 3.4 Body weight of HF calves (kg)

months

12months

18months

24months