Uncovering genetic parameters and environmental influences on fertility, milk production, and quality in autochthonous Reggiana cattle. 2024

E Mancin, and G Gomez Proto, and B Tuliozi, and G Schiavo, and S Bovo, and L Fontanesi, and C Sartori, and R Mantovani
Department of Agronomy, Food, Natural Resources, Animals and Environment, University of Padova, Viale dell'Università, 16, 35020 Legnaro (PD), Italy. Electronic address: enrico.mancin@unipd.it.

Reggiana is a local cattle breed from northern Italy known for its rusticity and profitability, due to the production of branded Parmigiano Reggiano cheese. To ensure the persistence of such profitability in the long term, an adequate breeding program is required. To this aim, in the present study we estimate the genetic parameters of the main productive and reproductive traits, and we evaluate the effect of genotype by environment interaction (GxE) on these traits using 2 environmental covariates: (1) productivity and (2) temperature-humidity index (THI). Milk, fat, protein, and casein yield were considered as daily production traits, whereas protein, fat, casein percentage, casein index, and somatic cell score were considered as milk quality traits. Finally, reproductive traits such as the number of inseminations, days open, calving interval, and calving-to-first-insemination interval were evaluated. Reggiana cattle produce an average of 19 kg of milk per day with 3.7% fat and 3.4% protein content and have excellent fertility parameters. Compared with other breeds, they have slightly lower heritability for production and quality for production traits (e.g., 0.12 [0.09; 0.15] for milk yield), but similar heritability for fertility traits. Milk, protein, and fat daily yields are highly correlated but negatively correlated with the percentage of protein, fat, and casein, whereas fertility traits have an unfavorable genetic correlation with daily production traits. When considering productivity, a consistent amount of variability due to GxE was observed for all daily production traits, somatic cell count, and casein index. A modest amount of GxE was observed for fertility parameters, while the percentage of solid content showed almost no GxE effect. A similar situation occurred when considering the THI, but no GxE interaction was observed for reproduction traits. In conclusion, this study provides useful information for the implementation of accurate selection plans in this local breed, accounting for environmental plasticity measured through the consistent GxE interaction observed.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007774 Lactation The processes of milk secretion by the maternal MAMMARY GLANDS after PARTURITION. The proliferation of the mammary glandular tissue, milk synthesis, and milk expulsion or let down are regulated by the interactions of several hormones including ESTRADIOL; PROGESTERONE; PROLACTIN; and OXYTOCIN. Lactation, Prolonged,Milk Secretion,Lactations, Prolonged,Milk Secretions,Prolonged Lactation,Prolonged Lactations
D008892 Milk The off-white liquid secreted by the mammary glands of humans and other mammals. It contains proteins, sugar, lipids, vitamins, and minerals. Cow Milk,Cow's Milk,Milk, Cow,Milk, Cow's
D012098 Reproduction The total process by which organisms produce offspring. (Stedman, 25th ed) Human Reproductive Index,Human Reproductive Indexes,Reproductive Period,Human Reproductive Indices,Index, Human Reproductive,Indexes, Human Reproductive,Indices, Human Reproductive,Period, Reproductive,Periods, Reproductive,Reproductive Index, Human,Reproductive Indices, Human,Reproductive Periods
D002364 Caseins A mixture of related phosphoproteins occurring in milk and cheese. The group is characterized as one of the most nutritive milk proteins, containing all of the common amino acids and rich in the essential ones. alpha-Casein,gamma-Casein,AD beta-Casein,Acetylated, Dephosphorylated beta-Casein,Casein,Casein A,K-Casein,Sodium Caseinate,alpha(S1)-Casein,alpha(S1)-Casein A,alpha(S1)-Casein B,alpha(S1)-Casein C,alpha(S2)-Casein,alpha-Caseins,beta-Casein,beta-Caseins,epsilon-Casein,gamma-Caseins,kappa-Casein,kappa-Caseins,AD beta Casein,Caseinate, Sodium,K Casein,alpha Casein,alpha Caseins,beta Casein,beta Caseins,beta-Casein Acetylated, Dephosphorylated,beta-Casein, AD,epsilon Casein,gamma Casein,gamma Caseins,kappa Casein,kappa Caseins
D002417 Cattle Domesticated bovine animals of the genus Bos, usually kept on a farm or ranch and used for the production of meat or dairy products or for heavy labor. Beef Cow,Bos grunniens,Bos indicus,Bos indicus Cattle,Bos taurus,Cow,Cow, Domestic,Dairy Cow,Holstein Cow,Indicine Cattle,Taurine Cattle,Taurus Cattle,Yak,Zebu,Beef Cows,Bos indicus Cattles,Cattle, Bos indicus,Cattle, Indicine,Cattle, Taurine,Cattle, Taurus,Cattles, Bos indicus,Cattles, Indicine,Cattles, Taurine,Cattles, Taurus,Cow, Beef,Cow, Dairy,Cow, Holstein,Cows,Dairy Cows,Domestic Cow,Domestic Cows,Indicine Cattles,Taurine Cattles,Taurus Cattles,Yaks,Zebus
D005260 Female Females
D005298 Fertility The capacity to conceive or to induce conception. It may refer to either the male or female. Fecundity,Below Replacement Fertility,Differential Fertility,Fecundability,Fertility Determinants,Fertility Incentives,Fertility Preferences,Fertility, Below Replacement,Marital Fertility,Natural Fertility,Subfecundity,World Fertility Survey,Determinant, Fertility,Determinants, Fertility,Fertility Determinant,Fertility Incentive,Fertility Preference,Fertility Survey, World,Fertility Surveys, World,Fertility, Differential,Fertility, Marital,Fertility, Natural,Preference, Fertility,Preferences, Fertility,Survey, World Fertility,Surveys, World Fertility,World Fertility Surveys
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia

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