Transition cow index
Inventors
Dattilo, Katrina • Zare, Yalda • Marquez Betz, Gabriela • Stephan, Kaleena • Starkenburg, Ryan • Vergara, Cristian
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-11690361-B2
Publication Date
2023-07-04
Expiration Date
Abstract
Applicants have identified that three critical phenotypic/genetic measures are highly correlated with transition period health and may be used in selection and breeding protocols and/or in combination with traditional breeding and marker assisted selection methods to improve predictability of transition period health. According to the invention genetic evaluations for mastitis, ketosis, and metritis have been found to be highly predictive of overall transition health. The genetic evaluations are produced by directly measuring thousands of clinical cases of mastitis, ketosis, and metritis in ancestors of a particular animal and using this data in selection. Applicant's selection criteria and quickly impact a breeders population by reducing transition cow disease incidence in the initial population and in progeny.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a method of breeding bovine animals to create a progeny population with improved milk production and health during the transition period. The method detects in a sample from at least one bovine subject the presence or absence of at least one genetic marker associated with mastitis, at least one genetic marker associated with metritis, and at least one genetic marker associated with ketosis, and uses the detected genetic marker information to assign an estimated breeding value to the bovine subject.
Based on the assigned estimated breeding value, a bovine animal ranked within the top 30% of the population is selected as a first parent bovine animal. The first parent bovine animal is bred with a second parent bovine animal to create the progeny population, and the progeny is stated to demonstrate improved milk production and health during the transition period compared to a progeny population where the first parent bovine animal has not been so selected.
The invention also includes a method of selecting a breeding population of bovine by detecting in samples from multiple bovine subjects the presence or absence of genetic markers associated with mastitis, metritis, and ketosis. The method selects at least one bovine subject ranked within the top 30% of the multiple bovine subjects based on the marker presence or absence and breeds the selected subject to create a progeny population with improved milk production and health, particularly during the transition period, compared to a progeny population where the animal has not been selected.
Claims Coverage
The document provides at least two independent claims, covering two closely related approaches: genetic-marker-based breeding value selection and marker-based selection from multiple subjects for breeding. Across these independent claims, the framework repeatedly relies on genetic markers for mastitis, metritis, and ketosis and a top 30% selection/ranking step.
Marker-based detection for transition-period disease
Detecting in a sample, or in samples from multiple bovine subjects, the presence or absence of at least one genetic marker associated with mastitis, at least one genetic marker associated with metritis, and at least one genetic marker associated with ketosis.
Estimated breeding value from disease-marker presence or absence
Assigning an estimated breeding value to a bovine subject based on the presence or absence of the genetic markers.
Top-percentage ranking selection within population
Selecting a bovine animal ranked within the top 30% of the population, or selecting at least one bovine subject ranked within the top 30% of the multiple bovine subjects, based on the estimated breeding value or based on the presence or absence of the genetic markers.
Breeding selected parent(s) to generate improved progeny during transition period
Breeding the selected bovine subject, as a first parent with a second parent or as selected subject(s), to create a progeny population with improved milk production and health during the transition period compared to progeny where the animal has not been so selected.
The independent claims collectively cover a genetic-marker-driven selection and breeding framework for bovine transition-period health, using disease-associated markers for mastitis, metritis, and ketosis, applying a top-portion ranking or selection criterion, and producing progeny stated to improve milk production and health during the transition period versus progeny from non-selected parents.
Stated Advantages
Improved milk production and health during the transition period in the progeny population compared to progeny where the animal has not been so selected.
Improved milk production and health, particularly during the transition period, in the progeny population compared to a progeny population where the animal has not been so selected.
Documented Applications
Breeding bovine animals to create a progeny population with improved milk production and health during the transition period using detection of genetic markers for mastitis, metritis, and ketosis and selection of top-ranked bovine animals for breeding.
Selecting a breeding population of bovine by detecting genetic markers associated with mastitis, metritis, and ketosis in samples from multiple bovine subjects, ranking or selecting subjects in the top portion, and breeding selected subjects to create a progeny population with improved transition-period milk production and health.
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