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Estimation of genetic and environmental parameters of some blood serum components in dairy cattle

University of British Columbia

The variations due to environmental and genetic causes in the blood serum components in dairy cattle were estimated from blood samples collected from 226 Holstein and Holstein-Ayrshire cross bred female calves and cows, at the University of British Columbia, Oyster River Research Farm number two. The blood serum samples were analyzed for protein, albumin, globulin, calcium, inorganic phosphorus, cholesterol, blood urea nitrogen (B.U.N.), uric acid, creatinine, alkaline phosphatase, and serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (S.G.O.T.), by SSM 12/60 multichannel sequential analyzer. The albumin and globulins α₁, α₂, β₁, β₂, and γ levels in the blood were estimated using thin plate agarose gel electrophoresis. The age in days as a source of variation (fitted within physiological groups) significantly affected most of the blood serum components in the young female calves and heifers, bred heifer, lactating non-pregnant, lactating pregnant and dry animal groups. The days pregnant was a significant source of variation in the different types of serum proteins, B.U.N, and alkaline phosphatase in the present study. The days lactating fitted as a source of variation in the lactating non-pregnant animals significantly affected the blood serum components-cholesterol, B.U.N., globulin α₁ and β₂. The days lactating fitted as a source of variation in lactating pregnant animals accounted for a significant amount of variation only in cholesterol. The lactation traits (Kg. milk, Kg. milk fat, Kg. milk protein and Kg. lactose produced by the animal in the milking prior to collection of blood sample) as sources of variation in the milking animals significantly affected the blood serum components cholesterol, uric acid, globulins α₁ and β₂. The physiological groups (young animals, bred heifers, lactating non-pregnant group, lactating pregnant group and dry animal group) accounted for the major portion of the variation in almost all the blood serum components in the present study. The linear function of age when fitted across groups was important and accounted for a significant amount of variation in almost all of the blood serum components. Breed groups fitted as percentage Holstein (I. Holstein, II. 75 to 62 percent Holstein, III. 50 to 25 percent Holstein) accounted for significant amounts of variation only in three blood serum components, uric acid, globulin α₂ and globulin β₁.

Text

2011-02-25

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http://hdl.handle.net/2429/31815

Animal Science

University of British Columbia

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