Genetic Parameters of Passive Transfer of Immunity for US Organic Holstein Calves

Authors: Isaac Haagen, Lydia Hardie, Bradley Heins, and Chad Dechow

Motivation

  • Calf health is important for farm profitability and animal well-being.
  • There are few measures of calf health available for producers to use when making selection decisions. Serum total protein as a trait that may meet this need. 

Objectives

  • Estimate heritabilities and genetic correlations for serum total protein.
  • Establish genetic relationships between serum total protein in organic Holstein calves and nationally available traits provided in bull proofs.

Conclusions

  • Serum total protein in organic Holstein calves is heritable at 8%.
  • Serum total protein is genetically correlated with improved cow longevity and reduced calving difficulty. See table below for approximate genetic correlations between serum total protein and other traits.