• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.309-314
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• 2006

The present investigation was undertaken to study the milkability characteristics of Holstein cows. Out of 6,660 initial records 4,607 records were finally included in the analysis after deleting some records with an abnormal range of values for the traits considered. These 4,607 Holstein cows belonged to a total of 122 herds located in a province in Korea. The 'LactoCorder' instrument was used to electronically record the milkability traits at the milking parlor. A total of 19 traits were studied which were broadly classified into milk yield, milking speed, milking time and the electrical conductivity related traits. The SAS 9.1 statistical software was used to carry out analyses. The average maximum milk flow per minute was 3.21 kg/min, while the average milking speed during the main milking process (DMHG) had a mean value of 2.30 kg/min. The total milk yield was 14.14 kg, 62% of which was milked during the first three minutes of the milking. The average total milking time was 8.23 min. Among the three phases of the main milking process, the time of stable milk flow had the longest time (2.97 min) followed by the time at the decline phase (2.62 min). The average time taken to reach the plateau phase was 1.08 min, which can still be reduced further through improved managemental practices. Among milk yield traits, milk yield during the first two (MG2) and three (MG3) minutes of milking had high positive correlation with milking speed traits and negative correlations with almost all the milking time traits except time of incline in milk flow from 0.5 kg/min till the attainment of the plateau phase (tAN). Milking speed traits had negative correlations with total milking time, time at main milking process, time at plateau and with the time at decline. Since there was medium to high negative correlation between the milking speed and the time at plateau, there is a need for selection of cows which have intermediate milking speed so that it could require less milking time and also the optimum (higher and longer) plateau time. Proper pre-stimulation and avoiding over milking will help in further reducing the milking time and thus will add to the net profit of the farmer.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.17 no.11
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• pp.1479-1483
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• 2004

Milk protein polymorphisms were genotyped by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) from 109 Maiwa and 100 Jiulong yaks. The relationships between milk protein polymorphisms and 3 milking traits were studied. The results showed that $\beta$-CN, $\kappa$-CN and $\alpha$-La were monomorphic, and ${\alpha}_{s1}$-CN and $\beta$-Lg were polymorphic, with ${\alpha}_{s1}$-CN D and $\beta$-Lg E as dominant genes, respectively. The frequencies of ${\alpha}_{s1}$-CN D were 0.8073 and 0.6000 in two populations and $\beta$-Lg E were 0.9770 and 0.9700. The mean heterozygosities were 0.1021 and 0.1867 in the two populations. No significant effects on milking traits and milk protein compositions were observed except for ${\alpha}_{s1}$-CN locus on fat percentage in Jiulong yak.

• Journal of the Korean Data and Information Science Society
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.487-493
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• 2013

This experiment was conducted to investigate the possibility that milking speed traits can be improved by estimating their genetic parameters and to provide basic information when the goals for dairy cattle improvement are established. The amount of milk within the first three minutes (3MG) was 8.97 Kg and 57% of total milk was produced within 3 minutes, but it was lower than that of the recommended level (70%). The highest milk flow (HMF) and average milk flow (DMHG) in the main milking phase were 3.66kg/min and 2.43kg/min, respectively, which were lower than those of the recommended levels (4.0 5.0kg/min and 3.0 4.0kg/min), suggesting slower milking speed of domestic dairy cattle compared to that of foreign dairy cattle. The heritability estimates on the highest milk flow (HMF), maximum milk flow (HMG) in one minute and average milk flow (DMHG) in the main milking phase were 0.35, 0.31 and 0.29, respectively, which are suitable for the improvement of traits with medium heritability. The genetic correlation between total milk yields (MGG) and average milk flow (DMHG) in the main milking phase was 0.591, while the genetic correlations among milking speed traits including the highest milk flow (HMF), maximum milk flow (HMG) in one minute and average milk flow (DMHG) in the main milking phase were in the range of 0.889 0.997.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.47 no.6
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• pp.919-924
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• 2005

This study was carried out to estimate the effects of parity, milking time, milking interval and days in milk(DIM) on variation in milk yield between consecutive milkings(am to pm to am), morning and evening milk yield and its components, somatic cell counts(SCS), milking duration, milk flow rate and peak milk flow in Holstein dairy cattle. Records from one hundred and twenty two heads of Holstein cattle at National Livestock Research Institute, Korea were used for this study from July 1 to August 8, 2005. The experimental herd had average 1.6$\pm$0.9 parities, 199.8$\pm$109.1 DIM and 12.26$\pm$4.06kg milk yields at each milking. Milking yield, percent milk fat and SNF, milking duration and average milk flow were significantly varied by parity, milking time and DIM. Percent milk protein and lactose were varied by parity and DIM, however SCS and average milk flow were affected by parity and milking time. Milking interval significantly affected the consecutive, morning and evening milk yield and average milk flow. However, MUN was not affected by parity, milking time, DIM and milking interval. Milk yield was decreased with increasing parity. Milk yield in the morning was higher than that of in the evening. Milk yield between consecutive milking was not affected by parity, however, affected by milking time. Percent milk Fat, SNF and SCS were higher at in evening milk than those of in morning milk. Milk protein, lactose, SNF, SCS, milking duration and peak milk flow rate were influenced by parity. This study suggested that milk yield variation between consecutive milking, milking flow rate, and milking duration could be important traits for enhancing Holstein cattle productivity however, and more study is needed to estimate genetic parameters for such traits.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.487-492
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• 2006

This study estimated characteristics and genetic parameters for milking traits in Holstein dairy cattle. Daily records (12,561) were available from a hundred fifty four lactating cows with sixty six sires at National Livestock Research Institute from November, 2005 to April, 2006. The cows were fed same rations, and were milked twice daily using milking parlour equipped with Alpro-system?? to collect milking records automatically. The experimental cows have averaged 1.9 parities, 139.7 days in milk, and 13kg milk yield per milking. Average milk flow was 64% of peak milk flow. Milking duration, peak milk flow, average milk flow, and milk yield per milking were 5.57±1.67 minutes, 3.58±0.79kg/minute, 2.28±0.51kg/minute, and 13.02±4.09kg, respectively. All traits in the morning milking were higher than those of in the evening milking, and were also increased with parity. Heritabilities for milking duration, peak and average milk flow, and milk yield per time were 0.49, 0.70 0.58 and 0.36, respectively. The genetic correlations of milking duration with peak milk flow, average milk flow, and milk yield per time were 0.48, 0.54, and 0.41, respectively. The correlations of milk yield per milking with peak milk flow and average milk flow were 0.23 and 0.30, respectively. In conclusion, milk flow was increased with milk yield; however milk flow was opposite relationship with milk duration. Further studies are not only necessary to warranty genetic parameters, but pre-installation of automatic recording system to collect daily milking record is also necessary.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.173-183
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• 2024

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate whether the methane (CH₄) to carbon dioxide (CO₂) ratio (CH₄/CO₂) and methane-related traits obtained by the sniffer method can be used as indicators for genetic selection of Holstein cows with lower CH₄ emissions. Methods: The sniffer method was used to simultaneously measure the concentrations of CH₄ and CO₂ during milking in each milking box of the automatic milking system to obtain CH₄/CO₂. Methane-related traits, which included CH₄ emissions, CH₄ per energy-corrected milk, methane conversion factor (MCF), and residual CH₄, were calculated. First, we investigated the impact of the model with and without body weight (BW) on the lactation stage and parity for predicting methane-related traits using a first on-farm dataset (Farm 1; 400 records for 74 Holstein cows). Second, we estimated the genetic parameters for CH₄/CO₂ and methane-related traits using a second on-farm dataset (Farm 2; 520 records for 182 Holstein cows). Third, we compared the repeatability and environmental effects on these traits in both farm datasets. Results: The data from Farm 1 revealed that MCF can be reliably evaluated during the lactation stage and parity, even when BW is excluded from the model. Farm 2 data revealed low heritability and moderate repeatability for CH₄/CO₂ (0.12 and 0.46, respectively) and MCF (0.13 and 0.38, respectively). In addition, the estimated genetic correlation of milk yield with CH₄/CO₂ was low (0.07) and that with MCF was moderate (-0.53). The on-farm data indicated that CH₄/CO₂ and MCF could be evaluated consistently during the lactation stage and parity with moderate repeatability on both farms. Conclusion: This study demonstrated the on-farm applicability of the sniffer method for selecting cows with low CH₄ emissions.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.517-524
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• 2004

The objective of this study was to investigate the environmental effects on duration time of milk flow, peak milk flow, and average milk flow in teats, and to estimate their relationships with milk yields in morning and evening milking, and to provide fimdamental information for the further study on their relationships with clinical mastitis and somatic cell in milk. A total of 6,768 milking records were studied in 72 Holstein cows. The influences of season, parity, lactation month, and milking interval on characteristics of milk flow considering in linear model were significant(p<.05). Duration of milk flow was longest at milking in fall, past first parity and second month of lactation, and with milking interval over than 13.5hrs. Average milk flow rate and peak milk flow rate were highest at milking in summer, past first parity and 8${\sim}$10 months of lactation, and with milking interval over than 13.5hrs. Milk flow rate was positively correlated to milk yield, and negatively correlated to the duration of milk flow. However duration milk flow was positively correlated to the milk yield with high level of correlation coefficient(+.60). For the establishment of optimum selection criteria on these traits, other aspects such as the udder health, disease and respective economic weights of milk flow characteristics in this study must be considered to develop the indices.

• Journal of the Korean Data and Information Science Society
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.687-693
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• 2015

Using 378,086 lactation records on dairy cattle, environmental factors influencing acetone and ${\beta}$-hydroxybutyrate acid contents in raw milk which are used as ketosis diagnosis indicator traits were analyzed in this experiment. Significance testing was conducted on farm, lactation stage, parity, milking time and month of age by traits. The results of this experiment indicated that there was a highly significant (p < 0.01) difference in all factors and lactation stage was the most significant factor. Linear regression coefficients of month of age on daily milk yields and acetone and ${\beta}$-hydroxybutyrate acid contents were all positive, while their quadratic linear regression coefficients were negative. Least square means for milk yield at second lactation stage (36~65 days) was 19.06kg which was higher than that of late lactation stage by 6.51kg. Least square means for acetone and ${\beta}$-hydroxybutyrate acid contents at the first lactation stage (5~35 days) were highest (0.1929mM/L and 0.0742mM/L, respectively), and there was a trend that they decreased as the milking progressed, but increased slightly at the late stage of milking. However, least square means for acetone and ${\beta}$-hydroxybutyrate acid contents at the first parity were 0.1414mM/L and 0.0522mM/L, respectively, which were higher than the average milk yield after the second parity. Least square means for acetone and ${\beta}$-hydroxybutyrate acid contents of PM milk yield (0.1372mM/L and 0.0534mM/L, respectively) were higher than those of AM milk yield collectively.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2010

The objectives of this study were to i) investigate genetic performance for linear type traits of individual Holstein dairy cows, especially focusing on comparative traits, and to estimate genetic variances for these traits using actual data, and ii) compare genetic performance and improvement of progeny by birth country of the cows. Linear type traits defined with five comparative traits on this study were general stature composite (GSC), dairy capacity composite (DCC), body size composite (BSC), foot and leg composite (FLC), and udder composite (UDC). These traits were scored from 1 to 6 with 1 = poor, 2 = fair, 3 = good, 4 = good plus, 5 = very good and 6 = excellent. Final scores (FS) were also included in this study. Data used was collected from the years 2000 to 2004 by the Korea Animal Improvement Association (KAIA). Only data of more than five tested cows by herd appraisal date and by sires having more than ten daughters were included to increase the reliability of the data analyses. A total of 30,204 records of the selected traits, which was collected from 26,701 individuals having pedigree information were used. Herd appraisal date, year of age, lactation stage (grouped by month), and time lagged for milking (in hours) were assumed as fixed effects on the model. Animal additive genetic effects considering pedigree relationship and residual errors were assumed with random effects. Year of age at appraisal date was classified from one to nine years of age, assigning the value of nine years of age for animals that were greater than or equal to nine years of age. From our results, the estimate for heritability was 0.463, 0.346, 0.473, 0.290, and 0.430 on GSC, DCC, BSC, FLC and UDC, respectively. The estimate for FS heritability was 0.539. The greatest breeding values for GSC were estimated for Canada, with the breeding values for American lines increasing for 10 years starting in 1989 but tending to decrease after that until 2004. For DCC, the breeding values for American and Canadian lines showed similar patterns until 1999, after which the breeding values for the American lines declined sharply. For BSC, data from Korea, Canada and the USA followed similar trends overall except when the breeding values of the American lines decreased starting in 1999. Overall, the methods used to evaluate genetic performance in this study were acceptable and allowed for the discovery of differences by country of genetic origin, likely due in part to the American use of selection indexes based primarily on milk yield traits until methods for evaluating other traits began to emerge.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.48 no.6
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• pp.767-776
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• 2006

Corresponding author:Deukhwan Lee, Department of Animal Life Resources, Hankyong National Univ. Seokjeong-dong Anseong-si Gyeonggi-do, Rep. of Korea 456-749Tel: 031-670-5091, Fax: 031-676-5091, E-mail : dhlee@hknu.ac.krGeneral performance with including environmental and management effects on linear type traits in Holstein cows were investigated. 115,646 valid records measured from cows over 1 yrs of age by Korean Animal Improvement Association from 2000 to 2004 were used for this study. Farm, appraisal year-month, appraisal person should affect linear type and scoring traits. Most of type traits and scoring traits would be significantly affected by parity and lactation stage after absorbing farm-appraisal year-month-person effects. Otherwise, some traits such as traits related to udder would be affected by registration criteria. However, interval of appraisal time and milking time would not affect these traits. The scores related to udder, teat placement and foot angle would be positively related to parity. Final score would be optimized at cows of 2nd and 3rd parities. Dairy form, front teat placement, rear udder height, rear udder width and final score would show similar to pattern of lactation curve at lactation stage. Dairy capacity composite index would also show similar to lactation curve. This result would be indicated that more concise standardizing system for linear type scoring rules would be needed. Furthermore, correcting system for parity and lactation stage would be needed because this factor should affect physiological status, specially, udder status.