The use of lactation and test day records for the genetic analyses of the performance of Philippine dairy buffaloes for milk production and persistency

Abstract

Milk production records of Philippine dairy buffaloes were analysed to be able to develop a method of yield calculation and genetic evaluation for milk production and lactation persistency. The method for yield calculation, a multiple trait procedure that utilizes the Wilmink's function (MTP-Wil) to describe the lactation curve of different cow-class categories as well as takes into consideration covariances between milk, fat and protein yields such that prediction of yields can be made with irregular and/or long intervals between test days with slight reduction in precision relative to a complete set of regularly spaced test day records. This method is particularly suitable for establishing a recording system for cows in the various dairy buffalo cooperatives in the Philippines as the yield calculation method may help minimize the cost of recording cow performance. Establishing a milk recording system for cows in the dairy cooperatives will increase the number of cows for genetic evaluation.