In this study, the authors focused on the evaluation of the genetic parameters of longevity, milk yield traits, and type traits in dairy cattle populations in the Republic of Serbia. The total dataset used consisted of production records and pedigree data for 32,512 Holstein cows that calved from 1981 to 2015. The animal model was applied to determine the variance and covariance components and genetic parameters of the analyzed traits by applying the restricted maximum likelihood (REML) approach and using the programs VCE6 and PEST. The heritability of longevity traits was estimated using the Survival Kit V6.0 software package. Variance and covariance were estimated for five production traits: milk yield (MY), fat yield (FY), protein yield (PY), milk fat content (MC), and protein content (PC), and three longevity traits: length of productive life (LPL), lifetime milk yield (LMY), and the number of lactations achieved (NL) as well as for 18 standard type traits. Heritabilities for the milk, fat, and protein yield traits were 0.20 (MY), 0.15 (FY), and 0.19 (PY), respectively. The estimated coefficients of heritability for the longevity traits were higher when using the Weibull proportional hazards model compared to the traditional linear methods and ranged from 0.08 for NL to 0.10 for LPL. Heritability values for the type traits varied from a low of 0.10 (RLSsv—rear legs set–side view) to medium values of 0.32 (ST-stature). Genetic correlations were found between MY and the following longevity traits: LPL, LMY, and NL with values of −0.18, −0.11, and −0.09, respectively. Genetic correlations were found between MY and a number of linear type traits and varied from 0.02 (between MY and RUH-rear udder height) to 0.28 (between MY and FUA-fore udder attachment). Genetic correlations between the 18 investigated type traits ranged from −0.33 between TL (top line) and RTP (rear teats position) to 0.71 between AN (angularity) and RUH (rear udder height). Genetic correlations between most linear type traits and longevity traits (LPL, LMY, and NL) were generally negative and very low. The highest positive genetic correlation was found between UD and LPL (r_xy = 0.38).

Estimation of genetic variability and genetic correlations between production traits (milk yield, fat yield, fat content, protein yield, and protein content) and selected type traits (angularity, fore udder height, rear udder height, front teat placement, teat length, and udder depth) was done using data sets of 10,860 first-calving Holstein-Friesian cows raised in the territory of the Republic of Serbia. Genetic variance and covariance were obtained using the Restricted Maximum Likelihood (REML) method, VCE v6 software, and the multi-trait mixed [...] ABSTRACT Estimation of genetic variability and genetic correlations between production traits (milk yield, fat yield, fat content, protein yield, and protein content) and selected type traits (angularity, fore udder height, rear udder height, front teat placement, teat length, and udder depth) was done using data sets of 10,860 first-calving Holstein-Friesian cows raised in the territory of the Republic of Serbia. Genetic variance and covariance were obtained using the Restricted Maximum Likelihood (REML) method, VCE v6 software, and the multi-trait mixed

Possible differences between composition of raw milk due to dairy farming system (organic vs conventional) as well as seasonal variations were investigated. The samples were analysed during one year. A total of 6.782 samples of raw milk were collected (4.496 from organic farming). Dairy farms were located in the northern part of Republic of Serbia (Province of Vojvodina). The principle of analysis of raw milk samples was in accordance with the methodology by midinfrared spectrometry and flow cytometry. The fixed effect of system of farming and season (winter, spring, summer and fall) have shown a high statistical significance (P < 0.01) on all examined milk parameters except fat, total solids and somatic cell count, where the impact was slightly lower (P < 0.05). Significant difference wasn't found in number of bacterial colonies (P > 0.05). Composition of milk is also affected by a number of other factors, therefore it is recommended to involve factors such as nutrition of dairy cows, breed and farm management.

In this paper, six univariate and two multivariate best linear unbiased prediction (BLUP) models were tested for the estimation of breeding values (BV) in Holstein Friesian cattle in Serbia. Two univariate models were formed using the numerator relationship matrix (NRM), four using the genomic relationship matrix (GRM). Multivariate models contained only an NRM. Two cases were studied, the first when only first lactations were observed, and the second when all lactations were observed using a repeatability model. A total of 6041 animals were included, and of them, 2565 had data on milk yield (MY), milk fat yield (FY), milk fat content (FC), milk protein yield (PY) and milk protein content (PC). Finally, out of those 2565 cows, 1491 were genotyped. A higher accuracy of BV was obtained when using a combination of NRM and GRM compared to NRM alone in univariate analysis, while multivariate analysis with repeated measures gave the highest accuracy with all 6041 animals. When only genotyped animals were observed, the highest accuracy of the estimated BV was calculated by the ssGBLUPp model, and the lowest by the univariate BLUP model. In conclusion, the current breeding programs in Serbia should be changed to use multivariate analysis with repeated measurements until the optimal size of the reference population, which must include genotyping data on both bulls and cows, is reached.

The objective of this research was to determine the association between age at first calving (AFC) and milk production in the first lactation of longevity traits for Holstein cows. The research was conducted on 2307 cows raised on 4 farms in AP Vojvodina. The cows were culled in the period from 2017 to 2018. The cows belonged to the group of Holstein Friesian breed of cattle. Cow longevity was observed using three parameters: number of lactations (NL), lifetime milk yield (LMY) and length of productive life (LPL). The research involved the influence of the farm on which the animals realized their production, the season of first calving. A mean value obtained for the length of productive life in the analysed population was 1207 days (3.30 years on average). During this period the animals on average realized 2.45 lactations and produced on average 18798 kg milk. All studied traits showed a high level of variability. From these data, the study sought to determine the influence of factors on the traits of longevity, our research present that studied factors showed high statistical significance on these traits except in the case of the season of first calving where a statistical significance effect wasn?t observed. The season of first calving did not affect the animal traits for longevity and, generally, didn?t affect the calving interval. Regarding the obtained correlation data between age at first calving and length of productive life, it can be concluded that belated AFC leads to reduced reproductive performance.

The aim of this study was to determine the level and variability of type traits in primiparous Holstein-Friesian cows, as well as to assess the additive genetic variance of type traits and heritability coefficients. The research was conducted on a data set of linearly evaluated primiparous Holstein-Friesian cows, which is ceded by the Main dairy cattle breed organization in the Province of Vojvodina, which is a unit of the Department of Animal Science, at the Faculty of Agriculture in Novi Sad. Data of 24226 primiparous Holstein-Friesian cows, refer to the period 2012-2015, were analysed. The phenotypic variability of the type traits, as well as effects of systemic factors affecting these traits, were analyzed using standard statistical methods in the Statistica software 13.2, and the general linear model (GLM). A Statistically highly significant effect for most of the type traits had the farm size, interaction of the year and the season of evaluation, age at linear evaluation, lactation stage and a genetic group formed by the year and country of bull/sires birth. The total type traits score (final score), which represents an evaluation of the overall primiparous cow exterior, is calculated for the 24226 linearly evaluated primiparous cows. Estimation of variance components and heritability coefficient calculation is done in the software package WOMBAT. Heritability coefficient values for the primiparous cow's type traits in the Province of Vojvodina were low to middle, ranged from 0.08 for the rear legs - side view up to 0.38 for the stature. Due to the fact that the value of the heritability coefficient depends on the variability of the traits and previous selection, lower heritability may be a consequence of the low genetic variability, or, a higher degree of variability which is a consequence of the effect of the systematic factors. Heritability coefficients indicate a genetic variability of the type traits, and its evaluation is important for the breeding value estimation for the type traits.