Tapki and Guzey Greener Journal of Agricultural Sciences Vol. 3 (11), pp. 755-761, November 2013. ISSN: 2276-7770 Research Paper Manuscript Number: 072913763 Genetic and Phenotypic Correlations between Linear Type Traits and Milk Production Yields of Turkish Holstein Dairy Cows *Ibrahim Tapkiand Yusuf Ziya Guzey Agriculture Faculty, Department of Animal Science, University of Mustafa Kemal, 31034 Hatay-Turkey. *Correspondance Author’s Email: itapki @ mku.edu.tr or ibtapki @ gmail.com, Tel:+90 326 245 58 45, Fax: Tel:+90 326 245 58 32 Abstract: The main objective of this study was to estimate the phenotypic and genetic correlations between 18 linear type traits and three production yields in the first lactation of Turkish Holstein dairy cows. In this study, 78 sires having at least 5 daughters and their 2721 daughters were used. Heritabilities ranged between 0.12 to 0.44. The phenotypic correlations between type traits and milk yield ranged from -0.31 to 0.29; -0.23 to 0.26 for fat yield and -0.29 to 0.25 for protein yield. Genetic correlations between linear type traits and milk yield ranged from -0.46 to 0.42; -0.41 to 0.42 for fat yield and -0.45 to 0.45 for protein yield. The high genetic correlations between angularity, udder depth, rear teat position and milk, fat and protein yields were 0.42, 0.40, 0.45; -0.46, -0.41, -0.45 and -0.46, -0.41, -0.45, respectively. In addition to high genetic correlations between these type of traits and low heritabilities recorded for rear udder height, body condition score, central ligament and locomotion traits were -0.77, 0.61, 0.65 and 0.59, respectively. The genetic correlations showed that higher yielding cows were more angular, have deeper udders, good rear teat position, high rear height, moderate body condition score, strong central ligament and long stride locomotion type traits. These results indicated that the opportunity of direct and indirect selection schemes for milk, fat and protein yields could be achievable within a national progeny-testing programme using these type traits within a selection index. Keywords: phenotypic, genetic, correlations, type traits, production, Turkish Holstein cows Return to Content View Reprint (PDF) (204KB)
