Relationship between longevity and selected production, reproduction and type traits

Abstract

The correlations between longevity, functional longevity, stayability and selected milk, reproductive and type traits were estimated; it was done on the basis of estimated breeding values for longevity, functional longevity, dairy traits, reproductive traits and stayability rates at the age of 60, 72, 84, and 96 months. The correlation between breeding values for longevity and functional longevity was 0.69. The correlations between longevity and stayability at 60, 72, 84, and 96 months of age were around 0.75 (from 0.73 to 0.76) whereas the correlation with stayability at 48 months was considerably lower (0.64). The breeding values for dairy traits showed a positive relationship with longevity (from 0.37 to 0.46) and a slightly negative correlation with breeding values for functional longevity (from –0.10 to –0.20). A low relationship was found between longevity and reproductive traits. Between the type traits and longevity traits only the conformation score for the form (0.18) and for the udder showed a positive correlation (0.24). The correlation between the form and functional longevity remained approximately on the same level whereas the correlation with the main udder score decreased to 0.08, which indicated a positive relationship between milk traits and udder scores.