Short communication: Changes in the association between milk yield and age at first calving in holstein cows with herd environment level for milk yield

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of herd environment class on the genetic and phenotypic relationships of mature equivalent milk yield (MY) on age at first calving (AFC). Data analyzed were 248,230 first parity records of Holstein cows, daughters of 588 sires in 3,042 herds in the United States. Heritability for AFC was 0.33 ± 0.01 and 0.20 ± 0.01 in high and low environment herds, respectively, and 0.47 ± 0.01 in the complete data set. The correlation between AFC sires’ predicted breeding values of low and high classes was 0.69. Genetic correlations between MY and AFC were −0.52 ± 0.02 and −0.31 ± 0.03 in high and low environment herds, respectively, and −0.44 ± 0.02 in the complete data set representing intermediate environments. If selection is based on the whole data set, expected correlated responses for AFC estimated as a result of 1,000 kg of genetic gain in MY, for high and low herd environment herds were −26.1 and −15.3 d, respectively, and −32.6 for the complete data set; hence the highest reduction in AFC occurs in intermediate environment herds. Different estimates of the heritability of AFC, the correlation between AFC breeding values of low and high classes as well as changes in the genetic correlation between MY and AFC across environments indicate genotype × environment interaction. Caution in interpretation is warranted because genetic relationships are dynamic, especially in populations undergoing selection. Current relationships may differ from those during the time period of the present study (1987–1994). Notwithstanding this possibility, methods and findings from the present study provide insight about the complexity of genetic association and genotype × environment interactions between AFC and MY.