Standardization of milk using cold ultrafiltration retentates for the manufacture of Swiss cheese: effect of altering coagulation conditions on yield and cheese quality

Fortification of cheesemilk with membrane retentates is often practiced by cheesemakers to increase yield. However, the higher casein (CN) content can alter coagulation characteristics, which may affect cheese yield and quality. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of using ultrafiltration (UF) retentates that were processed at low temperatures on the properties of Swiss cheese. Because of the faster clotting observed with fortified milks, we also investigated the effects of altering the coagulation conditions by reducing the renneting temperature (from 32.2 to 28.3°C) and allowing a longer renneting time before cutting (i.e., giving an extra 5 min). Milks with elevated total solids (TS; ∼13.4%) were made by blending whole milk retentates (26.5% TS, 7.7% CN, 11.5% fat) obtained by cold (<7°C) UF with part skim milk (11.4% TS, 2.5% CN, 2.6% fat) to obtain milk with CN:fat ratio of approximately 0.87. Control cheeses were made from part-skim milk (11.5% TS, 2.5% CN, 2.8% fat). Three types of UF fortified cheeses were manufactured by altering the renneting temperature and renneting time: high renneting temperature = 32.2°C (UFHT), low renneting temperature = 28.3°C (UFLT), and a low renneting temperature (28.3°C) plus longer cutting time (+5 min compared to UFLT; UFLTL). Cutting times, as selected by a Wisconsin licensed cheesemaker, were approximately 21, 31, 35, and 32 min for UFHT, UFLT, UFLTL, and control milks, respectively. Storage moduli of gels at cutting were lower for the UFHT and UFLT samples compared with UFLTL or control. Yield stress values of gels from the UF-fortified milks were higher than those of control milks, and decreasing the renneting temperature reduced the yield stress values. Increasing the cutting time for the gels made from the UF-fortified milks resulted in an increase in yield stress values. Yield strain values were significantly lower in gels made from control or UFLTL milks compared with gels made from UFHT or UFLT milks. Cheese composition did not differ except for fat content, which was lower in the control compared with the UF-fortified cheeses. No residual lactose or galactose remained in the cheeses after 2 mo of ripening. Fat recoveries were similar in control, UFHT, and UFLTL but lower in UFLT cheeses. Significantly higher N recoveries were obtained in the UF-fortified cheeses compared with control cheese. Because of higher fat and CN contents, cheese yield was significantly higher in UF-fortified cheeses (∼11.0 to 11.2%) compared with control cheese (∼8.5%). A significant reduction was observed in volume of whey produced from cheese made from UF-fortified milk and in these wheys, the protein was a higher proportion of the solids. During ripening, the pH values and 12% trichloroacetic acid-soluble N levels were similar for all cheeses. No differences were observed in the sensory properties of the cheeses. The use of UF retentates improved cheese yield with no significant effect on ripening or sensory quality. The faster coagulation and gel firming can be decreased by altering the renneting conditions.     

Milk, fat, protein, somatic cell score, and days open among Holstein, Brown Swiss, and their crosses

The objectives of this study were to compare Holstein (HO), Brown Swiss (BS), and their crosses for milk, fat, and protein yields, somatic cell score (SCS), days open (DO), and age at first calving (AFC), and to estimate the effects of heterosis and recombination. First through fifth lactation records were obtained from 19 herds milking crosses among BS and HO. The edited data set included 6,534 lactation records from 3,473 cows of the following breed combinations: 2,125 pure HO, 926 pure BS, 256 BS sire × HO dam (SH), 105 backcrosses to BS (SX), 18 HO sire × BS dam, and 43 backcrosses to HO. Least squares means for daily milk, fat, and protein yields, mature-equivalent milk, fat, and protein yields, SCS, DO, and AFC were calculated for breed combinations with a model that included fixed effects of age within parity (except for AFC), days in milk for daily yield and SCS, herd-year-season of calving, and breed combination. Cow and error were random effects. Breed combination was replaced with regressions on coefficients for heterosis and recombination in a second analysis. Last, data were analyzed with a 5-trait animal model that included a single pedigree file for both breeds and coefficients for heterosis and recombination. The least squares means for fat production were 1.21, 1.15, 1.27, and 1.16 kg for HO, BS, SH, and SX, respectively, which corresponds to a heterosis estimate of 7.30% and a recombination estimate of −3.76%. Heterosis and recombination estimates for protein production were 5.63% and −3.31%, respectively. Heterosis estimates increased for fat yield (10.38%) and protein yield (7.07%) when maternal grandsire identification from a known artificial insemination sire was required. Regression coefficients indicated an 11.44-d reduction in DO due to heterosis. Heterosis estimates for SCS were inconsistent. Regression on heterosis for SCS was significant and favorable (−0.22) when the breed of sire was BS, but nonsignificant and unfavorable when sire breed was HO (0.43). Heterosis estimates were favorable for all traits, whereas recombination effects tended to be unfavorable for yield traits. Reduced performance of future generations did not appear to be the result of inseminating crossbred cows with inferior sires. Results indicated that first-generation crosses among BS and HO compared favorably with HO. Yield in subsequent generations was somewhat below expectations, perhaps due to recombination loss in HO.     

Heat stress elicits different responses in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from Brown Swiss and Holstein cows

This study was undertaken to assess whether peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) isolated from Brown Swiss (Br) and Holstein (Ho) cows and stimulated with concanavalin A differ in response to chronic exposure to incubation temperatures simulating conditions of hyperthermia. Five multiparous Br and 5 Ho cows were utilized as blood donors. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were subjected for 65 h to each of 5 treatments (T). Cells were exposed to 39°C continuously (T39) and three 13-h cycles at 40 (T40), 41 (T41), 42 (T42) or 43°C (T43), respectively, which were interspersed with two 13-h cycles at 39°C. Treatment T39 was adopted to mimic normothermia; T40, T41, T42, and T43 mimicked conditions of more severe hyperthermia alternating with normothermia. Measures evaluated at the end of the incubation period were proliferative response (DNA synthesis), intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) concentrations, and mRNA abundance of the 72-kDa heat-shock protein (Hsp72). In Br cows, DNA synthesis began to decline when PBMC were repeatedly exposed to 41°C (−22%), whereas DNA synthesis in cells isolated from Ho cows did not begin to decline until 42°C (−40%). Furthermore, under T41 and T42, DNA synthesis from Br cows was lower than in Ho(−24 and −54%, respectively). In both breeds, increased incubation temperatures caused a reduction of intracellular ROS (from −39.6 and −69.7%). Increase in incubation temperatures enhanced Hsp72 mRNA levels only in PBMC isolated from Br cows. The Hsp72 mRNA in Br cows increased significantly under T41 and T43 compared with T39. In both breeds, DNA synthesis was positively and negatively correlated with intracellular ROS and Hsp72 mRNA abundance, respectively (r = 0.85 and r = −0.70, respectively). Results indicated that PBMC from Br cows are less tolerant to chronic heat exposure than those from Ho cows, and that the lower tolerance is associated with higher expression of Hsp72, suggesting that the same level of hyperthermia may be associated with a differential decline of immune function in the 2 breeds.     

瑞士奶酪生产工艺研究

以新鲜牛乳为主要原料,根据瑞士奶酪的生产工艺,采用L9(34)正交实验的方法,研究了不同切割尺寸、发酵剂添加比例、发酵剂添加量、发酵温度和切割pH对瑞士奶酪色泽、滋气味和组织状态的影响,确定了生产瑞士奶酪的最佳工艺条件为发酵剂添加量0.02%(质量分数),凝块切割尺寸0.6cm,切割pH6.60,发酵剂(唾液链球菌嗜热亚种∶瑞士乳杆菌∶谢氏丙酸杆菌)添加比例2∶2∶1,发酵温度37℃。     

Preliminary study of ultrasonic structural quality control of Swiss-type cheese

There is demand for a new nondestructive cheese-structure analysis method for Swiss-type cheese. Such a method would provide the cheese-making industry the means to enhance process control and quality assurance. This paper presents a feasibility study on ultrasonic monitoring of the structural quality of Swiss cheese by using a single-transducer 2 MHz longitudinal mode pulse-echo setup. A volumetric ultrasonic image of a cheese sample featuring gas holes (cheese-eyes) and defects (cracks) in the scan area is presented. The image is compared with an optical reference image constructed from dissection images of the same sample. The results show that the ultrasonic method is capable of monitoring the gas-solid structure of the cheese during the ripening process. Moreover, the method can be used to detect and to characterize cheese-eyes and cracks in ripened cheese. Industrial application demands were taken into account when conducting the measurements.     

工艺过程对干酪品质及产率的影响

探讨了干酪制作过程中工艺过程、发酵剂、凝乳酶及CaCl2的添加量等对干酪产率及品质的影响,从而确定最佳工艺参数。实验结果表明:在干酪生产过程中,为了使产品的凝乳时间短、状态好、产率高,采用72℃、15s的杀菌条件,发酵剂的添加量为1.2%,预酸pH为6.1,CaCl2添加量为0.015%,凝乳酶添加量为4g/L,干酪切割时间为100min,切割大小为5mm,干酪浸渍在6℃16%的食盐水中放置24h。     

Yield and sensory properties of cheese made with milk from Holstein or Montbéliarde cows milked twice or once daily

The aim of this study was to evaluate the milk properties and the yield and sensory properties of Cantal cheese made with milk from Holstein or Montbéliarde cows milked once or twice daily. Sixty-four grazing cows [32 Holstein (H) and 32 Montbéliarde (M) cows] in the declining phase of lactation (157 d in milk) were allocated to 1 of 2 equivalent groups milked once daily (ODM) or twice daily (TDM) for 7 wk. The full-fat raw milk collected during 24 h from the 4 groups of cows (M-TDM, M-ODM, H-TDM, and H-ODM) was pooled and processed into Cantal cheese 4 times during the last 4 wk of the experimental period. In all, 16 cheeses were made (2 milking frequencies × 2 breeds × 4 replicates) and analyzed after a ripening period of 15 and 28 wk. The results showed that for both breeds, the pooled milk content of fat, whey protein, casein, total protein, and phosphorus as well as rennet clotting time and curd firming time were significantly higher with ODM cows, whereas the casein-to-total protein ratio was lower, and lactose, urea, calcium, and free fatty acids contents of milk remained unchanged. The acidification and draining kinetics of the cheese as well as cheese yields and the chemical and rheological properties of the ripened cheese were not significantly modified by milking frequency. For both breeds, the cheeses derived from ODM cows had a slightly yellower coloration but the other sensory attributes, except for pepper odor, were not significantly affected by milking frequency, thereby demonstrating that ODM does not have an adverse effect on the sensory properties of Cantal cheese. Compared with that of Holstein cows, milk from Montbéliarde cows resulted in a higher cheese yield (+1.250 kg/100 kg of milk) and ripened cheeses with lower pH, dry matter, calcium, sodium chloride, and water-soluble nitrogen concentrations. These cheeses had also a less firm and more elastic texture, a more acidic taste, and a yogurt/whey aroma.     

Effect of presence or absence of corpora lutea on milk production in East Friesian dairy ewes

The potential luteal effects on milk production were examined in dairy ewes that were not superovulated in contrast to studies using superovulated ewes. Lactating East Friesian crossbred ewes (n = 24) were synchronized using intravaginal progesterone (controlled intravaginal drug-releasing device), PGF2alpha, and gonadotropins. After ovulation, corpora lutea (CL) were counted via laparoscopy on d 4 and 11. On d 5, ewes received either saline (CLYES, n = 12) or PGF2alpha (CLNO, n = 12) to allow CL persistence (2.4 +/- 0.3 CL on d 11) or regression (0 CL on d 11), respectively. Each ewe received two CIDR d 5 to 18 to maintain high concentrations of plasma progesterone (P4) and to suppress estradiol (E2). Each ewe received PGF2alpha on d 18. Data were collected during three periods (pretreatment: d 0 to 5; treatment: d 6 to 18; posttreatment: d 19 to 25). Milk yield and milking time were recorded daily, milk samples were obtained for analyses of fat and protein, and blood samples were collected for P4 and E2 immunoassay. During treatment, CLYES ewes had higher milk yield (1.56 vs. 1.44 +/- 0.01 kg/d), milk fat (92.2 vs. 81.1 +/- 1.3 g/d), and milk protein (83.7 vs. 77.5 +/- 0.8 g/d) compared with CLNO ewes, respectively. Differences were maintained posttreatment, despite luteolysis in CLYES ewes. Estradiol concentrations did not differ between treatments and were low after d 5. Milk production was increased in East Friesian ewes in the presence of an average of 2.4 corpora lutea, an effect independent of estradiol.     

Quantitative trait loci affecting milk yield and protein percentage in a three-country Brown Swiss population

Quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping projects have been implemented mainly in the Holstein dairy cattle breed for several traits. The aim of this study is to map QTL for milk yield (MY) and milk protein percent (PP) in the Brown Swiss cattle populations of Austria, Germany, and Italy, considered in this study as a single population. A selective DNA pooling approach using milk samples was applied to map QTL in 10 paternal half-sib daughter families with offspring spanning from 1,000 to 3,600 individuals per family. Three families were sampled in Germany, 3 in Italy, 1 in Austria and 3 jointly in Austria and Italy. The pools comprised the 200 highest and 200 lowest performing daughters, ranked by dam-corrected estimated breeding value for each sire-trait combination. For each tail, 2 independent pools, each of 100 randomly chosen daughters, were constructed. Sire marker allele frequencies were obtained by densitometry and shadow correction analyses of 172 genome-wide allocated autosomal markers. Particular emphasis was placed on Bos taurus chromosomes 3, 6, 14, and 20. Marker association for MY and PP with a 10% false discovery rate resulted in nominal P-values of 0.071 and 0.073 for MY and PP, respectively. Sire marker association tested at a 20% false discovery rate (within significant markers) yielded nominal P-values of 0.031 and 0.036 for MY and PP, respectively. There were a total of 36 significant markers for MY, 33 for PP, and 24 for both traits; 75 markers were not significant for any of the traits. Of the 43 QTL regions found in the present study, 10 affected PP only, 8 affected MY only, and 25 affected MY and PP. Remarkably, all 8 QTL regions that affected only MY in the Brown Swiss, also affected MY in research reported in 3 Web-based QTL maps used for comparison with the findings of this study (http://www.vetsci.usyd.edu.au/reprogen/QTL_Map/; http://www.animalgenome.org/QTLdb/cattle.html; http://bovineqtl.tamu.edu/). Similarly, all 10 QTL regions in the Brown Swiss that affected PP only, affected only PP in the databases. Thus, many QTL appear to be common to Brown Swiss and other breeds in the databases (mainly Holstein), and an appreciable fraction of QTL appears to affect MY or PP primarily or exclusively, with little or no effect on the other trait. Although QTL information available today in the Brown Swiss population can be utilized only in a within family marker-assisted selection approach, knowledge of QTL segregating in the whole population should boost gene identification and ultimately the implementation and efficiency of an individual genomic program.     

大豆品种对双蛋白干酪得率和品质特性的影响

用8种不同品种大豆制作的豆乳与牛奶混合,按照切达干酪生产工艺制作双蛋白切达干酪,以同批次纯牛奶制作的干酪为对照组,对产品的得率、色泽、质构和感官特性等指标进行了分析和比较。实验结果表明,各组双蛋白干酪均比纯牛奶干酪的得率高,各组双蛋白干酪之间得率存在较大差异。质构测定结果表明,不同大豆品种生产的双蛋白干酪在硬度、弹性和粘聚性等指标方面具有较大差异。感官评价中,除添加小粒豆8号豆乳的双蛋白干酪带有较浓豆腥味外,其余组与对照组相差不大。相关性分析结果表明,大豆蛋白中球蛋白和β-伴球蛋白的比值(11S/7S)与双蛋白干酪的硬度和粘聚性显著相关,而大豆的蛋白含量、脂肪含量和植酸含量等指标与双蛋白干酪的品质指标无显著相关性。     

原料乳热处理条件对Mozzarella干酪品质的影响

采用3×3拉丁方试验设计,3个奶酪槽中原料乳热处理条件分别设为未杀菌,63℃(30min)杀菌,72℃(15s)杀菌。研究干酪加工中原料乳热处理条件对Mozzarella干酪的品质的影响。结果表明,未杀菌乳制干酪的蛋白水解、硬度及弹性与杀菌乳制干酪的蛋白水解、硬度及弹性值具显著差异(p<0.05),未杀菌乳制干酪的蛋白水解显著增加,弹性及硬度显著降低;63℃(30min)及72℃(15s)不同杀菌温度处理的乳制得的干酪之间蛋白水解、硬度及弹性无显著差异;不同热处理乳制干酪之间的融化性和油脂析出性在统计学上无显著差异。     

Short communication: Signs of host genetic regulation in the microbiome composition in 2 dairy breeds: Holstein and Brown Swiss

This study aimed to evaluate whether the host genotype exerts any genetic control on the microbiome composition of the rumen in cattle. Microbial DNA was extracted from 18 samples of ruminal content from 2 breeds (Holstein and Brown Swiss). Reads were processed using mothur (https://www.mothur.org/) in 16S and 18S rRNA gene-based analyses. Then, reads were classified at the genus clade, resulting in 3,579 operational taxonomic units (OTU) aligned against the 16S database and 184 OTU aligned against the 18S database. After filtering on relative abundance (>0.1%) and penetrance (95%), 25 OTU were selected for the analyses (17 bacteria, 1 archaea, and 7 ciliates). Association with the genetic background of the host animal based on the principal components of a genomic relationship matrix based on single nucleotide polymorphism markers was analyzed using Bayesian methods. Fifty percent of the bacteria and archaea genera were associated with the host genetic background, including Butyrivibrio, Prevotella, Paraprevotella, and Methanobrevibacter as main genera. Forty-three percent of the ciliates analyzed were also associated with the genetic background of the host. In total, 48% of microbes were associated with the host genetic background. The results in this study support the hypothesis and provide some evidence that there exists a host genetic component in cattle that can partially regulate the composition of the microbiome.     

Effect of goat milk composition on cheesemaking traits and daily cheese production

Cheese yield is strongly influenced by the composition of milk, especially fat and protein contents, and by the efficiency of the recovery of each milk component in the curd. The real effect of milk composition on cheesemaking ability of goat milk is still unknown. The aims of this study were to quantify the effects of milk composition; namely, fat, protein, and casein contents, on milk nutrient recovery in the curd, cheese yield, and average daily yield. Individual milk samples were collected from 560 goats of 6 different breeds. Each sample was analyzed in duplicate using the 9-laboratory milk cheesemaking assessment, a laboratory method that mimicked cheesemaking procedures, with milk heating, rennet addition, coagulation, curd cutting, and draining. Data were submitted to statistical analysis; results showed that the increase of milk fat content was associated with a large improvement of cheese yield because of the higher recovery of all milk nutrients in the curd, and thus a higher individual daily cheese yield. The increase of milk protein content affected the recovery of fat, total solids, and energy in the curd. Casein number, calculated as casein-to-protein ratio, did not affect protein recovery but strongly influenced the recovery of fat, showing a curvilinear pattern and the most favorable data for the intermediate values of casein number. In conclusion, increased fat and protein contents in the milk had an effect on cheese yield not only for the greater quantity of nutrients available but also for the improved efficiency of the recovery in the curd of all nutrients. These results are useful to improve knowledge on cheesemaking processes in the caprine dairy industry.     

Effects of composite beta- and kappa-casein genotypes on milk coagulation, quality, and yield traits in Italian Holstein cows

The aim of the study was to estimate the effect of the composite CSN2 and CSN3 genotypes on milk coagulation, quality, and yield traits in Italian Holstein cows. A total of 1,042 multiparous Holstein cows reared on 34 commercial dairy herds were sampled once, concurrently with monthly herd milk recording. The data included the following traits: milk coagulation time; curd firmness; pH and titratable acidity; fat, protein, and casein contents; somatic cell score; and daily milk, fat, and protein yields. A single-trait animal model was assumed with fixed effects of herd, days in milk, parity, composite casein genotype of CSN2 and CSN3 (CSN2-CSN3), and random additive genetic effect of an animal. The composite genotype of CSN2-CSN3 showed a strong effect on both milk coagulation traits and milk and protein yields, but not on fat and protein contents and other milk quality traits. For coagulation time, the best CSN2-CSN3 genotypes were those with at least one B allele in both the CSN2 and CSN3 loci. The CSN3 locus was associated more strongly with milk coagulation traits, whereas the CSN2 locus was associated more with milk and protein yields. However, because of the tight linkage between the 2 loci, the composite genotypes, or haplotypes, are more appropriate than the single-locus genotypes if they were considered for use in selection.     

Classification of Swiss cheese starter and adjunct cultures using Fourier transform infrared microspectroscopy

The acceptability of Swiss cheese largely depends on the flavor profile, and strain variations of cheese cultures will affect the final quality. Conventional biochemical methods to identify the cultures at the strain level are time-consuming and expensive, and require skilled labor. Our objective was to develop rapid classification methods of starter cultures at the strain level by using a combination of hydrophobic grid membrane filters and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Forty-four pulsed-field gel electrophoresis-verified strains of starter and nonstarter cultures including Streptococcus thermophilus, Propionibacterium freudenreichii, and Lactobacillus spp. were analyzed. The strains were grown on their respective agar media, transferred to broth media, and incubated. Then, cultures were centrifuged and the pellets were resuspended in saline solution (10 μL). Aliquots (2 μL) of the suspended bacterial solution were placed onto a grid of the hydrophobic grid membrane filters, having 6 grids per each strain analyzed. The dried filters were read by FTIR microspectroscopy fitted with an attenuated total reflectance probe. Collected spectra were statistically analyzed by a soft independent modeling of class analogy (SIMCA) for pattern recognition. Classification models were developed for Streptococcus thermophilus, Propionibacterium freudenreichii, and Lactobacillus spp. strains. The models showed major discrimination in the spectral region from 1,200 to 900 cm⁻¹ associated with signals from phosphate-containing compounds and various polysaccharides in the cell wall. The developed method allowed for rapid classification of several Swiss cheese starter and nonstarter cultures at the strain level. This information provides a detailed overview of microbiological status, which would enable corrective measures to be taken early in the cheese making process, limiting production of inferior quality cheese and minimizing defects. This method could be an effective tool to identify and monitor activity of cheese and other dairy starter cultures.     

原料乳中蛋白质与脂肪比例对 Mozzarella干酪品质的影响

采用3×3拉丁方试验设计,3个奶酪槽中原料乳的蛋白质与脂肪质量比分别为1∶1,1.2∶1,1.3∶1(通过添加脱脂干奶粉调整蛋白质含量)。研究蛋白质与脂肪比例对Mozzarella干酪的品质的影响。结果表明,随着原料乳中蛋白质脂肪比例的增加,干酪的含水量、油脂析出性显著降低(P<0.05),干酪的弹性显著升高(P<0.05),蛋白质与脂肪比例对Mozzarella干酪的蛋白质水解没有显著的影响。     

不同发酵剂对Mozzarella干酪品质的影响

采用嗜热链球菌和嗜热乳杆菌作为Mozzarella干酪的发酵剂，研究单一嗜热链球菌发酵剂与嗜热链球菌和嗜热乳杆菌组成的混合发酵剂对Mozzarella干酪品质的影响。结果表明，混合菌作发酵剂制得的干酪品质优于用单一嗜热链球菌作发酵剂的干酪。     

Short communication: Genetic evaluation of milking speed for Brown Swiss dairy cattle in the United States

Genetic parameters and relative breeding values were estimated for milking speed of US Brown Swiss dairy cattle. Owner-recorded milking-speed scores on a scale of 1 (slow) to 8 (fast) were collected by the Brown Swiss Association as part of its linear type appraisal program starting in 2004. Data were 7,366 records for 6,666 cows in 393 herds. The pedigree file included information for 21,458 animals born in 1985 or later. Six unknown-parent groups that each included 4 birth years were defined. The model included fixed effects for herd appraisal date and parity-lactation stage and random effects for permanent environment, animal, and error. Within parity (1, 2, and ≥3), 6 groups were defined: unknown calving date, four 90-d lactation stages, and lactations with >400 d in milk. Heritability of 0.22 and repeatability of 0.42 were estimated by average-information REML; residual variance was 1.13. Little trend in estimated breeding value was found for cows born from 1999 through 2002. Although solutions increased with lactation stage for first-parity cows by 0.37, no clear trend was found for later parities. Genetic evaluations for milking speed were expressed as relative breeding values with a mean of 100 and a standard deviation of 5. The 121 bulls with ≥10 daughters had milking speed evaluations that ranged from 83 to 112 and had correlations of 0.56 with productive life evaluations and −0.40 with somatic cell score evaluations. The association of faster milking speed with lower somatic cell score was not expected. The moderate heritability found for milking speed indicates that the evaluations (first released in May 2006) should be useful in detecting bulls with slow-milking daughters.     

Short communication: Genetic evaluation of stillbirth in US Brown Swiss and Jersey cattle

Stillbirth (SB) often results in reduced milk yield, compromised reproductive performance, and decreased dam longevity. Corrective mating can be used as a short-term solution to the problem, but long-term improvement of the population requires the routine calculation of genetic evaluations. Breeding values for SB have been available for Holstein (HO) bulls since 2006, but not for Brown Swiss (BS) or Jersey (JE) bulls. In this study, a multi-breed sire-maternal grandsire threshold model was used to perform genetic evaluations for SB of BS, JE, and HO bulls using more than 14 million purebred and crossbred calving records. Phenotypically, the percentage of SB (%SB) across all lactations were 3.7% in JE, 5.1% in BS, and 6.3% in HO. Direct heritabilities for BS, JE, and HO were 0.008, 0.007, and 0.008, and maternal heritabilities were 0.002, 0.016, and 0.021, respectively. Compared with HO, crossbred calvings from BS and JE bulls bred to HO cows lowered %SB by 1.5 and 1.2%, respectively. In general, %SB increased considerably as calving difficulty increased in all 3 breeds; however, in JE, %SB was constant for dystocia scores of 3 (needed assistance), 4 (considerable force), and 5 (extreme difficulty). Compared with purebred HO calvings, purebred BS and JE calvings had lower phenotypic %SB by up to 5.5 and 7.8%, respectively, and BS × HO and JE × HO crossbred calvings decreased %SB by up to 3.8 and 4.1%, respectively. As expected, SB rates in primiparous cows were higher than those in multiparous cows. Female calves had greater %SB than male calves in all parities for JE and in second-and-later parities for BS. Favorable (decreasing) phenotypic and genetic trends from 1999 to 2009 were observed in all 3 breeds. Heterosis of SB for BS and JE was −0.026 and −0.149, respectively, on the underlying scale, which corresponds to effects on service-sire SB (SSB) and daughter SB (DSB) predicted transmitting ability (PTA) of −0.3 and −0.5% in BS, and −1.5 and −2.7% in JE. Overall, in the current population, BS bulls had the most desirable average SSB PTA of 4.8%, compared with 5.6% for JE and 5.5% for HO. Brown Swiss and JE bulls both had average DSB PTA of 6.5%, lower than that of 7.7% in HO. Average reliabilities of SSB and DSB in 3 breeds ranged from 45 to 50%. The use of a BS-JE-HO multibreed genetic evaluation for SB in the United States is feasible, and the addition of SSB and DSB to the lifetime net merit selection index will help improve the profitability of BS and JE cattle in the United States.