Abstract
The present study investigated the potential consequences, positive or negative, that selection for favorable production-related traits may have on concentrations of vitamin B12 and key chemical elements in dairy cow milk and serum and the possible impact on milk healthiness, and associated benefits, for the dairy product consumer. Milk and serum samples (950 and 755, respectively) were
collected from Holstein-Friesian dairy cows (n=479) on 19 occasions over a 59-month period, generating, 258 individual records, and analyzed for concentrations of key trace and quantity elements, heavy metals, and milk vitamin B12. These data were then matched to economically important production data (milk, fat, and protein yield), and management data (dry matter intake, liveweight, and body condition score). Multivariate animal models, including full pedigree information, were used to analyze data and investigate relationships between traits of interest. Results highlighted negative genetic correlations between many quantity and trace elements in both milk and serum with production and management traits. Milk yield was strongly negatively correlated with the milk quantity elements Mg and Ca (ra = -0.58, -0.63, respectively) as well as the trace elements Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, and Mo (ra = -0.32, -0.58, -0.52, -0.40, -0.34, and -0.96, respectively); and in serum,
Mg, Ca, Co, Fe, and Zn (ra = -0.50, -0.36, -0.68, -0.54, and -0.90, respectively). Strong genetic correlations were noted between DMI with V (ra = 0.97), Fe (ra = -0.69), Ni (ra = -0.81), and Zn (ra= -0.75), and in serum, strong negative genetic correlations were observed between DMI with Ca and Se (ra = -0.95, and -0.88, respectively). Body condition score was negatively correlated with serum P, Cu, Se, and Pb (ra = -0.45, -0.35, -0.51, and -0.64, respectively), and positively correlated with Mn, Fe, and Zn (ra = 0.40, 0.71, and 0.55, respectively). Our results suggest that breeding strategies aimed at improving economically important production-related traits would most likely result in a negative impact on levels of beneficial nutrients within milk for human consumption (such as Mg, Ca, Fe, Zn, Se).
collected from Holstein-Friesian dairy cows (n=479) on 19 occasions over a 59-month period, generating, 258 individual records, and analyzed for concentrations of key trace and quantity elements, heavy metals, and milk vitamin B12. These data were then matched to economically important production data (milk, fat, and protein yield), and management data (dry matter intake, liveweight, and body condition score). Multivariate animal models, including full pedigree information, were used to analyze data and investigate relationships between traits of interest. Results highlighted negative genetic correlations between many quantity and trace elements in both milk and serum with production and management traits. Milk yield was strongly negatively correlated with the milk quantity elements Mg and Ca (ra = -0.58, -0.63, respectively) as well as the trace elements Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, and Mo (ra = -0.32, -0.58, -0.52, -0.40, -0.34, and -0.96, respectively); and in serum,
Mg, Ca, Co, Fe, and Zn (ra = -0.50, -0.36, -0.68, -0.54, and -0.90, respectively). Strong genetic correlations were noted between DMI with V (ra = 0.97), Fe (ra = -0.69), Ni (ra = -0.81), and Zn (ra= -0.75), and in serum, strong negative genetic correlations were observed between DMI with Ca and Se (ra = -0.95, and -0.88, respectively). Body condition score was negatively correlated with serum P, Cu, Se, and Pb (ra = -0.45, -0.35, -0.51, and -0.64, respectively), and positively correlated with Mn, Fe, and Zn (ra = 0.40, 0.71, and 0.55, respectively). Our results suggest that breeding strategies aimed at improving economically important production-related traits would most likely result in a negative impact on levels of beneficial nutrients within milk for human consumption (such as Mg, Ca, Fe, Zn, Se).
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 9726-9737 |
Number of pages | 12 |
Journal | Journal of Dairy Science |
Volume | 105 |
Issue number | 12 |
Early online date | 4 Oct 2022 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 1 Dec 2022 |
Bibliographical note
ACKNOWLEDGMENTSThis research, including the Langhill experiment at Crichton Dairy Research Centre, and all authors were funded by the Scottish Government Rural Affairs, Food, and the Environment Strategic Research Portfolio 2016–2021. Samples collected before 2016 were collected as part of a Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council project awarded to EW (grant no. BB/K002260/1) and TNM (grant no. BB/K002171/1). The authors gratefully acknowledge the high standard of work by all staff at Crichton Farm (Scotland's Rural College, Dumfries, Scotland) in the collection of samples and management of animals, and Ian Archibald (Scotland's Rural College, Edinburgh, Scotland) for managing the Langhill database and assisting with data extraction. The authors have not stated any conflicts of interest.
Keywords
- micronutrient
- heavy metal
- dairy cow
- production
- management data