Effect of incorporation of a heat tolerance gene into dairy cattle and effect on farm profitability : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Animal Science at Massey University, Manawatū, New Zealand. EMBARGOED until further notice.
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Date
2023
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Massey University
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Abstract
Heat stress is an impediment to dairy production not only in tropical countries but also in temperate countries. In previous studies, dairy cows with a slick hair phenotype were more resistant to heat stress than cows with wild-type hair. Therefore, the incorporation of the slick hair gene, a heat tolerance gene, into dairy cows would be an opportunity to improve heat stress resistance of dairy cows, and it may also enhance productivity and profitability of dairy cows in temperate countries. The objectives of the current study were to evaluate the effect of incorporation of the slick gene into dairy cattle and the effect on farm profitability in New Zealand. Performances between the first cohort born in 2017, comprised of slick (SL) cows (n = 6) and the contemporary (CT) cows (n = 144) were compared across four production years (2019/20 to 2022/23), whilst a second cohort born in 2019, comprised of SL cows (n = 20) and the CT cows (n = 105) were compared across two production years (2021/22 and 2022/23).--Shortened abstract
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Embargoed until further notice.