Effects of interactions between type and milk production on survival traits of Canadian Holsteins

Effects of the interaction between type and production on two measures of functional herd life were examined for Canadian Holsteins. Data were records of survival through first lactation for 1,153,706 cows and number of lactations initiated (maximum of five lactations) for 705,930 cows. Survival data were regressed on ETA for type traits of the sire of each cow after the cows were assigned to groups with low, medium, or high production. Survival through first lactation was analyzed with a threshold model. Factors in the model included herd-year-season; age at calving; month of calving; interaction of registry status, change in herd size, and season; fat and protein production; and linear regressions of sire ETA for type within each production class. Numbers of lactations were analyzed with a linear model that also included month of last calving. Overall conformation and udder traits had the largest effects on survival through first lactation. Effects on number of lactations for feet and leg traits were about the same as for udder traits. Interactions were significant. Type traits were relatively unimportant for herd life of low producing cows. Few differences were observed in the relationships between herd life and type for medium versus high producing cows, indicating no need to increase the emphasis on type in response to current trends for greater production.