Abstract #M59

# M59
Associations between serum total protein and genomic predicted transmitting abilities for production, fitness, and conformation in organic Holstein calves.
I. Haagen*1, L. Han1, L. Hardie1, B. Heins2, C. Dechow1, 1The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 2University of Minnesota, Morris, MN.

The objective of this study was to evaluate associations between serum total protein concentration and genomic predicted transmitting abilities (gPTA) for production, health and fertility in organic Holstein calves. Calves (n = 159) were born between January 2015 and May 2018 on 2 organic dairies. Serum total protein levels were recorded on farm and extracted from farm management software. Observations were restricted to the first 3 d following birth. Calves were genotyped (~150K markers) and received official genomic evaluations through the Council on Dairy Cattle Breeding and Holstein Association USA. Serum total protein was regressed on age (0, 1, 2, or 3 d) and the linear effect of a single gPTA; the gestation length (GL) regression also included a quadratic term. The mean serum total protein concentration for all calves was 6.54 g/dL. Production (milk, fat, and protein yields) and conformation (e.g., type, stature, strength, body depth, dairy form) gPTA were not significantly associated with serum total protein. Among fitness traits, lower gPTA for somatic cell score and higher gPTA for mastitis resistance tended (P < 0.10) to be associated with higher serum total protein whereas milk fever resistance was unfavorably associated (P < 0.05) with serum total protein. Lower daughter stillbirth (DSB) was associated (P < 0.05) with higher serum total protein. Linear and quadratic effects for GL were significantly (P < 0.05) associated with serum total protein; calves with high GL had lower serum total protein with an intermediate optimum for GL gPTA of −1. These results suggest that genetics may play a role in serum total protein concentrations in organic Holstein calves. Significant effects of traits observed near birth such as GL and DSB suggest that factors such as calf size or stress from the birthing process could influence serum total protein.

Key Words: calf health, organic, serum total protein