Submit Manuscript

International Journal of Dairy Science

Year: 2020 | Volume: 15 | Issue: 4 | Page No.: 182-188
Facebook Twitter Digg Reddit Linkedin StumbleUpon E-mail

Article Trend

Total views 63

Authors

Giuliana Dell’Eva

Giuliana Dell’Eva

Davide Bolognini

Eleonora Iacono

Barbara Merlo

Keywords

Research Article

Embryo Transfer for Dissemination of κ-casein BB Genotype and Improvement of Milk Clotting Properties

Giuliana Dell’Eva Giuliana Dell’Eva's LiveDNA, Davide Bolognini, Eleonora Iacono and Barbara Merlo
Background and Objective: Milk production and cheese industries need to balance the genetic progress in milk yield and protein content with the need for improving milk coagulation properties and workability. Our objective was to determine how rapidly and to what extent Milk Clotting Properties (MCP) could be improved by using Embryo Transfer (ET) to increase the frequency of the κ-casein BB genotype and reducing A and E variants in an Italian Holstein herd with a low prevalence of the favorable genotype. Materials and Methods: In a herd of 352 cows, with a relatively low distribution of the favorable κ-casein BB genotype (11.0%) and poor milk clotting properties, κ-casein BB animals were superovulated (36 out of 39) and bred with SexedULTRATM sex-sorted semen of κ-casein BB bulls in order to improve milk workability and cheese yield. Forty-five embryo transfer sessions yielded 203 embryos, 108 pregnancies and 98 females, of which 89 calved and entered the first lactation. Results: Milk composition and coagulation properties differed significantly among the groups considered (p<0.05) and were more favourable for cheese-making in the groups with a higher percentage of κ-casein BB animals whose tank and pool milk samples consistently showed greater (p<0.05) fat, protein, casein and κ-casein B content and improved clotting properties with lower (p<0.05) r and k20 and higher (p<0.05) a30. Conclusion: In the relatively short period of the project, the embryo transfer program allowed the establishment of a herd whose milk has considerably improved composition and clotting properties.
PDF Fulltext XML References Citation

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *