Body condition scores in Israeli-Holstein cows to quantify interactions between nutrition and genotype

This investigation aimed at to analyse systematic influences on body condit ion scores (BCS) in Israeli-Holstein cows. Five kibbutz herds in Israel wer e selected for the study. The production units were situated in the coastal region of the Mediterranean. Milk production of cows was about 11,000 kg o f milk in all herds with a fat content of 3.21% and a protein content of 2. 87%. Herd size varied between 251 and 374 cows. The data recording began in October 1994 and ended in July 1995. Altogether, 770 cows of the Israeli-H olstein breed were included in the study. At 14-day-intervals condition sco res on a scale of 1 to 5 with 0.25 increments judged at lumbar region, isch ial and ileal tuberosities as well as the tail head region were recorded. E mploying LSQ-models significant systematic effects on body condition scores showed kibbutz, lactation number, calving season and stage of lactation. T he additive genetic influence of the sire on body condition scores was sign ificant. The sire's influence on postpartum loss of condition and the subse quent gain was significant, the estimated heritabilities for condition loss being between 26% and 32%, for condition gain between 13% and 19%. Differe nces among cows in body condition scores may be explained to some extent by additive genetic effects what should be taken into account in recommendati ons for sire selection.