Current selection objectives for dairy cattle breeding may be favouring cow
s that are genetically predisposed to mobilize body tissue. This may have c
onsequences for fertility since cows may resume reproductive activity only
once the nadir of negative energy balance (NEB) has passed. In this study,
we repeatedly measured food intake, live weight, milk yield and condition s
core of Holstein cattle in their first lactation. They were given either a
high concentrate or low concentrate diet and were either selected or contro
l animals for genetic merit for kg milk fat plus milk protein. Orthogonal p
olynomials were used to model each trait over time and random regression te
chniques allowed curves to vary between animals at both the genetic and the
permanent environmental levels. Breeding values for bulls were calculated
for each trait for each day of lactation. Estimates of genetic merit for en
ergy balance were calculated from combined breeding values for either (1) f
ood intake and milk yield output, or (2) live weight and condition-score ch
anges.
When estimated from daily fluxes of energy calculated from food intake and
milk output, the average genetic merit of bulls for energy balance was appr
oximately -15 MJ/day in early lactation. It became positive at about day 40
and rose to +18 MJ/day at approximately day 150. When estimated from body
energy state changes the NEB in early lactation was also -15 MJ/day. It bec
ame positive at about day 80 and then rose to a peak of +10 MJ/day. The dif
ference between the two methods may arise either because of the contributio
n of food wastage to intake measures or through inadequate predictions of b
ody lipid from equations using live weight and condition score or a combina
tion of both. Body energy mobilized in early lactation was not fully recove
red until day 200 of lactation. The results suggest that energy balance may
be estimated from changes in body energy state that can be calculated from
body weight and condition score. Since body weight can be predicted from l
inear type measures, it may be possible to calculate breeding values for en
ergy balance from national evaluations for production and type. Energy bala
nce may be more suitable as a breeding objective than persistency.