Genetic Parameters for Yields and Reproductive Traits of Chinese Holstein Cows in Heilongjiang Province

[Objective] This study aimed to estimate the genetic parameters for milk yield, fat percentage, fat yield and age at first freshening of Chinese Holsteins first lactation cows in Heilongjiang under frigid-temperature and temperature zone. [Method] Records of yield and reproduction from 8 868 Chinese Holstein first lactation cows from 21 herds were utilized to evaluate genetic parameters for Heilongjiangs’ Chinese Holsteins. Restricted maximum likelihood (REML) method was used with an animal model. [Result] The heritabilities were 0.16 to 0.34 for yields and fat percentage, 0.38 for reproduction (age at the first freshening), which were similar to estimates for temperate areas from similar methods, except for constituent percentage. Also, the estimates of genetic correlation were high between milk yield and fat yield (0.97), but were low between milk yield and fat percentage (-0.24), age at the first freshening (-0.29) and generally antagonistic. [Conclusion] Thus, estimates of genetic parameters in this frigid and frigid-temperate environment did not differ appreciably from those that occur in temperate dairy areas.