Heritabilities and Genetic Correlations for Serum and Production Traits of Lactating Holsteins

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Abstract
Heritabilities and genetic correlations for 20 serum and 3 production traits were estimated from a single blood sample and 305-day milk, fat and protein yields from 545 lactating Holstein cows in 35 herds. Heritabilities for alkaline phosphatase, creatinine and amylase were 0.52, 0.44 and 0.43. Heritabilities were lower for blood urea N, uric acid, total protein, albumin, serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase and K. Genetic correlations between alkaline phosphatase and milk, fat and protein yields were -0.94, -0.91, and -0.89. Blood urea N, creatinine and K also had large genetic correlations with production traits. Selection for production traits by serum metabolites in lactating cows would be > 80% as efficient as direct selection.