Relationships Between Sire Evaluations for Linear Type Traits and Lifetime Relative Net Income from Grade or Registered Daughters

Abstract

Relationships between sire evaluations for linear type traits and discounted relative net income were examined in Holsteins. Sire evaluations for income were determined separately for grade and registered cows, and resulting evaluations were merged with sire evaluations for linear type traits. Removal of sires with accuracies of evaluations for income, production, or type below .70 left 137 bulls with evaluations from grade and 79 with evaluations from registered daughters. Simple correlations between income and PD Dollars were .69 and .77 based on grade or registered daughters; those between income and angularity were .37 and .61, respectively. Partial correlations, adjusted for PD Dollars, were generally larger than simple correlations, positive for udder characteristics, but dissimilar for grades and registered for body traits. Prediction of income with PD Dollars and an additional type trait showed fore udder attachment, udder depth, and teat placement, each with positive regression, to be most useful in both grade and registered cows. Significant negative regressions for stature, strength, and body depth were found in grades only, and significant, positive regressions for PD Type and angularity were seen for registered cows only. Linear type traits contributed some useful information to prediction of lifetime profit after PD Dollars. However, with the exception of udder traits, traits of importance and signs of regression coefficients were not consistent between grade and registered cows.