PREDICTION OF THE HOLSTEIN CATTLE REPRODUCTIVE FROM ANALYSIS OF THE DERMATOGLYPHICS ON MUZZLE

Abstract

At the Nasr Dairy Cattle Station, United Company for Animal Resources Ltd., Al-Soueira (50 km south of Baghdad), (246) Holstein cows were randomly selected out from the herd. The aim of this study was to recognize the dermatoglyphics on the muzzle, the photography and a special computer programs were used to analysis the dermatoglyphics, were Simple Arch (SA), Fork (F), Enclosure (E), Islands (I), Short Ridges (SR) and Muzzle Width (MW) were recorded. A prediction relationship between dermatoglyphics and some reproductive traits {period from calving to service (PCS), service per conception (SPC), and calving interval (CI)}, genetic parameters estimate, the (246) Holstein cows at the station were evaluated genetically as to their (MW). Regression coefficient of some reproductive traits on dermatoglyphics, were significantly (positive or negative).