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Archive for longevity

The Crucial Role of Health Traits in Dairy Cattle Breeding

Saturday, August 31st, 2024

Learn how focusing on health traits in dairy cattle breeding can elevate your dairy production. Ready to improve herd health and optimize your farm’s potential?

Summary: Dairy cattle breeding is a multifaceted endeavor where health traits play a crucial role in ensuring the long-term viability and productivity of herds. Understanding the significance of these traits—which encompass factors such as mastitis resistance, fertility, and hoof health—enables farmers to make informed decisions that optimize animal welfare and economic returns. By integrating genetic selection and advanced breeding strategies, dairy farmers can enhance not only the health and longevity of their cattle but also operational profitability. Prioritizing health traits in breeding programs ensures herd productivity and well-being, with genetic selection methods offering significant economic benefits.

  • Health traits are essential for the sustainability and productivity of dairy herds.
  • Key health traits include mastitis resistance, fertility, and hoof health.
  • Informed breeding decisions can enhance animal welfare and economic performance.
  • Integrating genetic selection and advanced breeding strategies improves health and profitability.
  • Prioritizing health traits in breeding programs boosts herd productivity and well-being.
  • Genetic selection methods offer notable economic advantages for dairy farming operations.
health features, dairy cow breeding, disease resistance, somatic cell count, fertility, ease of calving, dairy farmers, welfare, commercial sustainability, profitability, mastitis prevention, herd health, production rates, financial stability, metabolic health, successful breeding operations, physiological processes, longevity, general health, adaptation, productivity, well-being, genetic problems, Estimated Breeding Values, genomic selection, economic benefits, farmers

Technology advances and forward-thinking breeding practices have traditionally driven the dairy industry’s progress. Yet, in our unwavering pursuit of better genetics and maximum yields, have we potentially jeopardized the health and well-being of our dairy herds? As industry stewards, we must approach this critical issue with uncompromising vigilance. This essay discusses health features in dairy cow breeding and encourages dairy producers to reconsider their objectives and approaches. From disease resistance and lifespan to fertility and ease of calving, we’ll examine how these characteristics affect your dairy’s production, ethical criteria, and economic sustainability. Before digging further, one must ask: what are health qualities, and why are they important? How should these features be included in a contemporary, ethical dairy breeding framework? Your choices and actions may significantly impact the health and welfare of your dairy herds. Please reflect on your activities and envisage a new future for dairy farming, one in which health qualities are central to your operations, promising significant economic gains that can enhance your business’s profitability.

Understanding Health Traits in Dairy Cattle:

Understanding health features in dairy cattle necessitates thoroughly examining the many variables that impact bovine health and well-being. These health features include a variety of criteria, including disease resistance, which refers to cattle’s capacity to fight or recover from infections without requiring significant medical intervention. A high level of disease resistance can significantly reduce the occurrence of common illnesses like mastitis, thereby improving the overall health and productivity of your dairy herd. The somatic cell count (SCC) is vital since it indicates milk quality and udder health. Elevated SCC levels typically indicate the presence of mastitis, a common illness in dairy cows. This impacts the cows’ health and the quality of their milk. Reducing SCC is critical for enhancing both milk quality and animal health.

More than 60% of dairy producers now consider health features in their breeding selections. This is a substantial change in the business, suggesting a growing appreciation for the relevance of health attributes in dairy cow breeding. The incidence of mastitis, or the frequency of mastitis infections, is another important health factor. Mastitis prevention is critical for herd health, maximizing production rates, and ensuring financial stability.

Metabolic health and fertility are both critical components in successful breeding operations. Metabolic health maintains the balance of physiological processes, while fertility directly influences reproductive success, herd sustainability, and farm scalability. Longevity, representing dairy cattle’s lifetime and productive period, assesses general health, disease resistance, and adaptation. Cattle that are resistant to mastitis or lameness tend to live longer. Dairy farmers who properly grasp these health qualities are better able to combine high milk outputs with functional traits associated with adaptability, welfare, and resilience—a need in today’s developing dairy sector.

Understanding Health Traits for Herd Management:

Exploring this critical subject, the link between health features and herd management becomes apparent. As a dairy farmer, it’s your responsibility to prioritize health as the first goal. The welfare of your cows is not just an ethical issue but also a foundation for your farm’s commercial sustainability and profitability. By understanding and managing health traits effectively, you can be proactive in ensuring the productivity and well-being of your herd.

Furthermore, breeding for health features considerably improves the herd’s resilience. Approximately 50% of dairy cow problems are genetic. Robust cows have increased tolerance to the infections that plague agricultural areas, reducing the frequency and severity of debilitating ailments. This immediately boosts the dairy farm’s profits. Failing to include health features in breeding techniques risks the agricultural enterprise’s economic survival.

Prioritizing health features improves cattle well-being while increasing farm output and profitability. However, it is crucial to understand that the procedure may include inevitable trade-offs or problems. Should dairy farming experts prioritize health features in their breeding programs? Such a focus improves our cattle, enhances our companies, and boosts the sector.

Economic Impact of Health Traits:

Consider the severe financial consequences when dairy cattle’s health features are impaired. Specific health abnormalities cause significant economic disruptions on dairy farms, primarily by influencing key factors, including milk outputs, culling rates, treatment costs, and overall reproductive efficiency. Can you understand the depth of such economic upheaval? Genetic selection for health qualities may save veterinarian expenditures up to 30%. Let us examine this subject more attentively. Consider a dairy farm where existing health concerns cause a decrease in milk yield. As a result, these health issues need expensive treatments, which raise veterinarian costs—a tremendously unfavorable and onerous condition for any dairy farm. Wouldn’t you agree?

Secondary economic consequences include decreased reproductive efficiency, which slows herd growth rates and, eventually, limits milk production capacity. These circumstances burden the farm’s financial resources, significantly reducing profitability. Improving health features may boost milk supply by 10- 25%. But what if we reversed this situation? What if we made purposeful steps to improve the health features of dairy cattle? Isn’t this an issue worth considering? Improved health features might significantly reduce veterinarian expenditures, easing economic stresses. However, realizing that this may need some upfront expenses or fees is crucial.

Preventing diseases would minimize milk production losses, opening the door to enhanced economic success. Cows with more significant health features generate higher-quality milk containing up to 15% more protein. Furthermore, breakthroughs in health features may extend cows’ productive lifespans. This eliminates the need for early culling and increases herd profitability over time. Spending time, effort, and money on enhancing health features may provide significant economic advantages to dairy farms. It is critical to examine the long-term benefits of these investments.

Genetic Selection for Health Traits:

In the fast-changing dairy business, the introduction of genetic selection methods, notably Estimated Breeding Values (EBVs) and genomic selection, represents a significant opportunity for farmers. These techniques allow you to select and propagate cattle with better genetic qualities, particularly health aspects. This not only improves breeding operations but also promises significant economic benefits, giving you a reason to be optimistic and motivated about the future of your farm.

EBVs decode cattle genetic potential, revealing animals’ hidden skills regarding their offspring’s health and production. This essential information enables farmers to make educated decisions, improving the overall health of individual cattle and herds. The advent of genomic selection ushers in a new age of breeding technology, diving deeply into the inner elements of an animal’s genetic architecture. Genomic prediction allows for the exact discovery and use of critical DNA variations that anticipate an animal’s phenotype with unprecedented precision and dependability, considerably beyond the capabilities of older approaches.

The combined use of these genetic selection approaches has transformed breeding programs worldwide, pushing the search for improved health qualities in dairy cows. Identifying genetic markers connected to improved health features and smoothly incorporating them into breeding goals, which was previously a substantial problem, has become an opportunity for further improvement. This thorough attention to health features improves animal well-being and increases their resistance to disease risks.

Selection Indexes in Breeding Programs

Beyond single feature selection, the complex domain of selection indexes offers a balanced improvement of genetic value. Preventable illnesses account for around 40% of dairy cow mortality, underscoring the need for such comprehensive measures. Selection indices promote overall genetic development by assessing each trait’s unique quality against its economic value and potential genetic benefits. This technique goes beyond isolated changes, generating cumulative improvement across productivity and health qualities while ensuring that each trait’s costs and benefits are matched.

Globally, breeding initiatives are changing toward pioneering features like disease resistance, animal welfare, longevity, and even methane emission reductions. This more extensive approach predicts a future in which animal agriculture progresses from just economic to sustainable and ethical, with a strong emphasis on health features. The financial calculation is carefully addressed to ensure that the costs and benefits of each attribute are balanced.

Europe, a pioneer in this field, is pushing the boundaries of genetic selection for these cutting-edge features, even while worldwide acceptance remains restricted. This poses an important question: will we use the chance to improve the performance of breeding programs by using more extensive and innovative selection indexes?

Heritability of Health Traits

Understanding the heritability of health characteristics is critical in dairy cow breeding. Heritability estimations reveal the fraction of genetic variation that contributes to the observed differences in these qualities among individuals. According to research, heritability estimates for handling temperament features in dairy cattle are relatively high, indicating the importance of genetic variables. As a result, these qualities play an important role in complete multi-trait selection programs, with the potential to improve cattle temperament during handling and milking.

The heritability estimates for maternal and temperament qualities range from low to moderate, indicating a good opportunity for genetic improvement via selective breeding. Modern breeding programs have focused on the genetic examination of health features, using contemporary approaches like likelihood and Bayesian analysis to estimate exact heritability. These are essential for maximizing herd health and production.

While genetics are essential, environmental and managerial variables must also be addressed. Even if a cow is genetically inclined to excellent features, adequate management may prevent it from failing. As a result, the integration of gene selection and best practices in livestock management is critical. How can industry experts use cattle’s genetic potential to increase dairy output and improve animal welfare? As we better understand the complex interaction between genetics and the environment, the answer to this question will define the dairy industry’s future.

Balancing Health Traits with Productivity Traits:

Dairy producers have a recurring issue in balancing the economic imperatives of high milk output and the overall health of their cows. Can these seemingly opposing goals be reconciled to provide mutual benefits? The unambiguous answer is yes. One must examine the complex interaction between dairy cattle’s health and productive attributes to understand this. Undoubtedly, increasing milk output is critical to profitability in dairy farming. However, focusing just on production qualities may mistakenly neglect cow health and well-being, jeopardizing sustainability and herd productivity.

Addressing this complicated dilemma requires consciously incorporating health features into breeding choices. Dairy producers may adopt a more holistic method for choosing ideal genetic combinations by equally weighing health robustness and production qualities. Emphasizing traits such as adaptation, welfare, and resilience broadens breed selection criteria, fostering a more balanced and resilient herd. Optimizing animal health cultivates a sustainable future in which high productivity is achieved without sacrificing essential health traits.

For dairy producers who want to develop a sustainable and profitable enterprise, combining health qualities and production must go beyond lip service and become the cornerstone of successful farming. This breeding method represents a deep awareness of the interrelationship of health and profitability, anticipating a farming future that preserves the integrity of health features while maintaining high production in dairy cattle.

Considerations for Breeding Programs:

Adding health features into breeding plans requires a cautious and methodical approach in dairy cow breeding. These factors must be founded on the dairy producer’s individual management goals, environmental circumstances, and market needs. Isn’t developing a tailored and context-specific approach for managing breeding programs necessary?

Furthermore, advances in genetic evaluations are changing our approach to health features in cow breeding since these programs emphasize genetic assessments for health characteristics. Interesting. Isn’t it true that, although some breeding programs have made significant strides in integrating these qualities into their goals, the path to complete improvement is still ongoing? Genetic improvement techniques strive to maximize selection contributions while minimizing inbreeding. Balancing genetic advantages with the negative repercussions of inbreeding is not something to take lightly. Conscientious dairy producers use mitigation strategies, such as mating software and extension professional advice, to conserve genetic variety while assuring continual genetic progress. Aren’t these tactics essential for preserving genetic diversity while making steady evolutionary progress?

Establishing more complex and productive breeding programs relies on a pragmatic approach to animal breeding that prioritizes animal welfare. The redefining of selection indices and breeding objectives is becoming more critical, requiring incorporating qualities associated with animal welfare, health, resilience, longevity, and environmental sustainability. Thus, it is evident that dairies’ long-term viability depends on breeding goals that improve animal health and welfare, productive efficiency, environmental impact, food quality, and safety, all while attempting to limit the loss of genetic variety.

Collaboration with Breeding Experts and Genetic Suppliers:

Strong partnerships with breeding specialists, genetic suppliers, and veterinarians unlock a wealth of in-depth expertise, giving dairy producers tremendous benefits. These stakeholders provide access to critical genetic data, fundamental breeding values, and cutting-edge genomic techniques for health trait selection. However, it is vital to question whether we are leveraging this enormous pool of experience.

Collaboration with industry experts undoubtedly leads to a more specialized and successful breeding plan that addresses your herd’s health and production requirements. Nonetheless, the interaction between farmers and consultants goes beyond selecting the best breeding stock and treating illnesses. A dynamic and ongoing discussion with these specialists may aid in the early detection of possible problems, breed-specific features, and preventive health concerns. Consider inbreeding, for example. Are we completely aware of the hazards connected with it, as well as the various mitigation strategies? Have we optimized the use of mating software systems, using the expertise of extension professionals to guide these efforts?

Recent advances in genetic testing have created tremendous potential for selective breeding to treat congenital impairments and illnesses. Here, too, close contact with industry specialists is essential. But how often do we push ourselves to keep up with these advancements and actively incorporate them into our breeding programs? Is the secret to a healthier and more productive herd within our grasp, requiring only our aggressive pursuit of these opportunities?

The Bottom Line

The relevance of health qualities is prominent in the great mosaic of dairy cow breeding. This initiative reflects an ongoing journey of exploration, understanding, and application. Our joint responsibility is to use the knowledge gained from previous experiences, moving us toward a future that offers more profitability and higher ethical standards for all stakeholders.

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Categories : Dairy Cattle Breeding Strategies
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The Goldilocks Principle: The Impact of Prepartum Body Condition on Dairy Cows’ Health and Yield

Wednesday, July 24th, 2024

Find out how pre-calving body condition affects dairy cows‘ health and milk yield. Are your cows ready for peak production? Please read our latest article to learn more.

If you’ve ever wondered why some cows produce more milk than others, the answer might be their body condition score (BCS) before calving. A new University of Florida, research of 427 multiparous Holstein cows, emphasizes the relevance of prepartum BCS. The study discovered that a moderate prepartum BCS (3.25-3.75) improves dry matter intake (DMI), energy balance (EB), and milk supply – The Goldilocks Principle. Cows with a moderate BCS ingested more dry matter and had a better energy balance, increasing milk production. For dairy producers, this data may help you improve herd performance and profitability by enhancing your cows’ prepartum BCS.

The Critical Role of Body Condition Score in Dairy Cow Management 

The Body Condition Score (BCS) is an essential metric dairy producers use to determine how much fat a cow has on its body. This evaluation helps to define a cow’s health, nutritional state, and general well-being. BCS is usually assessed on a scale of one to five, with one suggesting malnourished cows and five indicating obese ones.  Here’s a closer look at how BCS is determined and its significance: 

  • How BCS is Measured: Farmers often use a visual and tactile assessment to measure BCS. This involves observing and feeling specific areas of the cow’s body, such as the loin, ribs, and tailhead. Tools like portable ultrasound backfat instruments can also provide a more precise measurement.
  • Categories of BCS:
    • Fat (BCS ≥ 4.00): These cows have excess body fat, which can negatively impact dry matter intake (DMI) and energy balance (EB).
    • Moderate (BCS = 3.25–3.75): Ideally, these cows have balanced body fat, promoting optimal health and productivity. They are less prone to metabolic issues postpartum.
    • Thin (BCS ≤ 3.00): Cows with low body fat may struggle with energy reserves, affecting their ability to maintain milk production and overall health.

Maintaining the correct BCS, especially before calving, is crucial for several reasons: 

  • Energy Balance: Cows with a moderate BCS generally have a better energy balance pre- and postpartum, which supports higher milk yield.
  • Health and Longevity: Proper BCS reduces the risk of metabolic disorders and enhances the cow’s overall health, leading to greater longevity in the herd.
  • Reproductive Performance: Cows with an appropriate BCS have better reproductive performance, vital for maintaining an efficient and productive dairy operation.

Monitoring BCS is critical for dairy producers to guarantee their cows’ maximum health and output. Regular examinations and dietary modifications based on BCS may considerably enhance cow outcomes and dairy farm performance.

Optimizing Nutritional Intake and Energy Balance Through Prepartum Body Condition Score Management 

Body Condition Score CategoryDry Matter Intake (kg/d)Energy Balance (Mcal/d)
Fat (BCS ≥ 4.00)9.97 ± 0.21-4.16 ± 0.61
Moderate (BCS = 3.25–3.75)11.15 ± 0.14-1.20 ± 0.56
Thin (BCS ≤ 3.00)11.92 ± 0.220.88 ± 0.62

When examining the prepartum phase, the association between Body Condition Score (BCS) and both Dry Matter Intake (DMI) and Energy Balance (EB) provides essential information for dairy management. Higher fat BCS (≥ 4.00) corresponds with lower DMI before calving, perhaps leading to nutritional shortfall. These cows had a prepartum DMI of about 9.97 kg/day. Cows with an intermediate BCS (3.25–3.75) had a more balanced intake of 11.15 kg/day, whereas skinny cows (≤ 3.00) had the greatest DMI of 11.92 kg/day. This variation in feed intake has a considerable influence on EB, with obese cows suffering the most significant negative energy balance (-4.16 Mcal/day), moderate cows sustaining a less severe deficit (-1.20 Mcal/day), and thin cows obtaining a nearly neutral balance (0.88 Mcal/day). These data highlight the need to keep cows at a moderate BCS prepartum to maximize their nutrition and energy condition, resulting in improved health and production after calving.

Postpartum Nutritional Challenges Tied Directly to Prepartum Body Condition 

Body Condition ScorePostpartum Dry Matter Intake (kg/day)Postpartum Energy Balance (Mcal/day)
Fat (≥ 4.00)14.35 ± 0.49-12.77 ± 0.50
Moderate (3.25–3.75)15.47 ± 0.38-10.13 ± 0.29
Thin (≤ 3.00)16.09 ± 0.47-6.14 ± 0.51

Prepartum body condition score (BCS) has a significant impact on postpartum dry matter intake (DMI) and energy balance (EB), with striking disparities reported between cows of different BCS categories after calving. When cows were categorized as fat, moderate, or thin, the fat cows had the lowest DMI postpartum, eating an average of 14.35 kg/day, compared to 15.47 kg/day for moderate cows and 16.09 kg/day for thin cows.

The ramifications of these differences are enormous. Fat cows had a decreased feed intake and a considerably negative EB, with an average deficit of -12.77 Mcal/day. This starkly contrasts intermediate cows (-10.13 Mcal/day) and lean cows (-6.14 Mcal/day). This negative EB in more giant cows underlines a vital issue: excessive prepartum BCS may significantly limit postpartum feed intake and energy balance, affecting overall health and production.

While skinny cows had the greatest postpartum DMI and the lowest negative EB, suggesting improved nutritional adaptation after calving, obese cows suffered the most. Moderate BCS cows, conversely, struck a compromise, achieving appropriate feed intake while maintaining tolerable EB deficits directly related to better lactations and increased milk supply.

Balancing Act: The Quadratic Impact of Prepartum Body Condition Score on Milk Yield

Body Condition Score (BCS)Daily Milk Yield (kg)28 Day Cumulative Milk Yield (kg)
2.5 to 3.0Increased by 6.0 kg147 kg more
3.5 to 4.0Decreased by 4.4 kg116 kg less

Analyzing the link between prepartum body condition score (BCS) and milk production indicates a complex quadratic relationship. The research found a significant boost in milk production with a modest rise in prepartum BCS from 2.5 to 3.5. This increase was related to a considerable increase in daily milk supply, improving lactation performance by 6.0 kg per day and resulting in a staggering 28-day total milk gain of 147 kg. However, this favorable tendency reverses when prepartum BCS rises from 3.5 to 4.5. In such cases, milk output starts to fall, as demonstrated by a 4.4 kg drop in daily yield and a 116 kg loss during the first 28 days post-calving. These findings highlight the need to maintain a moderate BCS in the range of 3.25 to 3.75 before calving to improve milk supply while avoiding the double-edged sword of an elevated condition score, which ultimately impedes lactation results.

The Goldilocks Principle: Striking the Perfect Balance with Pre-Calving BCS for Optimal Milk Yield 

Body Condition Score (BCS)Outcome on Lactation
≤ 3.0 (Thin)Lower DMI, lower energy balance, suboptimal milk yield
3.25 – 3.75 (Moderate)Optimal DMI, balanced energy levels, higher milk yield
≥ 4.0 (Fat)Lower DMI, negative energy balance, reduced milk yield

Dairy cows’ milk output is closely related to their body condition score (BCS) before calving. The researchers discovered a quadratic association between prepartum BCS and subsequent milk output. As BCS climbs from 2.5 to 3.5, milk output improves significantly, with a daily milk yield gain of 6.0 kg and a total 28-day milk yield boost of 147 kg. This highlights the necessity of maintaining an appropriate BCS to increase output. Pushing BCS above this ideal range (3.5 to 4.5) reduces milk output by 4.4 kg per day and 116 kg per 28 days. This decline is most likely caused by excessive fat storage, which impairs metabolic efficiency and general health and negatively influences milk supply. As a result, dairy producers who want to maximize milk output while protecting their herds’ health and well-being must strive for a moderate prepartum BCS (preferably between 3.25 and 3.75).

The Goldilocks Principle: Striking the Perfect Balance with Pre-Calving BCS for Optimal Milk Yield 

Maintaining cows in the moderate BCS range is essential for optimizing milk yield and ensuring cows’ overall health. Here are some practical tips to help you effectively monitor and manage BCS in your herds: 

  1. Regular BCS Assessments: Schedule routine BCS evaluations every two weeks through the transition period. Utilize a standardized scoring system to ensure consistency. Engage trained personnel with practical experience in academic and commercial settings to conduct these assessments, as accuracy is crucial.
  2. Balanced Nutrition: Ensure your cows’ diet is formulated to meet their nutritional needs without overfeeding energy-dense feeds. Aim for a diet that supports moderate BCS (3.25 to 3.75). If a cow’s BCS falls below 3.0, increase energy intake through quality forage and concentrates.
  3. Strategic Feeding: Implement a feeding strategy that caters to cows’ dietary needs at different stages. For prepartum cows, provide easily digestible, high-fiber feeds to promote a steady increase in dry matter intake (DMI). Postpartum cows require a high-energy, high-protein diet to support weight maintenance and milk production.
  4. Monitor Dry Matter Intake (DMI): Record the daily DMI to evaluate nutritional intake accurately. Low DMI can be a sign of overfeeding energy prepartum, leading to postpartum complications, including lower milk yield and poor energy balance.
  5. Adjust Feeding Practices: If cows show signs of becoming excessively fat (BCS>3.75), reduce their energy intake by adjusting the concentrate levels. Conversely, thinner cows (BCS<3.0) may require supplemental feeding with energy-rich diets to bring them within the moderate range.
  6. Stress Management: Mitigate stress factors such as overcrowding, abrupt dietary changes, and poor housing conditions. Stress can adversely affect feed intake and, consequently, BCS.
  7. Consult a Nutritionist: Work with a dairy nutritionist to design and periodically review ration formulations. A nutritionist can provide insights into balancing forages, grains, and supplements for different cow groups based on their BCS and production stage.

By closely monitoring and managing BCS through tailored nutrition and feeding strategies, you can help your cows maintain optimal health and productivity and ensure a successful lactation period.

The Bottom Line

Maintaining a moderate body condition score (BCS) three weeks before calving is critical for maximum milk output and herd health. This balance improves dry matter intake (DMI) and energy balance (EB), affecting productivity and well-being. Cows with a moderate BCS (3.25 to 3.75) produce more milk than thinner and fatter cows and have fewer health risks. Cows in this range have better dietary habits, higher energy balance, and fewer postpartum illnesses. Dairy producers should emphasize frequent BCS monitoring before calving. Precise feeding and evaluations may help increase milk supply and herd health. They are keeping cows in the ‘Goldilocks zone’ of moderate BCS results in a healthier, more productive dairy farm. Let us keep our cows healthy and sustain our livelihoods.

Key Takeaways:

  • Prepartum Body Condition Score (BCS) has a significant impact on both prepartum and postpartum Dry Matter Intake (DMI) and Energy Balance (EB).
  • Cows with a moderate BCS at 21 days before calving exhibit optimal DMI and EB, and achieve higher milk yield compared to those with thin or fat BCS.
  • Fat cows tend to have lower DMI and EB both prepartum and postpartum, impacting their overall lactation performance negatively.
  • Moderate BCS cows maintain a better balance in energy, leading to improved milk production and better health outcomes.
  • Thin cows, while having higher DMI, do not necessarily translate this into higher milk yields and may face energy balance issues.
  • A quadratic relationship exists between BCS and milk yield, where both very low and very high BCS can be detrimental.
  • Proper management of BCS can mitigate health issues and improve reproductive performance and pregnancy rates in dairy cows.

Summary:

A study by the University of Florida has found that a moderate prepartum body condition score (BCS) can significantly improve dairy cow management. The BCS measures a cow’s health, nutritional state, and overall well-being. Cows with a moderate BCS consume more dry matter and have better energy balance, increasing milk production. This data can help dairy producers improve herd performance and profitability by enhancing their cows’ prepartum BCS. Maintaining the correct BCS, especially before calving, is crucial for energy balance, health, longevity, and reproductive performance. Regular examinations and dietary modifications based on BCS can significantly enhance cow outcomes and dairy farm performance. Maintaining cows in the moderate BCS range is essential for optimizing milk yield and ensuring overall health.

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DFC Research Review 2023: Breakthroughs and Future Directions in Dairy Science IRCs

Monday, July 8th, 2024

Learn about the newest discoveries in dairy science! How are IRCs making cattle healthier, happier, and more sustainable? Check out DFC’s 2023 research highlights now. 

The development of the dairy sector depends on creativity and conquering new difficulties. How can we guarantee that dairy farming’s bright future will be sustainable? The successes and opportunities of Industrial Research Chairs (IRCs) in dairy research are discussed along with future possibilities in this paper. Spending $2 million yearly in research, the Dairy Farmers of Canada (DFC) works with the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) and many partners. With an eye on essential areas such as dairy cow health, welfare, longevity, infectious illness, and biosecurity, this funding supports the National Dairy Research Strategy. Acknowledging these IRCs emphasizes their role in determining the direction of dairy production.

See full report here DFC 2023 research highlights report, 

Fueling Innovation: DFC’s $2 Million Annual Investment Elevates Dairy Research and Industry Contributions. 

Every year, the Dairy Farmers of Canada (DFC) commits $2 million to progress dairy production research, human health, and nutrition. This significant investment illustrates DFC’s dedication to creativity and improvement of the dairy sector’s social contributions. By focusing these funds on scientific research, DFC hopes to provide practical solutions benefiting consumers and industry stakeholders.

The National Dairy Research Strategy is the core of these initiatives. It’s a framework that identifies important topics of investigation. This approach prioritizes sustainability, human nutrition, and dairy cow health and welfare, among other things. The aim is to support sustainable dairy production, lower health hazards, and emphasize the nutritional value of dairy products.

To finance initiatives tackling significant problems and grabbing fresh possibilities, DFC works with top academic institutions, business partners, and government organizations. This deliberate method guarantees that research produces practical applications, promotes industrial development, and improves public welfare. Thus, the National Dairy Research Strategy dramatically enhances the resilience and competitiveness of Canada’s dairy industry.

Industrial Research Chairs: Catalysts for Progress through Collaborative Research 

Industrial Research Chairs (IRCs) are vital in advancing the dairy sector by encouraging cooperation. Supported by academic institutions, industry partners, and government agencies such as the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) and the Dairy Farmers of Canada (DFC), IRCs address high-priority dairy sector challenges through focused research projects.

IRCs’ power is in organizing many research initiatives within a shared framework. Leading networks spanning scientists, veterinarians, industry leaders, and legislators by chairholders and subject-matter experts help. This convergence of many points of view directs research activities to address sector problems.

Dairy sector concerns, including dairy cow health, welfare, biosecurity, and sustainability, rank highest among IRCs. Through a diverse strategy, they create creative ideas for application in the sector, fostering resilience and ongoing development.

Moreover, knowledge translation and transfer (KTT) depends much on IRCs. They provide study results to dairy producers, consultants, and industry players through podcasts, webinars, and trade magazines. This guarantees that the most recent scientific developments are practical and readily available, promoting the dairy sector’s expansion and sustainability.

Transforming Dairy Health: The Five-Year NSERC IRC on Infectious Diseases in Dairy Cattle, Led by Dr. Herman Barkema at the University of Calgary (2019-2024) 

Under Dr. Herman Barkema of the University of Calgary (2019–2024), the five-year NSERC IRC on Infectious Illnesses in Dairy Cattle aimed to change how infectious illnesses are handled in the dairy sector. This project sought to improve herd health, welfare, and production using innovative research and pragmatic solutions.

The IRC tackled significant problems with an eye toward:

  • Knowing Johne’s disease’s epidemiology, diagnosis, and control strategies helps one.
  • We are developing early identification, prevention, and treatment plans for mastitis.
  • Investigating use trends and advocating sensible substitutes help to address antimicrobial resistance.
  • Veterinarian-Farmer Communication: Increasing dialogue can help to guide decisions and control diseases.
  • We are examining how outdoor access affects illness frequency and the general state of health.

The effort produced noteworthy results that shaped policies and best practices throughout the dairy industry. For instance, the IRC on Infectious Diseases in Dairy Cattle, led by Dr. Herman Barkema, significantly improved herd health, welfare, and production. The cooperative research strategy reinforced strong linkages between academics, on-farm applications, and industry stakeholders, promoting a resilient and health-conscious dairy sector.

Using DFC’s knowledge-translation tools, industry conferences, and scientific publications, results from this IRC have been extensively disseminated to guarantee significant distribution throughout the Canadian dairy scene.

25 Years of Advancement: Celebrating UBC Animal Welfare Program’s Groundbreaking Contributions

Approaching a significant turning point in animal care, the UBC Animal Care Program has advanced astonishingly during the last 25 years. Under the direction of Dr. Dan Weary and Dr. Marina von Keyserlingk, this project has been instrumental in raising dairy cow welfare and standards both here at home and abroad. Their studies have addressed problems like lameness, social housing, pasture access, and pain treatment, laying a scientific basis for optimum standards. By their committed work, Drs. Weary and von Keyserlingk have greatly improved animal welfare in the dairy sector, highlighting science and activism’s transforming potential.

Under Dr. Elsa Vasseur’s direction of the NSERC/Novalait/DFC/Valacta IRC on the sustainable life of dairy cattle (2016–22), three main topics surfaced: cow comfort and management, cow longevity, and environmental sustainability. Emphasizing cow comfort, Vasseur upgraded bedding, housing, and social interactions to raise cow welfare, health, and production.

Regarding cow lifetime, her studies focused on management and genetic elements to increase dairy cow productivity. Voseur sought to keep cows healthy for longer by tackling health problems and stresses.

Vasseur investigated environmentally friendly methods like waste management and resource-efficient feeding techniques to lessen the impact of dairy production. This harmonic approach underlined the junction of environmental issues and animal welfare.

Now co-chairing the WELL-E Research Chair (2023–28) with Abdoulaye Baniré Diallo, Vasseur is pioneering sophisticated informatics and artificial intelligence to further improve animal welfare and lifespan. This creative project marks a daring step toward a more ethical and environmentally friendly dairy sector.

Pioneering Biosecurity in Dairy: Leadership of Simon Dufour and Juan Carlos Arango Sabogal at Université de Montréal

Launched in 2020, the five-year RC in biosecurity of dairy production is led by Simon Dufour and Juan Carlos Arango Sabogal of the Université de Montréal’s veterinary medicine school. Focusing on biosecurity, diagnostics, and disease management to limit economic losses, safeguard animal welfare, and reduce public health and environmental consequences, this program offers dairy producers techniques to avoid and treat infectious illnesses.

Developing protocols and best practices for biosecurity measures helps this topic be pragmatic and reasonably priced. Good biosecurity strategies help protect herd health, increasing general farm output.

Advanced diagnostics are vital. By improving disease detection and identification and using new techniques and technology for consistent findings, farmers can react quickly and effectively to health hazards.

Researching and using creative illness monitoring and management strategies is essential. The aim is to establish a solid basis for disease prevention, quick reaction to outbreaks, and ongoing farm practice improvement.

Through its targeted topics and cooperative leadership, this research project seeks to provide the Canadian dairy sector with the necessary information and instruments to improve farm sustainability and animal welfare.

Bridging the Gap: Knowledge Translation and Transfer (KTT) Tools for Dairy Industry

DFC created Knowledge Translation and Transfer (KTT) technologies to close the distance between innovative research and helpful applications. These instruments guarantee quick acceptance of innovations and best practices by efficiently distributing research results to dairy farmers, on-farm advisors, and industry stakeholders. KTT technologies simplify challenging scientific data to help stakeholders improve operations and make evidence-based choices.

KTT tools exist in many readily available forms meant to meet diverse needs:

  • Podcasts are audio recordings with insights from top professionals, perfect for on-the-job learning.
  • Visually pleasing images are stressing essential lessons and valuable applications.
  • Short, exciting films called animated videos help to make study topics enjoyable and remembered.
  • Trade Publications: Research results and practical advice shared in sector magazines.
  • Webinars are interactive online lectures, including research presentations, and are accompanied by Q&A sessions.

Dairy Farmers of Canada guarantees significant research findings are accessible and practical by using these various KTT methods, enabling stakeholders to apply changes that propel the sector ahead.

The Bottom Line

The Dairy Farmers of Canada (DFC) spends $2 million yearly on research; Industrial Research Chairs (IRCs) have transforming power. Given substantial financing and partnerships, these projects are essential for promoting dairy health, welfare, and sustainability. Advances in infectious disease management, animal welfare, sustainability, and biosecurity show their relevance. Strong and sustainable dairy depends on a dedication to academic quality, pragmatic innovation, and stakeholder cooperation via IRCs. We must keep supporting these essential research initiatives even as we honor these successes. With constant investment and effort, we can ensure a bright future for the dairy sector, benefiting society, consumers, and farmers.

Key Takeaways:

  • DFC invests $2 million annually in research focused on human health, nutrition, and dairy production.
  • IRCs coordinate multiple research projects under one initiative to address industry-wide priorities.
  • Significant impact areas include dairy cattle health, welfare, longevity, infectious disease, and biosecurity.
  • Collaborative funding from DFC, NSERC, and sector partners ensures targeted investment in crucial research areas.
  • NSERC IRC on infectious diseases in dairy cattle, led by Dr. Herman Barkema, focuses on herd health and productivity.
  • University of British Columbia’s Animal Welfare Program has significantly improved animal care and welfare internationally.
  • The IRC on sustainable life of dairy cattle, chaired by Dr. Elsa Vasseur, emphasizes cow comfort, longevity, and environmental sustainability.
  • Since 2020, the RC in biosecurity of dairy production works towards preventing and controlling infectious diseases on farms.

Summary:

The dairy sector’s growth relies on creativity and overcoming challenges. Industrial Research Chairs (IRCs) are instrumental in advancing the sector by encouraging cooperation and addressing high-priority issues through focused research projects. The Dairy Farmers of Canada (DFC) spends $2 million annually on research, working with the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) and partners to focus on dairy cow health, welfare, longevity, infectious illness, and biosecurity. The National Dairy Research Strategy prioritizes sustainability, human nutrition, and dairy cow health and welfare. IRCs provide study results to dairy producers, consultants, and industry players through podcasts, webinars, and trade magazines, ensuring the latest scientific developments are practical and readily available. Knowledge Translation and Transfer (KTT) tools facilitate the quick acceptance of innovations and best practices by efficiently distributing research results to dairy farmers, on-farm advisors, and industry stakeholders.

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Understanding Conformation and PTAT: Key Differences in Dairy Cattle Genetic Evaluations in Canada and the USA

Monday, July 1st, 2024

Uncover the critical variations in dairy cattle genetic assessments for conformation and PTAT between Canada and the USA. What implications do these standards hold for breeding practices?

For breeders aiming to produce the next World Dairy Expo Champion or an EX-97 cow, utilizing the American PTAT or the Canadian Conformation index is not just an option—they are essential tools in your breeding arsenal. While both PTAT and Conformation indices are invaluable, they are not interchangeable. This article will explore the distinctions between Canadian and American genetic evaluations for conformation and PTAT, shedding light on how each system functions and what sets them apart.

The Evolution of Genetic Evaluation Systems in Dairy Cattle: A Tale of Two Nations 

The historical trajectory of genetic evaluation systems in dairy cattle within Canada and the USA signifies an evolution of both countries’ dairy industries. Originally hinging on fundamental pedigree analysis, these systems have dramatically advanced with cutting-edge genetic technology and data analytics. Canada launched its first formal genetic evaluation for dairy cattle in the mid-20th century, focusing on production traits. By the 1970s, Canadian dairy scientists incorporated type traits, utilizing linear classification systems to quantify conformation characteristics. This method allowed breeders to objectively evaluate and select superior dairy cattle based on body and udder traits. 

In parallel, the USA advanced from essential herd records to sophisticated evaluations, incorporating production and type traits by the 1980s. A key milestone was the establishment of Predicted Transmitting Ability (PTAT), revolutionizing how type traits were genetically assessed. PTAT provided a standardized measure allowing breeders to predict genetic merit regarding conformation, facilitating more informed breeding decisions. 

The 1990s and early 2000s marked a crucial phase with genomic evaluations. Canada and the USA swiftly integrated genomic data, increasing accuracy and efficiency. Genomic selection enabled early identification of desirable traits, accelerating genetic progress and enhancing herd quality. Collaborative efforts between Canadian and American dairy geneticists have recently refined methodologies, incorporating advanced statistical models and extensive phenotype databases. 

Today, the genetic evaluation systems in both nations reflect a blend of historical advancements and modern innovations. Conformation and PTAT assessments are entrenched in a framework valuing genetic merit for production, longevity, health, and robustness, ensuring dairy cattle improvement remains responsive to the industry’s evolving demands.

Dairy Cattle Conformation in Canada: An Intricate Evaluation Framework 

Genetic evaluations for dairy cattle conformation in Canada meticulously examine a comprehensive set of traits. Key characteristics like stature, chest width, body depth, angularity, rump angle, and leg traits are assessed to ensure aesthetic appeal and functional efficiency, particularly for durability and productivity.  

Mammary system traits, including udder depth, teat length, and placement, are critical for milking efficiency and udder health. Feet and leg conformation, which is vital for mobility and longevity, is also evaluated.  

In Canada, conformation blends individual traits like udder attachment and teat placement into a single index. Each trait is scored meticulously, providing a detailed evaluation of an animal’s overall conformation. This approach helps breeders make informed decisions, improving dairy cattle’s genetic quality and functional efficiency. Integrating these traits into one index highlights the importance of a balanced dairy cow. Traits such as udder conformation, feet, leg health, and overall robustness work together to enhance performance and longevity in a herd.

The Canadian Dairy Network (CDN) spearheads this complex evaluation process. Utilizing advanced genetic methodologies, the CDN integrates phenotypic data with genetic models to offer accurate breeding values. This scientific approach strengthens the genetic quality of the Canadian dairy herd.  

Supporting organizations, such as Lactanet and Holstein Canada, play crucial roles. Lactanet provides comprehensive herd management services, including conformation assessments. Holstein Canada sets standards and trains classifiers for consistent on-farm evaluations.   These organizations form a network dedicated to enhancing the genetic standards of dairy cattle through diligent conformation evaluations, supporting breeders in informed selection decisions, and maintaining Canada’s reputation for producing world-class dairy cattle.

PTAT and Comprehensive Type Evaluation in the United States: A Framework for Genetic Excellence 

In the United States, dairy cattle conformation evaluation hinges on the Predicted Transmitting Ability for Type (PTAT) and a detailed type evaluation system. Unlike Canada, where conformation is a composite index of individual traits, PTAT in the United States is calculated based on the final classification score about herd mates. PTAT assesses an animal’s genetic potential to pass on type traits to its offspring, focusing on various aspects of physical structure, such as stature, body depth, and udder conformation. Critical traits include:

  • Stature: The height of the animal at the shoulders and hips.
  • Udder Depth: The distance from the udder floor to the hock affects milk production efficiency.
  • Body Depth: The depth of the ribcage, indicating overall body capacity.
  • Foot Angle: The angle and structure of the foot influence mobility and longevity.
  • Rear Leg Side View: The curvature of the rear legs when viewed from the side.

These traits are meticulously recorded and analyzed for a robust genetic evaluation. Under the USDA, the Council on Dairy Cattle Breeding (CDCB) leads the effort in collecting, analyzing, and sharing genetic and genomic evaluations. Their extensive nationwide database, sourced from dairy farms, provides comprehensive genetic insights. 

Breed-specific organizations like the Holstein Association USA and the American Jersey Cattle Association (AJCA) refine evaluations for specific breeds. They collaborate with the CDCB to ensure accurate and relevant assessments, offer educational resources to breeders, and promote best practices in genetic selection. This collaborative framework ensures that U.S. dairy farmers have access to cutting-edge genetic information, enhancing the genetic merit of dairy herds and advancing dairy cattle breeding nationwide.

Unified Yet Diverse: Genetic Indices Shaping Dairy Excellence in North America 

For decades, significant efforts have been undertaken to harmonize the evaluation of type traits and the classification programs generating the requisite data for genetic evaluations on an international scale. While substantial progress has been achieved, occasional surprises still emerge. These unforeseen developments typically pertain not to production traits but to type and management traits. 

In Canada, Conformation is quantified on a scale where each standard deviation equals five points. Conversely, the United States expresses PTAT in standard deviations. Consequently, a confirmation score of 5 in Canada generally corresponds to a PTAT score of 1 in the U.S. However, assuming a direct equivalence between a PTAT of 1 and a Conformation score of 5 can be misleading. Lactanet in Canada recently conducted an extensive study comparing over 4,000 bulls with daughters and genetic proofs in both countries to elucidate this. The correlation between the TPI and LPI was notably high at 0.93.
Interestingly, the correlation between Canada’s Pro$ and the TPI was even higher, reaching 0.95. As anticipated, production traits demonstrated strong correlations, with Milk at 0.93, Fat at 0.97, and Protein at 0.95, given that production can be measured objectively. However, the variations were more pronounced when evaluating the type of health and management traits.

Type Indexes

The correlation between PTAT in the United States and Conformation in Canada is 0.76. In the United States, the direct contribution of type to the Total Performance Index (TPI) emerges from three primary sources: the PTAT (8%), the udder composite (11%), and the feet & leg composite (6%). In Canada, these components are called Conformation, Mammary System, and Feet & Legs, respectively. A crucial point to understand is that these are composite indices composed of various individual traits within each category, and each nation applies a distinctive formula to weight these traits. Consequently, the differing weightings lead to modestly lower correlations for udders (0.80) and feet & legs (0.65). It’s also essential to recognize that both composites are adjusted in each country to be independent of stature. This adjustment allows for the specific selection of udder or leg improvements without inadvertently promoting increased stature.

Mammary System

Among the mammary system traits, evaluations of Udder Depth (0.95), Teat Length (0.94), Rear Teat Placement (0.90), Fore Teat Placement (0.87), and Fore Attachment (0.93) exhibit remarkable consistency between Canada and the United States. Nevertheless, a divergent perspective emerges with Median Suspensory (0.73), Rear Udder Height (0.78), and Rear Udder Width (0.66), which display significantly lower correlations. This disparity suggests that traits such as rear udder height, rear udder width, and suspensory ligament are appraised with varying degrees of emphasis and interpretation in each country.

Feet and Legs

Feet and legs exhibit a moderate correlation of 0.65 between Canada and the United States. Examining specific traits within this category, the rear leg side view reveals a high correlation of 0.91, indicating substantial similarity between the countries. However, the rear leg rear view (0.76) and foot angle (0.73) diverge more significantly. A noteworthy distinction lies in the traits recorded: while foot angle is commonly observed globally, Canada also measures heel depth. The rationale behind this difference stems from the susceptibility of foot angle to recent hoof trimming, a variable that does not affect heel depth. 

The overarching objective of selecting for superior feet and legs is to mitigate lameness and enhance longevity. In Canada, the mammary system exhibits a 0.25 correlation with herd life, slightly higher than the composite feet and legs score of 0.22. Yet, individual traits within this composite tell a different story. Foot angle shows a negative correlation with longevity at -0.16, whereas heel depth, boasting a positive correlation of +0.20, stands out prominently. This raises a pertinent question: why is heel depth not universally recorded over foot angle? 

Further analysis of specific traits reveals minimal impact on longevity. The rear leg side view holds a correlation of -0.08, the rear leg rear view is 0.03, locomotion is 0.05, and bone quality is a mere -0.01. Given these negligible impacts, particularly bone quality in its current linear measurement, it might be worth exploring its assessment as a medial optimum trait, balancing frailty and coarseness. 

Additionally, Canada uniquely records front legs, correlating with her life at 0.18, second only to heel depth. In the broader context of overall frame traits, stature maintains a high concordance at 0.97 between both countries. In contrast, body depth (0.71) and chest width (expressed as strength in US evaluations, 0.69) have lower correlations, highlighting regional differences in evaluation emphasis.

The Bottom Line

Examining genetic evaluations for dairy cattle conformation and type in Canada and the USA reveals distinctive approaches and converging goals, underlining the importance of tailored yet comprehensive systems. We’ve explored the evolution of genetic frameworks in both nations, highlighting Canada’s detailed evaluations and the USA’s focus on PTAT and holistic type assessment. From composite traits to specific evaluations of mammary systems and feet and legs, each country aims to boost genetic excellence in dairy cattle.  

As these systems continue to adapt to scientific advancements and industry needs, the goal remains to develop a robust, genetically superior dairy cattle population capable of thriving in diverse environments. This endeavor highlights the critical intersection of genetic science, industry priorities, and animal welfare, shaping the future of dairy cattle breeding. While methods may differ, the objective is shared: achieving dairy excellence through rigorous and innovative genetic evaluations that benefit producers, consumers, and cattle. Collaborations and continual improvements ensure  North America stays at the forefront of dairy cattle genetics, leading global dairy production. 

Key Takeaways:

  • The genetic evaluation systems for dairy cattle conformation in Canada and the USA have evolved with distinct methodologies, reflecting different priorities and breeding goals.
  • Canada emphasizes an intricate evaluation framework that assesses a variety of composite traits, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of a cow’s overall physical attributes.
  • In the USA, PTAT (Predicted Transmitting Ability for Type) serves as a crucial metric, further supported by detailed evaluations of specific type traits to drive genetic excellence.
  • Both nations utilize genetic indices that consider multiple aspects of conformation, significantly contributing to the genetic advancement and overall quality of dairy cattle.
  • Feet and legs, as well as mammary systems, are critical areas of focus in both Canadian and American evaluation systems, reflecting their importance in dairy cattle productivity and longevity.
  • The integration of scientific research and technological advancements has been instrumental in refining genetic evaluations, as referenced by numerous studies and scholarly articles.

Summary:

Genetic evaluation systems in dairy cattle in Canada and the USA have evolved through historical advancements and modern innovations. Canada introduced its first formal genetic evaluation in the mid-20th century, focusing on production traits. By the 1970s, Canadian dairy scientists integrated type traits and linear classification systems to quantify conformation characteristics, allowing breeders to objectively evaluate and select superior cattle. The USA advanced from essential herd records to sophisticated evaluations by the 1980s, with the establishment of Predicted Transmitting Ability (PTAT). The 1990s and early 2000s saw a crucial phase with genomic evaluations, integrating genomic data to increase accuracy and efficiency. Today, genetic evaluation systems in both countries value genetic merit for production, longevity, health, and robustness. Supporting organizations like Lactanet and Holstein Canada play crucial roles in enhancing genetic standards and maintaining Canada’s reputation for producing world-class dairy cattle.

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How In-Utero Events Impact Lifetime Resilience in Dairy Cows: Key Insights for Dairy Farmers

Friday, June 28th, 2024

Find out how events before birth influence the resilience of dairy cows. Learn important insights to boost your herd’s productivity and lifespan. Want to know more? Keep reading.

The dairy industry faces critical challenges that threaten its sustainability. Climate change brings unpredictable weather, and public concerns about animal welfare and environmental impact add pressure on dairy farmers to adapt. In this landscape, resilient dairy cows—those that combine high milk yield with longevity and solid reproductive performance—gain significance. 

Understanding what affects cow resilience is vital. Events during a calf’s in-utero phase can significantly influence its lifetime resilience. Rooted in the developmental origins of the health and disease hypothesis, this concept shows that prenatal conditions can affect a cow’s health and productivity. By focusing on these early stages, we can improve the resilience of dairy herds. 

“Events occurring during pregnancy have lifelong consequences for a calf’s performance, making it essential to identify and manage these factors effectively.”

This article explores how in-utero events impact the lifetime resilience of dairy cows. Through comprehensive datasets and detailed analysis, we aim to show how prenatal experiences affect metrics like longevity, age at first calving, and calving intervals. Our findings aim to guide practices that enhance the resilience of future dairy cow generations, leading to a more sustainable and productive dairy industry.

The Lasting Impact of In-Utero Experiences on Dairy Cow Resilience

The developmental origins of the health and disease hypothesis suggest that conditions and experiences in utero can significantly shape an organism’s health and performance. Initially derived from human studies, this hypothesis is now being applied to dairy farming. 

In dairy cows, the prenatal environment influences crucial metrics like milk yield, reproductive performance, and overall longevity. Maternal nutrition, stress (heat, illness), and metabolic states during gestation shape the fetus’s development. Research indicates these prenatal influences have lasting effects on the offspring’s ability to adapt and maintain productivity. 

These findings are essential for dairy farmers, highlighting the need to optimize the prenatal conditions of their herds. By addressing these factors and promoting more sustainable farming practices, farmers can improve their dairy cows’ lifetime performance and resilience.

Unveiling the Developmental Origins of Dairy Cow Resilience

The study aimed to quantify Lifetime Resilience Scores (LRS) and understand the impact of in-utero events on these scores. Researchers analyzed two datasets: a large one from 83 farms in Great Britain (covering births from 2006 to 2015) and a detailed one from the Langhill research herd at Scotland’s Rural College (covering births from 2003 to 2015). The goal was to explore how prenatal factors affected dairy cows’ long-term health and productivity.

Key Findings: Prenatal Conditions Shape Calf Resilience

The study’s key findings highlight the significant impact of in-utero events on the lifetime resilience scores (LRS) of dairy cows. Higher temperature-humidity indexes during the first and third trimesters correlated with lower LRS in offspring. Lower milk yields and fat percentages in the first trimester and higher milk yields in the third trimester were also linked to reduced LRS. These results suggest that a dam’s pregnancy conditions affect a calf’s long-term performance.

Maternal Legacy: The Crucial Role of Dam Characteristics in Calf Resilience

Dam characteristics are crucial in shaping calf resilience. Our study showed a strong link between dam Lifetime Resilience Scores (LRS) and those of their calves. Higher dam LRS often led to better calf resilience, highlighting the value of robust maternal health. However, as the number of pregnancies (parity) increased, calf LRS decreased. This decline could be due to the accumulated stress on the dam, affecting the in-utero environment. These insights emphasize the need for breeding strategies that balance high-performing dams with optimal parity to ensure resilient herds.

Delving Deeper: Maternal Discomfort and Calf Resilience in the Langhill Herd 

Int intriguing patterns emerged in the Langhill herd dataset, highlighting the significance of maternal experiences on offspring resilience. Dams with higher locomotion scores during the third trimester produced calves with lower Lifetime Resilience Scores (LRS). This suggests that increased locomotion, often a sign of discomfort or health issues, disrupts the fetal environment and negatively affects calf resilience. These insights emphasize the need to monitor and manage maternal health conditions to ensure optimal lifelong performance of dairy herds.

Proactive Steps for Enhancing Calf Lifetime Resilience

Understanding the profound effect of in-utero events on a calf’s lifetime resilience underscores the importance of proactive management strategies for dairy farmers. Our study’s findings highlight several actionable steps that can be adopted to enhance the long-term performance and resilience of dairy herds. 

Mitigating Heat Stress: Ensuring pregnant cows are not exposed to excessively high temperature-humidity indexes (THI) during critical phases of gestation is crucial. Farmers can achieve this by:  

  • Providing Adequate Shade: Invest in proper shading structures or trees within pastures to shield cows from direct sunlight.
  • Ventilation and Cooling Systems: Implement adequate barn ventilation, fans, and misting systems to reduce the heat load on cows, especially during peak summer months.
  • Hydration: Ensure continuous access to clean and cool drinking water to prevent heat stress. 

Monitoring Dam Health: Close monitoring and timely intervention can significantly reduce the incidence of health issues in pregnant cows:  

  • Routine Health Checks: Regular checks for signs of lameness, mastitis, and other health conditions are essential for early detection and treatment.
  • Balanced Nutrition: Ensure the pregnant cows receive a balanced diet that supports optimal nutrient levels, enhancing immune response and overall health.
  • Medication Administration: Carefully manage antibiotics and anti-inflammatory medications to avoid adverse effects on the developing fetus. 

Adjusting Management Practices During Different Trimesters: Our data suggest that specific trimesters are more sensitive to various stressors, thereby guiding targeted interventions:  

  • First Trimester Focus: Pay close attention to maintaining consistent milk yields and optimal fat percentages. Any noticeable perturbations should be addressed promptly.
  • Third Trimester Care: Minimize high milk yields and monitor for increased locomotion scores, which can indicate discomfort or stress. Implementing strategies such as comfortable bedding and reducing physical exertion can be beneficial. 

By taking a proactive approach to managing these critical aspects of dam care during pregnancy, dairy farmers can substantially impact the resilience and productivity of their future herds. While not all variations can be controlled, these strategies offer a solid foundation for improving calf lifetime performance.

The Bottom Line

The journey of dairy cow resilience starts in utero. Understanding and managing prenatal conditions can help foster a hardier and more productive herd. However, these early influences are only part of the equation. Optimal calf resilience requires a holistic approach, integrating genetics and on-farm practices. By adopting this comprehensive view, dairy farmers can enhance the lifetime performance of their herds, ensuring greater sustainability and profitability.

Key Takeaways:

  • Prenatal conditions significantly influence a calf’s lifetime resilience, affecting milk yield, reproductive performance, and longevity.
  • Higher temperature-humidity indexes during the first and third trimesters can lower a calf’s Lifetime Resilience Score (LRS).
  • Discrepancies in dam milk yields and fat percentages during pregnancy can also negatively impact calf resilience.
  • High parity in dams tends to result in lower LRS in their offspring, suggesting a need to monitor older cows more closely.
  • Maternal locomotion issues in the third trimester were linked to reduced calf resilience in some herds.
  • The study highlights that while prenatal factors are influential, other factors also play a crucial role in determining calf resilience.

Summary:

The dairy industry faces challenges like climate change, unpredictable weather, and public concerns about animal welfare and environmental impact. Resilient dairy cows are crucial for the industry’s sustainability, as they combine high milk yield with longevity and solid reproductive performance. Understanding factors affecting cow resilience is vital, as events during a calf’s in-utero phase can significantly influence its lifetime resilience. Prenatal conditions can affect a cow’s health and productivity, making it essential to identify and manage these factors effectively. This article explores how in-utero events impact the lifetime resilience of dairy cows through comprehensive datasets and detailed analysis. The findings aim to guide practices that enhance the resilience of future dairy cow generations, leading to a more sustainable and productive dairy industry. Dam characteristics are crucial in shaping calf resilience, with higher dam Lifetime Resilience Scores often leading to better calf resilience.

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The Science Behind Happy Cows: Emotional States and Personalities in Dairy Management

Wednesday, June 26th, 2024

Discover how management practices impact the emotions and personalities of dairy animals. Can better welfare lead to higher productivity? Explore the latest research.

The dairy business depends heavily on the welfare of its dairy cows. Good animal welfare and a high quality of life influence their health, productivity, and lifetime. The adage “Happy animals are productive animals” summarizes this connection well. Positive emotional states cause cows to produce more milk, effectively procreate, and improve general farm efficiency.

This paper delves into the crucial relationship between management techniques and dairy cows’ emotional states. Understanding and measuring these states is key to tailoring strategies that create favorable surroundings, thereby enhancing the conditions for animals and the business. The focus is on minimizing negative emotional states from demanding circumstances and maximizing good moods in supportive settings.

“Investing in a farm environment and management techniques that support cows’ positive emotional states is finally an investment in long-term health and productivity.”

We will discuss techniques and scientific developments in the emotional evaluation of dairy cows. Behavioral, cognitive, and physiological markers help us grasp how on-farm settings affect these states. This understanding is crucial for improving animal welfare and building more sustainable and profitable dairy farming operations.

The Evolving Landscape of Animal Emotions and Personalities 

Advances in animal behavioral research are driving a changing awareness of animal emotions and personalities. Once mostly seen from a functional standpoint, animals are now known to have distinct personalities and complicated emotional terrain. These elements greatly influence their behavior, health, and production, so animal welfare and farm efficiency depend on identifying and encouraging pleasant emotional experiences.

Measuring these feelings, however, might provide difficulties. Researchers must depend on indirect techniques because animals cannot express their mental states. Early research concentrated on visible actions, which in context might be deceptive. To help with this, scientists have developed complex behavioral, cognitive, and physiological approaches.

Behavioral tests of emotional states include body language changes such as posture, movement, and facial expression. Cognitive bias studies reveal animal emotional valence and expectancies by showing how they link stimuli with positive or negative consequences. These experiments show that mood reflects decision-making just as human decisions are shaped by optimism or pessimism.

Calves’ anticipatory behaviors—anticipating rewards—provide information on their emotional states and environmental sensitivity. Such assessments highlight the importance of stimuli that boost good mental involvement and lower stress or dissatisfaction.

Like infrared thermography, physiological techniques track variations in body temperature linked with emotional arousal and stress. Decision-making tasks in animals, including goats and chickens, expose preferences and aversions, thus mapping their emotional terrain. These physiological signals provide objective information to complement cognitive and observational results.

Combining these approaches can enhance our understanding of animal emotions and personalities despite measurement challenges. Based on current developments, improved animal welfare and management techniques can create environments where animals can thrive emotionally and physiologically, offering a promising future for dairy farming.

Innovative Methodologies for Gauging Dairy Animal Emotions

Researchers have used creative techniques like cognitive bias tests to determine dairy cows’ emotional states. These experiments show how management decisions, including calf presence or absence, affect cow emotions (Neave et al., 2023; Neave et al., 2024). Presenting animals with conflicting cues allows researchers to deduce whether the animals are in happy or negative moods. Still under research, body language analysis also hints about cows’ emotional well-being based on tail movement and ear placement.

Anticipated behavior emphasizes the emotional reality of dairy animals. When awaiting a reward, calves in barren pens exhibit more active behavior than in wealthy settings; this contrasts with their calm reactions in the latter (Neave et al., 2021). This response emphasizes how much the surroundings affect emotional states.

Technologies have enabled techniques such as infrared thermography and decision-making challenges. In pigs (Franchi et al., 2024), infrared thermography tracks variations in body temperature connected to stress and alertness. Tasks related to decision-making, such as those investigated in goats and chickens (Garnham et al., 2022), expose animal preferences for situations that coincide with their emotional well-being.

Understanding the Profound Impact of On-Farm Management on Dairy Animal Emotional Well-Being

They enhance welfare and productivity, which hinges on comprehending how on-farm management impacts the emotions of dairy cows. Cognitive bias tests and body language studies suggest that cows and calves exhibit more pleasant feelings together, while separation induces stress, compromising their health and productivity. This underscores the crucial role of the living environment.

Improved surroundings help with emotional and physical wellness. Calves housed in enriched pens show reduced stress levels, more pleasant emotional states, and more favorable responses to incentives. Studies incorporating infrared thermography and decision-making exercises support animals’ preference for environments that maximize their comfort.

Customizing management to suit specific personalities can further enhance welfare and productivity. For instance, while scared animals might struggle in competitive situations like eating, exploratory animals might adapt well during weaning. Understanding these traits can pave the way for more personalized, efficient management plans.

These findings underscore the importance of considering dairy cows’ emotional and personality aspects. By improving welfare, we can enhance production and health. The adage’ Happy animals are productive’ continues to guide us towards ethical agricultural practices, armed with the knowledge and tools to make a difference.

Exploring the Interplay Between Animal Personality Traits and Management Practices 

Good management techniques depend on an awareness of how personality features affect animal behavior. Curiousness, anxiety, and aggressiveness greatly influence responses to various management situations. Curious dairy calves, for instance, boost their development and health by managing to wean better, adjust faster to new meals, and exhibit less stress.

Under competitive feeding, fearful dairy goats typically avoid the feed bunk, which results in inadequate nutrition. This emphasizes the requirement of stress-free feeding surroundings to provide enough nourishment for shy animals.

Bold dairy cows explore new feeds and regions, enhancing their nutrition and general health. They also graze more and produce more milk.

Understanding these behavioral patterns enables one to customize management strategies to fit personal requirements, thus optimizing comfort, stress reduction, productivity, and welfare enhancement in surroundings.

Insightful Research on Emotional Welfare and Management Strategies 

Neave et al. (2023) used cognitive bias tests to investigate how calf separation affected the emotional well-being of dairy cows. According to the results, cows housed with calves exhibited less stress, more satisfied behavior, and a more positive cognitive bias. This emphasizes the need to keep mother ties to improve the emotional well-being of dairy cows.

Neave et al. (2021) conducted another investigation into calf anticipatory behavior enhanced against barren pens. Calves raised in enriched surroundings exhibited more marked anticipatory behaviors when anticipating benefits and less irritation when such incentives were denied. Improved living arrangements help enhance mental wellness and lower stress in dairy calves.

Studies using decision-making activities and infrared thermography to grasp environmental preferences in dairy cows provided yet more insights. Garnham et al. (2022) and Franchi et al. (2024) showed the efficacy of these techniques in evaluating emotional states in pigs and hens, respectively. Changing these approaches may help optimize dairy farming methods for improved animal well-being.

Studies of personality qualities also clearly affected managerial relationships. According to Neave et al. (2018), more adventurous dairy calves did better around weaning, adjusting rapidly, and displaying faster growth rates. Understanding individual personalities may enhance managerial results.

According to Neave and Zobel (2020), less scared dairy goats were likelier to enter feeding areas under competition, influencing their nutritional intake and health. By considering individual variances, better management strategies to lower competition-related stress may be created.

These studies emphasize how enhancing well-being depends on an awareness of dairy cows’ emotional and personality aspects. Customizing farm settings to fit group and personal requirements may produce more content, better quality, and more efficient dairy herds.

Practical Applications for Dairy Farmers to Enhance Animal Well-Being 

Practical applications for dairy farmers to tailor management practices to meet the individual needs of their animals are essential. These strategies can enhance the emotional well-being of dairy animals and foster a more positive, productive farm environment: 

  • Individual Care: Develop protocols that address specific personality traits. Exploratory calves, for instance, benefit from enriched environments that stimulate curiosity and ease weaning stress.
  • Environmental Enrichment: Provide various enrichments such as different forages, toys, and brushes to promote natural behaviors and reduce boredom.
  • Consistent Rewards: Implement a predictable routine with consistent rewards to develop positive anticipatory behaviors, especially in calves housed in diverse pen types.
  • Temperature Control: Use infrared thermography to monitor and control environmental conditions, ensuring comfort and reduced stress.
  • Behavioral Monitoring: Observe and record behaviors regularly to detect emotional changes. Adjust handling practices based on whether an animal is fearful or aggressive.
  • Feeding Strategies: Adapt feeding based on animal personalities. Provide shy or less dominant goats with alternative feeding times or spaces to reduce stress.
  • Engagement and Training: Use decision-making tasks and gentle handling training to build trust and reduce fearfulness, reinforcing desirable behaviors.

By implementing these strategies, dairy farmers can create an environment that meets individual animal needs, leading to better health, reduced stress, and improved milk production. This commitment supports a thriving and sustainable dairy industry.

The Bottom Line

The paper underlines the need to know and evaluate dairy cows’ emotional states and personalities. Essential instruments to assess emotional well-being under various management settings include behavioral, cognitive, and physiological approaches, including cognitive bias tests, anticipatory behavior analysis, and infrared thermography. We also examined how curiosity, fear, and assertiveness affect production and well-being.

One should invest in knowing these emotional states and personalities. This improves long-term production, health, and animal welfare. The proverb “happy animals are productive animals” underlines the significance of good farm surroundings.

Constant research is vital. Better animal life circumstances and advantages for farmers will be guaranteed by ongoing scientific research and scientifically based solutions.

Key Takeaways:

  • Investing in farm environments that support positive emotional states in dairy animals is crucial for long-term health and productivity.
  • Cognitive bias tests and body language are practical tools for gauging cows’ emotional states under different management conditions.
  • Anticipatory behaviors in calves can indicate their sensitivity to rewards, varying by their housing conditions.
  • Infrared thermography and decision-making tasks provide insights into the environmental preferences of dairy animals.
  • Personality traits such as curiosity, fearfulness, and boldness significantly influence an animal’s response to stressful management practices and overall performance.
  • Tailoring management practices to the individual needs of dairy animals enhances their welfare and productivity.

Summary:

Dairy animal welfare is crucial for their health, productivity, and longevity. Positive emotional states lead to increased milk production, successful reproduction, and improved farm efficiency. Understanding animal emotions and personalities is essential for improving animal welfare and creating sustainable dairy farming systems. Animals’ complex emotional landscapes and unique personalities significantly influence their behavior, health, and productivity. Researchers use indirect methods such as behavioral assessments, cognitive bias tests, anticipatory behaviors, physiological processes, and decision-making tasks to gauge emotions. Innovative methodologies, such as cognitive bias tests and body language analysis, have been employed to gauge emotions and reveal how management conditions impact cows’ emotions. Enriched environments boost physical and mental well-being, with calves in enriched pens showing more positive reactions to rewards, lower stress levels, and higher positive emotional states. Research shows that cows kept with their calves display a more positive cognitive bias, fewer stress signs, and more content behavior. Enriched housing conditions enhance emotional health and reduce stress in dairy calves.

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How Montbéliarde and Viking Red Crossbreds Stack Up Against Holsteins in High-Performance Herds

Sunday, June 2nd, 2024

Explore the advantages of Montbéliarde and Viking Red crossbreds over Holsteins in dairy production. Could crossbreeding be the secret to elevating your herd’s performance?

Ever wonder what makes one breed of dairy cow stand out more in milk production? In commercial dairies, understanding the lactation curves of different breeds can be crucial. This post focuses on Montbéliarde × Holstein and Viking Red × Holstein crossbred cows, comparing them to pure Holsteins. We analyze data from seven high-performance herds to see which crossbreds perform better. 

Comparing these crossbreds to Holsteins isn’t just academic—it’s vital for dairy farmers aiming to boost productivity. Montbéliarde crossbreds are known for their muscular build and high fat and protein yields. At the same time, Viking Reds are praised for their health and fertility. By examining these traits, we offer insights for better herd management. 

We will analyze the lactation curves of Montbéliarde and Viking Red crossbreds vs. Holsteins across multiple lactation periods. Key metrics like 305-day production, peak production, and milk, fat, and protein yield persistency will be explored. Our findings could reveal significant advantages of crossbred cows over Holsteins, reshaping dairy farming strategies.

Introduction to Dairy Crossbreeding: Montbéliarde and Viking Red vs. Holstein

Diving into dairy crossbreeding involves understanding specific breeds. The Montbéliarde and Viking Red cattle are critical players in this field, each offering unique strengths when crossed with Holsteins. 

Overview of Montbéliarde Cattle Breed  

Montbéliarde cattle, originating in France, are known for their robust health and longevity in dairy operations. Their red pied coat, strong legs, and excellent udder quality are distinctive. They were developed from local breeds and Simmental cattle in the late 19th century. 

Advantages of Using Montbéliarde: These cattle have a more significant body condition, shorter stature, and less body depth during early lactation than pure Holsteins. They excel in fertility, leading to higher conception rates and producing more live calves. Their udder conformation supports better milk production with lower somatic cell counts. 

Overview of Viking Red Crossbreds  

Viking Red cattle are valued for adaptability, robust health, high fertility rates, and efficient milk production. With a medium frame and red coat, they have strong udders suitable for high-performance dairies. This breed results from breeding programs in Denmark, Sweden, and Finland. 

Viking Red crossbreds return to peak production faster after calving and show more excellent persistency in milk production across lactations. They have superior fertility and conception rates, enhancing reproductive efficiency and profitability. While they may produce slightly less fluid milk than pure Holsteins, they often yield higher fat. 

Comparison of Montbéliarde and Viking Red Crossbreds to Holsteins

CharacteristicMontbéliarde × Holstein (MO × HO)Viking Red × Holstein (VR × HO)Holstein (HO)
Average Milk YieldSimilar to HOLess than HOHigher
Fat ContentHigherHigherLower
Protein ContentHigherHigherLower
Milk PersistencyHigherSimilarLower
Health and FertilityBetterBetterPoorer
Feed EfficiencyHigherHigherLower
Overall ProfitabilityHigherHigherLower
Body ConditionGreaterGreaterLesser
Reproduction RatesHigherHigherLower
Calving EaseBetterBetterLower

Analyzing Lactation Performance and Milk Yield 

Lactation Curve CharacteristicsMO × HO 2-Breed CrossbredsVR × HO 2-Breed CrossbredsHO Herdmates
305-d Production (kg)Not differentLess fluid milkStandard
Peak Production (kg)SimilarLowerStandard
Peak Day of ProductionSimilarEarlierStandard
Persistency of ProductionHigherSimilarLower
4 to 103 DIM (kg)SimilarLess fluid milkStandard
104 to 205 DIM (kg)HigherLess fluid milkStandard
206 to 305 DIM (kg)HigherLess fluid milkStandard
Fat Production (kg)Higher (2nd & 3rd lactations)Higher (2nd & 3rd lactations)Standard
Protein Production (kg)HigherSimilarStandard

Holsteins often lead to milk yield, especially in the first lactation. They produce more fluid milk compared to Montbéliarde and Viking Red crossbreds. However, Montbéliarde × Holstein crossbreds excel in persistency, maintaining stable milk production throughout the lactation period. 

The fat and protein content in milk is higher in crossbred cows. Montbéliarde × Holstein and Viking Red × Holstein crossbreds offer richer milk than pure Holsteins. This advantage holds in first and later lactations, showcasing the benefits of crossbreeding on milk composition. 

Overall, the milk quality and components from crossbreds are superior. The enhanced persistency in crossbreds like Montbéliarde and Viking Red leads to consistent, high-quality milk production. This boosts milk pricing and improves dairy farm profitability, making crossbreeding an intelligent choice for modern dairy farms.

Comparing Health and Fertility 

TraitMontbéliarde × HolsteinViking Red × HolsteinHolstein
Fertility (Conception Rate, %)656758
Calving Interval (Days)380370400
Days Open120110150
Incidence of Mastitis (%)151220
Body Condition Score3.03.12.8
Longevity (Years)5.56.04.5

Crossbred cows generally have better health than their Holstein herd mates. Montbéliarde and Viking Red crossbreds show more resistance to diseases common in dairy herds. This better health leads to longer and more productive lives. 

Fertility is another strong point for Montbéliarde and Viking Red crossbreds. They have higher conception rates and better overall fertility than Holsteins. This means more efficient breeding and lower costs for artificial insemination and calving intervals. 

Montbéliarde and Viking Red crossbreds also have easier calving and strong maternal instincts. These traits lead to higher calf survival rates and less labor for calving management. Better calving performance is crucial for overall herd health and efficiency.

Feed Efficiency and Overall Profitability 

Breed/CrossbreedFeed Conversion Rate (lbs of milk/lb of feed)Cost of Production ($/lb of milk)Overall Profitability ($/lactation)
Holstein1.50.18800
MO × HO (2-breed)1.60.17875
VR × HO (2-breed)1.40.19760
MO × VR/HO (3-breed)1.550.175820
VR × MO/HO (3-breed)1.50.18805

Crossbred cows like Montbéliarde and Viking Red typically show better feed efficiency than pure Holsteins, needing less feed per unit of milk. This leads to cost savings and improved profits for dairy farms. 

Montbéliarde and Viking Red crossbreds also have lower production costs, which is vital for any dairy farm. Their higher disease resistance, better fertility rates, and enhanced feed efficiency reduce veterinary and feed expenses, making them more economical. 

These crossbreds often live longer than Holsteins, especially in high-performance herds. Their robust health, increased fertility, and easier calving improve their lifespan and ensure a higher return on investment for farmers.

Why Crossbreeding Could Be the Future of High-Performance Dairy Herds

Crossbreeding can enhance high-performance dairy herds by improving lactation performance and milk yield. Over the past decade, Montbéliarde (MO) and Viking Red (VR) crossbreds have shown better milk persistency than Holsteins (HO), leading to stable milk production and healthier cows. 

Crossbred cows also show higher fertility rates and better reproductive traits. They have fewer stillbirths and return to peak production faster after calving. For instance, 3-breed crossbred calves have a 4.5% stillbirth rate compared to 9% in purebred Holsteins. 

Economically, crossbreeding is beneficial. Crossbred cows produce more milk solids and are more feed-efficient, reducing feed costs and increasing profitability. Their improved fertility leads to frequent calving and efficient herd replacement. 

The health benefits of crossbreeding include a more robust immune system and better resistance to common ailments, leading to lower veterinary costs. 

Overall, crossbreeding combines the best traits of each breed, resulting in cows that excel in milk production, health, fertility, and profitability. It offers a pathway to a more sustainable and resilient dairy industry.

Real-World Insights: Data from Seven High-Performance Herds

Based on data from 2010 to 2017, the study analyzed cows from seven top-performing herds. This included Montbéliarde (MO) × Holstein (HO), Viking Red (VR) × HO 2-breed crossbreds, MO × VR/HO, VR × MO/HO 3-breed crossbreds, and their pure Holstein herd mates. The research aimed to compare their lactation performance. 

Using random regression (RR) and the Legendre polynomial method, the lactation curves showed vital differences. MO × HO 2-breed crossbreds produced similar fluid milk as Holsteins but had better persistency in milk, fat, and protein. The VR × HO 2-breed crossbreds had lower fluid milk production but higher fat and protein yields in later lactations. MO × VR/HO 3-breed crossbreds also showed better milk production persistency than Holsteins. 

The main takeaway is that crossbred cows, especially those with Montbéliarde genetics, tend to outperform Holsteins in certain traits over time. This improved persistency can lead to greater efficiency and profitability, suggesting crossbreeding as a valuable strategy for high-performance dairy herds.

The Bottom Line

The research on dairy crossbreeding compared Montbéliarde and Viking Red crossbreds with Holstein cows, focusing on performance and profitability. This study used data from seven high-performance herds to analyze lactation yields, health, fertility rates, and feed efficiency. 

Pros and Cons of Montbéliarde and Viking Red Crossbreds: Montbéliarde (MO) and Viking Red (VR) crossbreds offer better body condition, higher fertility, and more consistent lactation. MO × HO crossbreds had higher protein production across all lactation stages, and both MO and VR crossbreds showed better fat production in later lactations than Holsteins. These traits can lead to greater profitability due to stable and high-quality milk solids.

However, VR × HO crossbreds generally produced less fluid milk in the first lactation than Holsteins. While other factors may balance this out, it’s something to consider for dairies focused on initial higher fluid milk outputs. 

Overall, crossbreeding offers a future path for sustainable dairy farming. Breeds like Montbéliarde and Viking Red provide resilience, better fertility, and strong milk solid production. They can be vital to creating more sustainable, efficient, and profitable dairy operations as the industry faces climate and market challenges. 

Key Takeaways

  • Breed Performance: Montbéliarde × Holstein crossbreds showed no significant difference in fluid milk production compared to Holsteins, except for increased milk persistency.
  • Enhanced Persistency: Montbéliarde × Holstein crossbred cows demonstrated superior persistence in milk, fat, and protein production during their first lactation.
  • Higher Fat Production: Both Montbéliarde × Holstein and Viking Red × Holstein crossbreds exhibited higher fat production during their second and third lactations than Holstein cows.
  • Improved Protein Production: Montbéliarde × Holstein crossbreds outperformed Holsteins in protein production across all lactation periods.
  • Crossbreeding Advantages: Crossbred cows potentially offer better persistency and production traits compared to pure Holsteins, particularly in high-performance herds.


Summary: This post analyzes the lactation curves of Montbéliarde × Holstein and Viking Red × Holstein crossbred cows compared to pure Holsteins. The analysis of data from seven high-performance herds reveals which crossbreds perform better. Montbéliarde cattle are known for their robust health, longevity, and fertility, leading to higher conception rates and more live calves. Viking Red crossbreds, originating from Denmark, Sweden, and Finland, are known for their adaptability, robust health, high fertility rates, and efficient milk production. They return to peak production faster after calving and show excellent persistency in milk production across lactations. Montbéliarde × Holstein crossbreds have superior milk quality and components, resulting in consistent, high-quality milk production throughout the lactation period. They also exhibit superior feed efficiency, leading to cost savings and improved profits for dairy farms.

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Calf Rearing Excellence: Finding the Perfect Feeding Plan for Your Farm

Friday, May 31st, 2024

Discover how to tailor the perfect calf feeding concept for your farm’s future. Learn key strategies for optimal calf rearing and boost your farm’s profitability.

Calf rearing isn’t just routine—it’s the foundation for a thriving future. The calves we nurture today will be our dairy cows in two years, promising a future of high-yielding, healthy cows. This potential for future success should inspire and motivate you to invest in every aspect of calf rearing. The saying, ‘”the calf is the cow of tomorrow,'” rings true: the care you provide now paves the way for robust calf growth and future high-yielding dairy cows. So, what’s the secret? It’s about finding the right approach for your farm’s unique needs and sticking to it diligently. There’s no one-size-fits-all; the key is tailoring a system that aligns with your farm’s demands. Our article dives into various calf-rearing concepts, highlighting the importance of customized strategies to ensure robust calf growth and future high-yielding dairy cows.

Measuring Farm Success: Average Production Per Day of Life 

One way to gauge farm profitability is by looking at the average production per day of life. This metric is closely tied to calf rearing and reflects the farm’s success. To maximize this, focus on factors like age at first calving, production capability, and longevity. 

Age at First Calving marks the transition from calf to productive cow. Aim for first calving around 24 months, combining early productivity with good health without rushing the process. 

Production Capability: High production comes from well-reared calves. Vigorous, fast-growing calves are more likely to be high-producing cows. Focus on good nutrition, building immunity, and managing stress. 

Longevity: Longer productive lives reduce replacement costs and boost farm profitability. Aim for calves that grow fast but are resilient, staying healthy through multiple lactation cycles. 

In essence, optimal calf rearing lays a strong foundation for future success. Clear goals like vigorous and fast growth contribute to long-term productivity. Achieving these goals involves balanced nutrition, timely medical care, and effective management. Align these elements for better average production per day of life, reflecting farm profitability.

Exploring Diverse Feeding Concepts: Personalizing Your Calf Rearing Strategy

In calf rearing, you have various approaches, each offering unique benefits. Here, we’ll explore two feeding methods for the first six months: the Hokovit Super Heifer Method by Hofmann Nutrition AG and the Sano rearing concept from Sano Agricultural Institute. Both are backed by extensive research and practical use. 

Notably, there needs to be more than one-size-fits-all solution. The key is finding the method that fits your farm’s needs. You can raise healthy, productive cows by choosing and rigorously applying the right strategy. Success in calf rearing is not just about following a set of rules, but about personalization and dedication—discover what suits your farm and commit to it.

Prioritizing Health: The Key to the Hokovit Super Heifer Method 

At the heart of the Hokovit Super Heifer Method is a focus on robust calf health from the start. It begins with colostrum feeding, a critical step done as quickly as possible. Recognizing that many high-producing cows may not have optimal colostrum, the Hokovit system includes Calvicol supplementation to enhance quality. Additionally, Hokostar—a vitamin blend that ensures rapid efficacy—boosts immunity and vigor, which are essential in the early phase of life. 

The method includes:

  • A structured nine-week milk feeding program.
  • Targeting up to six liters per day per calf.
  • About 30 kg.

This balanced feeding promotes healthy growth without over-reliance on milk. 

For solid feed, calves are introduced to a concentrate feed formulated with Hokovit’s unique recipe, including the Calvistart micronutrient complex. This optimizes the gut microbiome, enhancing growth rate, feed efficiency, and overall health. Hay is offered free choice alongside the concentrate up to six months of age. Mixing these with molasses into a dry Total Mixed Ratio (TMR) is practical. Each calf typically consumes around 480 kg of concentrate and 200 kg of hay in this period. 

The results of the Hokovit Super Heifer Method are impressive: even with limited milk, calves usually reach an average live weight of 230 kg by six months. This underscores the effectiveness of the method in fostering vigorous, fast-growing calves that are key to profitable dairy operations. These results should give you confidence in the method’s ability to deliver on its promises.

Innovations in Calf Rearing: Insights from the Sano Agricultural Institute 

At the Sano Agricultural Institute in Hungary, an efficient calf-rearing method starts with early colostrum feeding. Each calf gets its first colostrum within 2 hours of birth, supplemented with Cotosan Plus®. Aim to feed around 10-12% of the calf’s body weight. Dr. Norbert Göres highlights the importance of testing colostrum quality with a refractometer to build a robust immune system early on, which is crucial for healthy growth. 

Next, calves follow a restrictive milk feeding plan, receiving up to 12 liters per day or opting for ad libitum feeding within the first three weeks—each meal capped at 4 liters to ensure proper digestion. The milk feeding period extends to 14 weeks to support rumen development, using only Sanolac Startino® with 50% skim milk powder for high-quality nutrition. 

In the second week, robotic feeders will be used in group housing. Regularly check and calibrate these feeders to guarantee accurate and consistent nutrition according to whether the powder quantity is set per liter of feed or water.

The Power of Dry TMR: Balancing Nutrition and Promoting Rumen Health 

A dry Total Mixed Ration (TMR) used during the milk and weaning phases offers numerous benefits. It ensures balanced nutrition, consistent growth, and optimal rumen development. A well-mixed dry TMR encourages uniform consumption, helping to avoid dietary imbalances caused by selective eating. 

Here are practical tips for preparing a dry TMR to avoid selection and support rumen development: 

  • Initial Mixing: Mix chopped hay with molasses to coat it and make it less likely for calves to pick out preferred particles.
  • Pause and Add Ingredients: After the initial mix, pause briefly before adding other dry ingredients. This ensures that the hay is well-coated.
  • Intensive Mixing: Mix at high RPM to achieve a uniform blend without over-mixing, which preserves the molasses’ sticky effect.
  • Monitoring: Regularly check the mix for consistency and adjust to maintain palatability and effectiveness.

These steps will help you create a palatable dry TMR that meets your calves’ nutritional needs and supports a smooth weaning transition.

Streamlining Dairy Farm Management: The Efficiency and Ease of BoviSync

BoviSync is a powerful platform built to simplify dairy farm operations while gathering and evaluating essential data. The BoviSync Mobile App enhances farm efficiency by standardizing tasks, ensuring each job is done consistently and accurately. This streamlines daily activities and dramatically aids in training new employees, easing their transition into the farm’s workflow. 

Standardized procedures mean everyone follows the same steps, ensuring uniform animal care and operational efficiency. The app documents critical events and actions like administering colostrum, monitoring calf health, and tracking growth, ensuring all necessary data is easily accessible for analysis. 

For new employees, BoviSync is a game-changer. The step-by-step guidance helps newcomers quickly learn and follow established protocols, minimizing the learning curve. This ensures everyone, new or experienced, works in harmony, boosting overall productivity and animal health on the farm.

BoviSync: Revolutionizing Farm Operations with Precision and Insight 

BoviSync isn’t just about collecting data; it’s a game changer for your farm. By documenting every detail through its intuitive app, BoviSync helps you spot inefficiencies and improve operations. Imagine uncovering trends and inconsistencies that you might miss otherwise. 

Take this example: Calves repeatedly falling ill were traced back to colostrum administered by a specific employee. With BoviSync’s data collection, farm management could refine their colostrum protocols, ensuring better calf health. 

This shows how targeted data analysis can significantly boost farm performance, quickly address issues, and enhance productivity and calf health.

The Bottom Line

Success in dairy farming starts with effective calf rearing. Tailored feeding strategies and advanced management systems are essential to raising solid, fast-growing calves that become productive, long-lived cows. Remember, there’s no one-size-fits-all solution; each farm has unique requirements. Explore different feeding methods and tools to find what works best for you. You’ll set up your farm for future success with dedication and suitable systems.

Key Takeaways:

  • Foundation of Future Cows: Proper calf rearing sets the stage for producing healthier, higher-yielding cows.
  • Average Production Per Day of Life: This is a crucial parameter for farm profitability, influenced by factors like age at first calving, production capability, and longevity.
  • Optimal Rearing Goals: Aim for vigorous and fast-growing calves to ensure they develop into productive cows.
  • Personalized Feeding Concepts: No single method fits all; find a feeding strategy that aligns with your farm’s unique needs.
  • Early Colostrum Feeding: Ensure calves receive high-quality colostrum immediately after birth to build strong immunity.
  • Nutrition and Micronutrients: Use a balanced mix of milk replacers, concentrate feeds, and micronutrients to promote health and growth.
  • Importance of Milk Feeding Phases: Structured milk feeding programs are essential; consider extending this phase for optimal rumen development.
  • Innovative Management Systems: Utilize management tools like BoviSync to streamline operations and standardize procedures on the farm.


Summary: Calf rearing is crucial for dairy farming, ensuring robust growth and high-yielding cows. To maximize farm profitability, focus on factors like age at first calving, production capability, and longevity. Aim for first calving around 24 months, combining early productivity with good health without rushing the process. High production comes from well-reared calves, focusing on good nutrition, building immunity, and managing stress. Longer productive lives reduce replacement costs and boost farm profitability by aiming for calves that grow fast but remain resilient through multiple lactation cycles. Optimal calf rearing requires balanced nutrition, timely medical care, and effective management. Two feeding concepts for the first six months are the Hokovit Super Heifer Method by Hofmann Nutrition AG and the Sano rearing concept from Sano Agricultural Institute.

Categories : Nutrition
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How Age at Puberty Predicts Longevity and Productivity: Unlocking Dairy Cow Fertility

Friday, May 24th, 2024

Unlock the secrets to dairy cow fertility: How does the age at puberty predict longevity and productivity? Discover the genetic connections and elevate your herd’s performance.

Have you ever considered how a dairy cow’s age at puberty impacts its entire productive life? Surprisingly, it’s a critical factor influencing fertility, longevity, and productivity. Research shows that cows reaching puberty earlier tend to have better reproductive performance, resulting in consistent milk cycles and longer lifespans. 

This relationship isn’t just theoretical; it’s crucial for dairy farmers. Predicting and optimizing reproductive performance can mean thriving or struggling in pasture-based, seasonal systems. Farmers breeding cows for early puberty traits see improvements in calving rates, milk yields, and overall herd health. 

Age at puberty is a critical trait that dairy farmers must prioritize. Its profound influence on fertility and productivity makes it essential for maximizing dairy operations. Understanding the genetics behind this trait can enhance herd efficiency and sustainability.

This article delves into the genetic underpinnings of age at puberty in Holstein-Friesian dairy cattle and its correlations with fertility and body size traits. It offers insights for improved dairy herd management.

Introduction: The Link Between Puberty and Productivity

The drive to boost productivity and longevity in dairy cattle compels researchers to investigate the genetic foundations of critical traits like reproductive performance and body growth. Among these, age at puberty (AGEP), mainly through blood plasma progesterone levels (AGEP4), stands out for its moderate heritability and early occurrence. 

Recognizing that early-life traits can predict future performance, this study examines AGEP4’s genetic roots and its link to fertility and physical growth in Holstein-Friesian cattle. Despite fertility traits like calving rate and pregnancy rate having low heritability, they are crucial for a cow’s productive life. The research aims to enhance breeding programs focused on fertility and productivity by pinpointing genetic markers and correlations. 

Studies, such as those by Nilforooshan and Edriss (2004), highlight reproductive timing’s impact on dairy traits. For instance, reducing age at first calving may slightly decrease productive life but positively affects lifetime profit. Conversely, increasing it can improve productive life and milk income, showing a balance that breeders must manage. 

In pasture-based, seasonal calving systems, predicting and enhancing reproductive traits boosts individual animal performance and aids the whole herd’s economic viability. This comprehensive approach to analyzing genetic and phenotypic variances and genomic associations seeks to link early-life indicators with long-term productivity.

The Science Behind Age at Puberty: Understanding AGEP4

AGEP4, or the age at first measurable elevation in blood plasma progesterone, is crucial for understanding reproductive efficiency in dairy cattle. This early-life trait is more heritable and predictable than traditional fertility metrics like pregnancy rate or inter calving interval, which are less heritable and occur later in life. AGEP4 provides an early indicator, helping farmers make informed decisions long before the first calving event. 

Our study explored the genetic and phenotypic relationships between AGEP4, fertility traits, and body size indicators such as height, length, and body weight (BW). We measured these traits in approximately 5,000 Holstein-Friesian or Holstein-Friesian × Jersey crossbred yearling heifers across 54 seasonal calving herds to reveal insightful patterns and correlations. 

We found that AGEP4 has a moderate heritability of 0.34. In contrast, traditional fertility traits like calving rate (CR42), breeding rate (PB21), and pregnancy rate (PR42) have low heritabilities, often under 0.05. This contrast highlights AGEP4’s potential as a predictor of reproductive success. Genetic correlations between AGEP4 and fertility traits ranged from 0.11 to 0.60, indicating significant genetic linkage. 

Moreover, our Genome-Wide Association Study (GWAS) identified a strong association between AGEP4 and a genomic window on chromosome 5. We also found suggestive associations on chromosomes 14, 6, 1, and 11, suggesting a complex genetic architecture. These discoveries pave the way for refining genomic predictions of fertility using AGEP4 and other early traits. 

Understanding AGEP4 enhances our grasp of reproductive genetics and provides a strategic tool for improving fertility and longevity in dairy cattle. This knowledge underscores the transformative power of genetic research in achieving efficient and sustainable dairy farming.

Age at Puberty and Longevity

Age at puberty, marking dairy cow reproductive maturity, significantly influences their lifespan. The age at first calving is tied to puberty onset, and reproductive performance is crucial for cow longevity in dairy systems. Optimal age at puberty enhances reproductive performance, boosting longevity and productivity. 

Early puberty correlates with a shorter lifespan. Nilforooshan and Edriss (2004) noted that early or late first calving impacts milk yield, fat percentage, and overall productive life. Cows calving before 700 days see more lifespan variability, underscoring the need for balanced reproductive timing for sustained productivity. 

Proper nutrition and management are crucial to achieving optimal puberty age. Balanced diets and effective health management ensure timely puberty, improving fertility, lifespans, and overall productivity. Strategic feeding, regular health check-ups, and tailored breeding programs are essential for dairy cows to develop appropriately and achieve beneficial reproductive maturity.

Age at Puberty and Productivity

The age at which dairy cows reach puberty, known as age at puberty (AGEP), is pivotal for their productivity and reproductive performance. Understanding the genetic factors behind AGEP helps us predict and enhance fertility, improving milk production in dairy systems. 

Studies consistently show that AGEP significantly affects reproductive performance, impacting traits like inter calving interval and pregnancy rates. Earlier puberty leads to better reproductive outcomes, allowing timely breeding and reducing intervals between lactations. Strategically managing AGEP enhances reproductive efficiency and extends productive life spans for dairy cows. 

Research highlights the link between early puberty and increased milk yield. Nilforooshan and Edriss (2004) found that age at first calving affects milk yield, fat percentage, and overall productive life. Cows reaching puberty early can be bred optimally, resulting in earlier milk production and higher lifetime yields, vital for dairy farm profitability. Reducing the age at first calving, tied to an earlier AGEP, can boost lifetime profit despite potentially shorter productive lives. 

Optimizing AGEP requires a multi-faceted approach: genetic selection, nutritional management, and herd health strategies. Using genome-wide association studies (GWAS), we can identify genetic markers linked to AGEP. Selecting for these traits allows dairy farmers to breed more advantageous heifers. Optimal nutrition during the rearing phase supports earlier puberty without compromising health. Regular health monitoring ensures early-reproducing heifers remain productive. 

In summary, focusing on AGEP optimization enhances reproductive performance and milk production. Leveraging genetic insights, improved nutrition, and robust health management practices leads to more efficient and profitable dairy operations. 

Explore further insights on the impact of accelerated age at first calving and optimal timing for breeding to maximize milk production and profitability.

Unlocking Dairy Cow Fertility

Reproductive performance is crucial for a profitable dairy operation. Fertile cows mean higher milk yields, lower culling rates, and overall efficiency. When cows conceive and calve on time, milk production synchronizes, maximizing output and minimizing input costs. Effective fertility management ensures steady income and economic stability for dairy farms. 

The key to optimizing fertility starts early in a cow’s life. Genetics, nutrition, and management are pivotal. Age at puberty (AGEP) is a critical marker; when cows hit puberty early, they are more likely to calve timely and have a healthy reproductive life. Factors like body condition, health, and environment also impact fertility. 

Monitoring AGEP is essential to managing fertility. This involves balanced nutrition, regular health check-ups, and genetic selection. Utilizing genomic data to manage reproductive traits can enhance breeding strategies and improve fertility outcomes. Dairy farmers can boost fertility rates and long-term profitability by refining these practices.

Key Findings: The Genetic Architecture of AGEP4

One of our study’s key revelations is the robust heritability of AGEP4, quantified at 0.34. This indicates that age at puberty is significantly influenced by genetics, making it a reliable early predictor for reproductive performance in dairy cattle. Conversely, direct fertility traits like calving, breeding, and pregnancy rates had markedly lower heritabilities, all below 0.05. These findings highlight the potential of AGEP4 as an alternative selection criterion to enhance fertility through genetic means. 

The genetic correlations between AGEP4 and fertility traits further underscore its utility. Our data revealed correlations ranging from 0.11 to 0.60, demonstrating a moderate to substantial genetic link between early puberty and reproductive success. This suggests that selecting for lower AGEP4 could improve fertility outcomes, promoting longer-lasting and more productive cows. 

We also explored the associations between AGEP4 and key body size traits—height, length, and body weight—measured at approximately 11 months of age. Although these traits had lower heritabilities (0.21 to 0.33), their genetic correlations with AGEP4 increased to 0.28. These moderate associations indicate that body size traits might indirectly influence or be influenced by the same genomic factors affecting AGEP4. 

Our genome-wide association study (GWAS) identified several genomic regions associated with AGEP4. A significant genomic window on chromosome 5 emerged as a strong candidate influencing AGEP4, with other suggestive associations found on chromosomes 14, 6, 1, and 11. These findings provide insight into the genetic architecture of AGEP4. However, further research is needed to understand the biological mechanisms and validate these associations. 

The practical implications are substantial. By leveraging the genetic basis of AGEP4, dairy farmers can adopt more informed breeding strategies that prioritize early puberty as a marker for better fertility. However, further studies are essential to refine genomic predictions and fully capitalize on selecting AGEP4 to enhance overall herd fertility and productivity.

The Bottom Line

Our research underscores the crucial role of age at puberty (AGEP4) in predicting the longevity and productivity of dairy cows. With moderate heritability and solid genetic links to fertility traits, AGEP4 is an early indicator for future reproductive performance. This is especially valuable given the typically low heritability of direct fertility traits. By understanding AGEP4’s genetic architecture, dairy farmers can make decisions that enhance reproductive efficiency and herd profitability. 

Attention Dairy Farmers: Incorporate AGEP4 into your herd management practices. Monitoring and selecting for AGEP4 can improve fertility rates and extend the productive lifespans of your cows, leading to higher economic returns and a more sustainable farm. 

Future research should aim to deepen our understanding of AGEP4’s relationship with dairy cow health and productivity. Refining genomic predictions and exploring the genetic mechanisms influencing AGEP4 and fertility will pave the way for better breeding strategies and herd management practices, securing the dairy industry’s future.

Key Takeaways:

  • Early puberty as a predictor: Age at puberty, particularly measured through AGEP4, is a moderately heritable trait that can provide early predictions of a cow’s reproductive success.
  • Genetic correlations: The study highlights moderate genetic correlations between AGEP4 and fertility traits, underscoring the importance of genetic screening for improved reproductive performance.
  • Body size relationship: There’s a discernible association between AGEP4 and yearling body-conformation traits like height, length, and body weight, which also hold heritable values.
  • Genomic insights: Research identifies several critical genomic regions associated with variations in AGEP4, opening avenues for targeted breeding strategies.
  • Low heritability of direct fertility traits: Traits such as calving rate, breeding rate, and pregnancy rate exhibit low heritability, making early-life indicators like AGEP4 more valuable for genetic selection.


Summary: The age at puberty in dairy cattle significantly impacts its productive life, affecting fertility, longevity, and productivity. Early puberty results in better reproductive performance, consistent milk cycles, and longer lifespans. This relationship is crucial for dairy farmers, as breeding cows for early puberty traits improves calving rates, milk yields, and overall herd health. Understanding the genetics behind this trait can enhance herd efficiency and sustainability. Researchers are investigating the genetic foundations of critical traits like reproductive performance and body growth, particularly age at puberty (AGEP) through blood plasma progesterone levels (AGEP4). AGEP4 stands out for its moderate heritability and early occurrence, making it an important factor in predicting future performance. Reproductive timing’s impact on dairy traits is highlighted by studies by Nilforooshan and Edriss (2004), which show that reducing age at first calving may slightly decrease productive life but positively affects lifetime profit. Proper nutrition and management are crucial for achieving optimal puberty age, improving fertility, lifespans, and overall productivity.

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Best Practices for Achieving Longer Lived More Productive Dairy Cows

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Wednesday, November 26th, 2014

We all wish our cows could meet their potential and live 20 years or longer. However, until we discover the Bovine Fountain of Youth, this remains an elusive dream. Indeed, the average on most dairy farms is only six years. With so much potential, we need to focus on how we can help our cows live long, productive lives.

What Do WE Know About Longevity? Why Aren’t we Using What we Know?

When we develop illnesses, we don’t always have enough information to know what the root cause is.  This isn’t so in dairy farming. Mountains of data have been collected, analyzed and reported but, in general, dairy farmers are not acting up the information. We know what causes involuntary culling. We know what best practices could prevent it.  Unfortunately, the knowing and the implementing are still too far apart.

How Big is the Current Problem with Involuntary Culling?

According to Government of Canada and USDA reports, 30-40% of cows are being culled from herds each year.  Some of this is accounted for because of low production or sales of breeding stock. Those are conscious decisions made for specific reasons.  However, much of the culling is involuntary and is a huge contributor to decreased longevity. The majority of cows are culled because of reproductive problems, poor udder health, lameness and problems with feet and legs. Other illness or injuries also contribute to the high statistics. A culling rate of 40% means that a herd cannot raise enough heifers to meet replacement needs.

What Does this Mean?

High rates of involuntary culling are probably directly correlated to poor levels of animal welfare.  Unfortunately, these health/welfare problems may be indicators of something much more problematic.  The underlying health and welfare problems may be much higher than the rate of culling indicates.  Ito et al reported in 2010 that the actual prevalence of lameness among dairy cows is above 20%.  That percentage is considerably higher than the 2% that are reported as being culled because of feet and leg problems (Government of Canada, 2011). In 2008, 46% of cows in free stalls had hoof lesions (Cramer et al, 2008).  The numbers are similar in the USA.  USDA (2007) reports that four percent were culled for lameness, however an average of 20% to 55% of dairy cows are lame at any one time, depending on the region (Espejo et al, 2006, von Keyserlingk et al, 2013).

Mastitis Has the Same Pattern

In 2011, the Government of Canada reported that about 4% of cows are culled because of mastitis, high SSC or poor udder health. However, Rierkerink et al estimate that mastitis incidence is around 23 cases per 100 cow years.

Who Does A Good Job Of Achieving Longevity?

Best management practices, derived from proven science, are providing some breeders with improved animal welfare and increased profits.

Nevertheless, that doesn’t mean we can’t help our cows live long, productive lives.  We need to put what we know, into practice to extend their longevity.

Are you meeting these herd composition benchmarks?

  • 1st lactation                  24%
  • 2nd lactation                 20%
  • 3rd lactation                  16%
  • 4th lactation                  12%
  • 5th lactation and later   28%

Best Practices that Ensure Longevity

  1. Calf Management – Protocols to raise health and reduce calf mortality.
  2. Implement Indoor Housing Factors – To reduce lameness, injury, and illness.
  3. Benchmarking of farm performance.
  4. Implement an aggressive reproduction program.
  5. Reducing lameness.
  6. Build dairy producer knowledge.

Calf Management

It might seem unusual to start with calf management when you’re talking about extending the life expectancy of cows.  Many place involuntary culling of cows in the number one slot for how to improve longevity. That seems obvious. However, less obvious, but with perhaps even more impact are the calves that never make it to the milking line. Vasseur et al reported in 2012 that pre-weaning calf mortality rates are high in North America. Mortality rate record keeping, which needs to be dramatically improved and increased, is the first step.  Setting a realistic benchmark is also important.  Unfortunately, the Vasseur study also reported “some farms with mortality rates above 19% did not consider calf mortality to be a problem.”

  • Individual housing may not affect small groups but could reduce mortality among larger groups (more than 7-10 animals).
  • The effect of a calf’s illness on her ability to milk as a cow is, in general, underestimated. Recent research (Soberon et al, 2012) shows the effect of pre-weaning growth rates on later milk yields.
  • Failure to implement well-known and documented best practices is a major reason for the continuing high levels of calf mortality on many farms.

They also noted that in Canada there are significant differences in mortality rates between farms. The differences between the highest quartile of farms and the lowest is significant which is positive in so far as it indicates that, when good management practices are implemented, it is possible to dramatically reduce the problems.

The Role of Housing in Dairy Cattle Longevity

The characteristics of the environment that your cows are house in can have a significant impact on their longevity. Even when you have bred for the best possible feet and leg conformation, it can be compromised if the housing situation itself raises the risk of injuries. Some conclude that pasturing is the answer.  More thoughtful study and design needs to be applied to creating the ideal indoor environment for lactating cows.

One Canadian survey found that nearly 25% of Canadian dairy farms scored lameness results at less than 10%. This is lower than the results reported by some pasture-based dairies, proving that it is definitely possible to do make sustainable improvements.

Five improvements:

  1. Take responsibility: Zero grazing puts the responsibility upon the producer to create housing and provide management that does not negatively impact the dairy animals.
  2. Raise the rail height: Simply by increasing the height of the feed rail at the feed bunk to above 140cms from the floor can greatly reduce the risk of neck injuries. (Zaffino, 2012)
  3. Reduce standing time: Standing on wet, concrete floors has a direct correlation with lameness.
  4. Provide comfortable stalls: Depending on the situation, sand or mattresses have been shown to contribute to reduced instances of lameness.
  5. Sufficient Bedding: Switching to sand bedding requires significant change to buildings. Simply adding more straw or sawdust bedding results in hock lesions falling to 31% from the 80% prevalence that is seen when cows are housed on mattresses and no bedding.

Benchmarking of Farm Performance

More often than not, record keeping has a positive impact. Knowing the exact incidence of lameness, mastitis or other illness help set a target for reducing them. Well-managed dairies are reaping the financial benefits of reducing lameness and raising the welfare of their milking herd.  More training, data collection, and peer sharing is a pro-active and positive way to get the results heading in the right direction.

From Candid Camera to Can-Do Care!

Consciously and conscientiously targeting the reduction of involuntary culling is directly correlated to increased cattle longevity. Ensuring that all possible means – health, housing, and genetics – are being responsibly managed – will have a direct effect on reducing involuntary culling and mortality rates.

Reproduction Must Be Managed Better

Much is written about improving reproduction. At one time, the emphasis was solely placed on heat detection.  However, successful dairy managers are now paying particular attention to reproductive management from birth, through rearing, to transition and milking.  Definitely too many breeders are willing to accept less than the best reproductive performance. The first step is acknowledging that there are reproductive problems that aren’t being solved. This must be followed up by bringing in whatever help you can to build improvements into your repro program.

Lameness is Running Away with the Profits

We expect some degree of slowness, bent backs and hesitant steps in the aging and elderly folks we see around us.  However when our dairy herd is limping, falling down or unable to get up, we are forced, whether we like it or not to cull the animal – regardless of her age.  Lameness is a serious problem which adversely affects milk yield.  Research has shown that high yielding cows are more susceptible to lameness.  Too often, we accept this as one of the outcomes of an intensive focus over the past few decades on dairy production. Even though there are excellent best practices that can be used, too often this area is disregarded at the expense of the dairy operation and the welfare of the animal.

The Bullvine Bottom Line

It takes information to make improvements.  You can’t fix what you don’t acknowledge.  Dairy farmers are recognizing that they are responsible for improving their knowledge and understanding of the factors that impact longevity.  Sharing the statistics and setting benchmarks is next.  Most important, however, is implementing an action plan.

Only when improved record keeping and best practices are acted upon, will we begin to see our dairy herds reach their full lifetime potential.

 

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Other posts you might like:

STOP Limiting Dairy Progress – START Looking After Heifer Data
Tidings of Cow Comfort and Joy
Essential Tips for Keeping Your Dairy Calves Cool and Healthy

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HELLO! This Is Your Herd Calling. We’re Sick Today!

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Thursday, November 14th, 2013

We are so used to leaving voice messages it can only be a matter of time until you hear.

 “Good morning Boss. I will be away from the milking line today.  If this is an emergency, please check with the veterinarian or better yet – find out why more than eight diseases are going through the barn? Have a great day. Cownt Me Out!

“It’s a Wake-Up Call for the Dairy Industry”

Regardless of how you receive the message about dairy health issues, there is no question that we have already received the wake-up call.  Whenever CowntMEout and her peers are fighting health issues, they are still in the lineup and could be having a negative ripple effect because they are contagious, costing money for treatment and losing money because of lowered production. You may laugh off the “cow calling” app on your smart phone, but disease is no laughing matter.  The incidence of disease in dairy cattle is increasing. So far the only way to tackle it has been through management practices and veterinary inputs. At least that’s where our thinking has been.  It’s time to pick up the phone!

Disease has your barn number. It’s going to call back often!

There is no acceptable level of poor health and, like telemarketing calls, you will receive many visits, at inconvenient times and with increasing frustration.  The higher incidence of health problems has risen side by side with the increase in milk yield, which has been sought after and achieved over several decades. However, along with poor health, increased lactation progress has been accompanied by reproduction problems and declining longevity. As if that wasn’t a big enough hurdle, there is also a genetic one. There is clear evidence that negative genetic correlations exist between milk yield and fertility and between milk yield and production diseases.  In other words, if selection for production continues unchanged, fertility, health and profitability are going to be put “on hold” permanently.

The Health Games.  Sick is costly. Health isn’t free.

As long as our cows continue to function by producing milk, we may be willing to live in denial of health issues.  Unfortunately, the list is growing well beyond the number one which is mastitis and includes: displaced abomasums; ketosis; milk fever; retained placenta; metritis; cystic ovaries; and lameness.  What is the incidence of each of these in your herd?  Do you keep records on all of them? We know from our personal health that you can’t fix what you don’t admit is a problem.  Those tiny signs add up until “out of nowhere” there is a health crisis.  That doesn’t work for people and it doesn’t work for bovines either.

Bad Prescription. “Take 2 Bales of Hay and Call Me in the Morning!!”

Don’t you just hate it when your doctor takes a laid back approach to your serious medical concerns?  Or does that feel like a reprieve?  You don’t have to fix what you don’t acknowledge.  Or does it boil down to who has the best answer?  The vet. The nutritionist.  Your neighbour.  It probably takes all three but we really need to pull back and start answering the questions about improved health even before mating decisions are made. Huge strides have been made in dairy breeding with the implementation of genomics. DNA analysis has only touched the tip of the iceberg for what is possible in analyzing dairy genetics.  This brings your genetics provider (A.I.) onto the health team. All that is needed is the will to change.

What can we do about it? Monitoring. Managing. Action.

You can hire someone to take care of sick animals.  You can pay for medication and extra care. Or you can decide to start with genetics and try to raise the genetic health level of your herd. All of these approaches start with the same first step.  You must monitor your animals and have detailed data on where, what, when and how health issues are affecting your dairy operation.

The hardest concept when dealing with health is that preventive measures are far better and less costly in the long run than the prescription, medicine and professional caregiver route. There needs to be more preventive action taken at the breeding stage.  Here is the first line of defence to reduce the diseases that lurk within genetic code and impact profitability now and for future generations of your herd.

The most crucial first step is to have accurate data. Good complete data that accurately identifies what is happening in the herd.  The information needs to be recorded and accurate before the cow is culled from the herd.  Dr. Kent Weigel, Extension Genetics Specialist, University of Wisconsin notes. “Current reports often don’t provide enough details to identify exact reasons why cows are culled. Animals can be recorded as ‘died,’ ‘sold for dairy,’ or ‘sold for beef,’ because of low production, mastitis infertility and so on. From that data, you might conclude that mastitis and infertility are the most common causes of culling on dairy farms. However, reported reasons for disposal can be misleading when one attempts to compare the management level of various dairy farms or to draw conclusions about the genetic merit of certain animals or sire families. Furthermore, once culled, that animal will no longer contribute information to genetic evaluations.  In effect, by culling time the most important source of health data has been eliminated.”

An ounce of Genetics is Worth Pounds of Cure?

As a result of research he has taken part in, Weigel says producers should not just consider the pounds of milk a cow produces as they weigh their decision about genetic traits.
You want cows that produce a live calf without assistance, cycle normally, show visible heat and conceive when they’re inseminated. Many cows fail to complete these and other important tasks because they have left the herd prematurely.” Weigel went on to say that some animals are culled for “multiple offenses,” such as difficult calving followed by ketosis and a displaced abomasum.  “She may then fail to breed back in a timely manner and be culled when her daily milk production falls below a profitable level,” Weigel says. “The farmer might code here as ‘sold for low production’ or infertility or disease. The reported reason for disposal is often a vague indicator of the actual problem.”

Get the Code – Fill the Prescription

Given the unfavorable genetic relationships between milk production and welfare indicators, the most effective route to stop the decline or even improve dairy cows’ welfare is by developing and adopting a selection index in which welfare related traits are included and appropriately weighted.

At a recent CDN (Canadian Dairy Network) open industry meeting, more than one presenter spoke on the genetics of disease and health. The proposed response to this complex topic is to develop one index that incorporates targeted health indicators.  We see the logic that cattle who have less mastitis or and lower somatic cell scores represent healthier animals in the herd. Until actual DNA snips are identified for specific health issues and diseases, an index that combines  SCC (somatic cell score) with fore udder attachment, udder depth and body condition score to produce the newly developed MRI (Mastitis Resistance Index) will take selection for healthier animals to a higher level.  The quantity and quality of the data contributing to these indices is key to how effectively they will identify sires with the healthiest genetics.  Isn`t it great that breeders, researchers and genetics providers are working together to move beyond the obvious.

Predict the Disease Proof by Building on What We Know Already

DNA markers for economically important traits could quantify the differences and be used to justify selection decisions on young animals with reasonable accuracy.

Short term, breeding organizations are urged to use available records to include fertility, health and longevity in a selection index in which greater emphasis should be placed on all fitness related traits relative to production traits. Genetic evaluations for health should complement and not replace genetic evaluations for yield.

“The udder is always the place to start evaluating a cow,” Weigel says. “Poor udder traits are the biggest problem, followed by poor feet and leg traits. Naturally, cows that avoid mastitis or injury to their udder are going to be in the dairy herd longer.” The major advantages of the genetic improvement for any trait are that changes are cumulative, permanent and cost-effective.

Who Will Answer the Call First?

Ultimately, the successful dairy industry of the future will maintain the gains made in milk production and make equal strides in the identification of healthy cattle. Whether it’s by choice or necessity remains to be seen. It will take everyone contributing accurate data.  The breakthroughs in production were made possible by tremendous amount of supporting data. To make similar progress in fighting dairy diseases, the same cooperation in building a database will be needed. Currently in Canada only 4 in 10 herds are participating in the capture of data on the 8 production limiting diseases.  In some European countries there is a database of mandatory disease recording that spans more than 30 years.

The Bottom Line

Some will write off the concerns raised here as over dramatic.  After all, personifying your cows as phoning in sick is beyond belief.  We all know that 21st Century contented healthy cows won`t phone in. They’ll text: “Guess what Boss? I’m healthy and I’m pregnant!”

The ones who are prepared for that call will be laughing all the way to the bank.

 

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Other posts you might like:

Doing Nothing Can Be Fatal To Your Farm
Mastering Dairy Farm Succession Planning: A Step-By-Step Guide for a Smooth Transition
LOCOMOTION – Are we solving the PUZZLE?

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Let’s Talk Longevity

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Thursday, August 29th, 2013

Herd profitability is front and centre in the minds of breeders as they build their genetic base for the future. Current and future profit does not come by chance. It takes both breeder instinct and skilled management. Two important factors breeders and managers must consider is how long the workers stay on the job and how productive they are. And when it comes to workers on dairy farms it starts with the cows. Longevity along with productivity go hand in hand with making a profit.

What is Longevity?

According to our current indexes longevity is productive life (PL) or herd life (HL). But what does that mean? Is it one more month in the herd for an average daughter of a bull? What makes the difference?

Let’s take a moment and think about how great it is when your workers stay with your organization for at least five years. Instead of frequently giving new staff basic training, the organization can spend more time on advanced skills training. Productivity will increase and thereby profit can be pushed to new heights.

When it takes 1.0 to 1.5 lactations before a heifer you have raised or purchased to start to show a net lifetime profit, then culling heifers before the end of two lactations means just breaking even. A couple of months longer stay before the end of the 2nd lactation is really no big thing. Especially if the cow is below average for productivity.

When considering longevity how “long” is long enough?

What is Ideal Longevity?

Let’s start with what it is not. On a highly bred, fed and managed farm, averaging 25,000 lbs and 13.0 month calving interval, longevity is not a cow that stays around for five lactation yielding 20,000 lbs and calving every 14 months. She has two problems – her volume of output is below average and she takes a month longer off work than her contemporaries. In short she is a free-loader.

Each of us will have our own definition of longevity. Years back for many breeders longevity was the cow that won the county show, produced okay and from which daughters could be sold. For other breeders it is the cow that causes no problem, conceives on 1st or 2nd service and produces at least 10% above her contemporaries.  For today’s profit oriented breeders it is the cow that produces 200,000 lbs (90,909 kgs) in 8-9 lactations, that calves back within 13 months. It is the cow that, after calving quickly and smoothly, moves into lactation, does not require vet visits, maintains a low SCS as she ages and operates without problems within the herd’s housing and milk systems. Now that is longevity that is measurable and profitable!

Breeding for the Ideal

We can all see what we like when we look at the twelve year old cow but breeding is not a retrospective matter. Breeding is about creating the future. Idealizing the past is not breeding. Breeding is creating that heifer calf that arrives healthy without causing momma any problems, is able to resist illness and then calves before 24 months of age, is functionally correct and can cost effectively produce above her contemporaries and stays for many lactations.

Achieving ideal longevity takes more than genetics. Management plays a major role. When breeders get both genetics and management on longevity right they are able to have low herd turn-over (25%), save considerable dollars by raising fewer heifers (every heifer not raised saves $2200), and less expense for drugs, insemination, labor, feed, ..etc.

Current Tools Available

Two overall indexes currently published are PL (USA) and HL (Canada). Many other supporting indexes assist in interpreting PL and HL. Those include: SCS, DPR/DF, Udder Depth, Feet, Rear Legs Rear View and Maternal Calving Ease.  Of course yields of fat and protein (Link – Is Too Much Water Milking Your Profits) are important however a few more pounds of fat and protein in a lactation can in no way compare to getting that fifth, sixth and seventh lactation from a cow. Lactations where yield and profit are at their peak. Total merit indexes, like NM$, TPI™ and LPI, do factor in longevity but if breeders have genetically overlooked length of herd life, by placing their focus on show type or production, then these indexes will under estimate the emphasis that should be placed on longevity.

Future Tools Needed

What our current PL and HL indexes fail to do is to place emphasis of getting cows that make it to those fifth, sixth and seventh lactations. Adding a couple more months to cows that stay for 2 to 3 lactations is not what breeders need. They need some way of knowing which bulls leave daughters that profitably make it to those later lactations. Hopefully our genetic evaluation researchers will study some accurate way to identify bulls that produce long lived productive cows.

Let’s Talk Bulls

In breeding it always comes down to which bulls to use. Should I use Atwood or Bookem or should I use Windbrook or Fever?

Atwood, a current popular bull of show type, has  PL of –0.5 while Bookem, a newly daughter proven bull, has a PL of 5.7. Bookem’s stay in the herd over six months longer. How does Bookem do that? Well it is by having higher DPR, superior calving ease and maternal calving ease, lower stillbirths and higher production.  If show winnings are not important to you then Bookem should be your choice.

Both Windbrook (+15) and Fever (+16) sire superior conformation, yet Fever has a HL of 116 compared to Windbrook’s HL of 103.  Fever’s significant superiority in SCS, DF, milking speed and daughter calving ability give him the distinct advantage. DCA is often not used by breeders but Fever at 111 is in the top 2% of the breed for his daughters to calve without difficulty.

So in breeding for longevity breeders must dig deeper and find out all the facts. Bulls that have a PL over 5.5 or a HL over 110 are unlikely to produce daughters that have problems for somatic cell count, daughter fertility, milking speed, maternal calving ease, depth of udder or mobility.

The Bullvine Bottom Line

Longevity is a lot easier to describe than it is to achieve. What are our choices? We could sit and anticipate a ‘genomic-like’ breakthrough in this area of dairy breeding and management. That would be easy. But that way we are losing dollars and productive animals every day. Or we can act to immediately incorporate strategies that keep our animals, trouble free, healthy and producing longer. When it comes to longevity proactive means profitable.


The Dairy Breeders No BS Guide to Genomics

 

Not sure what all this hype about genomics is all about?

Want to learn what it is and what it means to your breeding program?

Download this free guide.

 

 

 

Other posts you might like:

Is Your Breeding Strategy A “Field of Dreams”?
Genomics at Work – August 2013
How Montbéliarde and Viking Red Crossbreds Stack Up Against Holsteins in High-Performance Herds

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The Truth About Type and Longevity

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Friday, August 2nd, 2013

For years there has been  debate about whether show type is relevant to the commercial producer.  But more recently the deeper question is coming up that asks  if type itself in any form matters anymore.

This issue was further highlighted by our extremely popular interview with Don Bennink (Read more: North Florida Holsteins: Aggressive, Progressive and Profitable!!) where he made the following comments:

“Don feels that the current philosophy of the Holstein Association is very contrary to (profitability).”  He gives three main targets that he seeks out as profitable.  “High production with health traits and feed efficiency are our bywords.  The present classification and type evaluation system are 180 degrees away from cattle that pay the bills.  Bigger, taller, sharper doesn’t cut it.  The latest correlation of final type score with stature is .77.  Worse yet, the correlation of udder composite with stature is .59.  That means if you breed 100% for udder composite, you will increase stature at more than half the rate that you would if you bred for stature alone.”  There is only one conclusion for this dairy farmer.  “The current 88 and 89 point 2 year olds are dysfunctional for the guy making milk for a living.”

Don also highlights:

“With the current correlation of .59 between udder composite and stature, it is not unusual to see the same udder scored good on a short or medium sized heifer that is very good on a tall heifer.  No study including the ones done by Holstein show any real correlation of foot and leg composite with foot health or herd life.  Bulls with +3.00 and +4.00 type proofs have daughters that are too big and too sharp for commercial dairymen.  For this reason gTPI or TPI are essentially ignored in bull or female selection.  Net Merit $ has some value.”

The question really becomes why do we evaluate type?

The ultimate reason for evaluating type is to predict longevity.  In the Canadian LPI formula type is actually called durability.  In the US TPITM formula type elements are used to calculate longevity.  But then I ask why are we creating a composite index of other elements to help predict longevity when we actually have the data in Herd Life (CDN) and Productive Life (US)?  This makes me ask  what is the more accurate  index? An index we have created based on evaluation of many subjective parts? Or is it more accurate when derived from the actual herd data on  longevity? That data would  show exactly how long a bull’s daughters last in a herd.

When you look at the current top twenty Productive Life sires over 95% reliability in the US, you notice that only 2 sires have a PTAT over 2 points (DE-SU OBSERVER and SILDAHL JETT AIR) and as a group they average 0.65 for PTAT.  Even more alarming is that as a group they average 0.86 for UDC and 1.02 for F&L composite, two traits that are typically key in predicting longevity.   On the other hand, relating directly to longevity they all have relatively high net merit scores,  low somatic cell scores and, for the most part, are calving ease sires.   Why the disconnect?

NameLbs. MilkPLSCSCENM$PTATUDCF&L CTPI
DE-SU OBSERVER-ET16027.22.7667922.73.020.892332
HONEYCREST BOMBAY NIFTY-ET2367.22.627553-0.46-0.130.971810
POTTERS-FIELD KP LOOT-ET10047.22.6876500.081.71-0.241954
KELLERCREST BRET LANDSCAPE817.12.3685060.651.271.161838
WHITMAN O MAN AWESOME ANDY2026.92.5557540.32-0.171.212063
ZIMMERVIEW BRITT VARSITY-ET4106.82.6266680.71-0.471.552013
CLEAR-ECHO NIFTY TWIST-ET9426.82.628748-0.32-0.421.172039
KED OUTSIDE JEEVES-ET3556.82.83105151.370.971.741913
ENSENADA TABOO PLANET-ET22166.72.9867211.931.44-0.472176
GOLDEN-OAKS GUTHRIE-ET10786.72.786535-1.15-1.240.361728
DALE-PRIDE MANFRED ALFIE5196.62.966461-0.63-0.36-0.011702
LAESCHWAY JET BOWSER 2-ETN2006.52.8474551.622.031.831940
ELKENDALE DIE-CAST-ET-8726.52.7263700.681.851.991718
LAESCHWAY JET BOWSER-ET2006.52.8474551.622.031.831940
BADGER-BLUFF FANNY FREDDIE12366.42.757791.571.62.872292
CABHI AUSTIN POTTER-ET1516.42.8165200.050.410.021766
CABHI MOOSE-ET456.42.6463730.180.31.111625
SILDAHL JETT AIR-ET11186.32.6466442.882.262.912168
SPRING-RUN CAMDEN-676.22.9174330.571.790.61762
KERNDT MAXIE GOLDSTAR-ET1996.22.576449-1.28-0.61-0.961631

The Canadian story is not that much different.  When you look at the top 35 sires with CDN proofs, only 3 sires (CRACKHOLM FEVER, TRAMILDA-N ESCALADE and SILDAHL JETT AIR-ET) are over 10 for Conformation and all have relatively low SCS. In fact NORZ-HILL FORM WIZARD who is tied for the top proven Herd Life sire in Canada is -3 for conformation, -4 for feet and legs and -10 for dairy strength.  And as a group the sires average only +3 for conformation, +4 for Mammary System, +3 for Feet and Legs and -2 for dairy strength.

NameLPIMilkConfMSF&LDSHLSCS
CRACKHOLM FEVER279762015131371172.63
NORZ-HILL FORM WIZARD-ET1914521-30-4-101172.57
TRAMILDA-N ESCALADE-ET25956931371261152.69
RAMOS2396201354-41152.52
DUDOC BACCULUM1630-52709-1-101152.95
SILDAHL JETT AIR-ET2824129212101171142.64
BADGER-BLUFF FANNY FREDDIE29851717585-51132.74
WESSELCREST BAXTER ASHER2487-11999871132.64
KEYSTONE POTTER1933110014-1-41132.91
BOSS IRON ET1925-72066141132.74
RUBIS LOTUS1908-51499141132.79
JOHNIE FRANCIS1754-561-2-1-3-41132.59
BARKA FETICHE1009-1793-14-11-14-131132.47
GEN-I-BEQ ALTABUZZER2748141764801122.82
HEATHERSTONE-V MCGUIRE-ET25701417911851122.67
MICHERET INFRAROUGE25217107811-11122.66
DUDOC RADIUS2518134442601122.67
RALMA CARRIBEAN-ET250175663731122.74
SANDY-VALLEY DEPUTY-ET2424801565-31122.37
HASS-ACRES BRAVEHEART222563957411122.68
KED OUTSIDE JEEVES-ET2216580443-21122.99
SHAWNEE ALTASTRATOS-ET22091867105-41122.51
DESLACS DUSTER21341598811-21122.83
MARKWELL DUCKETT-ET2094117378-91122.71
KLASSIC BILLBOARD20336181-10-21122.68
WHITTAIL-VALLEY COOPER-ET2015461234-71122.61
BONACCUEIL LORD195469603-2-41122.64
FLEURY LOTION18839630-13-61123.11
GRASSHILL CAREW1824-12-4-1-3-41122.68
CEDARWAL TAIT1816-985040-61122.55
CANCO ARMAGEDDON1664254-8-10-7-31122.73
JACOBS EMAIL1642-1179-6-2-4-121122.65
HILLCROFT MAJESTIC1396-95242221122.61
CLAYNOOK GARNET1319-431-5-5-4-31122.89
HENKESEEN NIGHTSTORM1238-1215-2-13-41122.78

I have always been a big proponent for type classification (Read more: Is Type Classification Still Important? and Tom Byers: “That’s Classified!”).  My father ran the Canadian system for many years.  But I now find myself asking “Are we missing the mark?”

The Bullvine Bottom Line

For years I have heard commercial producers tell me that they don’t care as much about type and that it’s the seed stock breeders that are putting all the emphasis on type.  The thing is, as Don points out, “the function of a seed stock producer is to produce the animal that is the most profitable for the commercial dairyman.”   If that is the  case are we as seed stock producers missing the mark by emphasizing type sires?  In today’s free agent bull market, it is more profitable to have a sire that sells well in the commercial market than just in the pedigree market.   Should we work to have the correlation between PTAT /Conformation with Herd Life/Productive Life as high as possible, as that is the whole point in evaluating type traits?

 

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Other posts you might like:

What is the Role of a Dairy Cattle Breed Association?
Do dairy breeders need to classify, milk record and register their dairy cattle?
Is Good Plus Good Enough?

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