Improving the genetic foundation for a more sustainable herd
Last updated on March 24th, 2023
Why does it matter?
Milk production is a partially inherited trait. Therefore, it is important to develop a breeding strategy by monitoring the genetic traits in your herd, to maintain herd strengths and identify areas of weakness. Poor matching between cows and sires results in less healthy and less productive cows, which results in increasing costs and emissions over time.
How did we solve this?
In this project, we sampled 200 youngstock to create a baseline understanding of their genetic merits, including their genetic traits and diseases. This allowed for implementation of an action plan to be defined based on ranking (based on top and bottom performers).
Expected results of this project are calculated based on a 5 year scenario. We expect to see an increase in lifetime production (both in quantity of milk and longevity), improvements in milk solids (fats & protein) content and improvements in conception rate.
We expect an increase in semen costs, but we also expect cost avoidance from heifers not raised. Additional estimated impacts included a GHG emissions decrease of c2.5% kg CO2 eq./FPCM.
Opportunities for other farms?
Efficient genomic breeding strategies can be implemented on all farms that have over 50 cows and that use insemination. Having a genomic breeding strategy will help farms to valorise their dairy cow’s value by having more insights on breeding decisions.
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