level ii agricultural business operations. what is the objective... to produce a more efficient...
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What is the objective ... ?
To produce a more efficient dairy animal
Milk producers want healthy cows, acceptable yields and cows that are efficient at turning feed into milk. Improving all these factors will help to increase profits
Milk Production = Genetics + Environment
Main breed: Holstein-Friesian
97% of the UK dairy herd
Other breeds: Ayrshire
Jersey
Shorthorn
Alternatives: Montbeliarde Brown Swiss
Fleckvieh Scandinavian Red
Normande MRI/Rotbunt
} 3% of UK dairy herd
Yield (Litres)
10,000
9,000
8,000
7,000
6,000
5,000
4,000
Moderate dairying systems- Increased breeding options- Lower merit Holstein with better quality/functional traits- Higher genetic merit Ayrshires/British Friesians- Dual purpose breeds/Crossbreeding
Low input/Low output systems- Jersey/Dual purpose breeds- Crossbreeding to maximise non-
productive traits (fertility/longevity)
High input/High output systems- Limited breeding options- Holstein Friesian with high potential for
milk yield
Selection of Breeding StockSelection of Breeding Stock
Faster genetic progress
Select bulls for desired traits:e.g. Milk yield
Milk compositionFertility, Longevity,
SCC
Consult DairyCo list of available bulls
Check pedigrees to avoid inbreeding
Male side Select replacements from
your best cows: ◦ Milk recording◦ Health records◦ Physical characteristics◦ Use heifers for breeding
replacements
Slow genetic progress
Female side
Where do they come from ... ?
Milk recording improves reliability of proofs deriving benefit to: - individual farmers - industry as a whole
Reliability of genetic proofs for bulls and cows depends on amount and quality of information used to produce them
Lower reliability proofs more likely to change over time as more information becomes available
- Parents- Grandparents- Siblings- Genomic testing- Progeny
Milk recording}Dairy ProofsDairy Proofs
Dependability of bull or cow to pass on their traits to next generation
Test bulls are born with a reliability of 35-40%
Test bulls with first crop daughters completing first lactation have reliability of 80-85%
Genomically tested bulls have reliability of around 60%
Widely used bulls with second crop daughters have reliabilities of up to 99%
Genomic IndexesWhat is Reliability?What is Reliability?
GenomicsGenomics
What is it ... ?Technology that examines the DNA profile of cattle (young bulls) to identify traits that we want to select for
What is the benefit of it ... ?
Identifies animals early in life that are likely to out-perform their contemporaries (especially brothers)
Increases the reliability of younger test bulls available through AI, shortening the interval by up to 4 years
More rapid genetic progress
Natural Service: Putting all eggs in one
basket Limited genetic progress
& low reliability (35-40%) Where has he been bred –
bull proofs, herd yield? How long to be kept –
breeding on his heifers?
What are your herd aims: Milk yield, quality – or both? Non production traits – fertility, SCC, longevity? Where are you now – herd genetic report?
AI or Natural ServiceAI or Natural ServiceAI Bulls:
Greater reliability of proofs & genetic progress
Can select for a range of traits – yield, quality, fertility, etc.
Not limited to one bull – different bulls on different cows.
Increased Yield
Improved Milk Quality
Reduced SCC/Mastitis
Increased Longevity
Improved Fertility
Reduced Lameness
No Calving Problems
All of the above
… Milk, Fat and Protein kg
… Fat and Protein %
… SCC, Udders
… Lifespan
… Fertility Index
… Locomotion/Feet & Leg
… Calving Ease
… £PLI
Profitable Lifetime Index (£)
Farmers’ Breeding Wish Farmers’ Breeding Wish ListList
Single Financial Figure - summarises all production and health PTA’s into a single financial figure for each individual breed
Expressed on a Lifetime Basis - indicates extra margin (£) a bull or cow is expected to pass onto it’s progeny in it’s lifetime
Bulls ranked on £PLI – the top 100 bulls have good productive and non-productive PTAs
Spring Calving Index (£SCI) – alternative ‘across breed index’ first launched in Aug 2014 designed specifically for spring calving herds
Profitable Lifetime Index Profitable Lifetime Index (£PLI)(£PLI)
Sire ProofsSire Proofs
Pedigree information
£PLI and PTAs for production traits
PTAs for non-production traits
Linear assessment
PTAs for:Milk yield (kg)Fat yield (kg)Protein yield (kg)
Fat %Protein %FertilitySCCLifespanCalving ease - direct
- maternalMaintenance (Lwt)
Milk Yield
x
PTA is genetic merit a parent is predicted to transmit to its’ progeny.
Progeny’s Breeding Value is sum of PTAs it receives from it’s parents.
Progeny in turn passes on half it’s Breeding Value (i.e. it’s own PTA) to it’s progeny.
BullPTA = 363
Progeny (heifer)Breeding Value = 363 + 0 =
363PTA = 182
CowPTA = 0
Predicted Transmitting Ability Predicted Transmitting Ability (PTA)(PTA)
Sire Proofs – Non-Production Sire Proofs – Non-Production PTAsPTAs
DairyCo proofs provide information on:
Fertility
Lifespan
SCC
Calving easeo Directo Maternal
Maintenance
Breed society assessment of dairyness characteristics
Based on appearance of female relations
Composite scores for dairyness, mammary and feet/legs
Udder traits most important and should generally be right of centre
Sire Proofs – Linear Type TraitsSire Proofs – Linear Type Traits
What Should You Focus What Should You Focus On ... ?On ... ?
Irrespective of your system, where possible, select bulls from ...
a)Top 100 ranked bulls on £PLI list (currently £PLI > 380) and:
b)Positive for BF%
c)Positive for PR%
d)Positive for Fertility
e)Positive for Lifespan
f)Negative for SCC
}
Specific criteria should be in line with your herd targets
Tight selection criteria limits bull choice but will maximise potential genetic gain - avoid
inbreeding
Used in Northern Ireland to introduce hybrid vigour
}
Improved functional traits
Improved cow health Improved lifespan Improved fertility Less mastitis Less calf mortality
CrossbreedingCrossbreeding
Dairy Cow Breeding - Dairy Cow Breeding - SummarySummaryDecide your system and breed for desired improvements
e.g. Increased yield or proteinImproved fertility or longevity
Bull or AI – AI enables more refined selection and improves potential genetic gain
Select your best cows
Choose bulls from the top 100 ranked on £PLI
Use team of 3-4 bulls and keep choice simple and effective
Key IssuesKey Issues
How many heifers do I need ... ?
What age should they be at calving ... ?
Target age and weight at breeding ... ?
How do you monitor development ... ?
How Many Heifers Do I How Many Heifers Do I Need ... ?Need ... ?Replacement Rate:
Proportion of new heifers/cows entering the herd each year should equal the number leaving
Replacement rate in a stable 100-cow herd:e.g. 25 culls = 25 replacements = 25%
However, in an expanding herd, replacement rate will be higher to allow for expansion:
e.g. 35 replacements in a 100-cow herd = 35%
A typical replacement rate in NI ranges from 23–36% and averages 29% (CAFRE Benchmarking)
Heifer LossesHeifer Losses
Replacement rate counts only the heifers introduced to the milking herd.
Does not count losses along the way ...
Reason for losses: Pneumonia/Scour Infertility Casualties Summer mastitis
Have at least 25% more heifers than you need e.g. If you need 25 heifers replacements you will
have to start out with 31 heifer calves or more
How Many Cows Do I Serve How Many Cows Do I Serve ...?...?
Calculations for a 100-cow herd 25% replacement rate = 25 heifers introduced 25% loss = 6 additional heifers At least 31 heifer calves required Half the calves born will be bulls: 62 calvings Minimum of 62 cows bred to dairy bull
Options: Use sexed semen for first service of maiden heifers Breed replacements from earlier calving cows
What Age Should They Be At Calving What Age Should They Be At Calving ...?...?
Given a similar lifespan, earlier calving heifers have a longer productive life
Benefits of 24 Month CalvingBenefits of 24 Month Calving
Reduced costs of heifer rearing period due to earlier calving
Smaller heifers with less liveweight loss in early first lactation
Hence, better fertility in first lactation - greater survival from first to second lactation
More lactations on average - longer productive life
While less milk produced in first lactation, the extra lactation means greater lifetime yield
Target Age At Breeding ... ?Target Age At Breeding ... ?
Age at first service
(months)
Age average heifer
conceives (months)
Age at first calving
(months)
13.5 15.0 24.0
15.0 16.5 25.5
16.5 18.0 27.0
Excuses ... ? Too small to serve Smaller heifers can’t compete Increased management/feeding required Better milk yields from larger heifers Underestimate weights/lack of confidence
Target Weight At Breeding ... ?Target Weight At Breeding ... ?
Aim for liveweight of 340-370 kg at first service
Don’t serve heifers less than 330 kg
Heifers should calve at 550-580 kg
Age (Months)
0 3 6 9 12 15 18 21 24
Aug-Nov Silage + 2 kg heifer
nuts
Grass + 1 kg heifer nuts
Silage + 2 kg heifer nuts
Grass only
Dec-Feb Silage + 2
kg hfr nuts
Grass + 1.5 kg hfr nuts
Silage + 2.5 kg
heifer nuts
Grass + 1.5 kg
heifer nuts
Silage + 2 kg heifer nuts
Mar-Jul Straw + 3 kg
heifer nuts
Straw + 4 kg
heifer nuts
Grass + 1.5 kg heifer nuts
Silage + 2 kg heifer nuts
Heifer Feed PlansHeifer Feed Plans
How Do You Monitor How Do You Monitor Development ... ?Development ... ?
Serve at 340-370 kg
liveweight
Dairy Heifer Replacements Dairy Heifer Replacements - Summary- Summary
To achieve a replacement rate of 25% in a stable
herd, at least 30% heifer calves are needed
Calving at 24 months is the most efficient
Serve from 13.5 months at 340-370 kg
Monitor growth regularly using a weighbridge, girth
band or wither stick