AFGC Convention 2004 (1) 2004

Possibilities for Improving Dairy Cattle PerformanceDr. H. Duane Norman

Animal Improvement Programs LaboratoryAgricultural Research Service, USDABeltsville, MD 20705-2350

dnorman@aipl.arsusda.gov 301-504-8334

AFGC Convention 2004 (2) 2004

Topics

Does the proposed national animal ID system help genetic programs for dairy cattle?

What genetic programs work well for graziers?

2004

Benefit of proposed national animal ID system to genetic programs for dairy cattle

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Background

BSE in Washington state

Better ID for dairy cattle (traceability)– Council on Dairy Cattle

Breeding– National FAIR–Wisconsin ID Consortium

Timetable shortened

Funding sources expanded

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National dairy breeding program Animal Improvement Programs

Laboratory– Dairy cattle ID database– Genetic evaluations

Requirements for success– Parent ID– Birth date– Production recording– Progeny test

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National ID program

USAIP (U.S. Animal Identification Plan)

Monitor and document animal movement

Trace back for health concerns

Enhance genetic programs?

– Must include birth date and sire ID

– Dam ID can further improve evaluation accuracy

Genetic improvement issues for graziers

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Grazier breeding

Objective– Cattle with better fertility or other

desired characteristics

Approaches

– Bulls from countries that practice grazing

– Bull breed different from cow breed

– Effectiveness?

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U.S. daughters of New Zealand bulls

Daughter performance compared within herd

– New Zealand AI Holstein bulls

– Other AI Holstein bulls (predominantly U.S.)

Cows included

– Records in AIPL national database

– Calved before March 2004

– Time to express the performance traits

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U.S. daughters of New Zealand bulls Data

continued

145 herds 452 New Zealand

daughters 4,954 U.S. daughters

110 herds 283 New Zealand

daughters 4,141 U.S. daughters

72 herds 145 New Zealand

daughters 2,372 U.S. daughters

– First

lactation

– Second

lactation

– Third

lactation

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U.S. daughters of New Zealand bullsYield

continued

U.S. daughters superior First lactation 1046 lb***

Second lactation 1108 lb***

Third lactation 1049 lb***

New Zealand daughters superior First lactation 4 lb Second lactation 2 lb

U.S. daughters superior Third lactation 1 lb

U.S. daughters superior First lactation 10 lb**

Second lactation 12 lb**

Third lactation 13 lb

– Milk

– Fat

– Protein

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U.S. daughters of New Zealand bulls

Value of U.S. daughter yield superiority at current milk prices

– First lactation

– Second lactation

– Third lactation

continued

$30.35

$38.30

$43.79

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U.S. daughters of New Zealand bulls

Somaticcell score

continued

U.S. daughters superior .2***

U.S. daughters superior .1

New Zealand daughters superior .1

– Firstlactation

– Secondlactation

– Thirdlactation

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U.S. daughters of New Zealand bulls Days

open

continued

New Zealand daughters superior 7 days*

New Zealand daughters superior 8 days

New Zealand daughters superior 4 days

– Firstlactation

– Secondlactation

– Thirdlactation

– Pheno-typictrend

100

120

140

160

65 70 75 80 85 90 95 00

Year

Day

s open

12345

Lactation

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U.S. daughters of New Zealand bulls

Productive life

– Comparison needed

– Advantage for New Zealand daughters?

continued

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Crossbreeding

Heterosis

– Milk 3.4

– Fat 4.4

– Protein 4.1

– SCS -0.7

– Days Open 1.8

continued

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Recommendations

Don’t select bulls solely on reproductive performance or any other single trait because several traits also have economic value

If you practice seasonal calving, use an index with more weight on daughter pregnancy rate than is recommended for the general U.S. dairy cattle industry

If a national animal ID system is to enhance genetic programs for dairy cattle, the critical development issue is to obtain sire information!

AFGC Convention 2004 (18) 2004