AFGC Convention 2004 (1)
2004
Possibilities for ImprovingDairy Cattle Performance
Dr. H. Duane Norman
Animal Improvement Programs Laboratory
Agricultural Research Service, USDA
Beltsville, MD 20705-2350
dnorman@aipl.arsusda.gov 301-504-8334
AFGC Convention 2004 (2)
2004
Topics
lDoes the proposed national animalID system help genetic programs fordairy cattle?
lWhat genetic programs work wellfor graziers?
2004
Benefit of proposed nationalanimal ID system to geneticprograms for dairy cattle
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Background
lBSE in Washington state
lBetter ID for dairy cattle (traceability)
–Council on Dairy Cattle Breeding
–National FAIR
–Wisconsin ID Consortium
lTimetable shortened
lFunding sources expanded
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National dairy breeding program
lAnimal Improvement Programs Laboratory
–Dairy cattle ID database
–Genetic evaluations
lRequirements for success
–Parent ID
–Birth date
–Production recording
–Progeny test
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National ID program
lUSAIP (U.S. Animal Identification Plan)
lMonitor and document animal movement
lTrace back for health concerns
lEnhance genetic programs?
–Must include birth date and sire ID
–Dam ID can further improve evaluationaccuracy
Genetic improvementissues for graziers
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Grazier breeding
lObjective
–Cattle with better fertility or other desiredcharacteristics
lApproaches
–Bulls from countries that practice grazing
–Bull breed different from cow breed
–Effectiveness?
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U.S. daughters of New Zealand bulls
lDaughter performance compared within herd
–New Zealand AI Holstein bulls
–Other AI Holstein bulls (predominantly U.S.)
lCows 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
lData
continued
l145 herds
l452 New Zealand daughters
l4,954 U.S. daughters
l110 herds
l283 New Zealand daughters
l4,141 U.S. daughters
l72 herds
l145 New Zealand daughters
l2,372 U.S. daughters
–First
lactation
–Second
lactation
–Third
lactation
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U.S. daughters of New Zealand bulls
lYield
continued
lU.S. daughters superior
First lactation 1046 lb***
Second lactation 1108 lb***
Third lactation 1049 lb***
lNew Zealand daughters superior
First lactation 4 lb
Second lactation 2 lb
lU.S. daughters superior
Third lactation 1 lb
lU.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
lValue of U.S. daughter yield superiorityat current milk prices
–First lactation
–Second lactation
–Third lactation
continued
l$30.35
l$38.30
l$43.79
AFGC Convention 2004 (13)
2004
U.S. daughters of New Zealand bulls
lSomatic
cell score
continued
lU.S. daughters superior
.2***
lU.S. daughters superior
.1
lNew Zealand daughters superior
.1
–First
lactation
–Second
lactation
–Third
lactation
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U.S. daughters of New Zealand bulls
lDays
open
continued
lNew Zealand daughters superior
7 days*
lNew Zealand daughters superior
8 days
lNew Zealand daughters superior
4 days
–First
lactation
–Second
lactation
–Third
lactation
–Pheno-
typic
trend
1
2
3
4
5
Lactation
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U.S. daughters of New Zealand bulls
lProductive life
–Comparison needed
–Advantage for New Zealand daughters?
continued
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Crossbreeding
lHeterosis
–Milk 3.4
–Fat 4.4
–Protein 4.1
–SCS-0.7
–Days Open 1.8
continued
AFGC Convention 2004 (17)
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Recommendations
lDon’t select bulls solely on reproductiveperformance or any other single traitbecause several traits also have economicvalue
lIf you practice seasonal calving, use anindex with more weight on daughterpregnancy rate than is recommended forthe general U.S. dairy cattle industry
If a national animal ID system is toenhance genetic programs for dairycattle, the critical developmentissue is to obtain sire information!
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