Dairy Genetics
Moving to 100% polled genetics is an air-tight method of dispelling consumer concerns about dehorning pain. But the wheels of genetic progress turn relatively slowly in cattle.
John Schouten’s dairy upbringing not only further generated his interest in the dairy industry, but also propelled the CEO to travel the globe and be remembered for his vital role in U.S. dairy semen exports.
Reproduction clicks along like a well-oiled machine at Schanbacher Acres near Atkins, Iowa, thanks in part to the farm’s routine use of blood pregnancy tests for the past 17 years.
The boards of directors from Select Sires Inc. and five local member cooperatives have voted to unite the federation to become Select Sires Cooperative Inc.
The cow of today may not be the cow you want to milk in the future. As standards change and technology improves, your ideal cow could look very different overtime.
10-year, 7-herd study also shows lower health costs.
Meet one of the leading scientists in the world of livestock genetics. Dan Carlson of Minnesota-based Recombinetics is rewriting the future of genetic code of animals.
To avoid the problem in the future, both the genetic and phenotypic bases for calving ease traits will be updated at the same time.
Use of these unique genetic bulls could reintroduce lost genetic variation.
The actual number of heifers you need to maintain herd size can be quite surprising.
Gains are positive for all breeds for all Merit Indexes:Lifetime, Cheese, Fluid and Grazing.
The traits include: Displaced abomasum, milk fever, ketosis, mastitis, metritis and retained placenta.
Holsteins have the genetic capacity to stay in the herd more than a year longer.
Four fifths of Holstein calves born in 2018 now fall in the moderate to high category, which is 6.25 to 12.5%
Inbreeding levels in Holsteins is accelerating, particularly over the past 7 years.
Higher production does not guarantee profitability, but it does provide the opportunity to pay more bills as long as costs are contained.
We can improve fertility without impacting other production or health traits.
Elections were held at recent Holstein Association annual meeting.
The accuracy of fertility evaluation depends on properly accounting for whether a unit of sexed- or conventional semen was used.
Retrofitting a dairy barn has been a popular choice to make upgrades more affordable than they would be when building new, yet “retrofitting” isn’t unique to the dairy industry.
Vytelle and GrowSafe Systems, Ltd. announced the combining of their companies with the aim of accelerating genetic advances in bovine biotechnology.
Genomic testing might seem expensive, but it has some benefits that can be seen in the long-run for a dairy.
Game-changing genetic discovery to help target disease resistance, improve herd health and operational profitability.
Health traits will be weighted by their appropriate economic value in Net Merit for Holsteins.
Workshop will review latest topics in dairy genomics
A Guernsey show cow worth $30,000 was stolen from a New York farm along with six other cattle.
Progesterone is essential for normal reproductive cycling; it inhibits estrus and controls follicle growth. But, some high-producing dairy cows have too little in circulation.