Level II Agricultural Business Operations

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 - £PLI and Production Sire Proofs - £PLI and Production PTAsPTAs

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

Level II Agricultural Business Operations

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