Dr. George R. Wiggans, Ph.D. Animal Improvement Programs Laboratory Agricultural Research Service, USDA Beltsville, MD, USA U.S. Genetics Conf., Beijing, China (1)Wiggans Macroeconomics of using high quality genetics

U.S. Genetics Conf., Beijing, China (2)Wiggans China-U.S. agriculture comparison Item China United States Population (2007, millions)1, Cropland (acres, millions) Cropland/agricultural worker (acres)1194 Agricultural gross domestic product (GDP, 2007, US$, billions) Agricultural GDP/agricultural worker (US$/person) 1,23043,650 Source: USDA Economic Research Service

U.S. Genetics Conf., Beijing, China (3)Wiggans Why is dairy important to China? l Source of highly nutritious food l Rising income  greater demand l Domestic production can reduce imports

U.S. Genetics Conf., Beijing, China (4)Wiggans Effect of rising income l Some increase in calories consumed l General increase in diet quality w More animal protein l Substantial increase in resources required l Rapid economic growth in China  huge increase in animal products

U.S. Genetics Conf., Beijing, China (5)Wiggans Why improve efficiency? l Meet needs of growing population at reduced cost l Reduce demand w Land w Water w Labor l Reduce pollution (carbon footprint) w Methane w Runoff

U.S. Genetics Conf., Beijing, China (6)Wiggans How to improve efficiency l Increase production per cow l Improve cow’s efficiency of feed conversion l Improve longevity  reduces number of heifers required l Improve nutritional management l Reduce disease

U.S. Genetics Conf., Beijing, China (7)Wiggans China-U.S. dairy comparison ItemChinaUnited States Cows (millions) Milk yield (kg)2,8819,593 Source: UN Food and Agriculture Organization, 2010

U.S. Genetics Conf., Beijing, China (8)Wiggans US Carbon footprint l Per cow w Doubled Source: Capper et al., J. Anim. Sci., 2009 l Per unit of milk w Reduced 2/3 l U.S. dairy industry reduced total footprint by 41%

U.S. Genetics Conf., Beijing, China (9)Wiggans Why US carbon footprint was reduced l Milk productivity has quadrupled l 60% more milk with 75% fewer cows Source: National Agricultural Statistics Service, USDA

U.S. Genetics Conf., Beijing, China (10)Wiggans Efficiency and “dilution of maintenance” 75% 25% 35% 65% 2.0 Mcal/kg 1.8 Mcal/kg Energy efficiency Dilution of maintenance Source: J. Capper, Washington State University, & R. Cady, Elanco, 2010 l Based on dietary needs for 680-kg Holstein, 3.8% fat, 3.1% protein

U.S. Genetics Conf., Beijing, China (11)Wiggans 60 lb Practical application Increasing productivity reduces environmental impact Source: Capper et al., J. Anim. Sci., kg

U.S. Genetics Conf., Beijing, China (12)Wiggans Per cow Background requirements l Maintenance feed l Water w Intake w Sanitation l Greenhouse gases (carbon footprint) w CO 2 – Carbon dioxide w CH 4 – Methane w N 2 O – Nitrous oxide l Land l Manure l Fuel l Electricity l Herbicides, pesticides increases + ⅛ of dry cow + 97% of heife r

U.S. Genetics Conf., Beijing, China (13)Wiggans Physical plant (machine) Off Idle Performing Physical plant (machine)Animal corollary OffDeceased IdleAt rest (maintenance) PerformingProduction (growth, lactation, reproduction) Physical plant (machine)Animal corollary OffDeceased IdleAt rest (maintenance) PerformingProduction (growth, lactation, reproduction) Life-cycle assessment Source: J. Capper, Washington State University

U.S. Genetics Conf., Beijing, China (14)Wiggans Milk productivity trends l Euro-6 represents 2/3 of cow’s milk produced in European Union in 2010 Source: UN Food and Agriculture Organization, 2010

U.S. Genetics Conf., Beijing, China (15)Wiggans Animals needed to produce 45 million kg of milk l Includes lactating and dry cows, heifer replacements, and breeding bulls in 2007 l Values inside bars are relative ratio to most efficient country l Euro-6 represents 2/3 of cow’s milk produced in European Union in 2007 Source: J. Capper, Washington State University; adapted from FAO statistics

U.S. Genetics Conf., Beijing, China (16)Wiggans Genetic improvement l Increases genetic ability l Considers traits of economic importance l Requires an environment that allows genetic potential to be expressed l Leads to permanent change in cow population

U.S. Genetics Conf., Beijing, China (17)Wiggans Method for genetic improvement l Collect performance data l Calculate genetic evaluations l Use highest ranking animals as parents of next generation l Focus on bulls w Can have many daughters w High selection intensity

U.S. Genetics Conf., Beijing, China (18)Wiggans Role of imported semen l Widespread international trade in semen l Semen exporting countries have well established evaluation system l Selection intensity is very high l Benefit of many generations of selection is available

U.S. Genetics Conf., Beijing, China (19)Wiggans U.S. semen l U.S. evaluation system respected worldwide l Large population allows for detection of bulls superior for a wide range of traits l Early adoption of genomics promises increased rate of genetic gain

U.S. Genetics Conf., Beijing, China (20)Wiggans Summary l Chinese consumption of dairy products will increase l Increased efficiency necessary to meet demand from available land and water resources l Higher yield/cow dilutes maintenance l United States is source of semen with proven high production potential