AFGC Convention 2004 (1) 2004 Possibilities for Improving Dairy Cattle Performance Dr. H. Duane Norman Animal Improvement Programs Laboratory Agricultural Research Service, USDA Beltsville, MD

AFGC Convention 2004 (2) 2004 Topics l Does the proposed national animal ID system help genetic programs for dairy cattle? l What genetic programs work well for graziers? 2004

Benefit of proposed national animal ID system to genetic programs for dairy cattle AFGC Convention 2004 (3) 2004

AFGC Convention 2004 (4) 2004 Background l BSE in Washington state l Better ID for dairy cattle (traceability) – Council on Dairy Cattle Breeding – National FAIR – Wisconsin ID Consortium l Timetable shortened l Funding sources expanded

AFGC Convention 2004 (5) 2004 National dairy breeding program l Animal Improvement Programs Laboratory – Dairy cattle ID database – Genetic evaluations l Requirements for success – Parent ID – Birth date – Production recording – Progeny test

AFGC Convention 2004 (6) 2004 National ID program l USAIP (U.S. Animal Identification Plan) l Monitor and document animal movement l Trace back for health concerns l Enhance genetic programs? – Must include birth date and sire ID – Dam ID can further improve evaluation accuracy

Genetic improvement issues for graziers AFGC Convention 2004 (7) 2004

AFGC Convention 2004 (8) 2004 Grazier breeding l Objective – Cattle with better fertility or other desired characteristics l Approaches – Bulls from countries that practice grazing – Bull breed different from cow breed – Effectiveness?

AFGC Convention 2004 (9) 2004 U.S. daughters of New Zealand bulls l Daughter performance compared within herd – New Zealand AI Holstein bulls – Other AI Holstein bulls (predominantly U.S.) l Cows included – Records in AIPL national database – Calved before March 2004 – Time to express the performance traits

AFGC Convention 2004 (10) 2004 U.S. daughters of New Zealand bulls l Data continued l 145 herds l 452 New Zealand daughters l 4,954 U.S. daughters l 110 herds l 283 New Zealand daughters l 4,141 U.S. daughters l 72 herds l 145 New Zealand daughters l 2,372 U.S. daughters – First lactation – Second lactation – Third lactation

AFGC Convention 2004 (11) 2004 U.S. daughters of New Zealand bulls l Yield continued l U.S. daughters superior ™ First lactation 1046 lb*** ™ Second lactation 1108 lb*** ™ Third lactation 1049 lb*** l New Zealand daughters superior ™ First lactation 4 lb ™ Second lactation 2 lb l U.S. daughters superior ™ Third lactation 1 lb l U.S. daughters superior ™ First lactation 10 lb** ™ Second lactation 12 lb** ™ Third lactation 13 lb – Milk – Fat – Protein

AFGC Convention 2004 (12) 2004 U.S. daughters of New Zealand bulls l Value of U.S. daughter yield superiority at 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 l Somatic cell score continued l U.S. daughters superior ™.2*** l U.S. daughters superior ™.1 l New Zealand daughters superior ™.1 – First lactation – Second lactation – Third lactation

AFGC Convention 2004 (14) 2004 U.S. daughters of New Zealand bulls l Days open continued l New Zealand daughters superior ™ 7 days* l New Zealand daughters superior ™ 8 days l New Zealand daughters superior ™ 4 days – First lactation – Second lactation – Third lactation – Pheno- typic trend Lactation

AFGC Convention 2004 (15) 2004 U.S. daughters of New Zealand bulls l Productive life – Comparison needed – Advantage for New Zealand daughters? continued

AFGC Convention 2004 (16) 2004 Crossbreeding l Heterosis – Milk 3.4 – Fat 4.4 – Protein 4.1 – SCS-0.7 – Days Open 1.8 continued

AFGC Convention 2004 (17) 2004 Recommendations l Don’t select bulls solely on reproductive performance or any other single trait because several traits also have economic value l 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