What are you REALLY selecting for when you follow typical genetic advice?

 

You may be perpetuating deficiencies that grew out of the 1970s belief that cows needed to set higher “peaks” in order to eat more corn and oilseeds, less hay, and linear traits that favored “angularity” over healthy body condition.

Young cows milked more like mature cows, but fewer maturing cows become that competitive matured cow  (only a third of all cows completing a full third or later lactation).     This is built into the current “Genomic” theory.     

These genetic pathways lowered butterfat% and eventually protein%, which now are the driving forces that add up to your milk checks.    They allowed “negative” milk component traits (such as A1 Beta Casein and E Kappa casein) to proliferate.   They created cows that were increasingly harder to rebreed on natural estrus.

To anticipate what current milk market trends mean in future dairy profitability, it is past time to take a hard look at how you select AI sire genetics.

Mich Livestock Service, Inc      ph (989 )834-2661       “The alternative genetic view” since 1952

 

1970s feeding research into using more corn in dairy rations

 

The Holstein breed proved to have the most genes for “metabolizing corn into milk instead of weight gain”.      The Red color breeds (Shorthorns, Ayrshires) had the least similar genes-- and those smaller frame breeds (Jerseys, Guernseys, various heritage breeds) lost persistency if fed higher corn/oilseed rations, but were mainly condemned for producing “too much butterfat” given government nutrition advice based on bad science from the corn and soybean lobbyists aimed at convincing American consumers to substitute vegetable oils for animal fats.

Thus in the 1970s there was wholesale crossbreeding of “colored” cows with Holstein bulls and the national butterfat average fell from 4.02% (1945) to 3.69% (1966), staying under 3.65% for four decades as a consequence of “Class I bottling milk” premiums and AI “PTA Milk” emphasis.     Today with the combined effects of multiple component pricing in the northern milk orders, and noted growth in consumer demand for butterfat products  (including “whole” milk is replacing “skim” in modern nutrition advice to control weight)  accompanied by explosive yogurt and hard cheese sales, the national butterfat blend has reached 4.08%.    In spite of this, the USA imported over 105 million pounds of butter in 2012, over half from Ireland  (where cows still graze grass and produce premium taste butter quality).

Breeding for ever more butterfat to keep up with consumer demand

You are in luck, because the highest selection traits in heritability are lactose %, protein % and butterfat % in that order  (twice the level of heritability for all linear type traits except Stature, and three to four times the heritability of most promoted DNA “health and fitness” traits!)   In breeding for increased butterfat and protein production, genes will accumulate fastest if you focus on sires “plus” more than .05% for butterfat and .03% for protein.

How important is “pounds of milk” in your sire selection?    According to the calculation for “Net Merit” index, not much.     If your milk goes through MMPA, they will tell you otherwise, mostly because their key handlers are bottlers, not cheese or yogurt processors.    Most bull studs still push “pounds” over “per cents” because they are still overcoming a four decade selection trend where indexing formulas remain built upon history rather than the future.

But a key problem with the decades of genetic selection on “high milk” was its high correlation to the promotion of “high early lactation peak production” which 1970s scientists identified as a key characteristic of the cow who could eat a corn-based ration and make milk instead of meat.   This type of cow (and genetic selection) is what held butterfat down to 3.65% in spite of twenty years of breeding advice “ select on pounds, not percent “ and was accompanied by reduction in natural cow fertility.     Basically, cows who peaked the highest, shedding the most body fat, converting rumen proteins to body energy to keep alive, delayed reproduction as long as they were in persistent negative energy states.     Increased feed costs are the required solution.

Extraordinarily high lifetime production cows have “flatter, more persistent” lactation curves

If you are struggling with fertility, spending $200 per cow on “Ov Synch” to get 80% of the cows rebred, selling 20% annually for failure to rebreed, it is this fifty years of genetic selection for a high peak milking cow designed to eat high energy dense corn and oilseed rations.    Very little genetic research has gone into comparing the correlation between flatter lactation curves, full persistency (from calving to dry off) and its correlations with better “natural” fertility response.

Many have found that, on dollar value of milk sold per cow per day, a persistent 80-pound cow testing 4%+ butterfat and 3.2%+ protein, calving back every thirteen months beats a 120-pound peak cow testing 3.7%- butterfat and 3.0%- protein calving back in fifteen to eighteen months!!  Translated into sire summaries, this is the possible difference between bulls +200 to +500 milk but +.10% bf and +.05% pr and bulls +1500 to +2500 milk but -.10% bf and -.05% pr…  

From a physical traits standpoint the Holstein bulls offering aAa 1 + 5 + 6 (currently discouraged by the pedigree-based Genomic selection)  are more likely to help you with slow fertility genes.

Genetic selection for flatter, more persistent lactation curves

 

Genetic selection for flatter, more persistent lactation curves.

Up to 1962 when USDA data shows the six measured breeds had national averages within 100 pounds of butterfat each per 305 day lactation (380 pounds for Milking Shorthorns, 480 pounds for Holsteins, every other breed in between) and the milk market basically priced on butterfat, there was little impact from the nearly 100% difference in the volume of milk each breed made.

This large difference in comparative milk yield mostly tracked cow frame size:  Holsteins, with twice the frame size (weight) of Jerseys, at that time produced nearly twice the volume of milk (but with less efficient rumens, barely 20 pounds more butterfat).   But a key difference, mostly ignored in the butterfat and pasture-based era was  the comparative lactation curves  between the smallest frame breeds (Jerseys and Guernseys) and the two largest framed breeds (Holsteins and Brown Swiss).    Ayrshires and Shorthorns fell in between, being breeds more favored for seasonal milk production in harsher climates, often selling to Grade B condenseries.

Jersey and Guernseys, the most “dairy” in behavior of all the breeds, but smallest in frame size, tended to have flatter, more persistent lactation curves, which would optimize butterfat yields when calved seasonally following the growth patterns of grasses in pasture:

 

 

Spring flush of grass / Weather warms, grass slows, corn grows / Fall rains, grass returns /  Snow
Calve early spring     (Store up spring hay)     Rebreed early summer    (Harvest silage)        Dry up

These breeds (especially Jerseys) bred back easier because they did not make fresh cow “peaks” so high that loss of body condition put them into negative energy states, while the smooth body type (and red-based hair/hide color) gave them more heat resistance.   

The economics of “ultrasound” equipment

 

Did you know that seedstock breeders in the double-muscled  Piedmontese  breed routinely measure the pelvic capacity of yearling heifers, to identify those more likely able to have a calf unassisted?     They do this with ultrasound.

Those with insufficient pelvic capacity go straight into their feedlots.   In their case, culling becomes a valuable selection tool (to improve a trait for which the breed was originally criticized) while maintaining the premium carcass value of their breed.    As for the heifers culled from breeding and going to feeding, the premium carcass value recovers the rearing cost (better than would be true for most conventionally bred cattle).     Heifers in virtually all beef breeds are able to reach a “finish” condition faster than bulls, given they have passed through puberty.   

Ultrasound for early pregnancy diagnosis.

More established veterinary services now have “ultrasound” equipment primarily for use when asked to examine cows for pregnancy.     Compared to palpation, ultrasound offers advantages such as:    (1)   earlier PG confirmation with less risk of “therapeutic” abortion.
                  (2)   electrovisual confirmation of calf sex
                  (3)   potential identification of fetal abnormalities
                  (4)   confirmation of breeding dates

For most of us, especially as herds get larger, the breeding season comprises a couple rounds of AI services with pre-selected planned matings to desired sires, followed by turning in “cleanup” bulls we either bought (at a bull test, or from a trusted breeder)  OR raised (from better fertility record “momma cows”).     For next-season marketing plans, we might wish to know which cows got bred AI vs which cows waited for “barnyard barney”.     This is an area where “ultrasound” is more precise than manual palpation.

Palpation skill is still necessary for successful Ultrasound.

If you have not learned how to AI your cows, you should not be thinking (much) about buying “ultrasound” equipment, which in our research costs $3500 to $7000 from most vendors just for the hardware (hands-on training mostly not included).     While you may find the veterinary service charges are larger than they used to be, you would be hiring someone with enhanced skills in this area.

The downside to “ultrasound” vet training is that they tend to lose the skills needed for manual palpation diagnosis.     Plus there might be over-reliance on the technology encouraging earlier pregnancy confirmation, which might miss those pregnancies that fail to complete transition from the “embryonic division” stages to the “fetal attachment” stage, a process that takes six to eight weeks.     Based on some data from twenty years ago in large Michigan dairy herds, 5% of all cows diagnosed as pregnant prior to 60 days post-breeding end up open after 60 days …   No calf in cow equals no income from cow for an entire season!

Utilizing technology in breeding

Ultrasound is popular, especially as fewer large animal vet students graduate from our land-grant universities.   Those with good herdsmanship skills and larger herds may have acquired ultrasound equipment, but ultrasound services are available at most established veterinary practices.

As long as we remember some of the basics of mammalian reproduction (a lot of pregnancies start, not all make it to full term) and stay focused on the goal every cow we breed gets pregnant in time and delivers a live calf we can make decisions on how much (and when) modern technology applies, and when we should stick to traditionally successful husbandry techniques.

In the pursuit of ever-higher animal performance, it pays to keep our cow genetic selection in favor of natural fertility and maternal instinct, so that we do not lose ground on basic cow-calf economics:   “No calf, no income …”

 

MIch Livestock Service, Inc    “For the Best in Bulls”  and  “Better forages for efficient feeding”

Semen tank warranties and insuring risk of semen/embryo loss

 

The oldest working semen tank we have was built in 1965 by Linde/Union Carbide (a design derived from the original Mercury space capsules!).   It has an outer skin of stainless steel and inner shell of copper, takes 35 liters of nitrogen every month and weighs nearly 100 pounds when full.   In the 1970s in order to make tanks for efficient farm use, aluminum outer skins were developed and attained hold times of eight weeks, but as they were more fragile that only had three year warranties.   Some of you are still using these, approaching fifty years…   The newest tanks with Teflon paint coatings and more sophisticated neck and top protections offer five year warranties, use half the nitrogen of their ancestral versions, and are capable of holding twice as long (18-20 weeks working times).

The risk of tank failure actually increases from high vacuums pumped between the inner shell and outer wall to make longer holding times.   Transporting or knocking over modern tanks has more consequences than before, while the accumulation of moisture around and in them builds up the same risk of failure as always.

In earlier days AI systems offered insurance to protect against semen loss, as tank manufacturers only warranty the tank replacement, not any of your contents in use.    The AI insurance programs died out decades ago, failing to satisfy insurers.   But if you feel a need to insure against loss of semen (or embryos), ask your farm casualty agent for “scheduled inland marine” coverage; most offer it on request.    We will continue to do our best to monitor your tanks’ nitrogen consumption.