Genetic evaluation has been designed since the 1960s to keep us on a path others thought desirable—the faster maturity of dairy cattle. A lot of gene variation was lost in the narrowed sire bloodlines resulting from this single-minded pursuit.
We gave up genes for natural fertility, for maternal instinct, for acclimation to the fluctuation of weather (especially sunlight heat), for natural insect resistance, and most importantly, for the stamina to produce into a fully matured longevity .
Hindsight now tells us that focusing genetic selection on data allowed us to forget many basic rules of biology, including the many tradeoffs there are in population behavior. Faster maturity is now shown to have promoted rapid aging. Genetics ignored observational evidence in the pursuit of the fantasy that “technology has a solution for all problems”. One size fits all never really fits what is most needed which is the necessity to keep gene influences in balance when mating cows.
Mich Livestock Service, Inc “For the Best in Bulls” and the high energy forages to feed cows
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