Hostname: page-component-8448b6f56d-gtxcr Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-15T06:02:07.182Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The genetic and financial consequences of selection amongst dairy bulls in artificial insemination

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 September 2010

C. J. M. Hinks
C. J. M. Hinks
Affiliation:
A.R.C. Animal Breeding Research Organisation, West Mains Road, Edinburgh EH9 3JQ
Get access

Summary

A numerical model of male and female replacement processes in a dairy cattle population was constructed in order to describe the long-term genetic and financial consequences of selection amongst bulls in AI.

Changes with time in the relative contribution of different generations of offspring to the total genetic improvement of the population were described. It was shown that the genetic change resulting from a single selection process amongst the males eventually approaches an equilibrium many years after selection is practised. Owing to the delays involved in the progeny test, individual males made no genetic contribution for a period of 10 years and a small but constant contribution thereafter.

The costs of bull testing and selection, and the monetary benefits obtained from it, were estimated. Current selection procedures proved to be highly profitable at prevailing market prices. Capital invested in the testing programme was recovered within 2 to 5 years of the first offspring calving.

The effect of changes in milk prices and feeding costs on monetary returns was examined. It was concluded that sire testing programmes are likely to prove unprofitable only under extremely adverse economic conditions.

Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Production , Volume 13 , Issue 2 , May 1971 , pp. 209 - 218
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 1971

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Barker, J. S. F. and Robertson, Alan. 1966. Genetic and phenotypic parameters for the first three lactations in Friesian cows. Anim. Prod. 8: 221–240.Google Scholar
Hill, W. G. 1971. Investment appraisal for national breeding programmes. Anim. Prod. 13: 37–50.Google Scholar
Hinks, C. J. M. 1966. Selection practices in dairy herds. 2. Selection patterns in the later lactations. Anim. Prod. 8: 481–488.Google Scholar
Hinks, C. J. M. 1970. The selection of dairy bulls for AI. Anim. Prod. 12: 569–576.Google Scholar
Lindhé, B. 1968. Model simulation of AI breeding within a dual purpose breed of cattle. Acta Agric. scand. 18: 33–41.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Milk Marketing Board. 1968–69. Report of the Breeding and Production Organisation, No. 19. Milk Marketing Board, Thames Ditton, Surrey.Google Scholar
Robertson, Alan. 1966. A mathematical model of the culling process in dairy cattle. Anim. Prod. 8: 95–108.Google Scholar
Robertson, Alan and Khishin, S. S. 1958. The effect of selection for heifer milk yield on the production level of mature cows. J. agric. Sci., Camb. 50: 12–16.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Skjervold, H. 1967. Selection schemes in relation to artificial insemination. Proc. 9th int. Congr. Anim. Prod., Edin. 1966, pp. 250–261.Google Scholar
Soller, M., Bar-Anan, R. and Pasternak, H. 1966. Selection of dairy cattle for growth and milk production. Anim. Prod. 8: 109–120.Google Scholar