Is There a Need for Different Genetics in Dairy Grazing Systems?

H. D. Norman, J. R. Wright, R. L. Powell

Animal Improvement Programs Laboratory Agricultural Research Service, USDA Beltsville, MD 20705-2350 dnorman@aipl.arsusda.gov 301-504-8334
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What genetic programs work well for U.S. graziers?

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Grazier breeding

Objective Cattle with better fertility or other desired characteristics Approaches (occasional use) Bulls from countries that practice grazing Bull breed different from cow breed to capitalize on heterosis Effectiveness in grazing herds?
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Phenotypic trend in days open

160

Days open

140

Lactation 1 2 3 4 5

120

100

65

70

75

80

85

90

95

00

Year
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Comparison study

Daughter performance within herd

New Zealand AI Holstein/Friesian bulls

Other AI Holstein bulls (predominantly U.S.)

Cows included Records in AIPL national database Calved (1st parity) before May 2005 Time to express the performance traits

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Traits examined
Milk, fat, protein Somatic cell score Days open Conformation traits

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Yield and SCS data

First-lactation daughters (159 herds) 552 sired by 26 New Zealand bulls 6266 sired by 1119 U.S. bulls Second-lactation daughters (136 herds) 394 sired by 19 New Zealand bulls 5212 sired by 1464 U.S. bulls Third-lactation daughters (90 herds) 213 sired by 14 New Zealand bulls 3170 sired by 1036 U.S. bulls
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Yield results

Milk First lactation Second lactation Third lactation

U.S. daughter superiority 1060 lb*** 1261 lb*** 1056 lb***

Fat New Zealand daughter advantage First lactation 2 lb Second lactation 2 lb Third lactation 7 lb Protein U.S. daughter superiority/advantage First lactation 11 lb** Second lactation 15 lb*** Third lactation 11 lb
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Economic value

Current U.S. milk prices MFP$ = 0.016 milk + 1.50 fat + 1.95 protein

U.S. daughter MFP$ advantage First lactation $35.41 Second lactation $46.43 Third lactation $27.85
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SCS results

First lactation U.S. daughter superiority of 0.22*** Second lactation U.S. daughter advantage of 0.10 Third lactation U.S. daughter advantage of 0.06
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Days open data

First-lactation daughters (148 herds) 513 sired by 25 New Zealand bulls 5823 sired by 1078 U.S. bulls Second-lactation daughters (122 herds) 357 sired by 19 New Zealand bulls 4663 sired by 1338 U.S. bulls Third-lactation daughters (79 herds) 183 sired by 14 New Zealand bulls 2767 sired by 931 U.S. bulls
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Days open results

First lactation New Zealand daughter superiority of 7 days* Second lactation New Zealand daughter superiority of 8 days* Third lactation New Zealand daughter advantage of 2 days

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Type data

First-lactation daughters

79 sired by New Zealand bulls

308 sired by U.S. bulls

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Type results

Final score U.S. daughters higher by 1.6 points* Stature U.S. daughters taller, by 2.3 points*

Rear udder height U.S. daughter superior by 2.6 points*

Udder depth U.S. daughter superior by 3.2 points**
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Yield results from spring calvers

Milk First lactation Second lactation Third lactation

U.S. daughter superiority 774 lb*** 1186 lb*** 1642 lb***

Fat New Zealand daughter advantage First lactation 7 lb Second lactation 4 lb Third lactation 13 lb Protein U.S. daughter superiority/advantage First lactation 9 lb Second lactation 18 lb* Third lactation 29 lb**
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SCS results for spring calvers

First lactation U.S. daughter superiority of 0.24* Second lactation U.S. daughter advantage of 0.16 Third lactation U.S. daughter advantage of 0.11
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Days open for spring calvers

First lactation New Zealand daughter advantage of 6 days Second lactation New Zealand daughter advantage of 1 days Third lactation New Zealand daughter advantage of 1 days

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Genetic alternative

To achieve top fertility, consider direct selection for Daughter pregnancy rate (DPR) from US bulls or those from all sources
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Definitions
Days

open = days from calving to conception pregnancy rate (DPR) = percentage of those open (nonpregnant) cows that are between 50 and 250 days in milk that become pregnant within 21 days
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Daughter

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Days open and DPR by breed

Breed

Avg. days open 143 143 151 148 127 135

Avg DPR (%) 22.4 22.4 20.5 21.2 26.5 24.5

Ayrshire Brown Swiss Guernsey Holstein Jersey Milking Shorthorn

DPR = 0.25 (233 days open)

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High DPR vs. Active-AI Holsteins

Traits

High DPR bulls

All Active-AI 824 32 26 2.95 0.8 -0.3 236 692

2006

Milk (lbs) 349 Fat (lbs) 14 Protein (lbs) 19 SCS 2.84 Productive Life (mo) 4.1 DPR (%) 2.3 Net Merit Dollars 359 24

# of bulls (DPR2.0)
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High DPR vs. All Active-AI Jerseys

Traits

High DPR bulls

All Active-AI 619 40 27 2.95 1.7 -0.1 269 96

2006

Milk (lbs) -6 Fat (lbs) 46 Protein (lbs) 18 SCS 2.94 Productive Life (mo) 2.3 DPR (%) 1.5 Net Merit Dollars 302 11

# of bulls (DPR1.0)
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Higher DPR vs. High Active-AI HO

Traits

Higher DPR bulls 748 28 29 2.82 4.8 2.3 462 12

High All Active-AI 1142 44 35 2.90 1.8 0.0 358 346

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Milk (lbs) Fat (lbs) Protein (lbs) SCS Productive Life (mo) DPR (%) Net Merit Dollars

# of bulls (DPR2.0)
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Conclusions

Strain differences between U.S. Holsteins and New Zealand Friesians for several traits Higher milk and protein yields for U.S. bull daughters Lower first-lactation SCS for U.S. bull daughters
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Conclusions (continued)

Fewer first- and second-lactation days open for New Zealand bull daughters Smaller body size for New Zealand bull daughters Better udders for U.S. bull daughters

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Caution
Strain

differences influenced by individual bulls chosen from each country the New Zealand bulls chosen were slightly more selective than the US bulls used
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Found

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Recommendations to breeders

Dont select bulls solely on one trait because many traits have economic value Consider economic value of all performance traits in your own market when making genetic choices For seasonal calving, use an index that puts more weight on daughter fertility than those recommended for the general industry
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Thank you!
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