Considerations in using quantitative measurements of milking speed for genetic evaluations for all dairy breeds in the USA

Authors

  • Asha Miles Animal Genomics and Improvement Laboratory, United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Beltsville, MD, USA
  • Robert Fourdraine Dairy Records Management System, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
  • Steven Sievert Dairy Records Management System, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
  • Kristen Gaddis Council on Dairy Cattle Breeding (CDCB)
  • Jeffrey Bewley Holstein Association USA, Inc., Brattleboro, VT, USA
  • Sophie Eaglen National Association of Animal Breeders, Madison, WI, USA
  • Jay Weiker National Association of Animal Breeders, Madison, WI, USA
  • Jana Hutchison Animal Genomics and Improvement Laboratory, United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Beltsville, MD, USA
  • João Walter Dürr Interbull Centre Director, Interbull Centre, Department of Animal Breeding & Genetics, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences

Abstract

Milking speed is a trait evaluated in several breeds internationally, and most phenotypes are assembled using a subjective scoring system where a trained classifier travels to the farm to individually appraise cows alongside the farmer. This is unlikely to be practical in the United States due to larger average herd sizes and so the use of quantitative data generated by milk meters is being explored. The US Council on Dairy Cattle Breeding has appointed a task force to investigate the feasibility of implementing routine genetic evaluations for milking speed in all dairy breeds. In this presentation, we evaluate the economic importance of milking speed evaluations for US dairy producers, review data types and quality standards, and discuss the system and biological effects that need to be accounted for in the accurate characterization of milking speed in the US dairy population.

Author Biography

João Walter Dürr, Interbull Centre Director, Interbull Centre, Department of Animal Breeding & Genetics, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences

Interbull Centre Director

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Published

2022-10-03

Issue

No. 57 (2022): Proceedings of the 2022 Interbull Meeting

Section

Articles

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