Stepan Lyhosherst, Veterinary, CC UDA consultant on selection and young stock breeding

«Cattle breeding is a relatively simple endeavour. The only difficult part is to keep it simple».

Tom Lasater

The main objectives in breeding dairy cattle are to increase milk production, breed better functional characteristics that will allow the cow to produce more milk over a longer period of time. Naturally, the more characteristics for which one selects, the less progress is made. Therefore, in line with the above quotation, most farmers restrict selection criteria to the following:

• milk yield
• fat and protein yield
• feet and legs
• udders
• capacity
• «dairyness».

It’s very important to select the «right» bull for a cow to achieve the desired genetic progress. To determine the best option quickly, automated software have been designed. They contain information about sires. It’s enough for a livestock breeder to enter data about the animal, and the program will offer options. А further decision depends on a farmer — the degree of genetic progress and its price. Ukrainian dairymen use the same technique, but as usual, there are national peculiarities of the approach to the matter. Usually two or three herd sires are selected. Farmers try to prevent inbreeding and line crossing. Many dairy husbandries receive good reproductive results due to proper herd replacements breeding and process specifications. It might be much better.

Read more details in the magazine «Milk and Farm» № 1 (20), February, 2014.