Thursday, July 7, 2011

BUILDING UP THE DAIRY HERD

BUILDING UP THE DAIRY HERD



Improvement of the herd can be made by utilizing up-to-date breeding practices so that cows have the necessary heredity make-up for high production. The individual dairyman should take advantages of this opportunity and challenges, and by the use of approved practices, build his herd up to its full capacities.



SELECTING A DESIRABLE SYSTEM OF BREEDING

DECIDE ON ONE SYSTEM - Building up a dairy herd is a long-time program, so growers should not change their system of breeding frequently. Long time records are needed in order that they can evaluate their progress.



COMMON BREEDING SYSTEMS:

1. Linebreeding

- The most popular system with successful breeders as means of obtaining uniform type and production in a herd.

- A form of inbreeding but refers to a type of mating with more or less distant relationship e.g. mating of cousins.

- Breeders generally mate back to one or two outstanding families. Successful herds often trace to one excellent sire or dam.

2. Inbreeding

- Can obtain outstanding results – either good or bad.

- The number of generations of inbreeding had a more pronounced adverse effect than did the degree of inbreeding.

- The inbred calves were not as vigorous or resistant to calfhood infections as the calves that were not closely bred.

- Continued inbreeding of whole herds is almost certain to be disastrous.

- It refers to mating such as daughter and sire, son to dam, or brother to sister.

- The present breeds of cattle, as well as many of the outstanding producers, have originated from such mating.

- However, while desirable qualities maybe concentrated, abnormalities and undesirable traits may also result from inbreeding.

- Therefore, such a sharp tool as inbreeding should be used only by those who are experienced and well trained in animal genetics and breeding.

3. Outcrossing

- The mating of unrelated or very distantly related animals of the same breed is a common system.

- If both sire and dam are superior type animals, this recommended system for the beginner.

- Sometimes it is advisable in order to introduce some needed characteristics into a hard.

4. Crossbreeding

- Refers to the mating of different breeds. Oftentimes this is done with other breeds of livestock than dairy cattle in order to combine desirable characteristics of both breeds, for example, combining the polled character with good milking qualities and increased vigor.

- The great disadvantage is that more than one separate herd must be kept because the desirable characteristics are combined in an animal only on the first cross.



EMPHASIZES QUALITY OF INDIVIDUALS – It is not the system of breeding that is important but the quality of sires. Therefore, the dairyman should strive to utilize his best animals either male or female as foundation stock regardless of the system of breeding he plans to use.

BUILDING THE FUTURE HERD

1. Plan a long-time breeding program

- The successful dairy cattle breeder must have plenty of patience, as it takes a long time to breed an outstanding dairy herd.

- According to California State Polytechnic College “Rule of Thumb for Dairy Cattle” ten years is a very short period for such a program.

- While approved practices in feeding and management will raise production levels, most future progress will be made in improved breeding programs. It takes the production records of many offspring to determine whether or not an animal is capable of transmitting high production. Therefore, the producer must plan to improve his herd over a period of many years.

2. Start with the present herd

- Progress in dairy breeding is best accomplished if breeders will inventory their present herd and determine exactly what its present level of production.

- With this knowledge then, a breeding program can be outlined that will raise the production and type of the herd.

- High producing herds are seldom for sale and if they are offered are generally so expensive as to be out of reach of most dairymen.

- A herd of ordinary native cows can become a grade herd; grade herds can become high-grade herds, purebred herds can be improved until they are capable of supplying foundation stock to other herds.

- Dairymen should first determine where their herd fits and build up accordingly.

3. Obtain replacements from a few of the best animals

- Since the average herd loses 20 percent of the milking stock each year, the entire herd is replaced almost every 5 years.

- It is important that this 20 percent yearly replacement comes from the best cows in the herd. Successful dairymen search for excellent dams, and many fine herds have been built around one or two good cows.



OBTAINING IMPROVED REPLACEMENT STOCK
1. Raise your own replacements – considered from an economical standpoint as well as one of improving the herd, the most advantageous procedure is to raise your own replacements. The following factors can be accomplished best by obtaining most replacement stock from your own herd.

a. Diseases are more easily controlled and there is less danger of introducing infection into the herd.

b. Records are more easily obtainable and oftentimes more reliable and meaningful.

c. The worth of a sire can be determined by finding out how well his daughters are doing as compared to their dams.

d. Good replacement stock can be obtained at a more reasonable cost than trying to purchase them elsewhere.

e. Breeding can be delayed until heifers have reached the proper size, thus insuring their future development.

f. Replacement stock raised to breeding or calving time but not suitable for retaining in the present herd can be sold at no economic loss and often as an added source of income.

2. Maintain 20 percent replacement – According to University of California, the maintenance of a herd of milking cows with satisfactory production requires the replacement of one out of five or 20 percent of the average number of cows each year. Death losses are about two percent and culling and disease account for another two percent and culling and disease account for another 18 percent. The figure varies from year to year and herd to herd. Corral dairies such as those found around large cities will have a high replacement figure, usually 30 to 35 percent. Herds should raise annually at least three heifer calves for every 10 cows.

3. Raise all females to first calving – Calves born small, weak. Or unhealthy are hard to raise, need more attention and a longer growing period. In addition, there is a higher mortality and they are therefore more costly. However, it is a desirable practice to raise all healthy, normal female calves to and through their first calving so production records can be obtained to determine their worth and the ability of their parents. Oftentimes valuable animals are culled animals are culled before their transmitting ability and true worth are determined.

4. Eliminate freemartins – A female twin to a male is termed a freemartin and is usually sterile. Therefore, it is a desirable practice to veal or dispose of such animals. All other twin calves may be raised with the assurance twinning has not impaired their breeding powers. Cornell University states that twins occur once in 80 births, and triplets once in 6, 400.

5. Purchase only superior replacements

“Any cow whose annual production does not pay direct feed and labor costs and whose disposal would not reduce income more than it reduces cost should be dispose of at once.”

a. Purchase foundation stock from a reliable breeder.

b. Have replacements disease tested for TB, Mastitis and Bang’s.

c. Study production records and pedigree of individuals and ancestors before purchasing.



OBTAINING USE OF SUPERIOR SIRES
1. Superior sires essentially – It is extremely important to select and use only superior sires because the herd sire is directly responsible for 50 percent of the characteristics of every calf of the herd.

2. Purchase best possible bull for each herd – a desirable goal is to purchase only bulls who show every indication of being able to transmit production that is higher than the herd in which they are to be used or, at least, able to maintain the production in herds of 350 pounds or higher.

3. Consider raising your own herd sire – Cost of raising own herd sire can be lowered by leasing them to other dairymen for a stipulated term under condition that records be kept so the bulls can be proved.

4. Consider artificial breeding – the great advantage of A.I. is that it permits the extensive use of superior proved sires on a large number of cows thereby making it economically possible to obtain calves sired by the best possible bulls. Other advantages includes;

a. Eliminates danger of having a bull on the farm.

b. Provides small herd owners same bull service that only large herds could otherwise afford.

c. Disease is controlled, as only healthy bulls are used.

d. Permits use of bulls that are beyond the reach economically of the average dairymen.

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