Location: Animal Genomics and Improvement Laboratory
Title: Genomic evaluation of dairy cow feed efficiency and metabolic traitsAuthor
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PARKER GADDIS, KRISTEN - Council On Dairy Cattle Breeding |
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VANDEHAAR, MICHAEL - Michigan State University |
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COLE, JOHN - Former ARS Employee |
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Vanraden, Paul |
Submitted to: Meeting Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings Publication Acceptance Date: 9/26/2022 Publication Date: N/A Citation: N/A Interpretive Summary: Technical Abstract: Genetic selection is one strategy that can be employed to improve the efficiency and sustainability of the dairy population, including improving metabolic health and feed efficiency. Developments in the past 10 to 15 years in breeding and genetics have led to the introduction of many new traits for selection. Among these are metabolic health traits such as ketosis, milk fever, and displaced abomasum resistance. More recently, several countries have introduced genetic evaluations for feed efficiency, including the US. The following will briefly describe these recently introduced traits related to dairy cow metabolism and feed efficiency. Selection indices will also be discussed as the ideal approach to incorporate numerous traits into a single value for overall genetic improvement. |