Re: Article - Improving Dairy Cow Fertility through Genetics

It is a very good article, as it calls attention to the crossbreeding/heterosis positive effect, which can improve farmers profitability. Would like to see though, also the figures related not only to milk yield per type of breed, but also the actual production comparison (milk, protein and fat), which in some countries have a differentiated value.
Definitely the work/study being done by Les Hansen, Brad Heins and Tony Seykora from the University of Minnesota has to be spread out even further, and I am glad to the see that Peter Hansen is also calling the attention to it.
Best Regards,

Ingo Kalder
Brazil

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Re: Article - Improving Dairy Cow Fertility through Genetics

This article has reported inbreeding effects in dairy cows in the US. In the countries lying in the tropical regions, like Pakistan, crossbreeding has been in practice since last many decades, with a view to get rid of the prolonged process of selective breeng focused at imroving the economic traits and improve the local cattle through crossbreeding with exotic cattle.

These attempts in crossbreeding the indiginous dairy cattle through artificial insemination with Freisian and Jersey semen, has resulted in production of a huge population of crossbred animals. These animals are facing a variety of problems in performance traits. Infertility in the male and famales animals is a well-known issue. The semen from crossbred bulls possess morphological defects reaching up to 70%. Repeat breeding in the breedable females is another problem.

This phenomenon is associated with a prolonged estrus duration, exceeding 72 hours in certain cases. The poor nutritional status of the females under farmers conditions may play a role in creating LH surge required for ovulation. So the ovulation may either be delayed or totally absent. The problem may be further aggrevated by genetic imbalance. The thermal and management stress and parasitic infestation may consitute additional contributor factors.

Our group is working on exploring the above issues and the results will be shared with Engormix whenever these are available.

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Re: Article - Improving Dairy Cow Fertility through Genetics

Great article.
We have seen 4 to 8 percent preg rate increases in 12 months when we get the parlors working.

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Re: Article - Improving Dairy Cow Fertility through Genetics

Dear Dr,
this is very useful information provided by you, as India is facing problem of milk production; this kind of information is useful to dairy farmer as well as dairy consultant.
Regards.

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