Comparison of long-term selection responses of breeding policy in dairy herds

Abstract

Genetic and economic responses to genetic gain were evaluated for these breeding arrangements: single use of bulls under testing; single and repeated use of proved bulls for two years and for three years (in combination with selection intensity 1%, 5% or 10% of the best bulls for the use of proved bulls); negative selection of cows in the herd – 10%, 20% or 30% of animals are discarded from reproduction and the animals are left in the herd and used for breeding by beef bulls; negative selection of first-calvers in the herd – 10%, 20% or 25% of animals are discarded for slaughter; discarding of heifers and purchase of animals with higher breeding value, and embryo transfer – a group of selected recipients accounts for 10%, 20% or 30% of the cows with lover breeding value in the dairy herds. Simulations for single use of breeding arrangements and their consequences over a fifty-year period were carried out for the above models using the gene flow method. Only minimum changes will occur since the 25^th year of observation. A comparison of the particular models showed the highest gain of proved bulls selected from 1% of the best bulls whose cumulative genetic gain was 41.558 kg of milk proteins on average per cow for the whole observed period. Single use of bulls under testing in the herd resulted in the second highest cumulative genetic gain. Use of proved bulls selected with lower selection intensity (5% or 10%) had worse results. Culling of cows and discarding of first-calvers for slaughter led to lower genetic and economic contribution. The gain of embryo transfer was also lower; moreover, it is not economically advantageous for its very high costs, so it should not be used in production herds generally. High genetic and economic gain was recorded for replacement of all heifers by animals with higher breeding value from other populations.