Breeding indexes are a mystery

1 February 2002




Breeding indexes are a mystery

ALTHOUGH most dairy producers have a breeding policy, they rarely seek independent advice and breeding indexes are poorly understood, according to the results of an MDC survey.

On behalf of the MDC, Harper Adams University College questioned producers who look after a total of 300 dairy herds across 32 counties with an average herd size of 110.

MDC chief executive Kevin Bellamy reported that 69% of producers claimed they had a breeding policy.

Yield, feet, longevity and legs were top on producers list of traits selected for. But when it comes to sources of information used for breeding, independent sources were bottom of the list.

Of herds in the survey, 182 relied on semen suppliers, salesmen or company literature with only five using the Animal Data Centre, MDC or ADAS. Information from Press, breed societies and AI technicians was also used, said Mr Bellamy.

Questioned on their understanding of the terms PIN and PLI, 75% said they understood PIN and 52% PLI.

But when pressed, fewer used indexes correctly or understood them, said Mr Bellamy.

He illustrated the findings by revealing that 32% said they used PIN to ensure the bull used had a higher PIN than the cow, 12% used it for selling surplus cattle, 32% didnt know and 15% used it for other purposes.

"For PLI, 44% used it for initial bull selection, 35% didnt know, 13% used it for breeding replacement stock, 8% to improve bloodlines and achieve pedigree status, 3% to breed dairy bulls and 2% used it to breed beef stock."

With £400,000 of producers levy money being invested in the ADC each year, communication about breeding issues must improve, said Mr Bellamy.

"Science will only work if it fits into a practical farming business. We need better producer understanding of genetic information." &#42

Better producer understanding of breeding indexes is required, says Kevin Bellamy, of the MDC.

"Forecasting beef supplies is one of our biggest problems due to the ridiculous BSP system. On Mar 1, every farmer is my best friend because he wants to sell his cattle and later in the year, when there are too few cattle, I am every farmers best friend." Richard Phelps, Southern Counties Fresh Foods

"To hang beef carcasses for more than two days, we would need acres of chillers," said Richard Phelps. Basil Lowman, SAC, responded by saying that not bothering to classify pure Holstein beef and mincing it soon after slaughter would remove the need for acres of chillers, leaving capacity to mature traditional beef for longer.

"In the event of customer complaints, five mothers would hear about it in a day. Thats the problem with using an electrified probe on pigs and ending up with a tough piece of meat." Peel Holroyd, agriculture and food consultant

With reference to cattle breeding, breed societies and farming in general, two speakers independently quoted the same phrase first used by Charles Darwin: "It is not the strongest species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the ones most responsive to change."


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