Author: dairy-cattle

Take Home Messages

• Use of genomic markers has reduced the generation interval, defined as the average age of parents when their offspring are born.
• The generation interval of sires of bulls has decreased from approximately 7 to 2.5 years, while dams of bulls has decreased from 4 to 2.5 years.
• Genomic selection has increased the rate of improvement in economically important traits such as daughter pregnancy rate, productive life, and somatic cell score.
• Progeny-tested sires remain in demand and continue

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Take Home Messages

• The completion of the Human Genome Project, along with DNA sequencing of numerous other species has facilitated a flurry of genomic research.
• Scientists are currently investigating how SNPs are associated with disease in humans and animals, along with production traits and fertility in livestock.
• Genomic testing has been embraced by people to study their own health traits and ancestry, and to select for cattle that best fit the herd management strategy.

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Where We Are Coming From: The Problem

For decades dairy production systems have faced the challenge of attaining adequate fertility levels. Insufficient reproductive performance will result on reductions on the proportion of cows at their peak production period, increments in insemination costs, and delayed genetic progress. Moreover, impaired fertility is one of the most frequent reasons for culling and increased days open are associated with a greater risk of death or culling in the subsequent lactation.

An historical trend for …