Two remarkable scientific developments, namely sexed semen and genomic evaluation (DNA analysis), have proved hugely beneficial to dairies in recent years, thanks to the way they improve selection.
Rebekah Mast, associate vice-president of genetic dairy solutions and talent development at World Wide Sires and Select Sires, explains that genomic evaluations improve the accuracy of genetic predictions, thereby accelerating genetic gains, while sexed semen gives better control over the number of female animals produced, enabling farmers to be more intensive in their selections.
Mast was speaking at the Dairy Management Consulting conference held in August at Durbanville in the Western Cape.
Indeed, so successful are these techniques, that many dairies today end up with an excess of heifers, which then have to be culled.
According to Mast, using sexed semen on a cow increases her chance of producing a heifer to 90%, compared with 50% with conventional semen. Improved calf-rearing systems, in turn, ensure that 90% of these heifers make it to first lactation. With sexed semen, this translates into about 80 replacement heifers in a 100-cow herd, in comparison with only 40 with conventional semen. "Improved efficiencies have actually created new problems for us, with the average dairy now sitting with a culling rate of 40%. Most heifers, in effect, don't make it beyond the third lactation, when cows become most profitable, because farmers are eager to use the new genetics coming into the herd," she explains.
Fortunately, the solution to this problem is already here: the strategic use of beef semen on some of the cows.
Beef-dairy crosses, Mast points out, are sold from one day to one week old in the US, with prices ranging from US$50 (about R860) to US$250 (R4 300), depending on the market, type of cross and the buyer's requirements.
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة September 23, 2022 من Farmer's Weekly.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك ? تسجيل الدخول
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة September 23, 2022 من Farmer's Weekly.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك? تسجيل الدخول
African penguins could be extinct by 2035 how to save them
Protecting the critically endangered African penguin is good for the environment, other animal species, and the economy, say Lorien Pichegru and Dr Alistair McInnes of Nelson Mandela University, Katrin Ludynia of the University of Cape Town, and Peter Barham of the University of Bristol in the UK.
An urgent need to confront Nassella in SA
South American grass species from the genus Nassella were unwittingly introduced to South Africa over 120 years ago and continue to invade montane veld. As Mike Burgess writes, research-based action is required.
Dream Lodge: a digital detox destination
Dinner by candlelight and without digital distractions on an off-grid farm makes this North West lodge the ideal getaway for reconnecting with friends and family, writes Riaan Hattingh.
Optimising nutrient availability for cattle
Nutrient circularity in cattle farming can help improve soil health and reduce farming costs. Ernest Makua, livestock technical adviser at Red Meat Industry Services, spoke to Octavia Avesca Spandiel about practical strategies for farmers to achieve sustainability and profitability in the industry.
Canola: a growing force in South Africa's agricultural landscape
Zander Spammer, an agricultural resource manager at Southern Oil, spoke to Zunel van Eeden about the growth of the canola industry in South Africa and the main uses for this versatile crop.
Uncertainty over Trump's stance on AGOA
It is of vital importance that that the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) be upheld following the recent US presidential election, in which Donald Trump emerged as the winner.
Plum pollen study reveals varietal differences in pollination effectiveness
A new study undertaken near George, Western Cape, explored pollination in plum varieties, showing key differences in pollen quality. Octavia Avesca Spandiel reports on the research findings.
Study: small cuts to beef production could eliminate years of emissions
In a paper published in early November, scientists reveal that pasturelands, in particular those that were once forests, hold great potential for mitigating the effects of climate change.
Harnessing wind for cleaner energy
At the Windaba Conference and Exhibition, held in October in Cape Town, Western Cape, Niveshen Govender, CEO of the South African Wind Energy Association, spoke to Glenneis Kriel about the state of wind energy in the country and the opportunities that farmers can exploit.
The Cape Grace: a Cape Town icon is reborn, and her new custodians shine
Brian Berkman has had the exceedingly good fortune of spending many nights at the Cape Grace Hotel over the years. He revisits it to find it as impressive as ever.
