The genetic selection of animals for enhanced performance is one of the most reliable ways to improve a dairy farm’s profitability, with the return on investment usually paying off within five years.
This is according to Rebekah Mast, associate vice-president of genetic dairy solutions and talent development at World Wide Sires and Select Sires, who spoke at the Dairy Management Consulting conference held recently in Durbanville, Western Cape.
Nevertheless, the genetics strategy must be combined with a good management policy, because even the performance of genetically superior animals will be mediocre if they are not fed and managed properly.
When developing a genetic strategy, a farmer needs to understand what makes a cow profitable, and how the entire herd can be made profitable.
These considerations, according to Mast, should focus not only on what is happening today, but on what the farmer’s ideal cow or herd will look like within the following five years.
Unfortunately, there is no ‘one-size-fits-all’ solution: the ideal cow and herd will differ from farm to farm, even neighbouring farms, due to differences in climatic conditions, infrastructure, management and marketing.
The farmer should therefore work with a genetic adviser to identify a selection strategy that will create the best animals for the prevailing production conditions.
The strategy should also be re-evaluated regularly and adapted, if necessary, to changing circumstances.
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