Dr. Jeff Bewley sat down with us during World Dairy Expo to share the results of a study recently released by Holstein Association USA. The study looked at over a million cows and compared type scores with productivity and longevity. While it’s not news that well put together cows generally last longer, this study was able to quantify just how much more milk those correct cows but in the tank and how much longer they last in the herd.
One thing Dr. Bewley wanted to make sure was understood was that the cows they were looking at in this study weren’t necessarily the type of cows we would see in the show ring. He stressed that “type” doesn’t mean fancy show cows, rather it’s about producing functionally correct cows. The study included several limiters to ensure that cows included weren’t getting more preferential treatment than herd mates.
The study divided the cows into four quartiles. With the top quartile including cows that scored 82-89 points in their first lactation. Their data showed that those cows in the top quartile lasted an average of 240 more days in a herd and produced an extra 13,000/lbs of energy corrected milk in their lifetime. In the first lactation alone, those cows produced an additional 2,000/lbs of energy corrected milk.
Good udders and good feet and legs are likely the most important traits to focus on for cow longevity, but Dr. Bewley also says that building functional cows takes looking at the big picture. Not only does having longer lasting cows make sense for a farm’s bottom line, it also makes sense for the dairy industry when we look at reaching sustainability goals.
You can find more information about this study on the Holstein USA website.
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