Menu
Forums
New posts
Search forums
What's new
New posts
New media
New media comments
New profile posts
Latest activity
Media
New media
New comments
Search media
Members
Current visitors
New profile posts
Search profile posts
Log in
Register
What's new
Search
Search
Search titles and first posts only
Search titles only
By:
New posts
Search forums
Menu
Log in
Register
Forums
Cattle Boards
Breeding / Calving Issues
First calf spring 2011
JavaScript is disabled. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding.
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an
alternative browser
.
Reply to thread
Help Support CattleToday:
Message
<blockquote data-quote="regolith" data-source="post: 853285" data-attributes="member: 9267"><p>I'm not quite clear on where the data comes from for the sire proofs - I've been given contradictory information when I've asked, and though I was working in a herd that did sire proving, last year, didn't really learn anything new.</p><p>Before genomic infornation was available, young sires were used in sire proving herds to generate around 80 daughters across several different herds, for a fair comparison. They have to be herd tested to record milk volumes &c, and a classifier scores the heifers for TOP (traits other than production). The farmer also scores some traits - temperament, likability. That information gives a proof of around 80% reliability, and the most promising bulls will be marketed widely as soon as their daughter information starts to arrive.</p><p>What I'm very unclear on is how the later performance of those daughters, or feedback from farmers following widespread use, is incorporated into the proof and how the much larger number of daughters generated from the use of 'DNA proven' bulls will affect the proofs. With cows recorded in the LIC database there is space to record reasons for culling, calving assistance, health events... one LIC rep told me that information was used, another told me it wasn't.</p><p></p><p></p><p>That's pretty much what I'm doing too, only difference is I'm milking the cow as well, then kidnapping the calf at four or five days old. I'm astonished at all the things they come up with to worry you - cross-suckling, feeding on the first day then apparently forgetting how, cows tripping over calves (I had some unexplained lameness in the calves and that seems the most likely cause), weak calves that take a while to get going, over-attentive mums, sick mums, cows that won't go anywhere without their calf (that's all of them). Calves that chose the most bacteria-laden surface they can find to lie down on.</p><p>The main problem I expected with leaving the calves on the cows was exposure to bad weather weakening the Jerseys and smaller crossbreds. It hasn't happened. Also, I worried about calves and cows that don't get things together early enough that the calf gets colostrum - all the research insists dairy calves don't get enough colostrum if it's left up to them and the cow. I'm watching them and, with one or two exceptions, all have managed it.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="regolith, post: 853285, member: 9267"] I'm not quite clear on where the data comes from for the sire proofs - I've been given contradictory information when I've asked, and though I was working in a herd that did sire proving, last year, didn't really learn anything new. Before genomic infornation was available, young sires were used in sire proving herds to generate around 80 daughters across several different herds, for a fair comparison. They have to be herd tested to record milk volumes &c, and a classifier scores the heifers for TOP (traits other than production). The farmer also scores some traits - temperament, likability. That information gives a proof of around 80% reliability, and the most promising bulls will be marketed widely as soon as their daughter information starts to arrive. What I'm very unclear on is how the later performance of those daughters, or feedback from farmers following widespread use, is incorporated into the proof and how the much larger number of daughters generated from the use of 'DNA proven' bulls will affect the proofs. With cows recorded in the LIC database there is space to record reasons for culling, calving assistance, health events... one LIC rep told me that information was used, another told me it wasn't. That's pretty much what I'm doing too, only difference is I'm milking the cow as well, then kidnapping the calf at four or five days old. I'm astonished at all the things they come up with to worry you - cross-suckling, feeding on the first day then apparently forgetting how, cows tripping over calves (I had some unexplained lameness in the calves and that seems the most likely cause), weak calves that take a while to get going, over-attentive mums, sick mums, cows that won't go anywhere without their calf (that's all of them). Calves that chose the most bacteria-laden surface they can find to lie down on. The main problem I expected with leaving the calves on the cows was exposure to bad weather weakening the Jerseys and smaller crossbreds. It hasn't happened. Also, I worried about calves and cows that don't get things together early enough that the calf gets colostrum - all the research insists dairy calves don't get enough colostrum if it's left up to them and the cow. I'm watching them and, with one or two exceptions, all have managed it. [/QUOTE]
Insert quotes…
Verification
Post reply
Forums
Cattle Boards
Breeding / Calving Issues
First calf spring 2011
Top