Weights on health, production and conformation in NTM Several trait groups are weighted together based on economic values that is the result of thorough economic calculations and national breed association’s expectations to future production conditions and price relations. Table 1 Weights of traits in NTM. Source: NAV (May 2022) NTM Viking- Holstein VikingRed Viking- Jersey Production index 0.90 Growth 0.08 1.02 0.83 0.10 0.00 HEALTH REPRODUCTION PRODUCTION EFFICIENCY CONFORMATION WORKABILITY Saved feed 0.08 0.13 0.18 Daughter fertility 0.36 0.36 0.26 Calving direct 0.14 Calving maternal 0.14 Udder health 0.30 General health 0.14 Hoof health 0.10 0.11 0.10 0.26 0.11 0.07 0.04 0.07 0.44 0.14 0.09 45 % TRAITS INCLUDED Udder health Daughter fertility General health Hoof health Calving (direct & maternal) Young stock survival Longevity 40 % TRAITS INCLUDED Production index *Milk kg *Protein kg *Fat kg Growth Saved Feed 15 % TRAITS INCLUDED Udder conformation Feet & legs Milkability Temperament Longevity Young stock survival Frame Feet & legs Udder Milkability 0.06 0.06 0.09 0.13 0.19 0.10 VikingHolsteins are very high in production by their breed type and abilities, therefore, the weight for improving their Production (35%) capability is lower than for 0.00 0.00 0.00 VikingRed (38%) . As our breeding programs aim for a 0.05 0.06 0.07 balanced breeding outcome, it is more important to focus on developing the health traits for VikingHolstein than 0.18 0.26 0.15 production capacity that is developing well already for the 0.09 0.11 0.09 breed. Temperament 0.04 0.03 0.03 Red breeds are naturally healthier breeds than Holstein so therefore the weight put for improving Health & Fertility is Today more than 45% of the weight in NTM is on health and lower for VikingRed (47%) than for VikingHolstein (49%) and reproduction traits; 40% on production and efficiency and VikingJersey (48%). Therefore, the focus can be moved to around 15% on conformation and workability. An increasing improving production instead. weight on health traits in NTM over years is a big success due to greater awareness of cost in dairy production. When looking at the NTM main traits - let’s take Hoof Health Dairymen manage to have less cost per kg produced as an example - VikingHolstein has the highest weight of milk and healthy cows will not take more attention than all breeds in improving that. The reason for this is that necessary and give the highest profit. Holstein as a breed is more prone to hoof diseases than Reds and Jerseys. The weight put on Conformation & The ideology behind this weight distribution is that our Workability is lower compared to Health and Production, breeding goal is to improve the health and fertility of cattle and is similar for all the breeds (VH 13%, VR 15%, VJ 13%) in each generation while increasing production as well. as all the breeds’ physical traits support efficient milk The higher weight on health and fertility traits is due to its production equally. The distribution of weights between increasing importance for dairy farm’s profitability. the three groups – Production, Health & Fertility and Conformation & Workability is the result of thorough Keeping the cost down per produced milk kg, ensured by economic calculations. The goal is to ensure maximum good health and fertility, is just as important for profitability profitability for dairy farms. as focusing on improving the production capacity. Why do we have different weights for different breeds? Bovine breeds are different from each other and therefore the weight distribution in the breeding goals for VikingHolstein, VikingRed and VikingJersey are a bit different. We want all the breeds to develop towards the optimal balanced breeding outcome while taking into consideration the genetic differences and the natural breed specific tendencies for certain traits. profitability for dairy farms. 5
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