Breeding objectives for pasture based dairy production systems

Abstract

The aim of the study was to derive economic weights for milk production traits (milk, fat, and protein yield), survival, and mature body size for pasture based production systems. Economic weights were derived using a herd model and differentiating a profit function with respect to the traits of interest. Scaling was taken into account by assuming that the total feed supply per farm was constant and at an economically optimum level. Relative economic weights were expressed in genetic standard deviations. To investigate the robustness of the method to derive economic weights, economic weights were calculated for 11 different sets of herd parameters, varying production levels, average herd life, costs and returns. Protein yield had the highest relative economic weight, followed by survival and mature body size. The latter traits were approximately half as important as protein yield, with the economic weight for body size negative. Fat and milk yield were approximately equally important and 40% as important as protein yield. Milk (volume) yield had a negative economic weight. Economic weights were fairly robust to changes in herd parameters, and it was concluded that the method of calculating economic weights, using a herd model and constraining the total energy supply, was appropriate for pasture based production systems.