Development of a breeding objective for Estonian Holstein cattle

Abstract

Economic weights for milk carrier (water plus lactose), fat and protein yields, calving interval, age at first service, interval between the first service and conception of heifers and length of productive life of Estonian Holsteins were estimated under assumed milk production quota and for non-quota conditions. A bio-economic model of an integrated production system of a closed herd was used. Economic values of milk carrier yield and length of productive life differed between quota and non-quota conditions, but there were only minor differences between those marketing systems in economic values for functional traits. The standardised economic values of the most important traits varied in magnitude between18 to 81% of the economic value for milk yield. Discounting had a substantial impact on the economic value of length of productive life. When defining the breeding objective for Estonian Holstein, the interval between the first service and conception of heifers, and the length of productive life should be included in the breeding goal along with the traits with the highest economic value, milk, fat and protein yield. In the optimum breeding objective, relative weights of production vs. functional traits were 79 and 21%, respectively.

Economic weights of production and functional traits for Holstein‐Friesian cattle in Hungary

“…If the milk price did not depend on milk components, the economic values for these traits would be negative (St‐Onge et al. 2002; Pärna et al. 2007).…”

“…This ratio, estimated by Reinsch & Dempfle (1998), was 1.41, whereby the price ratio was 1.25:1. If the milk price did not depend on milk components, the economic values for these traits would be negative (St-Onge et al 2002;Pä rna et al 2007). Recently, protein has got more weight when calculating milk price in processing plants in many countries.…”

“…Recently, a quota system for milk and fat was put in place in Hungary. Due to a possible opening the EU milk market towards South‐East Asia or a proposed shifting to a free market economy in 2015, recent studies often assume a non‐quota system (Pärna et al. 2007; Wolfová et al.…”

“…Recently, a quota system for milk and fat was put in place in Hungary. Due to a possible opening the EU milk market towards South-East Asia or a proposed shifting to a free market economy in 2015, recent studies often assume a non-quota system (Pä rna et al 2007;Wolfová et al 2007) when calculating economic values of milk production traits. In Hungary, the quota has not presently being used up (there is a 30% deficiency).…”

Strategies for defining traits when calculating economic values for livestock breeding: a review

“…Then fat and protein contents should be always the primary traits for which levels are to be changed, when calculating EVs for fat and protein production and the levels of which are to be held constant when calculating EV for milk yield. Then, the transformation of the EVs for fat and protein contents to EVs for fat and protein yields is straightforward (Kahi and Nitter, 2004;Pä rna et al, 2007; see also discussion on this topic by Dekkers and Gibson, 1998). …”