Herd recording : its effect on dairy cow production.

Abstract

Proc. Aust. Soc. Anim. Prod. (1978) 12: 225 HERD RECORDING - ITS EFFECT ON DAIRY COW PRODUCTION K.T. BEARD*, F.V. BADHAM* and A.A. MCGOWAN** This relationship indicates high early gains (12 kg butterfat per approach a maximum. By the tenth year of recording, production is 15 kg of butterfat per cow higher than in herds in their first year of recording. The total gain over ten years of continuous recording is about 100 kg of butterfat per cow. COW after four years) that asymptotically ' Due to at least four years time lag between selection for breeding based on herd recording data and genetic improvement in production, the early rapid gains could not be due to genetic improvement in the recorded herds. A further project is investigating what management factors could be responsible for the improved production. BADHAM, F.V. (1974). Dairyfarming Digest 21 (1) : 11, BRADBURY, C.J. (1957). Dairyfarming Digest=4 (2) : 20. CLARK, C.H. (1963). Qld. Agric. J. = (3) :-173, 89 * Department of Agriculture, 3 Treasury Place, Melbourne Vic. 3002 ** Ellinbank Dairy Research Station, Depart. of Agric., Warragul Vic. 3820 225.