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Optimal breeding strategies for calving ease

J C Dekkers1

  • 1Department of Animal and Poultry Science, University of Guelph, ON, Canada.

Journal of Dairy Science
|November 1, 1994
PubMed
Summary

Calving ease in dairy cattle breeding programs significantly impacts economics. Optimal breeding strategies, particularly those incorporating assortative mating, maximize economic returns by prioritizing direct calving ease for primiparous cows.

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Area of Science:

  • Animal Science
  • Dairy Cattle Genetics
  • Reproductive Biology

Background:

  • Calving ease is a critical economic trait in dairy cattle breeding.
  • Dystocia (difficult birth) incurs significant costs, impacting both animal welfare and farm profitability.
  • Integrating calving ease into breeding programs is essential for sustainable dairy production.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To derive economic values for direct and maternal calving ease in dairy cattle.
  • To compare the effectiveness of different breeding strategies for incorporating calving ease.
  • To determine optimal breeding strategies for maximizing economic returns in dairy sire selection.

Main Methods:

  • Economic values were calculated using cost-benefit analysis and gene flow methodology.
  • Discounted expressions were computed for sires breeding replacements considering direct and maternal calving ease, and production.
  • Three distinct breeding strategies were evaluated, including separate selection for primiparous and multiparous dams, average mate selection, and direct calving ease selection.

Main Results:

  • Marginal returns for dystocia reduction were negative for primiparous dams (-$43) but positive for production ($300).
  • Assortative mating of sires with favorable direct calving ease to primiparous females, as facilitated by strategy 2, yielded maximal economic response.
  • Optimal standardized index weights in Canada were approximately 100:9:7 for production:direct calving ease:maternal calving ease.

Conclusions:

  • Genetic evaluations for calving ease offer substantial benefits, primarily through enabling effective assortative mating.
  • While direct inclusion of calving ease traits has a minor direct impact (<0.5%) on selection efficiency, it provides crucial producer guidelines.
  • Strategic breeding, emphasizing direct calving ease for young dams, is paramount for economic gains in dairy cattle.

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