"If we took the best haplotypes (genes) from all the cows genomic tested to date, we would have a cow at $7515 Net Merit," said Paul Van Raden with USDA's Animal Improvement Programs Laboratory. As the discussion ensued, Van Raden explained more about the latest discoveries made at the nation's leading genetic research institution to the nearly 300 people attending "Advancing Dairy Cattle Genetics: Genomics and Beyond" in Phoenix, Ariz., in late February.
That $7515 value details the great upside in breeding dairy cattle as the top genomic Holstein bull on the Hoard's Dairyman Bull List this December was 975 $NM. With those two numbers in mind, we are technically only 13 percent of the way to breeding the perfect Holstein cow.
Later in his talk, Van Raden further detailed the impact of haplotypes affecting fertility, which have been unearthed due to genomic testing. He reminded the audience that it is important to discover these haplotypes, but we must keep them in perspective.
"HH1 traces back to Pawnee Farm Arlinda Chief," he said, noting he was a tremendous production bull that still influences the Holstein breed decades later. "While the HH1 trait has cost us $0.4 billion due to midterm abortions, the collective traits of Chief improved milk production by $25 billion."
