"In the next 15 to 20 years, we are going to breed some amazing cows," said Bob Miller when asked how genomics will impact our industry. However, Miller believes we have yet to harness its full potential. That was what he shared with audience members when answering a question on the value of genomics that I posed to him while moderating a panel discussion at the recent Wisconsin Holstein Association annual meeting. While genomics has opened new doors, Miller cautioned that cow families still matter and we can't toss out 150 years of proven cattle breeding methods.
At the same time, the Orangeville, Ill., Holstein breeder noted genomics has done a wonderful job of locating traits that impact fertility. He noted we must continue to work hard to root out these recessives (haplotypes) from the dairy cattle population. That was just part of the response.
Click here to listen to the two-minute audio file as Bob Miller discusses genomics and later I discuss how much farther we have to go to breed the perfect cow. In discussing the perfect cow from a Net Merit standpoint, I did misspeak, the number is $7,515 not $7,535.
Editor's note: This is the fourth article in a five-part Hoard's Dairyman Intel series discussing dairy cattle breeding with Bob Miller and Frank Regan who are among the most respected Holstein breeders in the world. The interview took place at a panel discussion moderated by Hoard's Dairyman managing editor, Corey Geiger, at the Wisconsin Holstein Association Convention.
To hear the other clips from the interview with Bob Miller and Frank Regan, click on the title:
March 31 - If you were to start a new herd
April 7 - The perfect picture
April 14 - Are cows too tall these days?
To comment, email your remarks to intel@hoards.com.
Editor's note: This is the fourth article in a five-part Hoard's Dairyman Intel series discussing dairy cattle breeding with Bob Miller and Frank Regan who are among the most respected Holstein breeders in the world. The interview took place at a panel discussion moderated by Hoard's Dairyman managing editor, Corey Geiger, at the Wisconsin Holstein Association Convention.
To hear the other clips from the interview with Bob Miller and Frank Regan, click on the title:
March 31 - If you were to start a new herd
April 7 - The perfect picture
April 14 - Are cows too tall these days?
