Healthier cows... Healthier profits!

Together for nearly a half century, breeders and AI companies have worked diligently to improve the production potential in the Holstein cow. A great deal of effort has been invested in changing her Conformation traits too, resulting in dairyer, more angular and more refined cows. There’s been dramatic improvement to udder shape, and feet and leg characteristics have also received attention to adjust to our confined housing systems. In short, the changes have been profound. Perhaps management of the Holstein cow has undergone even more change. But, while dramatic progress on numerous fronts is undisputed, many believe it has come at a cost to overall cow fitness and vigor. In fact, today more and more producers are reducing their emphasis on production traits, so that greater attention can be directed to cow health and survival. To aid producers in that quest, Alta has taken the initiative to create its own selection index for Health traits, and with it designating the best as Alta HealthPlus sires.

For many years dairy producers were schooled to select for large-framed cows to improve longevity. Now-a-days, more convincing arguments are presented that favor moderate-framed cows with excellent udders and strong feet and legs. Meanwhile traits like Productive Life, Daughter Pregnancy Rate, Somatic Cell Score, Calving Ease and Daughter Calving Ease are increasingly being looked upon by progressive-minded producers as the way to develop longer lasting cows. Alta’s HealthPlus listing promotes these types of sires that rank well on a combination of management traits plus Udder Composite and Feet & Legs, while de-emphasizing Dairy Form. The index also incorporates inbreeding level and ConceptPlus fertility score. Expressed on a scale that mimics type trait scores, there are twenty Alta HealthPlus sires to choose from that will get you started toward a future of healthier cows and healthier profits!

Related Topics:

-> The Type that Last

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Posted Sep 3rd

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