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AltaBLASTOFF is the DPR King
by Matt Sattler, Alta Advantage Consultant
Few would argue that creating pregnancies is the driving force behind any profitable dairy business. In order for our clients to reap the rewards of their investment in genetics, we must first create a pregnancy. As a company, Alta has invested considerable resources to bull fertility through the creation of the Conceptplus program. As impressive as the results with Conceptplus sires have been on many client dairies, it only focuses on the service sire side of the fertility equation. Genetic gains on fertility can also be made by selecting for it on the female side through the trait called Daughter Pregnancy Rate (DPR). Just as with other traits of interest, gains delivered to successive generations of replacements are additive, so the benefits of selection are sustained. That’s why this relatively new trait is so important to include as part of your genetic selection goals.
Recently during a routine herd visit a mid-Western AltaAdvantage dairy, I had the unique opportunity to see the real impact DPR can have on a dairy. For many years now these committed clients have relied on Alta to provide them with genetics that will make them money. Heavy users of DPR specialist 11H5086 – KCK Bardale Blastoff, they are currently milking 58 AltaBLASTOFF daughters with another 65 waiting in the heifer pens. A quick review of their DairyComp records presents some eye-opening observations:
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Intrigued by the numbers, Alta DSM Dwain Dinse and I went to the barns to inspect the two year olds. We were not disappointed! The Blastoff daughters are consistently medium sized cows with excellent udder shape and texture and with feet and legs that have a slight curve to the hock. This picture is consistent with the proof information based on his 544 evaluated daughters. These are cows built to last! If it is not already, DPR needs to become a consideration in your genetic selection program. There are genetic differences between cows in their ability to conceive, and sire choices can improve herd pregnancy rates down the road. Ask your Alta rep about the trait DPR and how DPR specialists like AltaBLASTOFF can become part of a concerted plan to address reproductive performance. |
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Posted Oct 24th
