John Morton

John Morton
John Morton
Veterinary Epidemiological Consultant
John Morton
Veterinary Epidemiological Consultant
John Morton
Rob Woolaston
Pauline Brightling
Steve Little
Jock Macmillan
Jennie Pryce
Gert Nieuwhof
John Morton
Veterinary Epidemiological Consultant
John Morton
Veterinary Epidemiological Consultant
Feeding system
Low bail
feeding
Tonnes of grain fed
Used a feed pad and a mixer wagon
No. months when milking cows did not graze
pasture
John Morton
Veterinary Epidemiological Consultant
0 to 1t
Mod-high
Partial
bail feeding mixed ration
(PMR)
Hybrid
Total mixed
ration (TMR)
>1t
>1t
>1t
>1t
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
0 to 3
4 to 10
11 to 12
Methods
• Herds with adequate data in ADHIS database
• Herd managers supplied annual herd feeding details online
• 505 herds enrolled
• Holsteins 250,857 lactations; Jerseys 43,941 lactations
• 305-day milk production data
• Recalved by 20 months
John Morton
Veterinary Epidemiological Consultant
Veterinary Epidemiological Consultant
John Morton
0
18-Jun
21-May
23-Apr
26-Mar
26-Feb
29-Jan
01-Jan
03-Dec
05-Nov
08-Oct
10-Sep
13-Aug
16-Jul
18-Jun
21-May
23-Apr
26-Mar
26-Feb
29-Jan
01-Jan
02-Dec
04-Nov
07-Oct
09-Sep
12-Aug
15-Jul
17-Jun
20-May
22-Apr
25-Mar
26-Feb
29-Jan
01-Jan
Number of calvings in week
Recalved by 20 months
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
Feeding the Genes 2016
Effects of sire BPI on daughters’:
• milk production
• recalved by 20 months
• reproductive performance
by feeding system
HWI?
TWI?
Daughter fertility ABV?
John Morton
Veterinary Epidemiological Consultant
Holstein cows
John Morton
Veterinary Epidemiological Consultant
John Morton
Veterinary Epidemiological Consultant
Holstein cows
6-week in-calf rate
Not-in-calf rate
John Morton
Veterinary Epidemiological Consultant
John Morton
Veterinary Epidemiological Consultant
John Morton
Veterinary Epidemiological Consultant
John Morton
Veterinary Epidemiological Consultant
Veterinary Epidemiological Consultant
John Morton
0
18-Jun
21-May
23-Apr
26-Mar
26-Feb
29-Jan
01-Jan
03-Dec
05-Nov
08-Oct
10-Sep
13-Aug
Increase in % recalved
by 20 months1
2.2%
3.7%
1.3%
16-Jul
18-Jun
21-May
23-Apr
26-Mar
26-Feb
29-Jan
01-Jan
02-Dec
04-Nov
07-Oct
bail feeding herds
09-Sep
12-Aug
15-Jul
17-Jun
20-May
1Mod-high
22-Apr
25-Mar
26-Feb
29-Jan
01-Jan
Number of calvings in week
Per 100 unit
increase in sire's:
BPI
HWI
TWI
No. extra cows recalved
13
22
8
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
Jersey
Holstein
Holstein
Jersey
John Morton
Veterinary Epidemiological Consultant
Feeding the Genes 2016
Conclusions so far:
Daughters of high index (BPI, HWI or TWI) sires produce more
milk solids
And last longer (especially HWI, also BPI) or as long (TWI)
High BPI sires: small improvements in herd repro. performance
High HWI sires: larger improvements in herd repro. performance
Daughters of sires with higher ABVs for daughter fertility have
markedly better reproductive performance
John Morton
Veterinary Epidemiological Consultant
Feeding the Genes 2016
Conclusions so far
Regardless of feeding system, herd managers should select high
index sires whose ABVs are aligned with the breeding objectives
for their herd
To maximise genetic gain for herd fertility, select high BPI or
HWI sires that have high ABVs for daughter fertility
John Morton
Veterinary Epidemiological Consultant
John Morton
Veterinary Epidemiological Consultant
Feeding the Genes 2016
Conclusions so far
Regardless of feeding system, herd managers should select high
index sires whose ABVs are aligned with the breeding objectives
for their herd
To maximise genetic gain for herd fertility, select high BPI or
HWI sires that have high ABVs for daughter fertility.
John Morton
Veterinary Epidemiological Consultant
More to come…
John Morton
Veterinary Epidemiological Consultant