An early adapter to genomic testing is putting the numbers to work with both a high-producing commercial herd and a genetics facility.
“We are generating a return by breeding for better genetics,” dairyman Jonathan Lamb of Oakfield Corners Dairy and Lamb Farms Inc. stated during the Dairy Cattle Reproduction Council (DCRC) annual meeting held in Buffalo, New York, late last year.
Lamb’s commercial herd includes 6,500 cows at multiple sites near Oakfield, New York, along with a genetics facility dedicated to working their top-tier females. Here, they operate an aggressive in vitro fertilization (IVF) and embryo transfer program, implanting 4,500 embryos annually, and serve as a satellite site for Trans Ova Genetics.
The “OCD” prefix is well-known in both the type and index arenas, not only for its connection to list-topping and show-winning females, but also for bulls. In fact, three of their young sires appeared in the top 20 on the December 2015 Holstein high-ranking sire report (ranked according to Genomic Total Performance Index [GTPI]).
Oakfield Corners Dairy not only has a solid plan for breeding highly sought-after genetics, it excels at marketing them too. Last year’s Spring Sensation Sale averaged an impressive $14,509, with high sellers ringing the bell at $190,000 and $175,000.
Lamb acknowledged, however, that the benefit of superior genetics is not limited to his herd; he encouraged other dairy producers to make use of the genetics available to them through their breeding programs.
“I think if you are a commercial dairyman, you should be using almost all genomic young sires,” he suggested. “All dairymen stand to gain because they can use sires that are identified at a very young age.”
Lamb views genomic testing as part of an overall genetic plan. He uses it to identify elite breeding animals, as well as commercial cows that are likely to be most profitable.
He offered a few pieces of advice on how other dairy producers can make the most of genomic information:
Use common sense
Genomic information alone is not a gate-cutter; when choosing which heifers to cull or keep, consider their health history too.
For example, if a heifer has a good genomic test result but she has suffered lung damage from a bout with pneumonia as a calf, she is destined to be an underperforming cow in the herd. In this case, she may not be the best candidate to keep in the herd if there is an excess supply of heifers.
Focus on the top 2 percent
To truly make genetic progress by flushing or using IVF, Lamb recommended focusing only on females that rank among the top 2 percent in the industry. If cows are not in this elite group, the cost of these technologies does not make economic sense. In these cases, more progress can be made by using high-quality semen, such as high GTPI or net merit.
Stick to a comprehensive breeding plan
In order for genomic testing to be profitable for a herd, the dairy producer must commit to a plan that will allow for the fruition of genetic progress over time. This takes both patience and discipline. Lamb suggested starting with a composite index like Total Performance Index (TPI), Net Merit Index rankings or a set of customized traits like production, health and confirmation that reflect the herd’s goals. Genetics providers can help in developing a plan to lead to improvements in the areas identified by the producer.
A comprehensive breeding plan includes identifying and developing the best females within a herd, but its level of success hinges upon the sires chosen as well. Lamb believes capitalizing on genetic gain takes high-quality semen, and it is worth it to pay a little bit more with the long-term goal of genetic improvement in mind.
Identify your need for replacement heifers
Another aspect of a comprehensive plan is determining your need for heifers. Lamb recommended asking these questions to evaluate your heifer inventory and future needs:
- Are all of your heifers needed?
- Are your heifer costs fixed or marginal?
- Are you planning to grow your operation?
- Do you have sufficient land for both feed and manure?
Put genomic information to work
Following a breeding plan can certainly improve the genetics of a dairy herd, but that is not the only use for genomics. Put that data to further work by using it to verify parentage and manage the rate of inbreeding. Dairies can further employ genomics to track haplotypes and single genes to decrease the occurrence of undesirable recessive traits or to increase those you may want in your herd. PD
PHOTO: Jonathan and Alicia Lamb with their daughter at the Dairy Cattle Reproduction Council annual meeting. Photo by Peggy Coffeen.
