There has been a lot of chatter lately about inbreeding within the Holstein breed. Early estimates of average inbreeding for Holstein females born in 2021 is 9.1% with an average yearly increase of 0.3% to 0.4% per year.

“The three largest expenses of a dairy business are feed costs for the lactating herd, labor and raising replacement heifers,” Dr. Joseph Dalton of the University of Idaho stated as he opened his presentation at the Great Lakes Regional Dairy Conference recently in Frankenmuth, Michigan.

Unlike the stock market where you can cash out on a bad investment, bad genetic decisions stick with your herd and stay for generations.

As producers implement genomic testing into their management strategy, the tie between a herd’s environment and a herd’s genetic potential can’t be overlooked. Great management programs can result in more valuable and action-oriented genomic information.

No matter how you look at it – genetics, efficiency or production – the national Holstein herd is a piece of artistry, something breeders of today and yesteryear can be proud of.

Twenty-five years ago, reproduction protocols changed for the better with the introduction of Ovsynch to the dairy industry.

Sorted semen has enabled important changes in how producers manage replacement programs while optimizing overall genetic progress. Increased use of sorted dairy semen can achieve more female calves to replace existing cows or to expand the herd without significantly impacting conception rates.