Long before function and performance were the main drivers of genetic selection, form (better known as “conformation”) was the driving method of genetic analysis. However, less than 1% of cows today leave the herd for udder problems or undesirable conformation. As the evolution toward function rather than form continues, what role should udders play in modern dairy selection criteria?

Mastitis incidence is a management challenge on every dairy. While environment and milking management play key roles in maintaining low levels of mastitis, genetic selection for improved mastitis resistance can play a valuable complementary role in a successful mastitis control strategy.

The question is: How much should the linear selection factor be used to identify the mothers of your replacement females? In other words, how one uses or doesn’t use linear type traits will influence the females you identify as having the genetics you wish to propagate.

The purpose of this article is to identify the traits that make an ideal robot cow. I would like to shift it to a call out to industry: Let’s define the personality traits that impact feeding and milking behaviors in robot herds.

Research at the USDA National Animal Disease Center (NADC) is focused on using genomic and mitigation strategies to control mastitis. A key aspect of this research is a herd of Holsteins from the University of Minnesota that have not undergone any genetic selection since 1964.