will maxwell
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Genotyping Heifer Calves
I've been reading and hearing quite a bit recntly about the potential benefits of having all heifer calves genetically tested to determine their potentail capabilities.
Is anyone doing this on a regular basis on a commercail basis. Clearly there is a benefit to the pedigree breeder, identifying which heifer to flush ect. But what about us wee commercial producers?!
I imagine it would be useful to know in advance which heifer to breed to a sexed straw, and which one should just get a beef one! If I ever get to the point where I have more heifer calves born than I need for replacements, then I could more confidently decide which ones to sell off as surplus stock.
I have signed up to Cogent's Visions young sire testing programme, so could there be a double benefit for both Cogent and I in having the offspring from these sires tested? I think the tests are in the region of £30.00, so considering the cost of rearing a heifer from birth to parlour, could it be an investment worth considering?
--- Please Sir, I want some more, cos as we all know 'every little helps'!
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27/7/2014, 15:58
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Redhouse Holsteins
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Re: Genotyping Heifer Calves
I have been testing all heifers for 2 seasons now. we have around 100 to 120 heifers calve per year and only need about 50 for ourselves.
We are commercial, its al about the litres of milk and kg of solids.
It lets us identify the highest and lowest end, sell off the lowest, flush the highest and implant into the lowest that weve still got.
For example, this season I will breed 60 Heifers, Between the top tested heifers and 2 of our best cows, I will implant embryos from these into the bottom 20 tested heifers, great way to speed genetic advancement year on year
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29/7/2014, 22:33
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bazza20
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Re:
If you are going to use it to make decisions then yes it could be worth it. Eg selling, flushing or breeding decisions.
If it is just going to get looked at for interest sake then it's probably a waste of money.
I don't bother with it because it's still expensive over here and I tend to sell heifer calves on other factors. Any calves that are poor doers or have been sick get sold. The genomic test won't help me there.
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29/7/2014, 23:18
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bryant rathbone
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Re: Genotyping Heifer Calves
Im not totally sold on the genotyping. I would be a little hesitant about selling a heifer off bad results.
Had a shottle heifer out of a dam that will make over 100,000lbs in 4 lactatios and the shottle came back negative milk which doesn't make sense.
The linear side of it seems pretty accurate to me.
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31/7/2014, 1:09
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will maxwell
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Re: Genotyping Heifer Calves
Thanks for the replys and opinions so-far guys.
From what I can gather so far from asking around and reading a bit more, this is probably NOT of an immediate benefit to us for a few years yet, maybe when we get numbers up and have surplus heifers!!
--- Please Sir, I want some more, cos as we all know 'every little helps'!
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1/8/2014, 10:25
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Redhouse Holsteins
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Re:
I think every breeder who is serious about accelerating the genetic advancement in their herd should genotype all heifers, selling or not. You use the best bulls available so why not make use of the best female genetics you have as well? One thing I have learned from genotyping is that the ones you think are the best probably aren't and the ones that you think are the worst probably aren't. It just gives you the tools to be able to breed from the top end of your genetics with a better degree of accuracy than you can get from parent average or however else you traditionally weight things up. The cost isn't actually that much when you think of it in the bigger picture
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2/8/2014, 22:01
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errolston
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Re: Genotyping Heifer Calves
Does it really tell you much that you couldn't deduce from parent averages?
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3/8/2014, 15:08
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bazza20
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Re: Re:
quote: Redhouse Holsteins wrote:
I think every breeder who is serious about accelerating the genetic advancement in their herd should genotype all heifers, selling or not. You use the best bulls available so why not make use of the best female genetics you have as well? One thing I have learned from genotyping is that the ones you think are the best probably aren't and the ones that you think are the worst probably aren't. It just gives you the tools to be able to breed from the top end of your genetics with a better degree of accuracy than you can get from parent average or however else you traditionally weight things up. The cost isn't actually that much when you think of it in the bigger picture
If all you are doing is getting the number then yes it is a waste of money. If you are not selling or flushing it isn't actually influencing any decisions and not being used to màke more money.
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3/8/2014, 19:28
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AldrichFarms
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Re: Genotyping Heifer Calves
Wouldn't we all flush the cow that had enormous potential?
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4/8/2014, 3:30
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Farmer1978
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Re: Genotyping Heifer Calves
I'm starting to test this week. I plan to use it to pick which heifers get sexed semen . I alśo want use it to taylor my breeding for each animal . I'm really interested in finding out some of the traits that can't be seen . Such as , this heifer has good milk but poor SCC . That heifer has great DPR & SCC but her milk & protein need improved. Neogen's new test is in the $ 33-35 range . I think I can easily justify the cost.
Last edited by Farmer1978, 16/9/2014, 2:40
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16/9/2014, 2:38
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