the u.s. genetic evaluation system

Dr. George R. Wiggans, Ph.D.Animal Improvement Programs LaboratoryAgricultural Research Service, USDA Beltsville, MD, USA

george.wiggans@ars.usda.gov

U.S. Genetics Conf., Beijing, China (1) Wiggans

The U.S. genetic evaluation system

U.S. Genetics Conf., Beijing, China (2) Wiggans

U.S. dairy population and milk yield

40

50

60

70

80

90

00

05

10

0

5

10

15

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25

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0

2,000

4,000

6,000

8,000

10,000

Year

Co

ws (

millio

ns)

Milk

yie

ld (k

g/c

ow

)

Data sources: http://www.nass.usda.gov/Quick_Stats/index.phphttp://www.census.gov/prod/www/abs/decennial/

U.S. Genetics Conf., Beijing, China (3) Wiggans

U.S. DHI dairy statistics (2011)

9.1 million U.S. cows

~75% bred AI

47% milk recorded through Dairy Herd Information (DHI) 4.4 million cows− 86% Holstein− 8% crossbred− 5% Jersey− <1% Ayrshire, Brown Swiss, Guernsey, Milking Shorthorn, Red & White

20,000 herds 220 cows/herd 10,300 kg/cow

Data sources: http://www.nass.usda.gov/Quick_Stats/index.phpNational Association of Animal Breeders, 573-445-4406 http://aipl.arsusda.gov/publish/dhi/part.html http://aipl.arsusda.gov/publish/dhi/herd.html