GENETIC PROGRESS IS NOT A SIMPLE TASK

摘要

The genetic columns in HolsteinWorld have tried to be informative and factual as to the advances of science and the concerns of Holstein breeders about genetic progress. Lately the majority of emphasis has been on the controversy of how on farm data will be collected and who is going to calculate the U. S. national genetic evaluations. However there have been other changes to Holstein genetic information that have created discussion among breeders. The discussion is about how tall cows should be andhow the impact of stature should be handled in genetic evaluations. The Holstein board of directors has spent time at the last two conventions on stature and their solutions for the future direction of the breed. On the surface, a problem with stature seems like a relatively easy trait to fix by manipulating scores to achieve the goals required. However this issue is more complex than many realize and the solutions are not always as straight forward as it may seem.