Introducing the high genetic merit cow

摘要

Earlier this year, Mark Smith took over as Operations Manager of the Genus MOET Herd, the focal point of the company's extensive young bull testing programme. Mark uses the herd to profile the British dairy industry's new and ubiquitous asset, the Holstein dairy cow, and explains how, at MOET, they get the most out of their ever increasing number of high index cows. The high index cow is the focus of many a debate in today's dairy industry as we strive for ever greater pioduction efficiency. But what exactly is she and how does she compare genetically with her traditional, dual-purpose, Friesian counterpart?