Customized selection indices for dairy bulls in Australia

Abstract

Customized sire selection indices were developed for Australian dairy bulls in order to promote more objective use of estimated breeding values in commercial breeding programmes. It was assumed that the breeding goal for commercial dairy farmers is the profitability of a bull's progeny. Seven characteristics of the progeny were identified as having a major impact on profitability and were included in the breeding objective: milk, fat and protein yield, survival, body weight, milking speed and temperament. Traits in the selection indices used to predict profit were milk, fat and protein yield, survival, milking speed, temperament, size, overall type and fore teat placement. Size was included ..