Published in Scientific Works. Series C. Veterinary Medicine, Vol. LXII, Issue 1
Written by Marcel PARASCHIVESCU, Marcel Theodor PARASCHIVESCU
The present paper intents to stress the importance of the body type in highly productive dairy cattle breeds. Arguments of the presented concept are deduced from the current practice of the Holstein Friesian Association of USA since the Holstein Friesian Breed of America has the highest genetic pressure for milk production. The high genetic merit of individuals concerning milk production is the result of using only one selection criterion for the discriminating reproduction with the registered in Herd Book individuals. Further the resulted genetic progress is sustained by a clever nominalization of pairs ensuring a strong sturdiness of the body to large quantities of feed to be ingested and a convenient dry matter content of milk. In addition to these breeding schemes some management measures are in use. Among these the most important are a good rest and a regular milking. Since Holstein-Friesian cattle are huge animals consuming concentrate feeds alternative trails to produce richer in dry matter milk are in course. In this case more forage feeds are used. In this kind of breeds the sturdiness of animals is an open question. Some experience in this respect could be finding in New Zeeland, but the farming system there is completely peculiar.
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