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VikingNews UK 01 2017
9 / 28
9 march 2017 | vikingnews dr. dr. les
hansen
from the university of min- nesota: ?the data from the nordic countries is of higher quality, how carefully it is recorded: the accuracy of the pedigree and the sophisti- cation are what we consider unique.? » in all these
health
and fertility traits, the data from the nordic countries is of higher quality, how carefully it is recorded dr. les
hansen
nobody wants to pay for it. our records are processed at different places in the us, so we don?t have the centrali- zation or even the software at the farms. the other prob- lem is that the farmers are not willing to share this infor- mation?, the professor explains. among all the
problems
that the us dairymen are fac- ing now, the size of the holstein cow is at the top. ?the biggest problem is the fact that the cows are too tall to fit in the cubical, and they have
health
problems
?, he ex- plains. ?this situation is a catastrophe, particularly if they die after first calf because you don?t have profit. it?s just loss?, dr.
hansen
states. holstein is the predominant breed in the us, with around 82% of the total cow population. the inbreeding rate in the breed is a problem. ?that is a growing concern. only 41% of the cows are in milk recording, we don?t know their pedigrees and they are not genomically tested to get pedigree information; so the semen goes pretty ran- domly?, dr. les
hansen
points out. the inbreeding coeffi- cient increases 1% every five years in the us population, he adds. smart solutions from scandinavia questioned about how vikinggenetics can be of help for dairymen?s
problems
in the us, dr.
hansen
doesn?t hesi- tate one second: ?obviously, it is the procross where the movement is going now. our research documents state that procross cows are smaller in stature and skel- eton than average of the pure holstein, and carry more body condition which helps them with the fertility and the
health
?, he answers. then he explains that the research on procross also points the bonus a cow gains: heterosis, ? which is oppo- site to inbreeding. ?so you solve your biggest
problems
for fertillity,
health
and avoid inbreeding?. he adds that vikinggenetics? recent entry to the us market with vikingjersey will be of much benefit to a spe- cial segment of the dairy industry. ?especially for cross breeding where many farms are already using jersey be- cause it is the second largest breed and because they real- ly want to reduce the cow?s size.? dr.
hansen
explains. dr. rebecca cockrum, assistant professor in the department of dairy science, virginia tech, virginia: ?i?m impressed with the pro- gress on the
health
traits, and based on the farm tours we had, you can tell it is a fact: healty cows equal better production.? dr. albert de vries, associate professor, depart- ment of animal sciences, university of florida, florida: ?the us started to focus on the
health
traits more than 20 years after the nordic coun- tries. we still do not have the details or the regi- stration system that you have?.
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