M. Du Plessis et Cz. Roux, A breeding goal for South African Holstein Friesians in terms of economic weights in percentage units, S AFR J AN, 29(3), 1999, pp. 237-244
Citations number
22
Categorie Soggetti
Animal Sciences
Journal title
SOUTH AFRICAN JOURNAL OF ANIMAL SCIENCE-SUID-AFRIKAANSE TYDSKRIF VIR VEEKUNDE
In South Africa the exact breeding goal for Holstein Friesians still needs
to be determined. This means that the traits, which should be most importan
t in selection have to be identified. One method to identify these traits c
ould be to calculate economic weights for production and functional traits.
Economic weights calculated in absolute units cannot be compared because s
ome traits are measured in different units. The objective of this study was
therefore the calculation of economic weights for production and functiona
l traits, in percentage units, to make a comparison between traits possible
. The production traits were milk, butterfat, protein and lactose yield and
the functional traits included survival rate, feed efficiency, live weight
and calving interval. The study used a simulation model to calculate econo
mic weights. This model included three production enterprises classified ac
cording to the production level of the herds. The results show that for all
three the production enterprises milk yield is potentially the most import
ant trait to improve in selection, with the second trait being feed efficie
ncy followed by live weight. The results were confirmed by constructing a s
election index, including milk yield and live weight, showing that economic
improvement with a selection index is about 25% more efficient than direct
selection for milk yield alone.