We focus on dry matter in milk because there are problems with it. I think this is a particularly important direction, because in Poland we rely on American genetics, and there the milk parameters are poor, as emphasized by Katarzyna Piecuch from the Kietrz Agricultural Kombinat.
The Silesian cattle exhibition took place on June 8-9 this year. in Kamień Śląski during Opolagra. Traditionally, the eyes of breeders and visiting farmers turned to the competition between females from two farms: KR Kietrz and OHZ Głogówek.
The disadvantages of American genetics
Females from the Kietrz Agricultural Kombinat won five heifer championships and a superchampion among lactating cows, as mentioned by Katarzyna Piecuch from the Kietrz Agricultural Kombinat.
When asked about the features that are particularly important during selection, our interlocutor pointed out that the basis is the dry matter in the milk.
– We focus on dry matter in milk because there are problems with it. I think this is a particularly important direction, because in Poland we rely on American genetics, but the milk parameters there are poor. Therefore, it is necessary to select bulls that will not lower these protein and fat parameters, but increase them, Piecuch said.
Bulls priced on daughters
As our interlocutor added, at KR Kietrz bulls tested for daughters are used for breeding, while genomic bulls are used only for breeding programs for mother bulls.
– We have used genomic bulls before, but if you look at the rankings of genomic bulls, there is not much that translates into the valuation of the daughters. For 6 years we have been using mainly daughter-priced bulls and it translates better into the herd, the herd has become more even – said Piecuch.
Our interlocutor also noted that bulls that do not shorten teats and carry the A2A2 genotype are selected.
Challenges facing cattle breeders
Piecuch pointed out that a big problem in Polish cattle breeding is the lack of accurate calculations in the field of production economics, as well as the lack of calculation schemes that would allow comparison of individual herds.
In the opinion of our interlocutor, the variability in the expected direction of breeding development is also problematic. Piecuch emphasized that this market should be less chaotic.
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