Efficiency and performance of genetically high and low milk-producing British Friesian and Jersey cattle

ABSTRACTGenetic lines for high and low liquid milk production were established within the British Friesian and British Jersey breeds by random matings of experimental dams to the ‘best’ and ‘worst’ nationally available progeny-tested sires. Some Friesian dams could also be classified as either high or low for genetic potential for milk yield on the basis of previous, but less rigorously controlled, matings to high-or low-production sires. The dams and their high and low potential-production female progeny were reared indoors, and given a single complete pelleted diet ad libitum from weaning until leaving the experiment after their third calving. Height at withers and width at hooks were recorded monthly, cumulate food intake and body weight fortnightly and milk yield, fat and protein concentration weekly, throughout life in the experiment. Measures of lactation production, food intake and efficiency of conversion of food to milk product during the whole calving-to-calving interval were obtained. Yields were about 0-8 times national average yields. Differences between high and low genetic lines appeared similar for the two breeds. High potential-production progeny produced more liquid milk, fat and protein but at a lower fat and protein concentration than did low-potential progeny. High-potential progeny consumed more food from calving to calving and had higher food conversion efficiencies to liquid milk, fat and protein. The response in efficiency accompanying a given change in production was close to that predicted by phenotypic regression of efficiency on yield with a 0-75% increase in efficiency for every 1% increase in yield. The likelihood of smaller returns in efficiency at higher yields is discussed. High potential-production progeny lost more body weight than did low during lactation, suggesting a greater withdrawal of energy from body reserves. High-potential progeny were neither heavier nor taller but were marginally narrower at the hooks than were low-potential progeny, suggesting the possibility of increased calving difficulties as selection for increased yield continues.Friesians produced 50% more liquid milk, 13% more milk fat and 29% more milk protein and consumed 22% more food from calving to calving than did Jerseys. As a consequence Friesians were markedly more efficient at producing liquid milk (+23%) but essentially no more efficient at producing milk energy (+2%) than were Jerseys. In terms of both biological and commercial application of the results, any biases in the experiment probably operated against the Jersey relative to the Friesian.Predictions of food intake using accepted feeding standards underestimated observed total food intake during lactation by a factor of 0-8. Linear regression indicated underestimation of maintenance requirement as a likely explanation.