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Anatomical Traits as They Relate to Productive Utility

Department of Animal Science, University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada

ABSTRACT

The dictionary defines utility as the fitness or suitability of an object for some practical or useful purpose. Insofar as the dairy cow is concerned, productive utility might be defined as the fitness or suitability of the cow to profitably produce milk and meat in modern dairy facilties. Profitability has many aspects and an all-inclusive definition for dairy cattle will not be attempted. However, it has been assumed by many that high-producing cows are profitable cows. Also it may be assumed that a cow producing at a high level over a number of years is more useful than one lasting for only one or two lactations.

How might physical traits relate to these two aspects of utility? Animal breeders have measured heart girth, height, and other anatomical structures of dairy cows and heifers and have computed genetic correlations between these and milk production. Genetic correlations are generally low (1, 2, 9, 10, 16), and since there is some difficulty in obtaining accurate physical measurements under practical farm conditions, it appears that such traits may not be used extensively in selection for milk production.

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