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Economics of Selection Programs for Artificial Insemination

Animal Physiology and Genetics Institute, ARS, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Bestville, MD 20705

ABSTRACT

Research to identify characteristics of optimum plans for improvement of artificially inseminated populations is reviewed. Improvement in both milk yield and beef characteristics is considered. Early research failed adequately to assess the economic impact of selection alternatives. Later work demonstrated that maximizing genetic gain often results in less than maximum economic returns, particularly if the economic value of future productive improvement is discounted to present value. Also discussed is the alternative to dual-purpose selection of crossing a portion of dairy herds to beef bulls. If this practice is adopted in Europe, international exchanges of semen may be more worthwhile. Current practice in the United States should emphasize more effective use of elite proven bulls, both as sires of herd replacements and as sires of sons for future testing. This will allow further increases in intensity of selection.

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				P. M. VanRaden Invited Review: Selection on Net Merit to Improve Lifetime Profit J Dairy Sci, October 1, 2004; 87(10): 3125 - 3131. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]