HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Blake, R. W. Articles by Cevallos, G. F. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Blake, R. W. Articles by Cevallos, G. F.

Comparative Profitability of United States Holstein Artificial Insemination Sires in Mexico¹

Department of Animal Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853

Jesús Gutiérrez and Gonzalo F. Cevallos

Asociatión Holstein Friesian de México, Apartado Postal 258, C.P. 76000, Querétaro, Qro., México

ABSTRACT

Objectives were to determine the profitability of US AI sires for economic and herd management situations in Mexico. Net present values of semen were calculated for alternative selection policies, conception rates, real interest rates, and herd averages for milk in Mexico and the US. Predicted Differences for milk, fat, and type score were for 394 AI Holstein sires after the January 1987 USDA Sire Summary, 198 of which were locally available for purchase in Mexico. Although average profitability of bulls marketed in Mexico was less than for the US, at least half and as many as 97% of them yielded positive returns on investment. The elite 20 bulls for profit (top 10%) for a 50% conception rate, real interest of 7%, and herd average mature equivalent milk yield of 6500 to 6999 kg were 84% and 95% as profitable as their US counterparts for milk only and 4:1 milk-to-type score selection policies. Sire ranking and profitability of AI for Mexico were sensitive to herd average milk and conception rate. Reproductive management to increase conception rate would help counteract diminished returns due to high cost of capital. As in the US, most profitable AI sires for Mexico are less costly than bulls of average profitability.

¹ Project 414, a contributing project to Southern Regional Project S49, Genetic Methods of Improving Dairy Cattle for the South.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				E. G. Cienfuegos-Rivas, R. W. Blake, P. A. Oltenacu, and H. Castillo-Juarez Fertility responses of Mexican Holstein cows to US sire selection. J Dairy Sci, July 1, 2006; 89(7): 2755 - 2760. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]