RobustMilk
From 2008-04-01 to 2012-09-30, closed project
Higher quality milk and healthier cows
Cows in good health produce quality milk. A new technology has been developed allowing dairy farmers to include traits such as milk quality and dairy cow vigour when making breeding selection decisions.
Leading dairy cattle breeding programmes have recently expanded their breeding goals to include traits such as health and milk quality in addition to milk production.
This project, 'Innovative and practical breeding tools for improved dairy products from more robust dairy cattle' (ROBUSTMILK), developed new technologies for dairy cow breeders that allow them to include milk quality and dairy cow 'robustness' when making selection decisions. The project outcomes also allow breeders to evaluate the consequences of selection for these traits.
Project efforts resulted in an international database containing phenotypic measurements such as feed intake, body condition scoring and detailed health recordings, as well as genotypes. The genome-wide association study analysed the genetics of energy balance, feed intake, fertility and milk quality. The results have set a high mark for several genetics and genomics projects.
The researchers developed new methods of predicting milk quality at low or no extra cost through infrared spectroscopy of milk machines used in milk laboratories. The project also developed the first predictions for energy balance, which may become an important route for including energy balance in breeding objectives.
Models were developed that can estimate if the offspring of some sires are more sensitive than the offspring from other sires. These tools could result in genetic gain for dairy cow udder health.
Using the readily available national data and infrared spectroscopy of milk, more robust cows can now be selected to produce milk that is healthier for humans.
For more information, please visit http://cordis.europa.eu/project/rcn/88258_en.html.
Cows in good health produce quality milk. A new technology has been developed allowing dairy farmers to include traits such as milk quality and dairy cow vigour when making breeding selection decisions.
Leading dairy cattle breeding programmes have recently expanded their breeding goals to include traits such as health and milk quality in addition to milk production.
This project, 'Innovative and practical breeding tools for improved dairy products from more robust dairy cattle' (ROBUSTMILK), developed new technologies for dairy cow breeders that allow them to include milk quality and dairy cow 'robustness' when making selection decisions. The project outcomes also allow breeders to evaluate the consequences of selection for these traits.
Project efforts resulted in an international database containing phenotypic measurements such as feed intake, body condition scoring and detailed health recordings, as well as genotypes. The genome-wide association study analysed the genetics of energy balance, feed intake, fertility and milk quality. The results have set a high mark for several genetics and genomics projects.
The researchers developed new methods of predicting milk quality at low or no extra cost through infrared spectroscopy of milk machines used in milk laboratories. The project also developed the first predictions for energy balance, which may become an important route for including energy balance in breeding objectives.
Models were developed that can estimate if the offspring of some sires are more sensitive than the offspring from other sires. These tools could result in genetic gain for dairy cow udder health.
Using the readily available national data and infrared spectroscopy of milk, more robust cows can now be selected to produce milk that is healthier for humans.
For more information, please visit http://cordis.europa.eu/project/rcn/88258_en.html.
Partners:
- TEAGASC - AGRICULTURE AND FOOD DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
- UNIVERSITE DE LIEGE
- SVERIGES LANTBRUKSUNIVERSITET
- WAGENINGEN UNIVERSITY
- SRUC
- TEAGASC - AGRICULTURE AND FOOD DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
- UNIVERSITE DE LIEGE
- SVERIGES LANTBRUKSUNIVERSITET
- WAGENINGEN UNIVERSITY
- SRUC