Feed usually represents the greatest cost to dairy farms. Cows that milk the same amount or more, while eating less feed than their counterparts, are both desirable and profitable. So, is there a way to “make” such cows?
That strategy has become possible in recent years, with the introduction of the feed-saved (FSAV) trait by the Council on Dairy Breeding in 2020. FSAV estimates the difference between the amount of feed individual animals consume, after accounting for milk production, body weight, and body condition.
The trait is actually a combination of two factors:
By MAUREEN HANSON
August 23, 2024
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