The benefits of genomic testing outweigh the high cost of testing

Genome research helps to obtain more accurate and faster results in breeding activities. The method has been used in animal husbandry in major countries for the last ten years, genome research has only recently arrived in Estonia. One obstacle has been the rather high price of the tests, which, according to Bulitko, is in turn due to the fact that our animal population is too small, which makes testing expensive.

“The advantage of genome research is definitely that we can get data about animals much earlier than before. We will see the results of artificial insemination only after five years, when we get data on the daughters of the bull whose insemination material we used. Genome research gives us the opportunity to get answers in two and a half years,” Bulitko pointed out.

Another pressing issue is the animal’s health and staying in the herd. There is no way to be satisfied with the current two lactations. This is because the animal is most profitable for the farmer in the 3rd-4th year. during lactation. Not to mention that lifetime production records are held by cows whose age was 12-14 years when they left the herd.

What the new trends in dairy cattle breeding will be in the coming years can be heard in the program “Kasvupinnas”, where the guests are ETKÜ board chairman Tanel-Taavi Bulitko and breeding specialist/classifier Reet Härm. The show also discusses whether the focus should be on increasing kilograms or increasing milk fat and solids, and when it comes to super animal results, how much does genetics play a role and how much does the breeder do?

The show is hosted by Juuli Nemvalts.