Reynoldsburg, Ohio, April 8, 2008—Based on the
USDA genetic summaries released April 3, Jersey remains first for Productive
Life (PL) among the six dairy breeds evaluated in the United States.
Data published by the USDA Animal Improvement Programs
Laboratory (AIPL) show that for cows born in the years 1997 through 2001,
Jerseys have the longest average productive life of 33.7 months, or 1,029 days.
A total of 196,713 Jersey cows were included in the evaluations.
By comparison, the weighted average Productive Life for
3,264,434 cows of the other five breeds (Ayrshire, Brown Swiss, Guernsey,
Holstein and Milking Shorthorn) and born in the same five-year period was 27.7
months, or 844 days.
The difference in favor of Jerseys is 185 days, or six
months of herd life.
The trait of Productive Life is defined as “time in the
milking herd before removal by voluntary culling, involuntary culling, or
death.” Its evaluation combines information from direct longevity, measured by
DHI data on calving dates, disposal dates, reasons for disposal and lactation
lengths, with correlated traits.
Cows having opportunity to reach eight (8) years of age are
considered a completed observation, yet they can continue to add credits for
productive life after this point. Cows with multiple lactations get more total
credit than cows with just one long lactation. As a cow's lactation is extended,
the value credited to her production is diminished.
Productive Life is a key component of the USDA Net Merit
functions. For Jerseys, it receives 18% of total emphasis for Net Merit dollars
(NM$) and Fluid Merit dollars (FM$), and 14% for Cheese Merit dollars (CM$). In
Jersey Performance Index™, Productive Life is weighted at 12%.
The American Jersey Cattle Association, organized in 1868,
compiles and maintains animal identification and performance data on Jersey
cattle and provides services that support genetic improvement and greater
profitability through increasing the value of and demand for Registered Jersey™
cattle and genetics.
Its flagship program is REAP, a comprehensive service
package that includes registration, Equity milk marketing support, type
appraisal, and performance testing. Nearly 120,000 cows are enrolled on all AJCA
performance evaluation programs.
For more information on USJersey services designed to
increase commercial profitability with Jersey cattle, call 614/863-3636 or visit
the web site at www.USJersey.com.
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