Breeding Dairy Cattle

To develop the most productive dairy herd, it’s essential to pay close attention to your cattle so you can breed selectively. Successful breeding of dairy cattle is a multi-step process, taking into account genetics, milk production, and herd health and management. DPI runs several initiatives that can assist farmers in implementing breeding plans and cow management systems.

Breeding

Assess the genetic merit of dairy cows and bulls using Australian Breeding Values (ABV).

Make informed breeding decisions by measuring the milk production of individual cows with herd recording.

Mating and calving

Read about the health and mating management of heifers from weaning to first calving.

Calving induction can be used as part of a mating management program.

It’s important for every farm to develop a procedure around humanely destroying unwanted calves.

Services

Breeding for Performance supports farmers developing breeding plans.

DPI and Australian Dairy Herd Improvement Scheme provide enhanced animal genetic information services to breeders and farmers. Genetic products are available from a range of companies, including Genetics Australia.