MAKING BREEDING DECISIONS BY COMPUTER
M
ost AI companies now offer a computer mating service alongside conventional semen sales.
Holstein UK also offer Webmate, a completely independent program that runs alongside
herd classification and can be used to suggest the most appropriate mating for each linear
assessed animal (see below).
The premise of computer mating is that subject to the correct input of information for an
animal, a computer can analyse data more easily than a human, resulting in a suggested mating
for a cow that should then yield a genetically superior offspring. Inbreeding is a prevalent
concern and a computer has the ability to minimise this, as the computer’s capacity to store the
ancestry data and calculate inbreeding co-efficient is infinite.
Most mating programs also rely on a visual assessment of the type of the animal, whether that
be a full breakdown of linear traits (as done at official classification), or more simply marking
faults which need attention. Either can be effective, as long as the operator is correctly assessing
the animal and listening to what type of animal the farmer is expecting and wanting to breed.
Many large scale operators see computer mating as a hassle-free method of breeding large
numbers of cows successfully, although others see breeding as a hobby and added interest.
Whatever your opinion, there is no doubt that computer mating puts even more information at
your fingertips. It’s then up the individual which source of information they acquire, and how
they use it, aiming to maximise genetic progress.
Alta - AltaMateUK Cogent - Herdmate
Breeding the cow to suit the system rather than changing the system to Computer technology is
suit the cow is the key issue for Alta. To do this you have to fully understand becoming ever more popular in
all the issues relating to the herd, buildings, labour, management style and
the cattle breeding world, and
method. However above all you must look at the existing cows as they are
reducing inbreeding within the
still 50% of the mating.
UK dairy herd is a prominent
AltaMateUK is designed to work in conjunction with InterHerd to give the
issue. To meet the challenge of
cow side analysis and a tailor-made mating solution. Which cows are making
reducing inbreeding, Cogent
you the most profit? Is production optimum for the supply contract? Which
offers farmers two computer
bloodlines predominate in the herd? Which bloodlines have not worked in
mating programmes. The first
the herd? What fertility issues are there? You can only recommend bulls once
is Herdmate; an in-house, office
you have answered these key questions.
based computer program that
The whole process is carried out on the farm by highly trained consultants;
takes into account farmer’s
breeding goals along with
you the customer are an integral part of the discussion. The program uses
pedigree and production details.
UK proofs for bulls and the database has over 150,000 bulls. Any registered
Information comes from farms’
bull can be used in the program regardless of which company sells it, all bulls
milk records through CIS or NMR.
are treated equally. It is important to utilise as much of the existing data as
Herdmate is a fast and accurate
possible; information from CIS, NMR, on farm systems and HUK linear scores
bull selection programme that
can all be used. Alta can also linear score cows as required.
identifies first and second
Mating decisions are made on the basis of longevity data, inbreeding is
choice matings for all cows and
avoided and matings that would involve genetic recessives are also avoided,
youngstock above 10 months old.
e.g. Blad, CVM etc. There is a range of mating options to suit different
Reports come in a clear printout
breeding goals.
which is easy to read and cow
Alta aim to help identify the correct cows to breed and then mate them
inspection is not needed, which
to bulls that complement and enhance these cows, to help maximise farm saves the farmer time and hassle.
profit. With Alta the customer is involved at each step of the process and in Cogent also offers a more
fine tuning the results to suit the farm. advanced mating programme;
52 THE JOURNAL APRIL 2009
e2-09 Making breeding decisions by computer.indd 2 01/04/2009 10:09:16
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