The aims of this research were to determine economic selection indices in order to reach the target objective for a Caracu cattle nucleus. The breeding objective (H) considered a dual purpose breed producing milk and weaning calves. The biological traits affecting income and expenses considered in H were: total milk yield, age at first calving, number of days open, weaning weight, and productive lifetime. Two economic selection indices were calculated. The selection criteria included in Index 1 were first lactation […]

As part of a preliminary study on the design of a breeding program involving Holstein Friesian and crossbred cattle (Holstein x Zebu) in the Southeast region of Brazil, economic values for milk volume (V), fat (F) and protein (P) production, age at first calving (AFC), mature body weight (MBW) and herd life (HL) were derived for a pasture based milk production system of crossbred cattle (Holstein x Zebu). The feeding regime was based on rotational grazing of elephantgrass during the […]

The economic values of dairy cattle were derived from economics and production data of a demonstration farm, the “Pasture Dairy Production System using Holstein Zebu Cattle” at Embrapa-Dairy Cattle. The economic values were estimated by two methods 1) from the partial derivative of profit with respect to each trait, and 2) from the partial derivative of the income/cost ratio, both evaluated at the mean value of all other traits. With the latter method, the economic values of traits considered, expressed […]

ABSTRACT – The objective of this paper was to determine the economic weights for the use in selection index for protein, fat and milk without fat and protein (carrier) appropriated for the payment systems of two important milk processors in the States of Parana and Minas Gerais. The prices of each one of those components were calculated, and the prices for protein, fat and carrier were 1.35, 1.89 and 0.17 R$/kg, in Parana, and 0.20, 0.80 and 0.20 R$/kg, in […]