Livestock Production Science 66 2000 235–250 www.elsevier.com locate livprodsci
Economic values of live weight and feed-intake capacity of dairy cattle under Dutch production circumstances
a , b
a
E.P.C. Koenen , P.B.M. Berentsen , A.F. Groen
a
Animal Breeding and Genetics Group , Wageningen University, P.O. Box 338, 6700 AH Wageningen, The Netherlands
b
Farm Management Group , Wageningen University, Hollandseweg 1, 6707 KN Wageningen, The Netherlands
Received 10 May 1999; received in revised form 28 October 1999; accepted 31 January 2000
Abstract
This study estimated the effect of genetic change of live weight LW and dry-matter intake capacity DMIC on labour income economic values in dairy cattle under different production circumstances. Dutch production circumstances in the
years 1998 and 2008 were based on different scenarios and varied with respect to product prices, milk output restrictions and environmental legislation. Linear programming was used to maximise labour income at farm level. Economic values EV
for LW ranged from 2 0.29 to 2 0.17
kg cow year and depended on beef prices and marginal feed costs. Economic values for DMIC ranged from 18 to 40
kg cow year and depended on the difference between marginal costs of roughage and concentrates. Estimated EVs were highly sensitive to levels of dry-matter intake and milk production. At higher DMIC
levels, the EV for LW increased, whereas the EV for DMIC decreased. At higher milk production levels, the EV for LW decreased whereas the EV for DMIC increased.
2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
Keywords : Live weight; Feed intake capacity; Economic value; Dairy cattle
1. Introduction Including LW and DMIC in the breeding goal can
be profitable when genetic variance for LW and Most dairy cattle breeding schemes do not include
DMIC exists and when genetic changes improve the live weight LW or dry-matter intake capacity
efficiency of the dairy cattle production system. The DMIC in the breeding objective. For LW, large-
variation in LW and DMIC has considerable genetic scale genetic evaluations only exist in New Zealand
influence: heritability estimates are about 0.45 and Ahlborn and Dempfle, 1992 and Finland Hietanen
0.35, respectively Veerkamp, 1998. and Ojala, 1995.
The economic value EV of a trait expresses the extent that economic efficiency of production is
improved by an increase of that trait at the moment
Corresponding author. Present address: NRS, P.O. Box 454,
of expression. The EV is derived as the marginal
6800 AL Arnhem, The Netherlands. Tel. 131-26-389-8734; fax:
revenues after increasing the genetic merit of a trait
131-26-389-8777. E-mail address
: koenen.ecr-delta.nl E.P.C. Koenen.
by one unit, while keeping all other traits in the
0301-6226 00 – see front matter
2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved. P I I : S 0 3 0 1 - 6 2 2 6 0 0 0 0 1 6 7 - 6
236 E
.P.C. Koenen et al. Livestock Production Science 66 2000 235 –250
aggregate genotype constant. Efforts have been made and management that is left over after all other costs
to estimate the EV of LW e.g. VanRaden, 1988 and have been paid. Circumstances that limit input or
DMIC e.g. Groen and Korver, 1989. The EV of LW output, e.g. a quota system for milk production or
is related to feed costs for maintenance requirements environmental legislation, might effect the EV of a
and returns from beef production. The EV of DMIC trait Groen, 1989c. It is not fully clear from
is related to the relative costs of roughages and literature what the EVs of LW and DMIC will be
concentrates. In
most situations,
DMIC limits
under expected future production circumstances with roughage intake such that the energy and protein
different market situations, production intensities and requirements are not completely met and concen-
environmental legislation. trates have to be supplemented. When roughage is
The aims of this paper are to review literature the cheapest feed available, genetic improvement of
estimates for the EV of LW and DMIC and to ¨
DMIC increases profitability Kohne, 1968. estimate these EVs for Dutch Friesian dairy cattle
Estimates for the EVs depend on the definition of under current and possible future production circum-
the production system, the goals to be optimised and stances.
particular production circumstances Groen et al., 1997. A production system can be defined at
different levels, e.g. animal, farm or sector level
2. Literature
