FOR years dairy cows have been growing in stature, but that trend needs to be arrested to ensure efficiency says AHDB Dairy technical manager Andy Dodd.
He explains that a maintenance value has now been added into the most commonly used breeding indices to try and stop UK dairy cattle getting any bigger.
Using the genetics of the terminal sire it estimates the mature weight of the daughter compared to the average heifer which means farmers should be looking for a negative result.
Mr Dodd said: "We don't necessarily need cow size to reduce, we just need them to stop getting bigger and bigger.
"Maintenance is really about efficiency. Historically farmers bred bigger animals to produce more milk, but we know smaller ones can produce just as much, so often bigger cows simply cost more to feed. There is also a concern on many farms about cows outgrowing the cubicles in both sheds and parlours and incurring extra cost there."
Market round-up
United Auctions sold 620 store heifers at Stirling on Wednesday to a top of 259.8p per kg and an average of 213.4p (-1.7p on the week), while 867 store, beef-bred bullocks peaked at 298p and levelled at 224.5p (-3.7p). One-hundred-and-two store, B&W bullocks sold to 165.8p and averaged 142.1p (-4.3p).
In the rough ring 139 beef cows sold to £1470 per head and 170p per kg to average 130p (+3.1p), while 20 dairy cows peaked at £855 and 134.9p to level at 91.8p (-6.3p).
C&D Auction Marts Ltd sold 11 prime heifers at Dumfries on Wednesday to a top of 231p and an average of 199.2p, while five prime bullocks peaked at 171p and levelled at 167p.
There were 85 OTM cattle presented in the rough ring when 29 beef cows sold to £1462.60 and 163p to average 128.7p, while 48 dairy cows peaked at £986.85 and 129p to level at 104.5p.
The firm also sold 659 prime hoggs to a top of £85 per head and 206p per kg to average 165.6p (-5.1p).
A big show of 587 cast sheep saw heavy ewes sell to £95.50 for Suffolks and average £64.88 (-£1.26), while light ewes peaked at £65.50 for Cheviots and levelled at £44.17 (-£4.06).
Messrs Craig Wilson Ltd sold 1199 prime hoggs in Newton Stewart on Wednesday to a top of £86 and 212.5p to average 159p (-9.4p). Included in that overall average were 556 Blackface hoggs that peaked at £77 and 171.4p to level at 155p.
The 378 cast sheep forward were dearer on the week with ewes selling to £116 for Texels and 358.50 for Blackfaces.
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