knowledge article
Can breeding contribute to reducing heat stress in cows?
1. Heat tolerant genes: Genes are known to contribute to better heat tolerance of cows, such as the genes related to sweat production, regulating the body temperature and adapting to changes in the surrounding climate. 2. Higher antioxidant production: Heat causes oxidative stress in cows, which can lead to damaged cells and inflammation. Targeted selection…
Lees meerThe Zoo in the Cow
The Fish Walk For years I have observed cows that walk like a fish: The rear end goes from left to right, because the cow needs to walk around her udder. This is not very efficient and is definitely not good for the longevity of the cow. The front end of the cow is too…
Lees meerWHAT DO WE WANT COWS TO DO FOR US?
Because a cow’s form determines how well she can function, it is important to breed an animal with the correct, desirable form. The aAa system – popularly referred to as triple A – is a proven method used worldwide to make the right mating matches between a cow and a bull by focusing on the…
Lees meerORGANIC FARMERS AND CHAMPION BREEDERS
John and Christel made the transition from conventional dairy farming to organic farming in 2016 in a gradual process. “It’s something you grow towards,” says John. “Circularity in farming always starts with the soil. I am very interested in aspects such as soil fertility, soil structure and active life and organisms in the soil. And,…
Lees meerTheir distinctive markings make Lineback bulls unique
Linebacks with their Witrik patterns and long heritage are not a recognised breed The patterns occur as a white stripe along the back and belly and they can have speckled or solid sides. In English speaking countries, this colouration is referred to as ‘lineback’. Cows with Witrik patterns could be found many centuries ago with…
Lees meer40 YEARS OF KI SAMEN ‘PROVEN PRACTICAL BREEDING’
It is an industry-leading, family owned business with its own breeding vision based on using proven bulls and examining the practical performance on the farm of the cow family behind the bull. Following the death of Bas Engelen Sr. – one of the founders of K.I. SAMEN – his children Nancy, Ralph and Bas Engelen…
Lees meerMaster in rounded traits
Arie started systematically breeding using the aAa tool some 23 years ago. The aAa system is built on experiences in practice and views cows from a practical perspective. The relationship between the parts of a cow is a key component of the aAa breeding tool. The balance has to be right to breed functional animals.…
Lees meerFEED EFFICIENCY: WHAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT FOR A HIGH FEED INTAKE?
Voerefficiëntie is als fokwaarde opgenomen in de berekening van de NVI tijdens de indexdraai van april 2022. De K.I-organisatie die deze fokwaarde heeft, zal een hogere NVI-ranking krijgen dan de andere K.I.-organisaties. Maar is deze fokwaarde ‘Voerefficiëntie’ waar de veehouder op zit te wachten of bekijk je voerefficiëntie – net zoals K.I. SAMEN – vanuit de praktische bril?
Lees meerThe smartest route to a polled herd
There is great interest from the sector in breeding polled cows, but also questions about how to achieve this. Polledness is determined by a gene that is typified with a ‘P’, meaning ‘polled’. A capital letter P signifies polled, a lower case p means horned. Each cow and each bull has a pair of genes…
Lees meerGrowing necessity for diversity in the Holstein breed
Analysis shows that breeding has produced more of the same If we examine the larger dairy and beef farming countries, of the 1310 new registered animals some 1000 bulls have the same three code numbers. Particularly striking is that in the past year only eight bulls have been coded throughout all of Canada. Denmark and…
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