Genomic evaluation may provide gains for top cattle breeders

GENOMIC evaluation has opened up the prospect of increased financial rewards for the country’s top cattle breeders.

Dairy farmers in the US are showing them the way, with top breeders making more now from genetics than milk, because genomic testing allows them to identify superior bulls and cows at least four years earlier than traditional progeny testing.

This gives farmers greatly increased access to the markets for breeding bulls and cow eggs.