An emphasis
on overall profitability!
The
current Total Merit index (ISU)
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Future A.I. sires are selected long before their birth, when
the bull dams are themselves selected and mated with chosen
sires. Each year, over 360 bull calves enter the testing station.
Almost half of them will be eliminated before progeny testing
according to their results in growth, feed conversion, morphology,
male fertility, quality of frozen semen, and updated breeding
values of their parents. Montbeliarde breeding values are published
3 times a year, with a change of index base once a year.
Production traits include milk and milk solids. Type traits
include udder, body, rump, feet and legs, body condition.
Productive Life, or Longevity, is calculated according to
other traits and includes milking speed, calving ease (sire
service calving ease and daughter calving ease), and temperament.
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