How do Robot Breeding Values Work?
Using robot traits helps dairy producers optimize herd performance in an AMS, especially when combined with production and conformation traits for more balanced breeding decisions.
Selecting sires with a Robot Efficiency breeding value of 108 can increase milk output per robot, resulting in about 561 lb more milk per day and nearly 204,984 lb annually, potentially allowing up to nine extra cows per robot (based on 60 lb per cow per day). However, selecting for Robot Efficiency alone may increase somatic cell count and mastitis risk, so balanced selection is important.
| Breeding value | 92 | 96 | 100 | 104 | 108 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phenotypical daughter average (lb. milk/min) | 3.16 | 3.36 | 3.56 | 3.76 | 3.96 |
| Extra lb. milk per minute | -0.39 | -0.19 | 0 | 0.19 | 0.39 |
| Extra lb. milk per robot per day | -561 | -273 | 0 | 273 | 561 |
| Extra lb. milk per robot per year | -204,984 | -99,645 | 0 | 99,645 | 204,984 |
| Extra cows per robot, at production of 60 lb. milk/day | -9.0 | -4.5 | 0 | 4.5 | 9.0 |
A Robot Habituation breeding value indicates how quickly a heifer adapts to an AMS and begins visiting the robot independently. As David Wilson of CRV USA explains, it measures clear differences between animals in robot training speed. Daughters of high-value sires reach optimal milking frequency faster, as shown in Figure 1.
The figure shows the correlation between the relative breeding value and the percentage of offspring reaching the ideal milking interval earlier. A breeding value above 100 represents that, on average, 50% of the offspring will reach the ideal milking interval by week 3 postpartum. Only 30% of the daughters from sires with a breeding value of 92 reach the final milking interval by week 3 postpartum.
CRV USA calculates the breeding value Heifer Habituation by comparing the milking interval between successful milkings in the period directly after calving (weeks 1, 2, and 3) to the milking interval in a period later in the lactation (weeks 10, 11, and 12). A smaller difference between the average visit interval from early lactation and the average interval of late lactation, means that heifers habituated to the system more rapidly. The Heifer Habituation breeding value is only available on daughter proven sires.
The breeding value for Milking Interval represents the time between two successful milking visits, or how frequently a cow visits the robot and is milked. The average score of cows is 507 minutes, or almost 8.5 hours, for milking visits. Using sires with a breeding value of 104 for Milking Interval results in daughters with a 16.5 minute shorter interval time. The variation in milking interval can be quite great. Cows can have milking intervals that are roughly between 350 and 650 minutes, depending on production, stage of lactation, and several other factors. Cows with a longer milk interval (cows who visit the robot less) have to be fetched more often, making more work for the producer.
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