Effects of selection and crossbreeding strategies on industry
returns from whole milk powder, butter and casein in the New Zealand
dairy industry.
N. Lopez-Villalobos, D.J. Garrick, R.J. Spelman, C.W. Holmes and
H.T. Blair
AD : Department of Animal Science, Massey University, Private Bag 11222,
Palmerston
Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production. 1998,
58: 64-67
The effects of selection and crossbreeding on New Zealand dairy
industry return were evaluated with a deterministic simulation model
over 25 years. Several crossbreeding strategies involving
Holstein-Friesian (F), Jersey (J) and Ayrshire (A) cattle were
evaluated. These strategies were straightbreeding, upgrading to F
(UPGF), upgrading to J (UPGJ), upgrading to A, and two- and three-breed
rotational crosses. Total production of milk, fat, protein, lactose and
ash were calculated assuming that 12,000 kg dry matter/ha was eaten for
1,224,911 ha. Yields of standardised whole milk powder (WMP), casein and
butter were calculated. For the base year all the protein was utilised
in WMP and for subsequent years, some increases in protein were sold in
the form of casein. Casein and WMP were valued at $6.00 and $3.31 per kg
respectively over the 25 years, whereas butter was valued at $3.00 per
kg for base year production levels and $0.45 per kg for marginal
increases in production.
Production for the base year was 9,874 million l milk, 467 million kg
fat, 359 million kg protein and 464 million kg lactose which yielded
1,263 million kg WMP and 157 million kg butter for an industry return of
$4,646 million. Relative to the base year, UPGF resulted in the largest
increase in WMP (128 million kg, 10%), the lowest increase in casein (36
million kg) and increased returns by $639 million (14%). UPGJ resulted
in the lowest increase in WMP (73 million kg, 6.0%), the largest
increases in butter (67 million kg, 43%), casein (65 million kg) and
returns ($662 million, 14%). Two-breed rotational (F,J) resulted in
product flows for WMP and butter that were above the intermediate
between UPGF and UPGJ but return that was equal to UPGJ.
Selection within-breed in combination with crossbreeding can increase
industry returns. However, the net financial outcome of all changes must
be assessed taking into account farm expenses, income from culled stock
and factory costs in processing milk with different composition in order
to determine optimum crossbreeding strategies.
Keywords: NZSAPAB;
selection; crossbreeding; industry returns; whole milk powder;
butter; casein.
Last Updated 12-09-1998
