Table 1 Simulated characteristics of the cow population and of the breeding program
Cow population | |
|---|---|
Milking cows, nb | 20,000 |
Cows in lactation, % | % |
Lactation 1 | 35 |
Lactation 2 | 27 |
Lactation 3 | 21 |
Lactation 4 | 17 |
Bull dams, nb | 250 |
Age at first calving, months | 24 |
Intergestation period, months | 12 |
AI bull population | |
Age at birth of first progeny, months | 24 |
Age at first breeding value estimation, months | 60 |
Service life as proven bull, months | 48 |
Maximum age, months | 108 |
Bulls sampled, nb/year | 72 |
Sires for insemination service per year, nb | 10 |
Sires of bulls used per year, nb | 4 |
Daughter records per bull sampled, nb | 70 |