Trends in milk recording of the Holstein breed in Brazil

The Brazilian dairy cow population comprises some 18 million crossbred European x Zebu and purebred cows. Crossbred cows are predominant but Holstein is numerically the most important European breed. Animals are voluntarily pedigree and performance recorded by Breed Associations. The recording scheme is practically inflexible and monthly recording has been the official method of milk recording (MR). From 1981 to 2001 about 1789 herds used MR services of the Holstein Association. Yearly, more herds joined MR until 1994 when number of herds and cows enrolled in MR reached 747 herds and 36.544 cows. Since then one in three dairy herds cancelled MR services, with roughly a 4.6% (36 herds) decrease per year. There were 481 Holstein herds enrolled in MR in 2001 from which 14 were in MR during the 21 years period. Combined with the relatively slower decline in lactation number, the result is a 154 percent increase in average herd size. From 1981 to 2001 305-d milk production increased 46.7 percent and reached 7 254 kg/lactation in 2001. Withdraw of financial support from government, low milk prices, increased recording costs and limited number of management reports were probably the primary reasons for cancelling MR services. In recent years the Brazilian government is committed with increasing regulations on high product quality and hygiene standards in order to become more competitive to imports and to respond to consumer demands. The driver for higher efficiency is leading to larger herds and increased yields per cow and both will depend heavily on better management decisions in order to stay in business and to cope with the industry requirements. It is expected that as far as dairy farmers are forced to collect records, the recording organizations will improve towards a more cost-effective service and help farmers to use them in herd and farm management.