2014 CVM News: Productive and fertile: superstar studs

Abstract

This news item is about: Even the best medicine has side effects. For years, dairy producers have been selectively breeding their herds to encourage milk production. New insights have confirmed, though, that the relationship between milk production and fertility is negatively correlated, which means that in our efforts to satisfy society’s demand for milk, cheese, yogurt and other dairy products, we’re also hindering the herd’s ability to bear offspring – ironically, tomorrow’s producers.