Using the ‘EcoFeed’ genomic traits to improve feed efficiency & a gloomy milk market report

After a very gloomy report from Chris Walkland, we move into something more positive to help farmers with those ever-rising costs; Will and Ben are joined by Jocelyn Johnson, research scientist with STgenetics in the USA (parent company of Cogent) and Rose Jackson, Kite’s Head of Genetics to tell us all about the ‘EcoFeed’ index. Jocelyn introduces STgenetics and explains the driver behind looking for these genomic traits, how the index was developed and the opportunity it presents to help reduce costs as well as the carbon footprint. Rose explains the EcoFeed genomic traits (both cow and heifer) and the science behind it as a measure of feed efficiency. They discuss why these traits might be of interest to dairy farmers especially now we are starting to see the impact of the EcoFeed trial over here in the UK. With feed as one of the biggest financial costs and biggest impact in terms of our carbon footprint, they discuss how these genomic predictions translate on a practical basis to the amount of feed that a farm might save on an individual level and therefore how it might help to influence decision making on farm and therefore improve efficiencies.