This specially curated collection features four reviews of current and key research on heat stress in dairy cattle.
The first chapter outlines technologies to breed for more heat tolerant dairy cattle, exploiting either between or within breed genetic variation in the trait. It discusses future perspectives on the use of different tools to achieve accelerated improvements of this important trait.
The second chapter discusses breeding goals and multi-trait selection to balance production and non-production traits. It considers newer breeding objectives such as ensuring that cattle can adapt to a changing climate, including breeding for heat tolerance.
The third chapter reviews challenges facing smallholder dairy farmers in Asia. These include the impact of high temperatures and humidity on milk yield, reproductive efficiency and animal health. The chapter places these challenges in the context of the broader economic constraints faced by smallholders and how they can be overcome.
The final chapter highlights constraints in improving smallholder dairy production in Sub-Saharan Africa. Issues include developing breeds balancing yield with resilience to local climatic conditions. The chapter reviews ways of Improving breeding and productivity, as well as broader organisational support
Chapter 1 - Advances in dairy cattle breeding to improve heat tolerance: Thuy T. T. Nguyen, Agriculture Victoria, Australia; 1 Introduction2 Utilisation of tropically adapted breeds for cross-breeding3 Selection for heat-tolerant dairy cattle4 Future perspectives on breeding for heat tolerance5 Conclusion6 Acknowledgements7 Where to look for further information8 References Chapter 2 - Genetic selection for dairy cow welfare and resilience to climate change: Jennie E. Pryce, Agriculture Victoria and La Trobe University, Australia; and Yvette de Haas, Wageningen UR, The Netherlands; 1 Introduction2 Selection indices3 Selection for milk production, energy balance and fertility4 New breeding objectives: health traits5 New breeding objectives: dairy cows and climate change6 Genomic selection, inbreeding and gene editing7 Summary8 Where to look for further information9 Acknowledgements10 References Chapter 3 - Improving smallholder dairy farming in tropical Asia: John Moran, Profitable Dairy Systems, Australia; 1 Introduction 2 Dairy farming in Asia 3 Supporting smallholder dairy farmers 4 Key constraints facing smallholder dairy farmers in tropical Asia 5 Benchmarking performance 6 Case study: cow colonies 7 Summary and future trends 8 Where to look for further information 9 References and further reading Chapter 4 - Improving smallholder dairy farming in Africa: J. M. K. Ojango, R. Mrode, A. M. Okeyo, International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), Kenya; J. E. O. Rege, Emerge-Africa, Kenya; M. G. G. Chagunda, Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC), UK; and D. R. Kugonza, Makerere University, Uganda; 1 Introduction2 Sub-Saharan Africa3 Management practices in smallholder dairy systems4 Improving dairy production via breeding under smallholder systems5 Improving productivity in smallholder dairy systems6 Key organizations supporting smallholders7 Future trends8 Where to look for further information9 Acknowledgements10 References
Dr Jennie Pryce is Principal Research Scientist at Agriculture Victoria Research part of the State Government of Victoria, Australia where she lead the Animal’s Programme of DairyBio. Dr Pryce is also Professor at La Trobe University, Australia. Yvette de Haas is employed as Programme Manager at Wageningen Livestock Research, the Netherlands. Her expertise is in precision phenotyping for the purpose of animal breeding.
