Objective:

To combine results from WP2, WP3 and WP4 with current selection practises, in order to integrate and disseminate knowledge on the consequences of selection practises on robustness and milk quality.

Methodology:

  • Collecting genetic parameters, welfare issues and economic weights in each partner countries
  • Adding additional economic, social and animal welfare related selection objective weights
  • Evaluate practical consequences on performance recording, genetic evaluation systems and breeding programs of using the proposed methods
  • Communicate the results of the project to the scientific community and animal breeding and animal production stakeholders (from consumers to farmers)


    • Progress and results after the first period (April 2008 - September 2009):

    The communication to the scientific community, animal breeding and animal production stakeholders is an important point to disseminate the knowledge gained in this project. Consequently, all of the partners decided to create a website to present the research project and also to communicate the different results obtained. Since 1st July 2008, the ROBUSTMILK website is online and regularly updated and improved (e.g., new website sections, new information about the project, etc.). In order to dissemination the knowledge gained in this project, we have decided also to present the ROBUSTMILK project through the creation of a common poster and leaflet including the different objectives of the project and the scientific teams.

    Progress and results after the second period (October 2009 - September 2010):

    During the second period dissemination of the knowledge gained during the project was continued through various ways. For the communication to animal breeding and animal production stakeholders, papers presenting research of the project were published in local journals. These local papers as well as scientific papers and presentations of the results in scientific meetings were all published on the RobustMilk website. The website was monthly updated during the period with publications, results and further information. Finally the list of publications was regularly updated by all partners.

    Progress and results after the third period (October 2010 - March 2012):

    Dissemination of the results obtained during the project was continued in different directions. First towards stakeholders through the internet, lay publications, farmers conferences/seminars/discussion groups, and intervention in the popular press. Second, towards scientific community through publications, workshops, and conferences. Two sessions dedicated to animal robustness and milk quality were organized in cooperation with the ROBUSTMILK project during the 2011 INTERBULL meeting (Stavanger, Norway, August 26 to 28). The website and the list of publications were regularly updated during the period.

    Furthermore, results from the other WPs were integrated to study the consequences of selection practises on robustness and milk quality. Together with existing information from the different countries, and using selection index theory, the consequences of selection under different breeding scenarios (i.e. inclusion or not of new robustness and milk quality traits) were studied. Results were presented during the 2011 INTERBULL meeting.

    Deliverable reports:

    Two deliverable reports are available:
  • Report written on the consequences of selection for alternative traits on the other traits of economic importance.
  • Conference meeting linked to Interbull on selection for robustness and milk quality.


    • Most relevant paper

    Consequences of selection for milk quality and robustness traits
    Bastin, C., D.P. Berry, M.P. Coffey, E. Strandberg, J.I. Urioste, R.F. Veerkamp, and N. Gengler. 2011. Consequences of selection for milk quality and robustness traits. Proc. 2011 Interbull Open Meeting, Stavanger, Norway.(Abstract)


    Conference meeting linked to Interbull on selection for robustness and milk quality

    One of the objective of the WP5 is the dissemination of results in different directions. First towards stakeholders through the internet, lay publications, farmers conferences/seminars/discussion groups, and intervention in the popular press. Second towards scientific community through publications, workshops, and conferences.

    During the 2011 Interbull Open Meeting, two sessions were dedicated to animal robustness and milk quality and were organized in cooperation with the RobustMilk project. A total of 9 presentations were related to the RobustMilk project:
  • Genetic relationships between milk fatty acids and fertility of dairy cows.
  • Consequences of selection for milk quality and robustness traits.
  • GWAS for robustness traits.
  • Predicted response of genomic selection for new traits using combined cow and bull reference populations.
  • Genetic evaluations for energy balance: a real possibility?
  • Breeding value estimation for environmental sensitivity on a large dairy cattle data set.
  • Genetic variability of alternative somatic cell count traits and their relationship with clinical and subclinical mastitis.
  • Use of phenotypes from research herds to develop genomic selection for scarcely recorded traits like feed efficiency.
  • Lessons learned in pooling data for reference populations.

    • Abstracts and presentations are under the Publications section.

    Also, a workshop with the industry about utilisation of the RobustMilk outcomes took places during the meeting. The summary of the discussion is available here.



    A few pictures of the meeting...

    The speakers



    The audience



    The RobustMilk team