How one farm is leading the charge in dairy herd performance

The Bailey family is driving success by focusing on herd genetics, positioning themselves just shy of the top 1% for Profitable Lifetime Index (£PLI) for their youngstock.

They’ve made genetic improvement a cornerstone of their strategy, consistently using genomic testing to select high-performing cattle.

This forward-thinking approach has not only boosted their herd’s genetic potential but has also started to reflect in better performance and increased longevity.

Located in Cumbria, dairy farmers John, Kate and their son – a full-time vet – Chris Bailey of Moorhouse Hall Farm want to improve their herd genetics.

After listening to Nuffield Scholar Neil Easter, the family wanted to understand and learn how he achieved a herd of Holstein youngstock performing in the top 1% for £PLI and how they can improve the genetics of their high-performing herd.

Neil is a practising vet in North Yorkshire. His brother has taken on the farm, but Neil still provides consultancy on breeding and genetics, allowing him to influence practices at his home farm.

At Moorhouse Hall Farm, £PLI is seen as an effective initial screening tool for making breeding decisions. As an index specifically designed for use in the UK, it plays a key role in shaping the farm’s breeding strategy.

Although the farm hasn't set a formal goal to rank in the top 1%, achieving higher performance levels has been a natural progression over time.

John said:

“We genomically test our heifers because, on average, you've got 35% reliability on most traits. In comparison, you get between 55% and 70% using genomic data.

"The reliability is so much greater, and we always thought that you should use genomic testing because you move not only your own herd forward but you're moving the national herd forward by allowing a proper comparison."

One of the main advantages of genomic testing, according to John, is the increased reliability it offers over traditional parent averages. By using genomic data, breeders have more confidence in their predictions, leading to more informed decision-making.

This process allows John to breed the top-performing heifers and use beef semen for lower-ranking animals, ensuring that only the best genetics are passed on to future generations.

"We used to always find an excuse for why a certain cow should be bred, but now with genomics, the data gives us much more confidence in identifying the bottom performers," John explained.

By weeding out the bottom 10–20% of the herd, John ensures a steady rise in herd quality.

John's experience demonstrates the tangible benefits of genomic testing. Over the years, he has observed a clear correlation between high-genomic-testing heifers and their lifetime milk production.

"It’s not a perfect correlation, but there is a definite link," he noted.

Importantly, the focus isn’t on early lactation yields but on overall lifetime performance, reinforcing the long-term value of genomics.

For John, a longer lifespan isn't just about having older cows. The beauty of genomic testing is that it highlights cows that live longer without causing management problems.

"We’ve got a lot of cows out there now that are wearing so well, you wouldn’t even guess their age," he said

Genomically tested animals often outperform in key health and productivity traits.

Focusing on traits such as lifespan, temperament and milking speed has further improved herd performance. This holistic approach to breeding has not only raised the herd's PLI score but also visibly improved cow health and longevity.

When considering cow performance and genetic potential, it can be hard to differentiate between the made environment and inherited traits.

“There isn’t a perfect correlation, but there is a definite link between the cows that test high and the yields that they produce through their lifetime.

"Being in a good environment has a part to play, but I believe the yields are down to the genetic potential of our herd,” says John.

John, Chris and Kate carefully consider balancing genetic potential with environmental factors, aiming to assess whether their farm is seeing the expected results from their genetic investments.

If cows with higher genetic merit are not outperforming those with lower merit, this may indicate that management practices are limiting their ability to reach their full genetic potential.

Looking ahead, the farm recognises the significant opportunities that genetic progress offers, both financially and environmentally.

Traits related to feed efficiency will play an important role in the future, especially as the industry faces the challenge of achieving net-zero emissions.

Several traits, some already in use for a few years, will continue to improve, and new advancements will emerge to help meet sustainability goals.

This progress is crucial not only for individual farms like Moorhouse Hall but also for the broader dairy industry to demonstrate a commitment to sustainability and environmental responsibility, values that are increasingly important to consumers.

“I think it's vitally important, both from an economic and environmental point of view, to show the consumer that we're doing something.

"We must get ahead of the game and show the consumer that milk from cows is a sustainable product. I think there's probably scope for more personalised indices if you want people to start, not just necessarily relying on the two or three that are out there,” says John.

The opportunity to leverage genetics allows them to make advancements at least a generation ahead of where they would typically be, creating cumulative benefits.

By genomically testing their heifers, the farm can continually enhance its breeding program. Although the goal hasn’t been to climb the league tables, the farm has progressed from comfortably being in the top 20% to now sitting just outside the top 1%.

This improvement is believed to be reflected in the performance of their daughters.

Since 2012, dairy producers have been able to genotype their heifer calves, and an increasing number are doing so. The gap in genetic merit between herds that engage in genomic testing and those that don't is widening, significantly impacting herd performance.

According to our recent analysis, herds that test 75–100% of their heifers have an average Profitable Lifetime Index (PLI) of £430 for their 2023 calf crop. In comparison, herds that only test 0–25% of their heifers have an average PLI of just £237.

This £193 difference in PLI translates into a significant profit potential – theoretically about £19,300 for a typical 175-head herd. However, analysis of actual margins from farm business accounts has revealed the advantage of a genetic difference of this magnitude to be over £50,000.

The uptake of genomic testing has surged, with 100,000 dairy heifers now being tested annually, representing around 20% of all calves. This number is expected to grow by 15% in 2024, showing broad adoption across Holstein, Friesian, Ayrshire, Jersey and Guernsey breeds.

Genomic testing's impact is profound, correcting misidentifications – around 17% of calves have their recorded sires updated, which directly influences breeding decisions.

Additionally, farmers who test benefit from improved fertility traits. Non-testing herds average a Fertility Index (FI) of 3 points, while testing herds average 4.7, leading to better calving intervals and non-return rates.

Our Genetics team will be working with 10 of our Strategic Dairy Farms over three years to give the farm teams a better understanding of their herd genetic report to highlight the potential within their existing herd and enable them to improve their genetic potential.

All 10 farms’ learnings will be shared as case studies to allow other farmers to follow them on the journey. This will help farmers better understand the baseline of their herds through data analysis while engaging with the farmers and their teams to follow the changes they make on selection of cows, heifers and bulls over the coming three years.

Herd genetic reports (HGRs) are available to all UK dairy farmers who fully milk record. They allow you to see the genetic potential of milking cows and youngstock, giving you information on the following:

• £PLI – a within-breed genetic index designed for all-year-round calvers
• £ACI and £SCI – across-breed indexes designed for autumn and spring block calvers
• Milk (kg)
• Fat and protein (kg and %)
• Inbreeding level
• Management traits – including SCC, mastitis, fertility, maintenance and lifespan