National Ag News

Researchers are trying to bring genetic diversity back into America’s Holstein dairy herd.

Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences Professor Chad Dechow tells Brownfield they are studying the Y chromosome.  “The Y chromosome is important for masculinity traits and also for male fertility, so we really don’t have very many opportunities to improve male fertility through genetic selection within a breed when we’ve basically eliminated all of the variation on the Y chromosome.”

DeChow says the reason much of the dairy breed’s variation has been eliminated is that every Holstein in America today can be traced back to two bulls from the 60’s….

Continue reading Holstein genetic diversity study underway at Brownfield Ag News.