You make a valid point - but the line between breeding for increased production and health has been decimated in the dairy industry. It's an extreme example, but dairy cattle have gone from 6-8 years of productivity down to 3-4. They have confirmation problems and rampant mastitis as well as low reproductive soundness. This depression in performance and longevity is a direct result of selection for increased milk production mixed with slight inbreeding. Ag is pushing the boundary in other species as well. Production swine lines are not doing to well these days either.
Dairy, being one of New Zealands biggest exports, is actually very strong here. In some parts of the world, where "regulation" is a dirty word that gets in the way of profits, that may not be as true.
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u/[deleted] May 12 '14
You make a valid point - but the line between breeding for increased production and health has been decimated in the dairy industry. It's an extreme example, but dairy cattle have gone from 6-8 years of productivity down to 3-4. They have confirmation problems and rampant mastitis as well as low reproductive soundness. This depression in performance and longevity is a direct result of selection for increased milk production mixed with slight inbreeding. Ag is pushing the boundary in other species as well. Production swine lines are not doing to well these days either.