The dairy industry has seen annual milk production
per cow increase from approximately 2000 kg to
over 4700 kg in a 25 year period. This rate of gain
contributed by genetic improvement increased from
~1.6 kg/cow/year at the beginning of the period to
nearly 60 kg/cow/year by the period end. This was
due not only to the refinement of the science
behind the breeding programs, but by the
acceptance of genetic improvement technologies
being offered to the industry by various commercial
companies involved in supplying bull semen. This
increased performance has translated into
substantial savings in feed, energy expended, and
labor for the entire industry.