Management Traits Scored Linearly by Dairy Producers

The Holstein Association collected data of management traits for research purposes, and dairy producers scored their own cows with 50-point linear scales. Sources of variation for scores were determined and genetic parameters were estimated. Heritabilities of management traits were near previous estimates. Temperament had heritability of 12%, milking speed had heritability of 11%, and other estimates were 5% or less. Scoring of cows in retrospect at time of classification may have contributed to low estimates of heritability. Selection from progeny testing may be effective for temperament and milking speed, but economic gain is unknown. Both temperament and milking speed had positive estimates of genetic correlation with FCM and type score; therefore, selection for FCM should not result in deterioration of temperament or milking speed as correlated responses. Linear scoring of cows for management traits by dairy producers at time of classification may have limited practical benefit for genetic improvement of dairy cows.