Prediction of Lifetime Relative Net Income from First Lactation Production and Individual Type Traits in Holstein Cows,

Official type classification data and Dairy Herd Improvement Registry production records of Holstein cows calving between January 1, 1967, and June 1, 1976, were used to estimate contributions of individual descriptive type traits evaluated in first lactation to lifetime profitability as measured by a profit function, relative net income. Relative net income estimated total profit from variables available through Dairy Herd Improvement. Contributions of individual type components to profitability were estimated from least squares constants adjusted for all descriptive type traits and for linear and quadratic effects of final score, first lactation production, age at first calving, herdlife opportunity, stage of lactation, and age when classified.