Myanmar dairy production system and feasibility of establishing a genetic evaluation program

Abstract

This study aimed to characterize the current dairy production system in Myanmar and assess the feasibility of establishing a genetic evaluation program using information collected by dairy producers. Phenotypic and pedigree data from 728 individual animals were provided by eight dairy herds located in the Mandalay Region, the Yangon Region, and the Shan State of Myanmar. Data were assessed for correctness, completeness and genetic links among herds. Means and standard deviations (SD) values were computed for milk yield per day (AD), total lactation yield (TY) and lactation length (LL). Most cows had their sire (63.0%), dam (66.2%) or both parents (57.6%) identified. Cows with records were 12.0% for AD, 47.8% for TY and 13.6% for LL. Cows in the complete dataset produced 10.91 ± 3.23 kg/d for AD, 2,319.10 ± 1,221.93 kg for TY and 273.02 ± 90.71 d for LL. At farm level, mean and SD values ranged from 9.75 ± 5.12 kg/d to 12.75 ± 5.97 kg/d for AD, from 2,165.18 ± 1,556.94 kg to 3,367.85 ± 183.92 kg for TY and from 224.88 ± 155.42 d to 345.50 ± 78.03 d for LL. Although insufficient for a genetic evaluation, the information provided by dairy producers indicated that the basic infrastructure already existed. Thus, to develop a national genetic evaluation program, Myanmar needs to increase the number of participating dairy producers, herds and recorded cows, to improve the completeness and accuracy of individual animal phenotypic and pedigree records and to enhance the genetic connections among herds and contemporary groups through the use of common sires.