04/15/05 Milk module

Milk Module Sometimes I think predicting how a bull's offspring will perform can go a little too far. I'm Jeff Keane; I'll explain in one minute. Breed associations stated predicting the differences between sire's offspring years ago. First it was birth weight and weaning weight, which was pretty easy to understand even for some one with my limited mental capacity. More and more estimates and measurements were added over the years until they might outnumber a bull's calf crop. If you go to a bull sale now and have not done about three weeks homework on each bull's differences above or below the breed average by the time you look at his numbers in the sale catalog he's been sold, his calves are already on the ground, and you haven't even made a bid yet. Milking ability for a sire's daughters was added to the estimates a few years ago, but that wasn't enough numbers to play with so one breed association added on Optimal Milk Module to help cattlemen select a sire that will produce proper milking daughters for their specific ranch. All you have to do is turn on your computer, get on the Internet, find the interactive decision tool and with three simple steps you will select the right sire. Step one: Estimate the general milk level of the current herd. I never got to step two or three. I just couldn't go any farther when I thought of the early morning picture of the cowboys headed for the range with their best rope horses, a pail, bathroom scales, and a milk stool. I'm Jeff Keane.