East Gippsland dairy farmers will have access to new genetic selection tools designed to reduce calf stillbirths, with DataGene introducing two new Australian Breeding Values (ABVs) from April.
The Sire Stillbirth and Maternal Stillbirth ABVs are intended to help producers identify animals with a lower genetic risk of stillbirth, a leading cause of early calf mortality in dairy herds.
The new measures are available across all dairy breeds and provide separate ratings for bulls and cows. The Sire Stillbirth ABV estimates the likelihood of a bull’s offspring being born dead, while the Maternal Stillbirth ABV estimates the likelihood of a cow experiencing a stillbirth during calving.
Data indicates that between five and seven per cent of Australian dairy calves are stillborn or die within the first day of life, making stillbirth the most significant cause of early calf death, ahead of other common diseases such as scours and respiratory illness.
International figures have reported stillbirth rates of up to 10 per cent in some herds.
While environmental factors such as management and calving conditions play a role, research shows genetics also contributes to stillbirth risk, with measurable variation between animals within breeds allowing for targeted selection.
Under the new system, animals with ABVs below zero are considered to have a lower genetic risk of stillbirth.
Most Holstein and Jersey bulls fall within a range of -2 to +2 per cent, with top-performing bulls recording below -5 per cent.
The ABVs are published through industry tools including the Good Bulls app, DataVat and heifer genomic reports. Reliability levels are reported at approximately 60 per cent for Sire Stillbirth ABVs in young genomic Holstein bulls, and around 52 per cent for Maternal Stillbirth.
Research led by Dr Michelle Axford has shown that genetic variation within breeds is sufficient to support long-term selection for reduced stillbirth risk.
Industry sources note that improving stillbirth outcomes can also have broader productivity benefits, with cows experiencing stillbirths often showing reduced fertility performance, longer recovery intervals and lower early lactation milk yields.
DataGene says the new ABVs provide farmers with another tool to support breeding decisions aimed at improving animal welfare and herd performance over time.
