Impact of Global Warming on Dairy Cow Genetics

This poster examines global warming's impact on dairy cow genetics, focusing on heat tolerance traits essential for climate resilience. It presents research by Sophie Mattalia (INRAE), Maria Carabano (INIA-CSIC), Aurélie Vienet (INRAE), and Jeremie Vandenplas (WUR) within the EU-funded RUMIGEN project. Using national genetic evaluations and THI data from weather agencies, the study assesses heat stress effects on milk yield, udder health (somatic cell count), and fertility across five dairy populations: French and Spanish Holsteins, Dutch Holsteins, French Montbéliarde, and Dutch Meuse-Rhine-Issel. Findings highlight genetic trade-offs and the urgent need to prioritize robust traits in breeding programs to enhance adaptation to rising temperatures.