Economic Selection for Female Fertility: Fertility Traits and Their Relationship with Production

Relationship between production, profit and fertility was studied. Phenotypically, less fertile cows produce more milk; however they stay less number of lactations in herd and produce less kg of milk per lifetime, reducing its profitability. Production and fertility are genetically negatively correlated, as well. INS is less correlated to production than days open and days to first service. If INS is included in an index combining fertility and production profit would increase by 229 €/cow, meanwhile it would be 56 € / cow lower if days open is the fertility trait. INS should be registered and used in the genetic evaluations since it is free of management decision and it would maximize profitability at balancing economically production and fertility.