Number of dairy cows falls in 13 years, but Brazil breaks production record During the 21st Megaleite, held in June, in Belo Horizonte (MG), the Jornada Montross FIV LPN cow broke the world record for milk production in a single day: 112.65 kg. Until then, the title belonged to Fernanda Forbes IS Olhos D´Água, with 111.947 kg of milk in one day. Over the three days of competition, Jornada produced 337.95 kg of milk. ?? Do you have any reporting suggestions? Send it to g1 According to breeder Rodrigo Nogueira Ferreira, the champion receives management similar to that of a high-performance athlete and ends up producing more than other cows on the same property, which produce around 30 kg of milk per day. "It's a very high number. If 20 years ago you said that, we would call the person crazy, they were dreaming and today it's a reality", says Rui Verneque, deputy head of Technology Transfer at Embrapa Gado de Leite. Of course, the animal is far from representing the average dairy cow in the country. Still, as Verneque recalls, the case draws attention to a trend in the sector: Brazilian cows produce much more milk today than they did 24 years ago. The explanation lies in investments in genetics, animal welfare and food. (see evolution below) Dairy cow productivity more than doubled in Brazil in 24 years Art g1 READ MORE Cows monitored by AI became a loan guarantee in an unprecedented operation in Brazil Planned genetics Verneque, from Embrapa, states that genetic selection was one of the main factors behind the increase in dairy cow productivity in Brazil. The dairy gir, a zebu breed that produced little, went from an average of 2 thousand kg to 5 thousand kg per lactation, a period that lasts around 10 months. The girolando breed itself, of which Jornada is a part, was developed through genetic improvement. It results from the crossing between the Holstein and Gir dairy breeds. "For our tropical climate conditions, it is a highly competitive breed, with an average of 7 thousand kg per lactation", says the researcher. For Rodrigo Ferreira, owner of Jornada, the animal's genetics were fundamental to the record. "An animal that doesn't have good genetics is practically impossible for you to achieve the result", he states. With 35% fewer cows, Brazil produced more milk in 13 years. Art g1 More 'demanding' animal An animal that produces more also requires more care, says Verneque. “His demands regarding comfort, temperature control and environmental issues have to be much greater for him to respond,” he says. Each breed may require different conditions, such as higher or lower temperatures. When these needs are not met, the animal suffers stress and, as a consequence, produces less. "If you are in an air-conditioned environment, at the temperature you like, it's great, isn't it? Now, if you are in an extreme heat environment, you have this thermal stress. Your body will have to react for you to survive", explains the Embrapa researcher. The same goes for the noise of machines or changes in the animal's routine. On the property where Jornada lives, Ferreira offers shade for cattle to rest and pasture areas. It also has an exclusive stall and trained staff to monitor your well-being. Reinforced feeding A herd can be fed with grass, feed or a combination of the two. Currently, both have evolved. Pasture can include grasses and legumes, while feed has more nutritious formulations. "Food is one of the most important items in the cost of milk production, because it depends on a well-formulated diet", says Verneque. This is the case with Jornada's food, which undergoes quality analysis and veterinary monitoring. READ ALSO After a wave of fires, see how an almost forgotten breed of cow helps Spain reduce fires Brazilian eats more cows than cattle: slaughter of females exceeds that of males for the first time Journey Personal archive