DairyTalk 346: Functionality Returns: Teat Length Re-emerges as a Breeding Priority - by Helmut Demmelhuber

DairyTalk by Helmut Demmelhuber · Mar 25, 2026 · 21m

This episode is based on a technical article examining the renewed relevance of teat length in modern dairy cattle breeding. In recent years, genomic selection has strongly emphasized milk production and longevity, but this focus has also produced unintended structural side effects in udder traits. Short teats in particular can complicate the operation of robotic milking systems and affect day-to-day efficiency on farms. The article explores how breeding programs are responding by selecting sires capable of correcting these functional traits while maintaining high genetic merit. Examples such…