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

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 as the bull Graffiti
(https://masterrind.com/bulle/10.833737/Graffiti) illustrate how
breeders are seeking a renewed balance between production
performance and practical udder functionality.