DairyTalk 420: Dairy strength or feet and legs? why the US and Germany score cows differently - by Helmut Demmelhuber

This podcast episode draws on a technical article by Fenja
Boekhoff, comparing dairy cattle classification systems in
Germany and the United States. It explores how structural
frameworks and breeding priorities shape evaluation methods in
each country. The analysis highlights the stronger emphasis on
dairy type in the US, while German systems place greater weight
on functional traits such as feet and legs. It also shows how
organizational differences limit direct comparability between
scores. Ultimately, classification emerges as a strategic tool
that influences breeding decisions depending on the system
applied. With comments on a "Rinderzucht &
Milchproduktion"-article (April 2026) by Fenja Boekhoff:
https://vost.de