Genetics vs. your milk check

Performance is a combination of genetics and environment. According to the Council on Dairy Cattle Breeding (CDCB), milk production is 20% correlated to genetics. Eighty percent of production performance is correlated to environmental influencers such as management of facilities, calf care, reproduction plan, nutrition, cow comfort and daily stressors. 

Genetics is the behind-the-scenes controller determining why two cows existing within the same environment produce milk differently. Two cows standing side by side at the feedbunk will each have a different genetic potential for milk production. Genetics create variation in performance between herdmates.