Values used to develop the formula were the current support prices for butter and non-fat powder. Milk was charged 40 cents per hundred weight for transportation to market. Regardless of the pricing system used, selection pressure applied to the yield traits produces the greatest income change. Under current market values, selection for milk yield alone has the most economic returns. With the extreme shift to value milk only for its fat and non-fat content, selection for SNF yield gives slightly more economic return than selection for milk.
Dairymen selecting for percentage traits can expect to lose money under both pricing schemes.
The decline in milk production is too great to be offset by the increase in the percentage traits. Type Traits Type evaluation is a major concern with purebred breeders. Each breed association has an official program for rating animals against an ideal standard. Several breeds have expanded their programs to include descriptive information which identifies strengths and weaknesses in conformation. Correlations between these characteristics and milk yield have all been measured.