cbcr
Well-known member
A 10-year designed study on crossbreeding is ongoing with 8 large-scale and high-performance dairy herds in Minnesota. The end of 2015 marked the conclusion of the 8th year of the 10-year study. The interest in, and use of, crossbreeding by dairy producers served as the motivation for this research. Dairy producers often express disappointment with the health, fertility, and survival of their pure Holstein (HO) cows. Also, owners/managers of the 8 dairy herds participating in this study were aware of the greater profitability for 2-breed crossbreds of HO with the Montbeliarde and Viking Red breeds compared to pure HO cows from a previous field study in California.
The 8 dairy herds are located throughout Minnesota and are elite herds for milk production in the state. Collectively, these herds currently have average production from milk recording of 30,410 lbs. of milk, 1,115 lbs. of fat, and 943 lbs. of protein with 3-times daily milking. All of the herd owners/managers had positive previous experiences from milking some crossbred cows alongside pure HO cows in their herds, and their previous success with crossbred cows sparked their interest in participating in the study. The 8 dairy herds range in size from 275 to 1,940 cows.
It's important to note the analysis for production did not adjust for differences in pregnancy status (fertility) between the breed groups and, on average, the crossbred cows calved sooner with their second calves than did the pure HO cows. Because of this advantage for fertility, the crossbred cows also returned to peak production more quickly with second calving than did their pure HO herdmates.
Stillbirth rate-All (%), 9% - Holstein, 4% - Montbeliarde x Holstein, 5% - Viking Red x Holstein
Dairy producers are accustomed to stillbirth rates in excess of 8% for pure HO calves. Applying a fixed value of $500 to all live calves, the advantage of 4% to 5% more live calves for the crossbreds equates to more than $22,000 additional profit from the 997 crossbred calves in this study. Also, in most instances, crossbred bull calves sell for a premium price compared to pure HO bull calves.
Montbeliarde ×Holstein cows produced 3% more actual fat plus protein production (lbs.) during the first 305 days of their first lactations than their pure Holstein herdmates, and Viking Red × Holstein cows were similar (+1% numerically) to pure HO cows for fat plus protein production (lbs.).
The 8 dairy herds are located throughout Minnesota and are elite herds for milk production in the state. Collectively, these herds currently have average production from milk recording of 30,410 lbs. of milk, 1,115 lbs. of fat, and 943 lbs. of protein with 3-times daily milking. All of the herd owners/managers had positive previous experiences from milking some crossbred cows alongside pure HO cows in their herds, and their previous success with crossbred cows sparked their interest in participating in the study. The 8 dairy herds range in size from 275 to 1,940 cows.
It's important to note the analysis for production did not adjust for differences in pregnancy status (fertility) between the breed groups and, on average, the crossbred cows calved sooner with their second calves than did the pure HO cows. Because of this advantage for fertility, the crossbred cows also returned to peak production more quickly with second calving than did their pure HO herdmates.
Stillbirth rate-All (%), 9% - Holstein, 4% - Montbeliarde x Holstein, 5% - Viking Red x Holstein
Dairy producers are accustomed to stillbirth rates in excess of 8% for pure HO calves. Applying a fixed value of $500 to all live calves, the advantage of 4% to 5% more live calves for the crossbreds equates to more than $22,000 additional profit from the 997 crossbred calves in this study. Also, in most instances, crossbred bull calves sell for a premium price compared to pure HO bull calves.
Montbeliarde ×Holstein cows produced 3% more actual fat plus protein production (lbs.) during the first 305 days of their first lactations than their pure Holstein herdmates, and Viking Red × Holstein cows were similar (+1% numerically) to pure HO cows for fat plus protein production (lbs.).