Effect of Dairy Cow Crossbreeding on Selected Performance Traits and Quality of Milk in First Generation Crossbreds

Abstract

The main goal of crossbreeding Holstein-Friesian (HF) cows with bulls of other dairy or combined breeds is to improve their performance traits. Thus, the aim of this investigation was to compare the dairy performance traits of first generation crossbreds produced by crossbreeding Polish HF cows with bulls of other breeds (Norman, Norwegian Red, Danish Red, Brown Swiss, Montbeliarde, and Simmental). This was done by analyzing the fatty acid profile and technological quality of the milk from these first generation crossbreds. The investigation showed that crossbreeding greatly influenced the performance parameters and technological quality of the milk of the first generation crossbreds obtained from crossbreeding Polish HF cows with bulls of other dairy or combined breeds. The crossbreed cows characterized by the highest both quantity and quality of milk. Also, the best parameters of milk fat dispersion (that is, the highest values of these parameters) that are useful in the production of hard ripening cheeses and butter were found in the milk of crossbreed cows. Health beneficially, saturated fatty acids level in milk of crossbreeds was by 25.96% lower in crossbreds milk when compared to purebred cows. The most beneficial content of whey proteins was found in the milk of Polish HF and Norwegian Red crosses, where it was 19.04% higher than in pure breed Holsteins. F1 cows tend to express better functional traits than Holstein (PHF) cows. Effect of heterosis was larger and gave better results when there was a greater genetic distance between the animals used for crossbreeding. Keywords: cattle, heterosis, hybrids, milkPractical Application: The effects of heterosis are opposite to the effects of inbreeding depression, and it extends the lifespan and use of animals as well as improves their fertility and health. The main goal of crossbreeding Holstein-Friesian cows with bulls of other dairy or combined breeds is to improve their performance traits. F1 cows tend to express better functional traits than Holstein (PHF) cows. Effect of heterosis was larger and gave better results when there was a greater genetic distance between the animals used for crossbreeding.

Use of somatic cell count as an indicator of colostrum quality

“…Concentrations of lactoferrin and lysozyme were determined using an Agilent 1100 Series RP-HPLC (Agilent Technologies, Waldbronn, Germany) according to the methodology described by Puppel et al [24]. Separations were performed at ambient temperature using solvent gradient on Jupiter column C18 300A (Phenomenex, Torrance, CA, USA).…”

Relationship between the Quality of Colostrum and the Formation of Microflora in the Digestive Tract of Calves

“…Concentrations of whey proteins were determined using an Agilent 1100 Series RP-HPLC (Agilent Technologies, Waldbronn, Germany) according to the methodology described by Puppel et al [ 41 ]. Separations were performed at ambient temperature using a solvent gradient on a Jupiter Column C18 300A (Phenomenex, Torrance, CA, USA).…”

Genomic analyses provide insights into breed-of-origin effects from purebreds on three-way crossbred pigs

“…Using crossbreeding strategy, alleles that are specific to different purebreds will be inherited by offspring and thereby yield a large number of heterozygous single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) (Sevillano et al, 2016; Vandenplas et al, 2016). These heterozygous SNPs are supposed to have a contribution on improving crossbred performance, especially in terms of growth rate, reproductive performance, production performance (egg, meat, and milk) and disease resistance (Puppel et al, 2018; Ragab et al, 2016; Rinell & Heringstad, 2018).…”