Milk production of Jersey and Fleckvieh × Jersey cows in a pasture-based feeding system

Abstract

Milk production parameters of purebred Jersey (J) cows and Fleckvieh × Jersey (F × J) cows in a pasture-based feeding system were compared using standard milk recording procedures. Milk, fat and protein production was adjusted to 305 days per lactation and corrected for age at calving. Effects of breed, parity, month and year were estimated for milk, fat and protein yield as well as fat and protein percentage, using the general linear model procedure. Fixed effects identified as affecting milk production parameters significantly were breed, parity and year. F × J cows produced significantly more milk than J cows (6141 ± 102 and 5398 ± 95 kg milk, respectively). Similarly, fat and protein yields were significantly higher in F × J (272 ± 4 and 201 ± 3 kg, respectively) than in Jersey cows (246 ± 3 and 194 ± 2 kg, respectively). Fat and protein percentages only differed slightly in absolute terms being 4.61 ± 0.04% fat in the Jersey compared to 4.47 ± 0.04% fat in the F × J. Protein levels for J and F × J cows were 3.62 ± 0.03 and 3.51 ± 0.03%, respectively. Despite a lower fat percentage, F × J crossbred cows may be more productive than purebred Jersey cows which may be due to heterotic effects.

Milk production and lactation length in Ankole cattle and Ankole crossbreds in Rwanda

“…Therefore, the higher milk yield observed in the period 2014–2016 compared with previous years indicates positive effects of management practices or feed availability in that period. An effect of year of calving on milk production in Jersey and Fleckvieh × Jersey cows in a pasture-based feeding system has also been reported by Goni et al ( 2015 ) in Ghana. Darfour-Oduro et al ( 2010 ) found that an effect of year of calving was an important source of variation in DMY, MY305, and LL.…”

“…The lowest milk yield and LL were obtained in first-parity cows, with an increase to parity 4 and parity 3, respectively (Table 1 ). Similarly, in studies in Ghana, Goni et al ( 2015 ) reported peak milk yield for Jersey cows in parity 3, while Darfour-Oduro et al ( 2010 ) observed an effect of parity on DMY for both Sanga and Sanga × Holstein Friesian crossbreds, with peaks observed in parities 3 and 2, respectively. Nyamushamba et al ( 2014 ) in Zimbabwe reported a significant parity effect ( p < 0.05) on milk yield in a Red Dane herd, where the milk yield increased gradually from parity 1 up to parity 4, with a decline in parity 5.…”

Fertility in dairy cows and ways to improve it

“…The milk, fat and protein yields of F x J cows were higher (P <0.05) than those of J cows in the pasture-based system. Fat and protein percentages did not differ (P >0.05) between breeds, although they were lower in absolute terms in F x J cows (Goni et al, 2014). In the zero-grazing system milk, fat and protein yields of H and F x H cows did not differ (P >0.05), while fat and protein percentages were higher (P <0.05) in F x H milk (Metaxas et al, 2014;Metaxas, 2015).…”

“…Two studies were conducted at Elsenburg Research Farm over six years from 2008, as described by Goni et al (2014) and Metaxas (2015). For the first study, J cows were inseminated with J or F sires to create a purebred J herd and a crossbred F x J herd.…”

Effect of alternating total mixed ration and pasture feeding on the fatty acid content and health indices of Jersey and Fleckvieh x Jersey milk

“…The Fleckvieh breed has dual-purpose characteristics, producing beef and high solids milk, and has crossbreeding potential to improve the lifetime performance of dairy cows. Goni (2014) and Goni et al (2015a;2015b;2016) found higher beef production, fat and protein yields and fertility in FxJ cows than in J cows.…”