Production of Pure Holsteins Versus Crossbreds of Holstein with Normande, Montbeliarde, and Scandinavian Red

Abstract

Pure Holsteins (n = 380) were compared to Normande/Holstein crossbreds (n = 245), Montbeliarde/Holstein crossbreds (n = 494), and Scandinavian Red/Holstein crossbreds (n = 328) for 305-d milk, fat, and protein production during first lactation. Scandinavian Red was a mixture of Swedish Red and Norwegian Red. Cows were housed at 7 commercial dairies in California and calved from June 2002 to January 2005. All Holstein sires and all Holstein maternal grandsires were required to have a code assigned by the National Association of Animal Breeders to assure they were sired by artificial insemination bulls. Daughters of Normande, Montbeliarde, and Scandinavian Red sires were artificial insemination bulls via imported semen. Best prediction was used to calculate actual production (milk, fat, and protein) for 305-d lactations. Adjustment was made for age at calving and milking frequency, and records less than 305 d were projected to 305 d. Herd-year-season (4-mo seasons) and the genetic level of each cow's Holstein maternal grandsire were included in the model for statistical analysis. Pure Holsteins had significantly higher milk (9,757 kg) and protein (305 kg) production than all crossbred groups, but pure Holsteins (346 kg) were not significantly different from Scandinavian Red/Holstein (340 kg) crossbreds for fat production. Fat plus protein production was used to gauge the overall productivity of pure Holsteins vs. crossbreds. The Scandinavian Red/Holstein (637 kg) crossbreds were not significantly different from the pure Holstein (651 kg) for fat plus protein production; however, the Normande/Holstein (596 kg) and the Montbeliarde/Holstein crossbreds (627 kg) had significantly lower fat plus protein production than pure Holsteins.

Crossbreeding: implications for dairy cow fertility and survival

“…To evaluate fertility, survival and production, Holstein heifers and cows at the St. Paul and Morris dairies were bred to Jersey AI bulls. First-service conception rates between the Holsteins (41%) and Jersey × Holstein crossbreds (39%) were not different (Heins et al, 2008 (Heins et al, 2006b;Heins and Hansen, 2012), which have typically reported 2 to 3 weeks fewer days open of crossbreds v. Holsteins. Survival from first to second calving did not differ significantly for Jersey × Holstein crossbreds (80%) and Holsteins (71%) cows.…”

“…The decline in fertility and survival of Holstein led the managers of seven large dairies in California to mate Holstein heifers and cows with semen of the Normande and Montbeliarde breeds, as well as the Swedish Red and Norwegian Red. Crossbred cows calved for the first (Heins et al 2006a(Heins et al , 2006b(Heins et al and 2006c. Cows were followed up throughout their lifetimes to compare fertility, survival and profitabilty.…”

Comparison of pure Holsteins to crossbred Holsteins with Norwegian Red cattle in first and second generations

“…Studies show that breeding for production has led to a reduction in secondary traits, especially those related to female fertility (e.g. Lucy, 2001;Heins et al, 2006aHeins et al, , 2006b). Thus, interest in crossbreeding Holstein cows to other breeds has increased; mainly to improve secondary traits, especially those related to female fertility (Weigel and Barlass, 2003;Funk, 2006;Buckley et al, 2014).…”

“…Thus, interest in crossbreeding Holstein cows to other breeds has increased; mainly to improve secondary traits, especially those related to female fertility (Weigel and Barlass, 2003;Funk, 2006;Buckley et al, 2014). Results of several studies have been reported including progeny of crosses between Holsteins and Normande, Montbéliarde, Scandinavian Red, Jersey and Brown Swiss (Dechow et al, 2007;Heins et al, 2006aHeins et al, , 2006bHeins et al, , 2006cMalchiodi et al, 2014;Olson et al, 2011). Generally these studies have demonstrated that purebred Holsteins are superior for milk production, but somewhat inferior for fertility and cow survival.…”

“…Generally these studies have demonstrated that purebred Holsteins are superior for milk production, but somewhat inferior for fertility and cow survival. However, only a few hundred cows of each cross were generally included in the analyses (Dechow et al, 2007;Heins et al, 2006aHeins et al, , 2006bHeins et al, , 2006cMalchiodi et al, 2011 andOlson et al, 2011).…”