2007
Production, fertility, and survival of pure Holsteins versus crossbreds of Holstein with Normande, Montbeliarde, and Scandinavian Red
B.J. Heins, L.B. Hansen, and A.J. Seykora
Department of Animal Science, University of Minnesota, St. Paul
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, fertility, and survival. Scandinavian Red was a mixture of Swedish Red and Norwegian Red. Cows were housed in seven commercial dairies in California and calved for a first time 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 (AI) bulls. Daughters of Normande, Montbeliarde, and Scandinavian Red sires were AI 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. For days open, first-calf heifers were required to be at least 250 days in milk and those with greater than 250 days open were truncated to 250 days. For production, herd-year-season (4-month seasons) and the genetic level of each cow’s Holstein maternal grandsire were included in the model for statistical analysis. During first lactation, pure Holsteins had significantly higher milk (9891 kg) and protein (307 kg) production than all crossbred groups, but pure Holsteins (352 kg) were not significantly different than Scandinavian Red/Holstein (343 kg) crossbreds for fat production. Scandinavian Red/Holstein (640 kg) crossbreds were not significantly different from the pure Holstein (659 kg) for fat plus protein production; however, the Normande/Holstein (601 kg) and the Montbeliarde/Holstein crossbreds (629 kg) had significantly lower fat plus protein production than pure Holsteins. Least squares means for days open were 147 days for pure Holsteins, 122 days for Normande/Holstein, 124 days for Montbeliarde/Holstein, and 131 days for Scandinavian Red/Holstein crossbreds, and all three crossbred groups had significantly fewer days open than pure Holsteins. Three measures of survival were to 30 days, 150 days, and 305 days postpartum, and all crossbred groups survived significantly longer than pure Holsteins during first lactation for survival. Pure Holsteins left these dairies sooner than all crossbred groups, with 83% of pure Holsteins surviving 305 days post-calving compared to 90% to 93% of crossbreds.
Crossbreds of Jersey×Holstein compared to pure Holsteins for body weight, body condition score, dry matter intake, and feed efficiency during the first 150 days of first lactation
B.J. Heins1, L.B. Hansen1, A.J. Seykora1, D.G. Johnson2, J.G. Linn1, A.R. Hazel1, and M.L. Raeth-Knight1
Jersey×Holstein crossbreds (n = 24) (JxH) were compared to pure Holsteins (n = 17) for, body weight (BW), body condition score (BCS), dry matter intake (DMI), and feed efficiency during the first 150-d of first lactation. Cows were housed in the University of Minnesota dairy facility at the St. Paul campus and calved from September 2004 to January 2005. JxH were mated to Montbeliarde sires, and Holstein cows were mated to Holstein sires. Cows were weighed and body condition scored every other week. Cows were individually fed a TMR twice daily, and feed refusals were measured once daily. DMI of cows was measured daily and averaged across seven day periods. Milk production and milk composition were from monthly DHI. Best Prediction was used to calculate actual production (milk, fat, protein) for each cow for the first 150 d of first lactation. JxH had significantly less (34 kg) BW and had significantly higher BCS (2.90 vs. 2.76) than pure Holsteins. Furthermore, JxH and pure Holsteins did not differ for daily DMI, (22.0 kg vs. 22.7 kg, respectively). JxH (4.7%) and pure Holsteins (4.5%) consumed similar DMI on a percentage of body weight basis. Fat plus protein production for the first 150 d of lactation was 302 kg for JxH and 309 kg for Holsteins. Feed efficiency, defined as ratio of fat plus protein production (kg) divided by DMI (kg), for the first 150 d of lactation was 0.094 for JxH and 0.093 for pure Holsteins. JxH and pure Holsteins were similar for Cheese Merit ($1280 vs. $1313) and feed cost ($627 vs. $645). Income over feed cost for the first 150 d was $652 for JxH and $668 for pure Holsteins.
1Department of Animal Science, University of Minnesota, St. Paul
2West Central Research and Outreach Center, University of Minnesota, Morris
Crossbreds of Jersey×Holstein compared to pure Holsteins for production, fertility, and body and udder measurements during first lactation
B.J. Heins1, L.B. Hansen1, A.J. Seykora1, D.G. Johnson1, J.G. Linn1, J.E. Romano2, and A.R. Hazel1
Jersey×Holstein crossbreds (JxH) (n = 76) were compared to pure Holsteins (n = 73) for 305-d milk, fat, and protein production; conception rate; days open; proportion of cows pregnant within fixed intervals postpartum; and body and udder measurements during first lactation. Cows were housed at two research locations of the University of Minnesota and calved from September 2003 to May 2005. JxH were mated to Montbeliarde sires, and Holstein cows were mated to Holstein sires. Best Prediction was used to determine actual production (milk, fat, and protein) for 305-d lactations with adjustment for age at calving, and records less than 305 d were projected to 305 d. JxH (274 kg) and pure Holsteins (277 kg) were not significantly different for fat production, but JxH had significantly less milk (7,147 kg vs. 7,705 kg) and protein (223 kg vs. 238 kg) production than pure Holsteins. JxH had significantly fewer days open than pure Holsteins (127 d vs. 150 d). Also, a significantly greater proportion of JxH crossbred cows were pregnant at 150 and at 180 days postpartum than pure Holsteins (75% vs. 59% and 77% vs. 61%, respectively). JxH had significantly less body weight (60 kg) at calving, but significantly greater body condition (2.80 vs. 2.71). Furthermore, JxH had significantly less udder clearance from the ground to the bottom of the udder than pure Holsteins (47.7 cm vs. 54.6 cm), and greater distance between front teats (15.8 cm vs. 14.0 cm) than pure Holsteins during first lactation.
1Department of Animal Science, University of Minnesota, St. Paul
2Department of Veterinary Population Medicine, University of Minnesota, St. Paul
Crossbreds of Montbeliarde×Holstein and Montbeliarde×(Jersey×Holstein) compared to pure Holsteins for dry matter intake, production, and feed efficiency during the first 150 days of first lactation
B.J. Heins1, A.R. Hazel1, L.B. Hansen1, A.J. Seykora1, J.G. Linn1, and D.G. Johnson2
Montbeliarde×Holstein crossbreds (n = 26) and Montbeliarde×(Jersey×Holstein) crossbreds (n = 12) were compared to pure Holsteins (n = 26) for dry matter intake, production, and feed efficiency during the first 150 d of first lactation. Cows were housed in the University of Minnesota research facility at the St. Paul campus and calved from October 2005 to January 2007. Twelve pure Holsteins and 14 Montbeliarde×Holstein crossbreds calved in the St. Paul campus herd during the fall/winter of 2005. Of the 12 Holsteins, one cow died early in lactation. In the fall/winter of 2006, 14 pure Holsteins, 12 Montbeliarde×Holstein crossbreds, 11 Montbeliarde×(Jersey×Holstein) crossbreds calved. Of the 14 Holsteins calving the second year, one died early in lactation. These cows were housed in a tie-stall barn and individually fed a total mixed ration that was 58.2% dry matter. Feed refusals were weighed back once daily. Feed intakes were taken from 4 to 150 days in milk. Least squares means were adjusted for the fixed effects of age at calving in months, breed, season, week postpartum within breed, and the random effect of cow within breed. During the first 150 days of first lactation, pure Holsteins consumed 1 kg more (P = .08) dry matter intake than the Montbeliarde×Holstein crossbreds (20.6 kg vs. 19.6 kg, respectively). Pure Holsteins and Montbeliarde×(Jersey×Holstein) crossbred cows (20.1 kg) were not different for dry matter intake. For total dry matter intake, pure Holsteins consumed (P = .10) 144 kilograms more dry matter during the first 150 days of first lactation than Montbeliarde×Holstein crossbreds (3024 kg vs. 2880 kg, respectively). Total intake did not differ for Holsteins versus Montbeliarde×(Jersey×Holstein) crossbred cows (2962 kg). Production and feed efficiency of first lactation Holstein versus Montbeliarde×Holstein crossbreds was compared only during the fall/early winter of 2005. Fat plus protein production did not differ for pure Holsteins and Montbeliarde×Holstein crossbreds (330 kg vs. 311 kg). Feed efficiency, calculated as fat plus protein divided by total dry matter, had a difference of .004, and is 3.7% on a percentage basis.
1Department of Animal Science, University of Minnesota, St. Paul
2West Central Research and Outreach Center, University of Minnesota, Morris
2006
Crossbreds of Jersey/Holstein compared to pure Holsteins for body weight, dry matter intake, feed efficiency, and body condition score
B.J. Heins, A.R. Hazel, L.B. Hansen, A.J. Seykora, J.G. Linn,
M.L. Raeth-Knight, and W.P. Hansen
University of Minnesota, St. Paul
Jersey/Holstein crossbreds (n=24) were compared to pure Holsteins (n=19) for body weight (BW), dry matter intake (DMI), feed efficiency, and body condition score (BCS) during first lactation. Cows were housed in the University of Minnesota research facility at the St. Paul campus and calved from September 2004 to January 2005. Jersey/Holstein crossbreds and pure Holsteins were sired by 6 Jersey and 6 Holstein AI bulls selected for Net Merit. Pure Holsteins were taller (141.1 vs 134.2 cm) and had larger heart girths (187.5 vs 180.6 cm) than Jersey/Holstein crossbreds at calving. Cows were individually fed a TMR twice daily, and feed was mixed with a drum mixer. Feed weighbacks were collected once daily and cows were weighed bi-weekly. Milk production was recorded daily and milk composition was from monthly DHI. Best Prediction was used to calculate actual production (fat plus protein) for each cow for the first 150 d of first lactation. Fat plus protein production was 308 kg for Jersey/Holstein crossbreds and 309 kg for Holsteins. Ratio of fat plus protein production (kg) divided by DMI (kg) for the first 150 d of lactation was 0.11 for both Jersey/Holstein crossbreds and Holsteins. Body weights and body condition scores were recorded once every two weeks from 1 to 26 weeks postpartum. Independent variables were breed, random effect of cow within breed, week postpartum within breed, month of calving, and age at calving (linear, mo). Statistical analysis was performed for the first two weeks and 1 to 26 weeks. Holstein cows had significantly higher BW and significantly lower BCS than Jersey/Holstein crossbreds. There were no differences in DMI between Jersey/Holstein crossbreds and pure Holsteins.
|
1st two weeks |
|
1 to 26 weeks |
Breed |
|
BW
(kg) |
|
DMI
(kg/d) |
|
BCS |
|
BW
(kg) |
|
DMI
(kg/d) |
|
BCS |
|
Holstein |
|
516.0 |
|
11.6 |
|
2.97 |
|
508.0 |
|
19.1 |
|
2.80 |
Crossbred |
|
472.7 |
|
11.5 |
|
3.14 |
|
471.7 |
|
19.0 |
|
2.92 |
|
Crossbreds of Jersey/Holstein compared to pure Holsteins for production, calving difficulty, stillbirths, and fertility
B.J. Heins, L.B. Hansen, A.J. Seykora, A.R. Hazel, J.G. Linn, D.G. Johnson, and W.P. Hansen
University of Minnesota, St. Paul
Jersey/Holstein crossbreds (n=77) were compared to pure Holsteins (n=72) for 305-d milk, fat, and protein production, calving difficulty, stillbirths, days to first breeding, first service conception rate, and days open during first lactation. Cows were housed at two University of Minnesota research facilities and calved from September 2003 to May 2005. Jersey/Holstein crossbreds were bred to Montbeliarde sires, and Holstein cows were bred to Holstein sires. Best Prediction was used to calculate actual production (milk, fat, and protein) for 305-d lactations. Adjustment was made for age at calving and herd-year and records less than 305 d were projected to 305 d. Jersey/Holstein crossbreds (258 kg) and pure Holsteins (259 kg) were not significantly different for fat production, but pure Holsteins had significantly higher milk (7266 vs 6693 kg) and protein (229 vs 214 kg) production than Jersey/Holstein crossbreds. For fat plus protein production, the Jersey/Holstein crossbreds (471 kg) and pure Holsteins (488 kg) were not significantly different. Calving difficulty scores were 1, 2, 3 (no difficulty) and 4, 5 (calving difficulty), and stillbirths were 1 (alive) and 0 (dead) within 24 hr of birth. Age at calving, herd-year, sex of calf, and breed were included in the statistical model. Calving difficulty and stillbirth rates did not differ significantly for the Jersey/Holstein crossbreds versus pure Holsteins. Jersey/Holstein crossbreds (78 d) had significantly fewer days to first breeding than pure Holsteins (88 d). Least squares means for days open were 139 for Jersey/Holstein crossbreds and 155 for pure Holsteins.
Crossbreds of Normande/Holstein, Montbeliarde/Holstein, and Scandinavian Red/Holstein compared to pure Holsteins for 305-d production
B.J. Heins, L.B. Hansen, and A.J. Seykora
University of Minnesota, St. Paul
Normande/Holstein crossbreds (n=245), Montbeliarde/Holstein crossbreds (n=494), and Scandinavian Red/Holstein crossbreds (n=328) were compared to pure Holsteins (n=380) for 305-d milk, fat, and protein production during first lactation. Cows were housed in seven commercial dairies in California and calved from June 2002 to January 2005. All Holstein sires and Holstein maternal grandsires of all cows were required to have a code assigned by the National Association of Animal Breeders to assure they were sired by AI bulls. Daughters of Normande, Montbeliarde, and Scandinavian Red sires were from imported semen. Scandinavian Red was a mixture of Swedish Red and Norwegian Red. 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-month seasons within the seven herds) and the genetic level of Holstein maternal grandsire (linear) were included in the model for statistical analysis. Pure Holsteins had significantly higher milk (9757 kg), fat (346 kg), and protein (305 kg) than all crossbreds except Scandinavian Red/Holstein crossbreds (340 kg) were not significantly different than pure Holsteins for fat production. Fat plus protein production was used to gauge the overall productivity of pure Holsteins versus 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.
Crossbreds of Normande/Holstein, Montbeliarde/Holstein, and Scandinavian Red/Holstein compared to pure Holsteins for reproduction and survival
B.J. Heins, L.B. Hansen, and A.J. Seykora
University of Minnesota, St. Paul
Normande/Holstein, Montbeliarde/Holstein, and Scandinavian Red/Holstein crossbreds were compared to pure Holsteins for reproduction and survival. Cows were in 7 commercial dairies in California. Daughters of Normande, Montbeliarde, and Scandinavian Red sires were from imported semen. Holsteins were required to have a recorded sire with an NAAB code to assure they were sired by A.I. sires. For days open, cows were required to be at least 250 days in milk and those with greater than 250 days open were truncated to 250 days. Least squares means for days to first breeding were 69 for Holsteins, 62 for Normande/Holstein, 65 for Montbeliarde/Holstein, and 66 for Scandinavian Red/Holstein crossbreds, and differences were significantly different than pure Holsteins for Normande/Holstein and Montbeliarde/Holstein crossbreds. First service conceptions rates were 22% for Holsteins, 35% for Normande/Holstein, 31% for Montbeliarde/Holstein, and 30% for Scandinavian Red/Holstein crossbreds and, again, differences from Holstein were significant for the Normande/Holstein and Montbeliarde/Holstein crossbreds. Least squares means for days open were 150 for pure Holsteins, 123 for Normande/Holstein, 131 for Montbeliarde/Holstein, and 129 for Scandinavian Red/ Holstein crossbreds, and all three crossbred groups had significantly fewer days open than pure Holsteins. Crossbreds surpassed pure Holsteins for survival for any reason to 30-d, 150-d, and 305-d postpartum during first lactation and for percentage with a second lactation.
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