Changes in animal performance and profitability of Holstein dairy operations after introduction of crossbreeding with Montbéliarde, Normande, and Scandinavian Red

Abstract

An individual-based mechanistic, stochastic, and dynamic simulation model was developed to assess economic effects resulting from changes in performance for milk yield and solid contents, reproduction, health, and replacement, induced by the introduction of crossbreeding in Holstein dairy operations. Three crossbreeding schemes, Holstein × Montbéliarde, Holstein × Montbéliarde × Normande, and Holstein × Montbéliarde × Scandinavian Red, were implemented in Holstein dairy operations and compared with Holstein pure breeding. Sires were selected based on their estimated breeding value for milk. Two initial operations were simulated according to the prevalence (average or high) of reproductive and health disorders in the lactating herd. Evolution of operations was simulated during 15 yr under 2 alternative managerial goals (constant number of cows or constant volume of milk sold). After 15 yr, breed percentages reached equilibrium for the 2-breed but not for the 3-breed schemes. After 5 yr of simulation, all 3 crossbreeding schemes reduced average milk yield per cow-year compared with the pure Holstein scheme. Changes in other animal performance (milk solid contents, reproduction, udder health, and longevity) were always in favor of crossbreeding schemes. Under an objective of constant number of cows, margin over variable costs in average discounted value over the 15 yr of simulation was slightly increased by crossbreeding schemes, with an average prevalence of disorders up to €32/cow-year. In operations with a high prevalence of disorders, crossbreeding schemes increased the margin over variable costs up to €91/cow-year. Under an objective of constant volume of milk sold, crossbreeding schemes improved margin over variable costs up to €10/1,000L (corresponding to around €96/cow-year) for average prevalence of disorders, and up to €13/1,000L (corresponding to around €117/cow-year) for high prevalence of disorders. Under an objective of constant number of cows, an unfavorable pricing context (milk price vs. concentrates price) increased slightly crossbreeding positive effects on margin over variable costs. Under an objective of constant volume of milk, only very limited changes in differences of margins were found between the breeding schemes. Our results, obtained conditionally to the parameterization values used here, suggest that dairy crossbreeding should be considered as a relevant option for Holstein dairy operations with a production level until 9,000 kg/cow-year in France, and possibly in other countries.

Quantification by simulation of the effect of herd management practices and cow fertility on the reproductive and economic performance of Holstein dairy herds

“…We used a dynamic stochastic model ECOMAST, operating in discrete time, to simulate the cow's life, from herd entry (birth or purchase) to herd exit (culling or death). This is an individual-based model that was developed by UMR BIOEPAR (INRA, ONIRIS, Nantes, France;Dezetter et al, 2017), using a time step of one day. The model is coded using Visual Basic (1998, Microsoft Corp., Redmond, WA).…”

“…(3) average milk protein content in grams per kilogram over 305 DIM; (4) mastitis susceptibility; and (5) fertilization, which is defined as success after an AI (Dezetter et al, 2017). These phenotypic traits were calculated at each entry of a new female into the herd (birth or purchase) and remained unchanged throughout the life of the cow (Dezetter et al, 2017).…”

“…(3) average milk protein content in grams per kilogram over 305 DIM; (4) mastitis susceptibility; and (5) fertilization, which is defined as success after an AI (Dezetter et al, 2017). These phenotypic traits were calculated at each entry of a new female into the herd (birth or purchase) and remained unchanged throughout the life of the cow (Dezetter et al, 2017). According to the formulas provided by Dezetter et al (2017), the value of each trait was calculated from (1) a basic value, which was defined from the average value of the herd, (2) the true breeding value of the given cow, which represents "the real value of the animal for breeding" (Oldenbroek and van der Waaij, 2015), (3) a heterosis effect for crossbred cows, (4) a permanent environmental effect, and (5) a random effect representing the inter-cow variability.…”

“…These phenotypic traits were calculated at each entry of a new female into the herd (birth or purchase) and remained unchanged throughout the life of the cow (Dezetter et al, 2017). According to the formulas provided by Dezetter et al (2017), the value of each trait was calculated from (1) a basic value, which was defined from the average value of the herd, (2) the true breeding value of the given cow, which represents "the real value of the animal for breeding" (Oldenbroek and van der Waaij, 2015), (3) a heterosis effect for crossbred cows, (4) a permanent environmental effect, and (5) a random effect representing the inter-cow variability. factors (mastitis susceptibility only for IMI, daily milk yield, and parity) and the annual incidence rate of IMI and other health disorders (Dezetter et al, 2017).…”

Le croisement entre races bovines laitières : intérêts et limites pour des ateliers en race pure Prim’Holstein ?

“…Une analyse de sensibilité a été effectuée sur le prix de base du lait et sur le prix des concentrés (Dezetter et al, 2017). Dans un cas, le prix de base du lait a été diminué de 20 % tout en gardant la même plus-value sur les taux et le prix des concentrés a été augmenté de 20 % (contexte économique défavorable).…”