Crossbreds of Jersey × Holstein Compared with Pure Holsteins for Production, Fertility, and Body and Udder Measurements During First Lactation

Heins, Brad; Hansen, Leslie B; Seykora, Anthony J; Johnson, D. G.; Linn, J.G.; Romano, Juan E.; Hazel, A. R.

doi:10.3168/jds.2007-0564

Cited by 67 publications

(96 citation statements)

References 34 publications

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“…While the number of days between calving and conception (DO) were 10.3 days fewer for crosses in comparison with Jersey cows, the difference between the breeds was not significant. Heins et al (2008) found Jersey-Holstein (J × H) cows had significantly fewer days open (DO) than pure Holsteins, and a significantly greater proportion of J × H were pregnant at 150 and 180 days postpartum compared with pure Holsteins. Dechow et al (2007) also reported that DO was significantly fewer for crosses of Brown Swiss/Holsteins than pure Holsteins.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Little information is available on the effect of crossbreeding in South African dairy cows. Heins et al (2008) compared the production and reproduction performance of Jersey × Holstein and Holstein cows and showed that crossbred animals had a 23-day advantage for days open (DO) compared with pure dairy breeds. Earlier results (Muller, 2011) indicated that in comparison with Holsteins, Fleckvieh × Holstein cows required fewer inseminations per conception (1.93 vs. 2.79) and had shorter intervals from calving to first insemination (89 vs. 97 days) and from calving to conception (132 vs. 172 days).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Reproductive performance of Jersey and Fleckvieh × Jersey heifers and cows maintained on a pasture-based feeding system

Goni¹,

Muller²,

Dube³

et al. 2015

SA J. An. Sci.

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Crossbreeding is regarded as a faster way than using pure dairy breeds to improve the reproductive performance of dairy cows, which is pivotal to farm income. The reproductive performances of Jersey and Fleckvieh × Jersey (F × J) heifers and cows were compared in a pasture-based production system. Heifers were inseminated when showing signs of heat from 13 months old and cows from 40 days post calving. Using insemination records and pregnancy check results, fertility traits were derived and compared between breeds, using analysis of variance for continuous records. Age at first insemination and conception age for heifers did not differ between the two breeds, resulting in a similar age at first calving. For cows, the mean (± SE) interval from calving to first insemination was shorter for F × J cows, being 76.7 ± 2.2 days compared with 82.4 ± 2.5 days for Jersey cows. A larger proportion of F × J cows were inseminated within 80 days post calving, compared with the Jersey cows (0.70 and 0.54, respectively). Furthermore, the proportion of cows confirmed pregnant by 100 days in milk was higher for F × J cows in comparison with Jersey cows, being 0.79 and 0.66, respectively. Although the absolute number of days between calving and conception (days open) was slightly less for F × J cows in comparison with Jersey cows (104.8 ± 6.8 and 114.8 ± 8.1 days, respectively), the difference was not significant. These results indicate the potential of improving reproductive performance of Jersey cows through crossbreeding with the dual-purpose Fleckvieh.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Reproductive performance of Jersey and Fleckvieh × Jersey heifers and cows maintained on a pasture-based feeding system

Goni¹,

Muller²,

Dube³

et al. 2015

SA J. An. Sci.

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“…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.…”

Section: Research Findings In the United Statesmentioning

confidence: 91%

Crossbreeding: implications for dairy cow fertility and survival

Buckley

López‐Villalobos

Heins

2014

Animal

Self Cite

102

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In pasture-based seasonal calving systems, failure to become pregnant during the breeding season results in important economic losses as maximum profit is attained by minimising costs and increasing the proportion of grass in the diet of the lactating dairy cow. In the United States, dairy producers primarily strive to maximise production potential but are becoming increasingly aware of the economic consequences of sub-optimal cow fertility and survival. For this reason, interest in crossbreeding is emerging. The objective of this paper is to review the fertility and survival outcomes reported from recent research studies and data analyses in Ireland, New Zealand and the United States. Research conducted in Ireland during the early 2000s concluded that of three 'alternative' dairy breeds the Norwegian Red was most suited to seasonal grass-based production. A key finding was favourable fertility and survival. A follow-up study confirmed a fertility advantage with Norwegian Red × Holstein-Friesian compared with Holstein-Friesian: proportion pregnant to first service; +0.08 and in-calf after 6 weeks breeding; +0.11. Another study found higher fertility with Jersey crossbreds: pregnant to first service; +0.21, and in-calf after 6 weeks breeding; +0.19. Studies conducted in Northern Ireland also found superior fertility performance with Jersey crossbred cows offered low and moderate concentrate diets. In New Zealand, crossbred dairy cattle (primarily Jersey × Friesian) are achieving similar rates of genetic gain for farm profit as the purebred populations, but creating additional gain derived from economic heterosis. In the United States, analysis of commercial data from California showed higher first-service conception rates for Scandinavian Red × Holstein (+6 percentage units) and Montbeliarde × Holstein (+10 percentage units) compared with Holstein (23%). They also exhibited fewer days open and greater survival. At Penn State University, Brown Swiss × Holstein cows had 17 fewer days open than Holstein cows during first lactation, and numerically fewer in second (12 days) and third lactation (6 days). At the University of Minnesota, crossbred cows had 21 percentage units higher first-service conception rates, 41 fewer days open and 12 percentage units higher in-calf rates compared with pure Holstein cows. They also had greater survival to second (+13 percentage units), third (+24 percentage units), fourth (+25 percentage units) and fifth (+17 percentage units) lactation. The literature clearly illustrates favourable animal performance benefits from crossbreeding, using a range of modern breeds, and within the context of both grass-based and high-input confinement production environments. Economic analyses generally indicate profitable performance owing to lower replacement cost and higher herd productivity.

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“…On the Dutch organic farms, HF cows are, based on milk and protein yields (in kg produced in 305 days), superior to all of the other breeds. HF cows are also shown to be superior for milk and protein yields on conventional farms in Ireland (Begley et al, 2009;Penasa et al, 2010) and in United States of America (Heins et al, 2008). When analysing the fat production (in kg or as percentage of the milk contents), Jersey cows showed highest production levels on Dutch organic farms.…”

Section: Milk Production Traitsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Suitability of cross-bred cows for organic farms based on cross-breeding effects on production and functional traits

Haas

Smolders

Hoorneman

et al. 2013

Animal

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Data from 113 Dutch organic farms were analysed to determine the effect of cross-breeding on production and functional traits. In total, data on 33 788 lactations between January 2003 and February 2009 from 15 015 cows were available. Holstein-Friesian pure-bred cows produced most kg of milk in 305 days, but with the lowest percentages of fat and protein of all pure-bred cows in the data set. Cross-breeding Holstein dairy cows with other breeds (Brown Swiss, Dutch Friesian, Groningen White Headed, Jersey, Meuse Rhine Yssel, Montbé liarde or Fleckvieh) decreased milk production, but improved fertility and udder health in most crossbred animals. In most breeds, heterosis had a significant effect (P , 0.05) on milk (kg in 305 days), fat and protein-corrected milk production (kg in 305 days) and calving interval (CI) in the favourable direction (i.e. more milk, shorter CI), but unfavourably for somatic cell count (higher cell count). Recombination was unfavourable for the milk production traits, but favourable for the functional traits (fertility and udder health). Farm characteristics, like soil type or housing system, affected the regression coefficients on breed components significantly. The effect of the Holstein breed on milk yield was twice as large in cubicle housing as in other housing systems. Jerseys had a negative effect on fertility only on farms on sandy soils. Hence, breed effects differ across farming systems in the organic farming and farmers can use such information to dovetail their farming system with the type of cow they use.

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Crossbreds of Jersey × Holstein Compared with Pure Holsteins for Production, Fertility, and Body and Udder Measurements During First Lactation

Cited by 67 publications

References 34 publications

Reproductive performance of Jersey and Fleckvieh × Jersey heifers and cows maintained on a pasture-based feeding system

Reproductive performance of Jersey and Fleckvieh × Jersey heifers and cows maintained on a pasture-based feeding system

Crossbreeding: implications for dairy cow fertility and survival

Suitability of cross-bred cows for organic farms based on cross-breeding effects on production and functional traits

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