news
| NO 01 | April 2012 |
MONTBELIARDE / HOLSTEIN / VIKING RED VIKING RED / HOLSTEIN / MONTBELIARDE the best proven crossbreeding program
VR (Orraryd) x MO (MicMac) x HOL. Owner: Soc. Agr. Locatelli Castelvisconti, Cremona, Italy.
Proven Progressive Profitable professional
ProCROSS - a unique cooperation to create the best cow! ProCROSS is a unique cooperation between VikingGenetics and Coopex Montbeliarde, created to offer a genetic strategy for crossbreeding on a high level. The ProCROSS system is unique not only because of the fantastic results in herds world wide – even though that is the real justification of the system. ProCROSS is also a unique cooperation between two strong breeding companies that are not competing but cooperating to ensure the commercial dairy farmer higher profit – and the cooperation also involves our ProCROSS distributors world wide that are all dedicated to the system. And not least the dairy farmers who have trusted the system and now enjoy the results. So it is not only three breeds being offered – it is actually four partners that makes it happen – the two breeding companies VikingGenetics and Coopex Montbeliarde, the local distributor AND the dairy farmer! In this second edition of ProCROSS magazine your are welcome to enjoy research and practical results from around the world once again proving that ProCROSS is the world’s best proven crossbreeding program! Sara Wiklert Petersson General Manager, VGI Tristan Gaiffe CEO, Coopex Montbeliarde The ProCROSS team from Coopex and VikingGenetics.
CONTENTS
ProCROSS NEWS
| NO 01 | april 2012 |
Publisher VikingGenetics & Coopex Montbeliarde Layout Mediegruppen a/s, Denmark Print Elbo / Jørn Thomsen, Denmark Editor Poul Bech Sørensen, VikingGenetics 2
3 4 6 7 8 8 9 10 12 13 14 15
New Montbeliarde Total Merit index - ISU 2012 California trials confirm advantage of ProCROSS Open house in California ProCROSS herds Successful ProCROSS days in USA ProCROSS success in Mexico EuroTier crossbreeding cow is a joy Success with ProCROSS in Saxony, Germany Catalan 850-cow herd went 100% ProCROSS Table for two ProCROSS cows at Cremona Show ProCROSS takes off in France! Open day at “Casa Agricola Plácidos”
New Montbeliarde Total Merit index - ISU 2012 More weight on fertility and udder health
It is always important to remember that efficient ProCROSS cows are sired by superior purebred sires. Never forget that genetic progress within pure breeds is fundamental. Pure Montbeliarde, pure VikingRed or pure Holstein breeding programs remain necessary to provide continuous genetic improvement. Resulting ProCROSS cows will increase production, reproduction, type and profitability throughout generations. After 10 years of good results, the French ISU index, which all Montbeliarde sires and females are ranked on, has been remodeled to fit genomic selection. The Montbeliarde population (405,000 cows under test) has been selected for decades through progeny testing - a system that is today amplified by genomic technology. Keeping in mind the main economical goals, the breed association (OS Montbeliarde) decided to enhance the ISU index with even more health traits. The introduction of two new composites - reproduction and udder health - in the ISU has allowed reduced weight on production. Direct longevity has also been reduced as reproduction and udder health traits are now directly weighted in ISU. Milking speed has been introduced to avoid any change as selection for udder health traits could tend to lower milking speed.
The New Montbeliarde Total Merit index - ISU 2012 – has more weight on fertility and udder health.
On the conformation side the most recent change (June 2011) has been to increase weight on chest width from 15% to 35% in the body composite index. It confirms the importance of these traits among Montbeliarde breeders. Stature, that is not considered economically interesting, has been decreased of the same extent.
New 2012 Montbeliar
Reproduction traits composite Reproduction composite includes breeding values for: · Fertility of cows (50%) · Fertility of heifers (25%) · Interval between calving and first AI (25%)
New 2012 Montbeliarde ISU
Prod
5 %5 %
Rep
12,5 %
Udd
45 %
Type
14,5 %
Long
New 2012 Montbeliarde ISU 18 %
For maximum economical gain in crossbreeding it is important with superior pure breeds with maximum genetic progress. This great Montbeliarde cow is pictured this winter in France.
Udder health composite Udder health composite is a 5combination of: %5 % · Somatic cell score (60%) 12,5 % 45 % · Clinical mastitis (40%).
What is VikingRed? VikingGenetics has the world’s strongest red breeding program – VikingRed. Three very impressive breeds – Finnish Ayrshire, Swedish Red and Danish Red – share the same selection and breeding goal: the economic cow. For that reason we now list them as being one breed – VikingRed.
Milk
Production Reproduction Comp. Udder Health Comp. Type
14,5 %
Longevity 18 %
Milking Speed
VikingGenetics has the world’s strongest red breeding program – VikingRed. Here is a perfect example of a modern VikingRed cow.
The total number of VikingRed cows in milk recording in the three Nordic countries is more than 300,000. The high participation in milk recording and unique registrations for health and fertility in the world’s most complete database provides excellent opportunities for efficient selection. VikingGenetics progeny tests in total 200 red bulls in Finland, Sweden and Denmark annually. Selection is intense and reliable thanks to genomic testing based on the largest red reference group in the world. 3
California trials confirm advantage of ProCROSS By Evgenij Telezhenko, VikingGenetics
Dairy producers can improve the survival of cows and profitability of dairying by crossing pure Holstein cows with Scandinavian Red and Montbeliarde bulls. That is the main conclusion of the completed crossbreeding trials in California. The final results from California crossbreeding trials had become available for wide public distribution, because they were published in the February issue of the Journal of Dairy Science – the most respected source of scientific information for the global dairy industry. In the trial, performance of 416 pure Holstein cows was compared with that of 503 Montbeliarde x Holstein and 321 Scandinavian Red x Holstein crossbreds. Scandinavian Red was a combination of daughters of four Swedish Red (50% of cows) and nine Norwegian Red (50% of cows) bulls. Previous results from the California crossbreeding trials focused only on the first lactations of cows, while the final results showed effect of crossbreeding on fertility, somatic cell score, production, survival and profitability throughout their lifetimes. Better survival, better lifetime production All crossbred groups had a greater percentage of cows calve a second, third and fourth time than pure Holsteins. For example, only 51% of pure Holstein cows calved a third time, whereas the corresponding figure was 75% for the Montbeliarde x Holstein and 71% for Scandinavian Red x Holstein crossbreds. As a consequence of greater survival, crossbreds had 3,190 to 4,805 kg (7,032 to 10,593 lb) higher lifetime milk production than pure Holsteins. The lifetime production of fat and protein was also highest in the crossbreds.
Fertility and udder health The crossbred animals were constantly superior to the Holsteins for fertility, mainly due to reduced calving difficulty and stillbirth. Moreover, crossbreds had fewer days to first breeding, higher pregnancy rates and fewer days open than the pure Holstein cows. Somatic cell scores were also lower for the Montbeliarde x Holstein and Scandinavian Red x Holstein crossbreds than for pure Holsteins. More lifetime profit Montbeliarde x Holstein cows had 50% and Scandinavian Red x Holstein cows 44% greater lifetime profit per cow than pure Holstein cows. The additional profit per day on an annual basis was $80 for Montbeliarde x Holstein and $55 for Scandinavian Red x Holstein cows compared to pure Holsteins, resulting for a 300-cow herd in additional annual profit of USD24,000 for Montbeliarde x Holstein and USD16,500 for Scandinavian Red x Holstein cows. To define lifetime profit, the
“The researchers say that calculated lifetime profit for crossbreds might be even higher than estimated, because the data on health costs were not provided by the herd owners in California.� The California trials show that all crossbred groups have a greater percentage of cows calving a second, third and fourth time than pure Holsteins.
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range of different possible revenues and expenses were included such as production of milk, fat and protein as well as somatic cell count, reproduction, feed intake, calf value, salvage value, dead cow disposal, fixed costs and interest cost. The researchers say that calculated lifetime profit for crossbreds might be even higher than estimated, because the data on health costs were not provided by the herd owners in California. For the further investigation of advantages of ProCROSS, new research has been initiated, and health costs will be included as well as the comparison of 3-breed crossbreds (ProCROSS) with the pure Holstein cows.
Table 1. Results for Montbeliarde x Holstein and Scandinavian Red x Holstein crossbred cows in comparison with pure Holstein cows (final California trials) Trait
Holstein
Montbeliarde x Holstein
Lifetime milk, kg
28,086
32,891
31,276
Lifetime fat, kg
996
1217
1154
Lifetime protein, kg
871
1050
1003
Days to first breeding
Scandinavian Red x Holstein
70
63
66
Pregnancy rate, %
14.7
20
17.5
Days open
148
122
136
SCS
3.27
2.98
3.12
29
55
50
Lifetime profit, $
4,347
6,503
6,272
Profit per day, $
4,17
4,39
4,32
Survival to 4th calving, %
Summary of articles by B. J Heins, L. B Hansen in Journal of Dairy Science vol. 95 issue 2, February 2012 The crossbred animals were constantly superior to the Holsteins for fertility, fewer days to first breeding, higher pregnancy rates, fewer days open and somatic cell scores were also lower.
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Open house in California ProCROSS herds By Sara Wiklert Petersson, VikingGenetics International
Visitors from Germany, France, Canada and several of the US states stopped by – and they were not disappointed! The results are just amazing, with improved calving ease, locomotion, feed efficiency and higher milk components.
In mid February the annual open house in Oakdale was organized again by Creative Genetics. It is now a tradition since 2005 to gather dairymen from around the US as well as the rest of the world to see the results and benefits of ProCROSS. This year we had visitors from Germany, France, Canada and several of the US states. The crowd was not disappointed! The results in these Californian herds are just amazing, with improved calving ease, locomotion, feed efficiency and higher milk components. The tour held February 17th included stops at three dairies who have successfully been implementing three-way crossbreeding into their operations for the past 12-13 years. Visits were made at Prin’s Dairy in Modesto, Crane Villa Dairy in Oakdale and Hoekstra Dairy in Oakdale. These pioneer ProCROSS herds has been on the program since early 2000, and this year even crosses that are 3rd and 4th generation were displayed. It means that several of the cows were sired by Holstein from
Swedish Red x Montbeliarde x Holstein dams - so the rotation. Some cows were even further in the ProCROSS rotation. The cows looked great and the milk production and performance were impressing. Many of the Holstein crosses are out of VikingHolstein sires – a good way to keep the high level of functional traits. A common remark during the three stops by dairymen using this approach is that improvements can be seen in just one generation - much faster genetic progress than the traditional same-breed approach. The crosses further in the rotation confirm these results - and it is clear that ProCROSS is in California to stay! Bild – korsnings cirkeln.
A common remark by dairymen during the Open House in three farms in Oakdale, Calif. is that improvements thanks to ProCROSS can be seen in just one generation!
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Successful ProCROSS days in USA By Poul Bech Sørensen, VikingGenetcis
During World Dairy Expo in Madison, USA, October 4th-8th we held a tour for international farmers and distributors to three farms in Minnesota that follow the ProCROSS concept. The impressions of the ProCROSS cows and comments from the owners and visitors were very positive. The tour to the first three farms was organized jointly with the University of Minnesota, Creative Genetics of California, Minnesota Select Sires, Coopex Montbeliarde and VikingGenetics International. Participants in the ProCROSS tour came from Italy, Portugal, Costa Rica and Colombia. These three herds are all participating in the crossbreeding trial. At the herds daughters from Micmac, Sorby, Masolino, Orraryd, Botans, Patinage, Plumitif, O Brolin and B Jurist were displayed. Overall our impression was that the cows were extremely robust with good udders and strong feet & legs. Extensive ProCROSS trial in Minnesota University of Minnesota runs an eight-year crossbreeding trial with 10 large commercial herds participating. The project will compare pure Holsteins to crossbreds in a three-breed rotational system using the Holstein, Montbeliarde and Swedish Red breeds. Only the best sires within the three breeds are being used with matings being planned by Minnesota Select Sires. Only pure Holsteins were enrolled by University of Minnesota researchers in the project as foundation cattle, and 4185 heifers and cows were initially enrolled between April 2008 and October 2008 in 10 dairies. Over the eight years data about production, reproduction, health and type from the herds is regularly collected under the inspection of researchers from University of Minnesota.
MO x HOL and VR x HOL cows at Emerald Spring Dairy, Minnesota. Today milking 475 pure Holsteins and 106 crossbreds.
Approximately 40% of the foundation pure Holsteins will continue to be bred to Holstein A.I. bulls in successive generations across the years of the study. The other 60% of the foundation heifers and cows will be mated to Montbeliarde and Swedish Red A.I. bulls – exactly one half to bulls from each breed. The 10 dairies located throughout Minnesota currently range in size from 250 to 2000 milking cows and are among the top managed dairies in the state. The trial continues through 2016, at which time there will be large numbers of two- and three-breed crossbreds as well as Holstein-sired fourth generation crossbred cows to compare to pure Holstein contemporaries.
Participants in the US ProCROSS tour at Gar-Lin Dairy Farm.
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ProCROSS success in Mexico By Anders Andersen, VikingGenetics International
EuroTier crossbreeding cow is a joy By Steffen Schmottlach, CRV Germany The managing team at Ex. HDA San Sebastian in Mexico is very satisfied with their ProCROSS cows.
At the farm Ex. HDA San Sebastian in Mexico they have 2,450 cows – 1,900 in milk – and mainly using ProCROSS in rotation. The results are very satisfying and the figures are fully in line with those in USA and Europe. The ProCROSS cows are functional with super fertility. The cows are milked three times a day with good results and the staff enjoys handling and milking the cows. In the selection they focus on improving the udders no matter if it is the Holstein, Montbeliarde or VikingRed sires in the rotation. At the moment the cows stay 2.5 lactations in the herd, but when ProCROSS is fully implemented the longevity is expected to increase. Also the number of doses per pregnancy is falling as well as easier calvings. All in all the ProCROSS cows show significantly better reproduction than the pure Holsteins.
At the EuroTier Show 2010 we showed cows for the first time. In this show was also the cross bred cow Hummel (Swedish Red x Holstein) that already then impressed with fantastic conformation and high production. Georg Adelhorn from Diepholz in Niedersachsen in Germany learned about Hummel from CRV staff and bought the Orraryd daughter even before the show. Unseen and by phone! After the show disappointment was great: the cow was not as all parties had thought, pregnant and with cysts. However, the joy soon came back: she was treated and got pregnant from second insemination with Masolino (Montbeliarde). She ended her second lactation with impressive 13,628 kg 4.06% F 3.55% P, in 32nd place in top 50 of the Mittelweser milk recording association. Mid November she gave birth to her third calf, and her production once again impressed. By her milk recording late February she produced 51.5 kg 3.53% F 3.25% P. „In addition she is a beautiful cow and gives no problems. Not to our vet or to us” Georg smiles. Hummel obviously has taken a place in his heart. “From muzzle to tail she is a great cow” says the happy owner.
Farm data At the farm Ex. HDA San Sebastian they have 2,450 cows – 1,900 in milk – and mainly using ProCROSS in rotation.
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250 HA 2,450 cows Average prod. 10,500 kg milk Average 2.5 lactations 2.6 doses per pregnancy
The SRB x HOL crossbreeding cow Hummel is in her third lactation and in 78 days‘ production she already gave 3,878 kg milk and 120 kg protein.
Success with ProCROSS in Saxony, Germany By Liane Krauter, CRV Germany
Since 1991 Heinz Weidemüller has been manager of the Agrargenossenschaft (agricultural cooperation) Nischwitz, which is located in Nischwitz, a small village in Saxony in the former East Germany. Together with his wife Waltraud, his son Henning and 20 workers he manages a farm with 450 dairy cows, including young stock, 900 pigs for fattening and 978 ha ground. Son Henning is responsible for the milk production. 70% of the herd is pure Holstein, 30% is crossbred with the ProCROSS system. In 2005 they started to inseminate a part of the herd with Swedish Red and shortly after another part with Montbeliarde. The crossbred young stock is mated with the other breed and the F2-generation with Holstein again. At the moment the first calves from the new Holstein generation are born. Years of experience with crossbreeding That crossbreeding system works well, Heinz Weidemüller knows already from the past. In the German Democratic Republic they made experience with the SMR, a cross between original German Black and White, Holstein and Jersey. After 1990 the old SMR breed disappeared and most of the farms started with Holstein . ProCROSS – better fertility and health 90% of the ProCROSS progeny fits with the expectations. They are inconspicuous, fertile animals with healthy udders and sound hooves. The amount of milk is a little bit lower, however the components and persistence are higher and the feed utilization is better. The average of the whole herd is 8,486 kg milk with 4.10% fat and 3.48% protein. The age of first calving is 22.2 months and the time between calving is 385 days. To protect still birth on heifers, they use sexed semen for the first insemination. The results are pretty good and the farm is able to sell 30 female young cattle every year.
PC tour to California and Italy In February 2012 Heinz and Waltraud joined the ProCROSS tour in California. It was very impressive to see how ProCROSS works in other countries. In 2008 Heinz Weidemüller participated in a trip to ProCROSS farms in Italy. Sires that fit the goal In the mating Henning Weidemüller looks for milking speed, udder, feet & legs, protein, healthy hooves and durability. They are very enthusiastic about the offspring from Peterslund. Also the daughters from Langbo and J Valon do a good job on the farm. From the Montbeliarde the Patinage and Plumitif crosses fit very well. The next project from the Weidemüller family is to breed a few cows with the Swedish Fjäll cattle. “We do not know if we use the Fjäll crosses for milking or just for fun. We have seen some Fjall cattle and we fell in love with them.”
Stefan Schmaul with Henning Weidemüller who is responsible for the milk production at the great Saxonian dairy farm. 70% of the herd is pure Holstein - 30% is crossbred with the ProCROSS system.
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Catalan 850-cow herd went 100% ProCROSS By Stephane Fitamants, Coopex
Nearly 600 F1 cows are producing along with over 200 remaining pure Holsteins. Around 80 ProCROSS second generation have entered production since 2010.
Last October, a group of ProCROSS interested producers from France, Belgium and western and central Spain gathered in Plà de Vencillo herd in Catalonia, Spain.
Feeding: “We’ve been adjusting our ration to a higher forage %, as we produce it on our land. Those crosses easily manage 15% lower energy in the ration which lower our feed cost”.
Thanks to Global Genetics (Viking and Coopex distributors in Spain) this visit featured owners Fernando and cousin Jose Ramon Sainz de la Maza along with the herd vet, Josep Torra, who could present information after six years into the ProCROSS system. Fernando Sainz de la Maza commented that everything started in 2005, when visiting ProCross dairy herds in Oakdale, California. Fernando adds: “Our Holstein herd was genetically followed by Spanish Holstein Association for herd production, type scoring and received adapted matings in order to improve production and type. Special attention was already taken for inbreeding and functionality of our cows”. But, seeing the “Californian experience” has been a revelation, we got the improvement we were looking for in just one generation. “So we switched 100% our breeding program to the ProCROSS system and the first calves were born in summer 2006”. Today, nearly 600 F1 cows are producing along with over 200 remaining pure Holsteins. Around 80 ProCross second generation have entered production since 2010. 10
Second generation ProCROSS cow.
Longevity: “We never had that many adult cows (3rd lact and over) giving us possibility of heifer sales. Our barns are probably overcrowded (850 cows for less space) and our heifer numbers have been growing steadily, allowing us to sell surplus heifers into the market (more than 100 heads over the last 15 months)”.
Fernando Sainz de la Maza started with the ProCROSS concept in 2005, when visiting ProCROSS dairy herds in Oakdale, California. The first calves were born in summer of 2006.
Main results from the switch To the question of the main results of the switch to ProCROSS Fernando’s answer is: “There are almost too many good points to tell but we can summarize what we are seeing from our own figures”. Table 1 shows clear improvements on components, fertility, calving age, calvings and still births.
Fernando’s conclusion with ProCROSS cows: the same production, higher milk price, easier calvings, better fertility, less feed costs and more surplus heifers to sell. ProCROSS was a drastic but wise business decision!
Table 1. Results in the Plà de Vencillo herd, Spain Traits/Breeds
ProCROSS cows
Pure Holsteins
Production 305-d
9,930 kg 3.70% F 3.42%P 707 kg Milk Solids
10,500 kg 3.50% F 3.30%P 714 kg Milk Solids
Fertility
127 Open days; 2.40 dosis/conc.
147 Open days; 3.50 dosis/conc.
Calving Age
23.5 months
24.8 months
Calving Diff. / Stillbirth
6.37% / 7.15%
11.85% / 13.8 %
Group at Open House Catalonia.
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Table for two By Claudio Mariani, Genesi Project
The province of Modena is mostly known because it houses the magnificent headquarters and the factory where the 4-wheel dreams are made: Ferrari cars.
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“Crossbreeding means nearly 40,000 Euro less feed costs per year. And this saving does not cost any specific investment; you just need to change the breed you are inseminating your cows to!”
In Italy Modena is also famous for others products, like the Balsamic vinegar. In the dairy industry Modena is in the area of the Parmesan cheese and therefore much attention is given to high fat and protein in the milk in general and to Casein in particular. Holsteins are frequently sired by bulls carrying the BB genotype for k-casein and in general it is difficult here to sell bulls with negative fat and protein percentages. Feeding the cows here is a matter of providing excellent quality hay, both from grass or alfa-alfa. But yet the cost of feeding close to 6 Euro per cow/day, so farmers are always looking to cut their costs.
ProCROSS cows, including mostly F1 SRB x HOL, some F1 MB x HOL and some F2. The majority of the cows are 1st and 2nd lactation.
The OPPIO Farm goes ProCROSS In this area, there’s one of our biggest clients, the OPPIO Farm who is one of five farms of a big coop. The whole milk goes to the Parmesan cheese factory. At OPPIO they milk 650 cows, mostly Holsteins. They have been using the best Holstein sires (both Italian and foreign) for a long time, but about six years ago they were intrigued by crossbreeding results and therefore decided to give it a try.
Results beyond expectations The results of the crosses are far beyond the expectations and so they decided to make an interesting experiment : since 4th January they have “created” 2 identical barns, face to face, that differ only by the genetic composition of the cattle : one barn host 160 ProCROSS cows, while the other is made of 160 Holsteins. The Holsteins have not been selected to correspond by age and lactation, but more or less they can be compared.
ProCROSS was the obvious decision due to it’s scientifically background and the 3-breeds rotation plan. Heterosis they would gain right away, and even if some skepticism was yet in place among the team, they started off with some low profile SRB bulls: Flaka, Bredaker and J Valle and later B Jurist, Orraryd and Peterslund. Today they milk 180
The herd manager Saverio Bacchelli explains: “We’ve noticed that crossbred cows have a somewhat different way of producing with completely different lactation curve as they have less problems after calving and much shorter days open compared to Holsteins. We also noticed that the body condition scores (BCS) were definitely higher for cross-
At the OPPIO Farm they milk 650 cows. Six years ago they started crossbreeding using the ProCROSS concept. Today they milk 180 ProCROSS cows, including mostly F1 SRB x HOL, some F1 MB x HOL and some F2. The majority of the cows are 1st and 2nd lactation.
Diff. Euro
breds, because all the feeding methodology has been studied for Holsteins - cows with a higher peak of lactation indeed, but with energy balance normally negative.
117
day
816
week
Crossbreds are totally different. They seem to have much better ability in converting forage into milk.
3,265
month
39,178
year
Table 1. The difference of the two farms. Feed costs per day
Day cost
Cross
Hol
€ur
5.83
160
180
933
1049
breds, so we thought we might keep the cows separately and observe feed efficiency by the way they use TMR. The experiment is almost done now and by the end of March we will put the cows back as normally. As temperatures rise, we need to rebuild the groups of fresh cows, 1st calvers, etc…. It is a matter of better management, but we think we found something interesting.
But what does this means economically? It’s an easy answer. In the OPPIO Farm the pure cost for feeding one cow is 5.83 Euro per day. Nearly 40,000 Euro less feed costs per year….how does this sound for you? And this saving does not cost any specific investment; you just need to change the breed you are inseminating your cows to. We think that feed efficiency will be one of the topics in future studies on crossbreeding. We know that it is already being further investigated in the new cross breeding trial done by University of Minnesota, USA. We just want to bring our small brick to this new building.
Crossbreds have better feed efficiency When we started the two barns of 160 cows each, we fed them exactly the same and as we normally do with Holsteins we gave 180 “portions” for 160 cows. We soon realized that we could lower the “portions” given to crossbreds. Week after week we came closer to 160 “portions” to the crossbreds, while the Holsteins are still at 180 portions.
Post Scriptum 1: The Holsteins are slightly overtaking the crossbreds for kg milk …. but they are far behind for components - especially the Casein that makes more cheese per ton of milk. The experiment includes separating the milk from the two “farms”, so we get an idea about how much difference there is in cheese yield.
The good thing is the milk production of crossbreds did not change in the meantime, so we had the first proof that we tend to overfeed cross-
Post Scriptum 2: The crossbred farms are much lower in pharmaceutical costs. At the end of the experiment those figures will be revealed.
ProCROSS cows at Cremona Show Six ProCROSS cows were displayed at the booth of Genesi Project at the Italian show in Cremona late October last year. The six cows were great representatives for the crossbreeding concept, all of them high yielding, fertile and healthy cows. The group was very homogeneous with good udders and excellent feet and legs. Four of the cows were first cross VikingRed over Holstein, one O Brolin, one Orraryd, one B Jurist and one Peterslund daughter. Two of the cows were the second cross: one MicMac (Montbeliarde) out of a Gardö (SRB) x Holstein and one Orraryd (SRB) out of a MicMac (MO) x Holstein. The cows drew a lot of attention from curious visitors, and created many positive discussions about the crossbreeding concept ProCROSS.
Six ProCROSS cows were displayed at the booth of Genesi Project at the Italian show in Cremona late October last year. The six cows were great representatives for the crossbreeding concept, all of them high yielding, fertile and healthy cows.
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ProCROSS takes off in France! By Jean Poul Brunn, Coopex
For several years French breeders have crossed their Holsteins with Montbeliarde semen. To those who ask themselves what to inseminate their F1’s to, the ProCROSS program seems to be the answer. Since August 2010 PASS has distributed the VikingRed sires in association with UMOTEST Montbéliarde genetics who promotes the 3-way-cross. Under detached flag ProCROSS, the PASS company was present in the two biggest events in France: SIMAGENA in PARIS and Space in RENNES.
Nearly 20,000 F1 MO/HO calves are born annually - and it increases each year. The first VikingRed is used on these F1. Also a lot of French breeders are interested in using VikingRed for crossing their Holstein heifers to benefit the extraordinary calving ease of VikingRed. The first crossing on the cows is typically done with Montbeliarde semen. Certainly ProCROSS has a bright future because it brings a strategy to breeders who are convinced by the testimonies of their neighbors about the economic benefits of crossbreeding. The owner Mr. Serge Hellot is one of the first breeders in France to use the 3-way crossing. “Since I started to cross, my calves are stronger, my cows gained longevity and the production was not impacted. The average production of my 105 dairy cows is 9,571 kg milk (305d)”.
ProCROSS cow (VR (Peterslund) x MO x HOL) in France.
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Open day at “Casa Agricola Plácidos”
Herd data Pure Holsteins: 128 Days open: 162 Doses /cow pregnant: 2.63 ProCROSS Cows: 50 animals Days open: 90 Doses /cow pregnant: 1.58 Cows with reproductive problems: Pure Holsteins 15% ProCROSS 6% Production average per day: 32 kg milk
The dairy farm “Casa Agricola Plácidos” in Portugal has a mixed herd with 50 ProCROSS cows and 128 pure Holsteins.
The dairy farm ”Casa Agricola Plácidos” in Portugal has a mixed herd with 50 ProCROSS cows and 128 pure Holsteins. Therefore it is obvious to compare the two groups. In the beginning of March “Casa Agricola Plácidos” arranged an open day event in connection with the regional Agricultural show in the small town of Trofa located in Rates-Povoa do Varzim north of Porto. Saturday morning we organized a visit to this farm which is one of more with ProCROSS cows in production in the North of Portugal. The open day was very successful with 35 farmers coming to look at and hear about ProCROSS cows – many for the first time! It is very clear that the ProCROSS cows have significantly better reproduction with 72 days less open, 1.05 less doses per pregnancy and 9% less cows with reproductive problems. On top of that the ProCROSS cows have good udder health and strong feet & legs.
The ProCROSS cows at “Casa Agricola Plácidos” have significantly better reproduction with 72 days less open, 1.05 less doses per pregnancy and 9% less cows with reproductive problems.
The family at Casa Agricola Plácidos is confident with the ProCROSS product and recommends other farmers in the region to start crossing their Holsteins cows with Montbeliarde and VikingRed to obtain improved reproduction, heartier cows and better longevity.
The open day was very successful with 35 farmers coming to look at and hear about ProCROSS cows – many for the first time!
The family at Casa Agricola Plácidos is confident with the ProCROSS product and recommends other farmers in the region to start crossing their Holstein cows with Montbeliarde and VikingRed.
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MONTBELIARDE / HOLSTEIN / VIKING RED VIKING RED / HOLSTEIN / MONTBELIARDE
ProCROSS is longterm crossbreeding management system ProCROSS means more healthy cows, less medicine costs, and less time lost with sick cows ProCROSS means more pregnancies, higher 21-day pregnancy rate and more options to cull more low-end cows ProCROSS means more financial return per cow
This ProCROSS cow (MO (MicMac) x VR (Gardo) x HOL) was presented at the Cremona Show. Owner: Soc. Agr. Locatelli, Castelvisconti, Italy.
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