Fertility and Production of 3-breed and Third Generation Holstein-Sired Crossbreds Compared to Pure Holstein Cows in a Seasonal Pasture Production System

Abstract Text: Three-breed crossbred cows (n = 63) and Holstein-sired crossbred cows (n = 83) were compared to pure Holstein cows (HO; n = 132) for first-service conception rate, days open, 305-d fat plus protein production, and SCS during their first 3 lactations.  Cows were housed at the University of Minnesota West Central Research and Outreach Center, Morris, Minnesota, a seasonal-pasture herd, and calved from March 2007 to May 2013.  The 3-breed crossbred cows had 30 fewer days open and the Holstein-sired crossbred cows had 21 fewer days open compared to pure HO cows during the first 3 lactations. Across the first 3 lactations, the 3-breed crossbred (493 kg) cows and Holstein-sired crossbred (501 kg) cows were not different from pure HO (493 kg) cows for fat plus protein production.  Crossbred cows and pure HO cows were not different for SCS during the first three lactations.  

Keywords:

crossbreeding, days open, pasture