Woolless
Member
- Location
- Berwickshire, Scottish Borders
Is that true of the more traditional type (if there's any about) as well? And would that not be compensated for a higher yield?
Ayrshire cattle
- Thread starter coomoo
- Start date
borderterribles
Member
- Location
- South Shropshire
In my opinion, the Ayrshire breed is suffering similarly to the other traditional UK breeds, from years of Holsteinisation. That is, increasing litres at the expense of constituents, and increasing the cost of producing these litres by reducing these breeds suitability for lower cost production , so they need to be kept intensively (and expensively), and therefore reducing the point in having these breeds.
Spudley
Member
- Location
- Pembrokeshire
I've just had a look at the society website, showing the cows and heifers put forward for classification in the last month. A very significant number sired by Holsteins.
Similar trend with shorthorn i often wonder what sort of breed socities can stand over this sort of thing
Jdunn55
Member
- Location
- Helston, cornwall
Surely just do the same as British friesian, need to be atleast 88% friesian to qualify as friesian not holstein.
Even if it was 75% to begin with it would be a start.
borderterribles
Member
- Location
- South Shropshire
Will they get to a situation like the Jersey Society that has to publish frequent lists of foreign-bred bulls, technically available for use in this country and marketed as Jerseys, the progeny of which, may or may not be eligible for pedigree registration?
Dead Rabbits
Member
- Location
- 'Merica
Once a breed loses critical mass in numbers the last ditch effort is usually to try and make the breed more similar to what is in demand, quickly. Resulting in outside breed genetics and often it seems Not the desired outcome leading to further decline.
If you have read James Herriot he talks about how quickly short horns disappeared way back then in favor of black and whites.
If you have read James Herriot he talks about how quickly short horns disappeared way back then in favor of black and whites.
In my opinion, the Ayrshire breed is suffering similarly to the other traditional UK breeds, from years of Holsteinisation. That is, increasing litres at the expense of constituents, and increasing the cost of producing these litres by reducing these breeds suitability for lower cost production , so they need to be kept intensively (and expensively), and therefore reducing the point in having these breeds.
Very well put, i would add that it is not just at the expense of constituents. The Holstein would top the list of breeds for milk yield but would be bottom of the list for any other useful attribute I can think of, it is unreal how overbred they are. I cannot really understand why farming has bred a cow which can't walk, get back in calf or on average see its 6th birthday, it is a terrible indictment of our industry IMO.
Holsteinfriesian90
Member
- Location
- Cornwall
I hope you have got your tin hat on. All the Holstein fans will be here in a minute.
Dead Rabbits
Member
- Location
- 'Merica
That’s not really true though is it? They have been bred to someone’s system. I’ll never agree with the thin narrow show type but there are plenty of functional cows serving their purpose. They can be whatever you want them to be.
A big cow will never walk as well as a smaller cow or pug the soil less though. That’s just about impossible to overcome.
I don’t have the management skills to milk Holsteins nor the interest in acquiring them.
TheRanger
Member
- Location
- SW Scotland
I believe it's a Holstein herd that is the top herd in the UK for kilos of fat and protein produced per animal per 305 days.
Fair enough, maybe I havn't experienced enough Holstein herds. You choose your system though, nobody makes you farm or breed a certain way and I don't think breeding milk at the expense of longevity etc... is good for farming or public perception. If you can get both then fine. I am not anti-Holstein, I am against breeding milk at the expense of everything else which contributes to a healthy cow.
I am sure it would be; the volume of milk would ensure that, but it's not the whole story.
Woolless
Member
- Location
- Berwickshire, Scottish Borders
At least they admit to the problem, unlike the Hereford Cattle Society!Will they get to a situation like the Jersey Society that has to publish frequent lists of foreign-bred bulls, technically available for use in this country and marketed as Jerseys, the progeny of which, may or may not be eligible for pedigree registration?
Yes hereford when will they realise a dairy farmer wants short gestation easy calving
Dead Rabbits
Member
- Location
- 'Merica
Easily obtained from NZ
Dead Rabbits
Member
- Location
- 'Merica
I haven’t been around Holsteins for about 15 years, but they are the most common breed in developed countries so they must work well for most people, just not me or you.
With the large numbers of the breed there must be a lot of variance within to pick and choose from, make whatever you want.
Woolless
Member
- Location
- Berwickshire, Scottish Borders
Don't need to go to NZ. Buy a traditional (original population) bull instead!
- Location
- Northumberland
Expo at Carlisle today. Avoided red tickets but still got enough points to get Premier breeder & Premier exhibitor.
Grandson got 3 milk calves last January. Reared them, halter trained & clipped them himself
Was over the moon to get Ayrshire junior Res Champion with Brenda
Grandson got 3 milk calves last January. Reared them, halter trained & clipped them himself
Was over the moon to get Ayrshire junior Res Champion with Brenda
Spudley
Member
- Location
- Pembrokeshire
Well done. That's a nice calf.