British friesian bulls

RPB

Member
Location
North Wales
@RPB in your 3 years have you any herds that cogents worked with who have fully committed to crossing back to freisians using a plan, or now using likes of jupiter, Joseph etc

Hi @coomoo we are working with a few farms that have decided to use just frieisan genetics going forward. We have the only mating programme in the uk that can work on a UK British Friesian base to drive genetic improvement forward.

We also have a lot of farms that cross Holstein friesian alternate generations using high milk Holstein then high component low stature friesians

Again the mating programme has helped in these farms to protect against any inbreeding or negative haplotypes
 

coomoo

Member
Hi @coomoo we are working with a few farms that have decided to use just frieisan genetics going forward. We have the only mating programme in the uk that can work on a UK British Friesian base to drive genetic improvement forward.

We also have a lot of farms that cross Holstein friesian alternate generations using high milk Holstein then high component low stature friesians

Again the mating programme has helped in these farms to protect against any inbreeding or negative haplotypes
Those are exactly the two programmes I'd be looking at. Had a few farmers say crossing doesn't throw a blend more either or but I'm definitely going to look into it. I'd love to see some herds who are trying both ways because in sw Scotland it really only holstein black and white that's used.
 
Location
Cornwall
Those are exactly the two programmes I'd be looking at. Had a few farmers say crossing doesn't throw a blend more either or but I'm definitely going to look into it. I'd love to see some herds who are trying both ways because in sw Scotland it really only holstein black and white that's used.

The only thing I would say is that there is little uniformity in a herd with Holstein friesian obviously some lean towards Holstein and some to friesian never bothered us but I know some farmers like a uniform herd.
 

coomoo

Member
The only thing I would say is that there is little uniformity in a herd with Holstein friesian obviously some lean towards Holstein and some to friesian never bothered us but I know some farmers like a uniform herd.
Yeah that seems to be the general consensus but if I go down this route it'd be on a program to try best to keep a uniform group. Obviously at the start they'd not be but down the line. As said @Holsteinfriesian90 I've not really seen any herds that have ever done it
 

dairyrow

Member
This is interesting. My semex rep said I lost my way using Friesian on Holstein cows. Out of all the breeds over the years they developed the least. Quite looking forward to seeing my goonhilly Gabriel calves. Have used some Irish Holsteins. Really like the look of my curra diamonds. But would minus stature Holsteins getbyou to the same place as crossing with Friesian's?
 

coomoo

Member
This is interesting. My semex rep said I lost my way using Friesian on Holstein cows. Out of all the breeds over the years they developed the least. Quite looking forward to seeing my goonhilly Gabriel calves. Have used some Irish Holsteins. Really like the look of my curra diamonds. But would minus stature Holsteins getbyou to the same place as crossing with Friesian's?
We could have the same rep lol My holsteins medium sized, great health and Fertilitys fine. I just feel feet wise and fertility wise I've hit a wall especially feet so at this moment don't see continuing to use hol will help. Also bit wary for the future milk volitility, I'm a high input farm but if (pray not) we had a bad run then maybe the ladies could get by without the tmr.
 
Location
Cornwall
This is interesting. My semex rep said I lost my way using Friesian on Holstein cows. Out of all the breeds over the years they developed the least. Quite looking forward to seeing my goonhilly Gabriel calves. Have used some Irish Holsteins. Really like the look of my curra diamonds. But would minus stature Holsteins getbyou to the same place as crossing with Friesian's?

Funny I said to our Semex rep and he said you would be better off with Holstein maybe this is because they don't sell friesian :sneaky:.
 

dairyrow

Member
Apparently they do but there's not many there. The problem I've got none of these co mothers are off. Grass based systems and can they really perform in these systems? I've looked at the ebi system but I'd want abit more yield than what they want. Even though I do like the look of ballydehob pat on Irish genetics. My Irish mate who judges cow comps in Ireland said they were a fair cow family. Is there really no foreign or British cow families off grass based systems that can do this. If the price is good I don't mind feeding abit. But if it isn't I'd rather not. Fertility and a care free cow would suit me down to the ground.
 

RPB

Member
Location
North Wales
This is interesting. My semex rep said I lost my way using Friesian on Holstein cows. Out of all the breeds over the years they developed the least. Quite looking forward to seeing my goonhilly Gabriel calves. Have used some Irish Holsteins. Really like the look of my curra diamonds. But would minus stature Holsteins getbyou to the same place as crossing with Friesian's?

That is a dangerous and silly accusation, the fresian breed has developed in recent years where other smaller breeds have regressed. I know some of the more popular bulls of all breeds last year were Kirkby Premier and Catlane Chad in the UK, so popularity is there too.

Curra diamond has 15% Friesian pedigree from memory, so not really an out and out holstein. The Holstein and Friesian breeds can complement each other nicely on a structured programme this can be assisted with a mating programme that uses an individual type assesment of each cow and also its milk records to correctively mate and protect against inbreeding
 

RPB

Member
Location
North Wales
Apparently they do but there's not many there. The problem I've got none of these co mothers are off. Grass based systems and can they really perform in these systems? I've looked at the ebi system but I'd want abit more yield than what they want. Even though I do like the look of ballydehob pat on Irish genetics. My Irish mate who judges cow comps in Ireland said they were a fair cow family. Is there really no foreign or British cow families off grass based systems that can do this. If the price is good I don't mind feeding abit. But if it isn't I'd rather not. Fertility and a care free cow would suit me down to the ground.

Two points,

1) a lot of the Friesian sires marketed in the UK are from grazing systems, for example Kirkby milk the cows on robot but use a paddock grazing system with non-return gates @Friesianfan you graze your cows too dont you

2) E.B.I system will create a flexi-cow, a cow that during low milk prices can be an efficient grazer and make milk from purely grass and in times of higher milk prices can respond to the feeding of tmr and concentrate to step up to a mark just shy of some holsteins.

More than happy to talk either route over with you - 07989 219 686 - [email protected]
 

Rossymons

Member
Location
Cornwall
Two points,

1) a lot of the Friesian sires marketed in the UK are from grazing systems, for example Kirkby milk the cows on robot but use a paddock grazing system with non-return gates @Friesianfan you graze your cows too dont you

2) E.B.I system will create a flexi-cow, a cow that during low milk prices can be an efficient grazer and make milk from purely grass and in times of higher milk prices can respond to the feeding of tmr and concentrate to step up to a mark just shy of some holsteins.

More than happy to talk either route over with you - 07989 219 686 - [email protected]

I would say it is more unusual for @Friesianfan to house his cows
 

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