Holsteins

[Nh6050]

We have just put parlour in and are slowly now buying cows Fressions X. I've milked Holsteins for other people, but people who have never had them say stay well clear. People I milk for seem to like them and won't have anything else.
I'm a bit curious why a lot of people say Holsteins are soft and more prone to doing the splits than anything else and to stay away from them and will only average 3 lactations.

 

[Holsteinfriesian90]

World war 3 here we go.

 

[Holsteinfriesian90]

We have just put parlour in and are slowly now buying cows Fressions X. I've milked Holsteins for other people, but people who have never had them say stay well clear. People I milk for seem to like them and won't have anything else.
I'm a bit curious why a lot of people say Holsteins are soft and more prone to doing the splits than anything else and to stay away from them and will only average 3 lactations.

I would say depends on the breeding and management.

 

[Nh6050]

Yh I thought this only took me 3 days to put it on thought I'd like abit of sat night entertainment.

 

[Clay52]

We have just put parlour in and are slowly now buying cows Fressions X. I've milked Holsteins for other people, but people who have never had them say stay well clear. People I milk for seem to like them and won't have anything else.
I'm a bit curious why a lot of people say Holsteins are soft and more prone to doing the splits than anything else and to stay away from them and will only average 3 lactations.

It's because there are Holsteins and there are Holsteins. Have a look at long term commercial bred Holsteins vs show or high type Holsteins, they are like a totally different breed.

The Holstein breed has the best dairy animals in the world but it also has some of the worst dairy animals.

Those that don't milk them and like to poke holes in the bred are usually referring to show/high type animals.

 

[Dr. Alkathene]

 

[Irish NZ]

17 minutes clay.... you can do better than that.


I give give 20 replies until this turns into a slagging match.

 

[Cowmangav]

I have 35 years experience with Friesians , about 30 years experience of Holsteins and 45 years with Ayrshires.
At one time my herd was 2/3 Holstein and 1/3 Ayrshire. Its now 1/4 Holstein and 3/4 Ayrshire, and not by accident.
It's not fair to quote a single example , but what the hell!
I had a really nice Dalmatien cow , Excellent 92. Can remember showing her in calf at Rowallan , and she was the oldest cow in the show. We were unlucky with her daughters, so finally flushed her to Pine Tree Sid.
Got two bulls and a heifer.
The heifer had a rough calving first time but after nursing in a box for a period, sort of came right. Her second calving went better , but she didn't settle to her AI date and the HC she had was to the sweeper Ayrshire bull running with the stale cows.
Her third calf this year was a big dead bull to Shottle and she failed to get going. Vet diagnosed pneumonnia and she got a bottle of synulox which got her going but she remained boxed.
8 weeks later she relapsed and vet this time wouldn't treat, said her chest was too bad. She got shot on Friday. What larks.
Family now extinct here , apart from crossbred daughter , and it traced to Hunday.

 

[FonterraFarmer]

We have just put parlour in and are slowly now buying cows Fressions X. I've milked Holsteins for other people, but people who have never had them say stay well clear. People I milk for seem to like them and won't have anything else.
I'm a bit curious why a lot of people say Holsteins are soft and more prone to doing the splits than anything else and to stay away from them and will only average 3 lactations.

Just stick to Friesian X, I always thought it was a step backwards when they crossed them over to the Holstein. Pass the popcorn , Dr Alkathene.......

 

[Dairyhack]

Just stick to Friesian X, I always thought it was a step backwards when they crossed them over to the Holstein. Pass the popcorn , Dr Alkathene.......

Holsteins have been selected so hard for more milk from world class, consistent udders that the brains, feet, and durability have basically been bred out of them

 

[FonterraFarmer]

Holsteins have been selected so hard for more milk from world class, consistent udders that the brains, feet, and durability have basically been bred out of them

I would estimate that "durability" would incude reproductive status. Welcome to TFF.​

 

[More to life]

It's all down to your ability as a farmer as to wether you can keep them or not





































He he pot stirred

 

[Sid]

There are extremes in any breed you just have to be selective on the breeding and know how to manage that breeding.
We all know herds where they have fat dumpy friesian or tall hat rack holsteins, ayrshire that don't give any milk or jerseys that have the temperament of a geordy after 10 pints.
The first crosses of the friesian to Holstien worked really well due to hydrid vigor and nothing to do with how great the Holstein was or how bad the friesian was, yet the majority sailed down the Holstein route.
Would i use a Holstein bull on my mainly friesian cows, yes i do and will if its not tall capacious and has excellent udders and feet.
Lucius , Royalist, Reece are the sires of 3 of the oldest cows here. All are over 10th lactation bloody holsteins are useless!

 

[cattow]

It's all down to your ability as a farmer as to wether you can keep them or not





































He he pot stirred

You must have been having a bad day with Holsteins when you thought of your user name

No ability here

 

[Clay52]

Holsteins have been selected so hard for more milk from world class, consistent udders that the brains, feet, and durability have basically been bred out of them

Would agree with you 10-15 years ago. Totally outdated thinking now.

 

[Fergieman]

I have 35 years experience with Friesians , about 30 years experience of Holsteins and 45 years with Ayrshires.
At one time my herd was 2/3 Holstein and 1/3 Ayrshire. Its now 1/4 Holstein and 3/4 Ayrshire, and not by accident.
It's not fair to quote a single example , but what the hell!
I had a really nice Dalmatien cow , Excellent 92. Can remember showing her in calf at Rowallan , and she was the oldest cow in the show. We were unlucky with her daughters, so finally flushed her to Pine Tree Sid.
Got two bulls and a heifer.
The heifer had a rough calving first time but after nursing in a box for a period, sort of came right. Her second calving went better , but she didn't settle to her AI date and the HC she had was to the sweeper Ayrshire bull running with the stale cows.
Her third calf this year was a big dead bull to Shottle and she failed to get going. Vet diagnosed pneumonnia and she got a bottle of synulox which got her going but she remained boxed.
8 weeks later she relapsed and vet this time wouldn't treat, said her chest was too bad. She got shot on Friday. What larks.
Family now extinct here , apart from crossbred daughter , and it traced to Hunday.

Your doing well to be still milking at 110 years old!

 

[William Mellor]

Friesian if you want a low input system and Holsteins if you want a high input high output system.

 

[Holsteinfriesian90]

Looking through the cogent book that came in the post this week I would think that Holstein would fit into a lot of different systems nowadays.

 

[Cowmangav]

Looking through the cogent book that came in the post this week I would think that Holstein would fit into a lot of different systems nowadays.

On the other hand, the Ayrshires on this farm have probably been here, in an uninterupted line, for 150 years - so presumably are adapted to the conditions - which clearly don't suit hot house flower Holsteins.

 

[coomoo]

Holsteins really can be awesome animals, volume, milk quality, growth rates = early first calving durability even 'but' fertility and feet legs still need addressing.