Kiwi cross bulls

[Llmmm]

Have alot of first cross jersey holstein excellent animal was going to start breeding these to kiwi cross say f12 j4 would there be much variation in calf size would a certain percentage be like useing a jersey bull or would i be better just using recipricol crossing iv tried a small number of norweigan swedish red but there a bit to big of a cow for me for grazing and i dont want a herd of all different types of cows.

 

[Holsteinfriesian90]

British friesian?

 

[Homesy]

At college I was taught that a cross bred when crossed with another cross bred does not breed true. If you put a Mule ram on a Mule ewe you don't get pure Mule lambs. How can that be true of Kiwi Cross ? If Kiwi Cross is a breed in it's own right, then crossing it back on itself surely negates any benefit from heterosis/hybrid vigour ?

 

[Llmmm]

At college I was taught that a cross bred when crossed with another cross bred does not breed true. If you put a Mule ram on a Mule ewe you don't get pure Mule lambs. How can that be true of Kiwi Cross ? If Kiwi Cross is a breed in it's own right, then crossing it back on itself surely negates any benefit from heterosis/hybrid vigour ?[/QU

 

[Llmmm]

Thats exactly what i tought however kiwi cross bulls are heavily used in nz and have daughters proven with excellent fertility and milk.Theres a famous norweigan red bull braut whose 75% norweigan 25% ayrshire.

 

[Spudley]

Take a look at Nymoen from Genus or his son Knapholen, they are Norwegian reds but small.

 

[O'Reilly]

I have used kiwicross on Scandinavian red crosses, and there is some variation in how much the jersey shines through. It will be over another year before the biggest batch are mature enough to see the final difference, some of these will probably be 2nd generation kiwicross. At the moment they appear to be fairly uniform. Not much help, I know, try some and some.

 

[sidjon]

We've been using kiwi cross since 2007 (scotts Northsea), our service straws are split 1/3 nz Friesains, 1/3 kiwi cross and 1/3 Danish Jersey and aim for a 12F 4J, bbut changing breeding policy last year and used sexed Jersey and now probably going to be 8F 8J, pictures are of this year's calving heifers in the summer (their the ones with green tags), their a very even bunch overall.

 

[organicguy]

The best grazing cows I have seen in Uk or Ireland are the cross breeds that end up pure black. The herds I have seen which look great and have good results are using 8/8 or 12/4 to keep the cows even and not using pure breds at all. They are tough cows.

 

[Beef farmer]

The best grazing cows I have seen in Uk or Ireland are the cross breeds that end up pure black. The herds I have seen which look great and have good results are using 8/8 or 12/4 to keep the cows even and not using pure breds at all. They are tough cows.

Cant beat an all black team

 

[Borney92]

Have alot of first cross jersey holstein excellent animal was going to start breeding these to kiwi cross say f12 j4 would there be much variation in calf size would a certain percentage be like useing a jersey bull or would i be better just using recipricol crossing iv tried a small number of norweigan swedish red but there a bit to big of a cow for me for grazing and i dont want a herd of all different types of cows.

Have you tried the High Ebi bulls from Ireland, some great info from Nextgen herd at Moore Park and Donagh Berry.