Norwegian reds

[Slowcow]

We've got a few Norwegian red x British Friesian cows milking now.
The only reason I used them was at the time they were the 'sperm vital' straw the air man had in his flask. We used them for third service.

Thing is I now wish I had more of them, they suit our system well, we're organic fairly low input.

At the moment most of our cows are pedigree Friesian, I'm seriously thinking about putting all this years ai to the reds, the crosses milk better and seem pretty robust.

Are their decent sexed straws available? I can't remember off hand which bull we used.

Anyone have any going through robots? The ones we have do have a bit of hybred vigour about them! We are going that way but that's another story!

Cheers

 

[Scholsey]

We've got a few Norwegian red x British Friesian cows milking now.
The only reason I used them was at the time they were the 'sperm vital' straw the air man had in his flask. We used them for third service.

Thing is I now wish I had more of them, they suit our system well, we're organic fairly low input.

At the moment most of our cows are pedigree Friesian, I'm seriously thinking about putting all this years ai to the reds, the crosses milk better and seem pretty robust.

Are their decent sexed straws available? I can't remember off hand which bull we used.

Anyone have any going through robots? The ones we have do have a bit of hybred vigour about them! We are going that way but that's another story!

Cheers

Organic Norwegian Red X Holstein going through robots, bought her from a sale 2 years ago as a fresh calved heifer, absolute picture to look at, just bought a lorry load from Sweden to match.

 

[Bald Rick]

We've got a few Norwegian red x British Friesian cows milking now.
The only reason I used them was at the time they were the 'sperm vital' straw the air man had in his flask. We used them for third service.

Thing is I now wish I had more of them, they suit our system well, we're organic fairly low input.

At the moment most of our cows are pedigree Friesian, I'm seriously thinking about putting all this years ai to the reds, the crosses milk better and seem pretty robust.

Are their decent sexed straws available? I can't remember off hand which bull we used.

Anyone have any going through robots? The ones we have do have a bit of hybred vigour about them! We are going that way but that's another story!

Cheers

Should be able to get sexed through Viking Genetics.
Go on their website and fill your boots

 

[O'Reilly]

Should be able to get sexed through Viking Genetics.
Go on their website and fill your boots

Vikings are generally bigger than Norwegians, mind.

 

[Bald Rick]

Vikings are generally bigger than Norwegians, mind.

Have to be selective but current bulls are:

Red Dairy Cattle

VikingGenetics | Red cows just got more trouble-free ✓ | Breed for health and performance ✓ | Highest lifetime production for red cows ✓ | »

www.vikinggenetics.com

 

[Homesy]

Be careful of Norwegian figures. They only publish country of origin. Use the Ayrshire bull selector to get a more representative linear score.

 

[Slowcow]

View attachment 842040

Organic Norwegian Red X Holstein going through robots, bought her from a sale 2 years ago as a fresh calved heifer, absolute picture to look at, just bought a lorry load from Sweden to match.

That's some going for a organic cow! Would it be rude to ask how much cake she's eating for those figures?

 

[Slowcow]

Should be able to get sexed through Viking Genetics.
Go on their website and fill your boots

Thanks I'll have a look at that, wasn't me boots I wanted to fill mind

 

[Durry cows]

Thanks I'll have a look at that, wasn't me boots I wanted to fill mind

Be careful Norwegian reds are different to Viking reds. They are also our best cows, im liking the calves by maele who is sexed and I’m looking to use gopollen sexed

 

[Cows 'n grass]

Be careful Norwegian reds are different to Viking reds. They are also our best cows, im liking the calves by maele who is sexed and I’m looking to use gopollen sexed

Are you saying the the Norwegian or Viking are your best cows? What do they offer over Ayrshire?

 

[Durry cows]

Are you saying the the Norwegian or Viking are your best cows? What do they offer over Ayrshire?

Apologies Norwegian reds, there is some crossover between the 2 but generally (this is my opinion) the Norwegian red is a stronger animal so crosses better on a Holstein whereas Viking red is closer to a Holstein physically (carries less condition/taller)

 

[Scholsey]

That's some going for a organic cow! Would it be rude to ask how much cake she's eating for those figures?

3.2t gives a FR of 0.26 by my maths.

In her latest lactation.

 

[Stuart1]

I have 3 Gopollen daughters & 1 Enger daughter out of pedigree Holsteins. Only 2-3 months old but look strong calves. Glad to hear such positive feedback on them. I was a little sceptical but going by the recent posts on this thread they should be fine.

 

[Spudley]

We've used NR on our freisians for the last 2 years. The first ones will calve in January, they are Gopollens. We have also used Smaagarda and Nymoen. All from Genus, we had Liam Healey come out to recommend some bulls for us, he said the NR and the Vikings have only recently gone their separate ways, and that the NR has more emphasis on health traits and the vikings more on production.

First calf is a Smaagarda, these are very strong and wide. The spotted calf is a Nymoen, she was born 7 weeks early and never looked back. These are more dairy but also very fit.

 

[Spudley]

Gopollens

in calf heifers, pictures taken back in September.

 

[holywell farmer]

We've got a few Norwegian red x British Friesian cows milking now.
The only reason I used them was at the time they were the 'sperm vital' straw the air man had in his flask. We used them for third service.

Thing is I now wish I had more of them, they suit our system well, we're organic fairly low input.

At the moment most of our cows are pedigree Friesian, I'm seriously thinking about putting all this years ai to the reds, the crosses milk better and seem pretty robust.

Are their decent sexed straws available? I can't remember off hand which bull we used.

Anyone have any going through robots? The ones we have do have a bit of hybred vigour about them! We are going that way but that's another story!

Cheers

Do Norwegian reds give high milk yield?

 

[Sparkymark]

Do Norwegian reds give high milk yield?

My current highest yielding cow is a Norwegian Red.

Having used both Norwegians and Vikings, i cant say which is the better. They both cross well over a Holstein to produce a similar beast.
Gopollen would be my first choice for a no holes bull. Not sure he’s available sexed though. Currently im using Onstad.

 

[Stuart1]

My current highest yielding cow is a Norwegian Red.
View attachment 842194
Having used both Norwegians and Vikings, i cant say which is the better. They both cross well over a Holstein to produce a similar beast.
Gopollen would be my first choice for a no holes bull. Not sure he’s available sexed though. Currently im using Onstad.

I see your NR there is 7 years of age, is that correct? If so how is she holding up in terms of feet and fertility? Thanks

 

[Sparkymark]

I see your NR there is 7 years of age, is that correct? If so how is she holding up in terms of feet and fertility? Thanks

Yeh 7 years old and in 5th lactation. Fertility been good, slipped a few months between 3rd and 4th lactation.
Feet are sound, nice hard black hooves.

 

[Slowcow]

I'm not seeing anything to put me off yet! The only time being pedigree has really been a benefit for us is if one gets taken with tb.

The extra milk my newest nr x heifer gives over her Friesian chums will pay the difference I feel.