What are the reasons for you crossbreeding ?

[bigw]

We used a lot of sexcel and 4M last spring and so far we have had 2 bulls from the last 32 calvings and 1 of those was conventional semen. Really pleased with the results and not having black and white bull calves is great.

 

[Beef farmer]

We used a lot of sexcel and 4M last spring and so far we have had 2 bulls from the last 32 calvings and 1 of those was conventional semen. Really pleased with the results and not having black and white bull calves is great.

Notice any difference between 4m and sexcel?

 

[bigw]

Notice any difference between 4m and sexcel?

We used the 4M stuff first and are just coming to the sexcel now so I would need to wait till we have the calves on the ground.

 

[lazy farmer]

We used a lot of sexcel and 4M last spring and so far we have had 2 bulls from the last 32 calvings and 1 of those was conventional semen. Really pleased with the results and not having black and white bull calves is great.

Has your days in milk stayed the same?

 

[More to life]

@lazy farmer you should be using all sexed

 

[bigw]

Has your days in milk stayed the same?

I knew I should have kept my mouth shut! We used it on younger cows at the start of the spring block and I don't think we have lost many days, I will look tomorrow.

 

[Beef farmer]

Has your days in milk stayed the same?

Due to lack of conception?

 

[lazy farmer]

@lazy farmer you should be using all sexed

Can’t risk a slipping calving pattern.days in milk are so important when you have a fixed drying off date.

 

[lazy farmer]

Due to lack of conception?

Yes

 

[More to life]

Can’t risk a slipping calving pattern.days in milk are so important when you have a fixed drying off date.

I doubt you would but the extra calf income would allow you a few days it’s the future.

 

[lazy farmer]

I doubt you would but the extra calf income would allow you a few days it’s the future.

Sorry I don’t think calf income will increase. Supply will out strip demand all we will do is replace xbred bulls with Angus heifers in the abattoir

 

[O'Reilly]

Sorry I don’t think calf income will increase. Supply will out strip demand all we will do is replace xbred bulls with Angus heifers in the abattoir

Cogent do sexed for males Angus semen now. But I agree, beef farmers can look forward to a supply of better quality calves at lower prices.

 

[jimmer]

As the decline of sucklers and the increase in smaller dairy bred dams continues , the supply/demand situation will resolve itself

 

[More to life]

Sorry I don’t think calf income will increase. Supply will out strip demand all we will do is replace xbred bulls with Angus heifers in the abattoir

I think it will be somewhere between the two

 

[bigw]

Has your days in milk stayed the same?

I had a quick look at the calving intervals of some that have just calved and we have actually taken a fair number in, a good lot of them will be calving around 340-350 days. Very unscientific i know but I can see you having any problems on fertile cows.

 

[Water Wheel]

What is it producers are looking for when crossbreeding, is it smaller cows?, easier managed cows ? putting better health traits in your cow's, I am trying to find out why folk's do it, or is it just a fashion that has come from NZ ?

Have a very basic system, self feed grass silage and parlour concentrates. Holsteins just couldn't cope , and were getting too big, not getting in calf. Now on a 3 way cross Holstein x Swedish Red X Monty. and back to Holstein.
A much more compact cow, not as tall or long, but no lighter.
Far healthier, more fertile, don't look as good as the Holsteins we had before ( udders ,feet etc ) but far less trouble and last longer and better constituents.

 

[buffalo_soldier]

Yes and I have also bought a few goonhilly Samson sexed from genus as they seemingly have a better process for sexed and of course he is the best bull on the SCI

I'm sure I read a thing the other day with Holstein top of the shop in sci.

 

[watcher72]

Nearly all farm businesses have done cross breeding. Old style British Friesian cross Holstein. Problem was most thought the improvement was from the Holstien when actually is was from cross breeding .

Yes the Hol gave the animal longer legs to keep the old BF udder out of the mud. But lacked the longevity and get up and go of the BF.

Roll forward 30 years and now cross breeding is in fashion to rectify problems on many farms. Many "pure" bred farms actually don't have problems but some do. That isn't always down to the breed but due to selecting the wrong type of breeding to suit the system that is on farm now. That system most certainly will have changed on most farms over the years so short term is easy to blame the breed , when actually it's the farmer who changed the system without changing the breed first.

I would say you can get most breeds to suit your system if you select the right type of bull from the list.
Plenty of jerseys that wouldn't necessarily fit an grazing based system.
Plenty of Holsteins that would if selected correctly.

 

[Will Blackburn]

Nearly all farm businesses have done cross breeding. Old style British Friesian cross Holstein. Problem was most thought the improvement was from the Holstien when actually is was from cross breeding .

Yes the Hol gave the animal longer legs to keep the old BF udder out of the mud. But lacked the longevity and get up and go of the BF.

Roll forward 30 years and now cross breeding is in fashion to rectify problems on many farms. Many "pure" bred farms actually don't have problems but some do. That isn't always down to the breed but due to selecting the wrong type of breeding to suit the system that is on farm now. That system most certainly will have changed on most farms over the years so short term is easy to blame the breed , when actually it's the farmer who changed the system without changing the breed first.

I would say you can get most breeds to suit your system if you select the right type of bull from the list.
Plenty of jerseys that wouldn't necessarily fit an grazing based system.
Plenty of Holsteins that would if selected correctly.

It has been statistically proven that Procross cows are 25% more profitable than Holstein cows.

 

[watcher72]

It has been statistically proven that Procross cows are 25% more profitable than Holstein cows.

Even in a indoor system?