What are the reasons for you crossbreeding ?

[Cows 'n grass]

Are you milking any crosses yet?

Just one who got a nasty mastitis and calved early/aborted. My heifers are due to start calving on 12th and cows on the 18th.

 

[pappuller]

@pappuller

Thanks for the tag @Beef farmer but Papps only picking up the odd ones here and there

 

[Beef farmer]

Not bad for 12k litre cows

cows

 

[lazy farmer]

Everything else has a fair dose of Holstein in there breeding anyway.

Unfortunately

 

[More to life]

Unfortunately

Buy much Irish Holstein this year

 

[lazy farmer]

It says Friesian on the label !

 

[Holsteinfriesian90]

I did have a look through the cogent grazing catalogue not much information available for the bulls are there? I can’t get my head around the ebi figures. Black lightning looks alright from the picture.

 

[Cows 'n grass]

The RAS list (Ranking active sires) published by dairy NZ and based on breeding worth (BW). This is the kiwi equivalent of PLI, EBI, SCI, NM, NTM ect ect

It is an across breeds index and in the top 30 there are

26 jerseys
4 crossbreds
0 fresians

 

[Homesy]

I did have a look through the cogent grazing catalogue not much information available for the bulls are there? I can’t get my head around the ebi figures. Black lightning looks alright from the picture.

Go to the ICBF website and use the search facility. Gives you the full breakdown with conformation.

 

[lazy farmer]

The RAS list (Ranking active sires) published by dairy NZ and based on breeding worth (BW). This is the kiwi equivalent of PLI, EBI, SCI, NM, NTM ect ect
View attachment 766212

It is an across breeds index and in the top 30 there are

26 jerseys
4 crossbreds
0 fresians

That crossbred in second place is a hell of bull

 

[Cows 'n grass]

That crossbred in second place is a hell of bull

Not as good as the bull above. I'm not a fan of any of the indexes but the majority of my herd will go to misty for a second year running.

Are you using sexed Izabull?

 

[lazy farmer]

Not as good as the bull above. I'm not a fan of any of the indexes but the majority of my herd will go to misty for a second year running.

Are you using sexed Izabull?

It weird looking at mistys production figures.im all for slight negatives for milk but he is massive minus and he will also make your cows even smaller!

 

[Holsteinfriesian90]

Anyone any experience with the Irish Holstein friesian? Do you think they would push more solids than British friesian?

 

[Homesy]

Anyone any experience with the Irish Holstein friesian? Do you think they would push more solids than British friesian?

I have had some. Production ok but some can be dog ugly and miserable as sin. I have one now I bought as an incalf heifer. It's a twice daily battle of wills. She refuses to to lie in the cubicles too. My wife calls her the spawn of the devil. Do not just go on EBI figures. Checkout type on the ICBF website. Much prefer my crossbreds.

 

[Llmmm]

Anyone any experience with the Irish Holstein friesian? Do you think they would push more solids than British friesian?

If you look at most of there breeding they are nz friesian cross holstein have used them poor feet poor udders milk good and have good fertility would much prefer british friesian

 

[Holsteinfriesian90]

Thanks for the advice it was just a thought. Il stick with the British friesian.

 

[Cows 'n grass]

I've been using some and have my first calves on the ground. I went over to Ireland last month and saw some really good cows but also some very big ropey looking Holstein things that looked like they would thrive in a shed but not a field.

The ones Cogent supply through Eurogenes would appear to be the typier end of the Irish market and they have a stronger focus on cow families and longevity than other breeding companies that have more focus on EBI.

I'll still be tentatively using some but paying a lot of attention to the icbf website and use some BF and NZ fresian as well

 

[Spudley]

We used Curra Pluto with Genus, they were lovely strong calves so I rang the rep to order more doses for the next year and he wouldn't sell them to me.
When they calved I understood. You'd never think they were meant to be a grazing animal, too tall, too thin, not much milk and shocking milk quality. The b#£&££@d things get back in calf though!!

 

[jimmer]

Anyone any experience with the Irish Holstein friesian? Do you think they would push more solids than British friesian?

Depends if your talking kgs or %
A British friesian at 8+ % is very good, but when she's 100 dim, pd+, drops to 10litres and puts on a condition score or two it ain't so flash

 

[Holsteinfriesian90]

I've been using some and have my first calves on the ground. I went over to Ireland last month and saw some really good cows but also some very big ropey looking Holstein things that looked like they would thrive in a shed but not a field.

The ones Cogent supply through Eurogenes would appear to be the typier end of the Irish market and they have a stronger focus on cow families and longevity than other breeding companies that have more focus on EBI.

I'll still be tentatively using some but paying a lot of attention to the icbf website and use some BF and NZ fresian as well

I’m quite surprised some look very narrow by the icbf website. Narrower that a pure Holstein.