Discovering the benefits of cross-breeding your herd

Describe your previous system

Up until 2005 we ran a herd of Holsteins, intensively managed and yielding an average of 9,500 litres. Our milk contract with Dairy Crest paid a significant bonus for a flat profile supply. We were very conscious that we had to get a certain percentage of the herd in-calf to maintain a flat profile, but we weren’t achieving that.

Why did you decide to cross-breed?

We became aware of some very positive results of cross-breeding trials in California and we also knew a farmer who was cross-breeding. It seemed to offer a good solution to our ongoing fertility issues. We also wanted to improve our fat and protein percentages.

How did you select which breed to cross to?

Swedish Reds were used in the Californian trial so we decided to use those bloodlines. The Swedish Red has the second highest yield of any dairy breed and has been selected since the 1970s for its health traits. We knew that the Montbeliarde had also achieved good results, but wanted an average-size cow rather than a big cow. We had milked Jersey-crosses in the past and found they were too small for our system. We also focused on calving ease and the Swedish Red scores highly on this. It was a logical choice for our system.

How did you start your cross-breeding programme?

We didn’t jump in with both feet, we started with just 20 straws. Our first calves were born in December 2005. Two years later we had a change of farming policy and converted to organic so we sold all the cows, but kept the cross-bred youngstock because that was the type of cow we wanted to milk. We calved 40 Swedish Red cross Holstein and 20 Holstein heifers in late 2008/early 2009, all home bred. We also bought 100 organic Swedish and Danish Reds.

What is your current cross-breeding programme?

We are now milking 210 cows – including 60 Swedish Red crossbreds, 25 Holsteins and we also have 10 Montbeliarde three-way crosses. The theory of cross-breeding is that you need three breeds to maintain hybrid vigour. The rest of the cows are imported Swedish Reds and we breed the very best of these to top Swedish Red bulls. We are running out of Holsteins to breed the first cross so we have turned the system around and are now breeding Swedish Reds to a Holstein, using good PLI bulls.

What have been the benefits of cross-breeding?

Of the cross-bred heifers that calved in 2008-09, 85% are surviving to reach fourth lactation, whereas fewer than 40% of the Holsteins are doing so. In terms of lifetime yield, the cross-breds are far superior.

We haven’t analysed fertility for about six months, but when we last looked at it the Swedish Red pure-breds had a calving index of 358 days, the crossbreds 375 days and the Holsteins 425 days. The herd is currently averaging 8,500 litres from 2.4 tonnes of concentrates. We are evaluating the Montbeliarde crosses. There are enough in the system now to allow us to make a decision in due course. So far they seem to be giving plenty of milk and are fertile.

What is your advice to other farmers considering cross-breeding?

Use good AI bulls. Just buying any old bull and throwing it into the herd won’t work. We used the best available bulls with proven genetics for our system. You have got to maintain genetic merit. Research which cow will suit your system.

Farm facts

• 210 milking cows, 350 acres

• 24:24 herringbone parlour, milking twice a day

• 8,500 litres a cow a year

• OMSCO contract

• Cross-breeding – key facts

Key questions to ask when considering cross-breeding

• Is my management in order? Cross-breeding will mask problems, not cure them

• Where do I want to be in 10 years time? It takes time to achieve set goals, cross-breeding is not an instant fix

• What traits do I want to improve? Choose the right bulls for these

• Do I need an income from calves? Calves such as the cross-bred Jersey have little bull beef value

• Will I be happy with the visual results? Cross-breeding can create a multi-coloured herd and differences in cow size.