Abstract
This study aimed to elucidate the reproductive performance of purebred Holstein (HO) cows with their crosses with Fleckvieh (FV) and Brown Swiss (BS) cows under subtropical conditions. A total of 677 cows [487 HO, 104 HO × FV (HFV); 50% FV and 50% HO and 86 HO × BS (HB); 50% BS and 50% HO] were enrolled in this study. Pure HO cows had significantly greater service per conception (S/C; 3.69), days open (147.9 days), and calving interval (449.6 days), than the HFV (2.89, 116.7, and 407.4 days, respectively) and HB (3.07, 134.3, and 434.2 days, respectively) crossbred cows. At day 28, the conception percentage was significantly greater among HFV crossbred cows vs. pure HO cows [crude odds ratios (COR) = 2.16], but embryonic loss, abortion percentage, calving difficulty, and retained placenta percentage were similar (p > 0.05) among pure HO cows and their crosses. HFV crossbreds had significantly lower incidence of endometritis (COR = 0.70, p = 0.035), mastitis (COR = 0.69, p = 0.015), and ketosis (COR = 0.53, p = 0.004) vs. other cows. HB and pure HO cows had a similar incidence of mastitis, lameness, and ketosis (COR = 0.76, 0.75, and 0.81; p = 0.223, 0.468, and 0.492, respectively). HFV crossbred cows had a lower risk of culling rate than HB crossbred cows. In summary, HFV cows demonstrated the best reproductive performance in terms of S/C, days open, calving interval, conception at 28 days, mastitis percentage, ketosis percentage, and endometritis.
Highlights
Holstein (HO) cows are the most important dairy cattle breed around the world; emphasis should be given on improving their reproductive performance while maintaining high production [1]
Reproductive efficiency is a fundamental tool for the profitability of seasonal-calving production systems and is fortified by the ability of cows to resume cyclicity early post-calving, express estrus, conceive, and maintain pregnancy [9]
Pure HO cows had significantly greater service per conception (S/C), days open (DO), and calving intervals (CIs) compared to their crosses (HFV and HO × BS (HB) cows)
Summary
Holstein (HO) cows are the most important dairy cattle breed around the world; emphasis should be given on improving their reproductive performance while maintaining high production [1]. The genetic aspects of dairy cattle fertility can be manipulated [2,3,4], but these methods have been neglected in the selection programs. Regarding the methods of crossbreeding, terminal crossbreeding is allowing a maximum use of heterosis, whereas rotational crossbreeding is allowing the breeding of own replacements. In order for a program of HO crossbreeding to be effective, the reproductive performance must be better than that of purebred cows to economically offset the decreased milk production [8]
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