Holstein-Friesian Strain Research Articles

The effect of strain of Holstein-Friesian cow and feeding system on postpartum ovarian function, animal production and conception rate to first service

Three strains of Holstein-Friesian (HF): high production North American (HP), high durability North American (HD) and New Zealand (NZ) cows were assigned, within strain, to one of three pasture-based feeding systems: (1) the Moorepark (control) system (MP), (2) a high concentrate system (HC), (3) a high stocking rate system (HS). Ovarian function was assessed using milk progesterone samples, collected from 117 cows in each of two successive years, with 81 animals being common to both years. Milk samples were collected thrice weekly, beginning day 5 post-calving and continued to day 26 after first AI. Data from animals subsequent to reproductive hormonal treatment were removed from the analysis. Feed system and strain of HF by feeding system interaction had no significant effect on re-establishment of ovarian activity and subsequent conception rate to first AI. Strain of HF had no significant effect on interval to commencement of luteal activity (CLA). The mean interval to CLA was 32.9 days (S.E. 1.18), ranged from 6 to 100 days, with 42 and 85% of cows ovulating by day 26 and 60, respectively. The HD (62%) and NZ (57%) strains had a higher conception rate to first AI than the HP strain (40%), ( P < 0.05). Retrospective analysis categorised all cows into four quartiles based on interval to CLA (<20 days, 20–26 days, 27–44 days and >44 days). Cows in the first and fourth CLA quartiles had a longer calving to conception interval ( P < 0.05). Cows with abnormal progesterone profiles (38.4%) had an earlier mean calving date, with a similar submission rate and conception rate to first service compared to cows with normal hormonal profiles. There was no significant difference in luteal activity or reproduction performance, apart from calving to conception interval, between cows that conceived or did not conceive to first service. These results indicate that while conception rate to first service differed between strains of HF cow, this was not associated with differences in the onset and pattern of luteal activity post partum.

The effect of strain of Holstein-Friesian and feeding system on grazing behaviour, herbage intake and productivity in the first lactation

AbstractA comparative study of grazing behaviour, herbage intake and milk production was conducted using three strains of Holstein-Friesian (HF) heifer : 33 high production North American (HP), 33 high durability North American (HD) and 33 New Zealand (NZ) animals. Heifers were assigned, within strain, to one of three grass-based feeding systems : (1) the Moorepark (control) system (MP), (2) a high concentrate system (HC), (3) a high stocking rate system (HS). Strain of HF had no significant effect on grazing time or number of grazing bouts. The NZ strain had longer grazing bouts (P&lt; 0.01) and spent a lower proportion of time ruminating (P&lt; 0.05) than both the HP and HD strains. There was a significant strain ✕ feeding system interaction for biting rate. The biting rate of the NZ strain was reduced in the HC system. Biting rates in the HS feeding system were significantly higher (P&lt; 0.001) than in the MP system. Heifers on HC had shorter grazing time (P&lt; 0.01) with grazing bouts of shorter duration (P&lt; 0.01). Increasing stocking rate (HS) decreased the proportion of time ruminating (P&lt; 0.001) and tended to shorten grazing bouts (P = 0.06). The HP strain had higher (P&lt; 0.05) herbage and total dry matter (DM) intakes than the NZ strain, while the HD strain was intermediate. Concentrate supplementation reduced (P&lt; 0.001) herbage DM intake but increased (P&lt; 0.001) total DM intake. The reduction of herbage DM intake per kg of concentrate DM intake (substitution rate) was greater for the NZ than the HP strain. The HP produced significantly higher milk, fat, protein and lactose yields than the NZ, while the HD strain was intermediate. The milk fat content of the NZ was higher than both the HP and HD strains, while the protein content was higher than the HP strain. Concentrate supplementation (HC v . MP) significantly increased yields of milk and milk components. Milk production responses to the HC system were much greater with the HP than the NZ strain. Increasing stocking rate (MP v . HS) significantly decreased milk protein yield. The results indicate that the choice of strain of HF may depend on the feeding system.

Evaluation of dual-purpose cows on a seasonal grass-based system of milk production

In recent years the relevance of continued selection for higher milk yield alone has been questioned for three reasons (Simm, 1998): 1) the introduction of milk quotas in some countries, 2) the now well documented deleterious effect of selection for yield on health and fertility (Pryce and Veerkamp, 2001), and, 3) the increased emphasis in payment schemes in many countries on milk composition. The purpose of this study was to measure the biological efficiency of two dual-purpose breeds (Montbeliarde (MB) and Normande (NR)) relative to two Holstein-Friesian strains (upgraded Irish Holstein-Friesian (CL) and Dutch Holstein-Friesian (HF)) on a spring-calving milk production system based mainly on grazed grass as a feed.

Prediction of dairy cattle reproductive performance in pastoral feeding systems

As NZ milk production is predominantly seasonal and reliant on pasture growth, a high pregnancy rate within a short time after planned start of mating is essential to match feed supply to production. A Holstein-Friesian strain trial was established in Hamilton, New Zealand, to investigate the physical and financial performance of three strains of dairy cattle under a range of pasture based systems that differ in stocking rate and supplementary feeding. The three strains of cows were: Overseas High genetic merit (OS), New Zealand High genetic merit (NZH) and New Zealand Low genetic merit (NZL). The objective of this study was to predict reproductive performance from information available prior to mating, as an aid to on-farm decisions.

Is it feasible to use ovum pick up and embryo transfer to produce 3 bull calves per donor and maintain annual calving cycles?

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of stocking rate (SR) and calving date (CD) on milk production, BW and BCS within grass-based production systems post-European Union milk quotas using modern grazing management practices and high genetic potential Holstein–Friesian (HF) spring calving dairy cattle over a two year period. Two groups of HF dairy cows with different mean CD were established from within the existing research herd at Moorepark (Teagasc, Ireland). Animals were assigned either to an early calving (mean CD: 12 February) treatment or a late calving (mean CD: 25 February) treatment. Animals within each CD treatment were randomly allocated to 1 of 3 SR treatments, Low (2.51 cows/hectare (ha), Medium (2.92 cows/ha) and High (3.28 cows/ha) which were designed to represent 3 alternative whole farm SR in a post-European Union milk quota, spring calving, grass-based milk production system. A total of 138 spring-calving dairy cows, comprised of two strains of HF (North American HF and New Zealand HF genetic strains), were used during 2009 and 2010, respectively. The effects of CD, SR treatment, genetic strain and their interactions on milk production per cow and per ha, body weight and body condition score were analyzed. Although reducing per animal production, increased SR resulted in increased milk and milk solids production per ha. The results also indicate that although CD had no effect on total lactation performance, adjusting mean CD may be an effective strategy to align animal requirements and grass supply and reduce the requirement for supplements at increased SR in early lactation.

Comparison of proven sires from five Holstein-Friesian strains in high-yield Israeli dairy herds

Nulliparous Israeli Holstein heifers were inseminated in 111 high-producing dairy herds with 9411 doses of semen from 26 proven sires of five national strains: Canada (CA), New Zealand (NZ), Sweden (SW), Israel (IS) and United States (US); 4914 calves were born and 1483 F 1 daughters were milk recorded. Significant differences among strains were found for all traits analyzed. Mates of NZ sires and daughters of IS sires were most favorable for calving traits and mates of SW sires and daughters of CA sires were least favorable. NZ daughters were smallest, and CA daughters were largest and most favorable for udder conformation traits. SW daughters were least favorable for conformation traits, but had the highest conception rate. US daughters had the lowest conception rate. The ranges of strain effects for milk, fat and fat percentage were 1551 kg, 27 kg and 0.28%, respectively. IS daughters were highest for dairy character and milk and fat production, but lowest in fat percentage. NZ daughters were lowest in milk and fat production, but highest in fat percentage. The correlations between predicted differences for kg fat and kg milk and fat percentage were 0.96 and −0.85, respectively. Within-strain correlations between sire evaluations for milk in each of the countries of origin and IS were 0.84, 0.80, 0.51 and 0.01, for US, SW, CA and NZ, respectively. The results provide a basis for comparison of sire evaluations among US, CA, SW and IS.

Comparison of the physicochmeical properties of a urinary pigment of human and bovine origin.

A GENETICALLY determined syndrome has been described in the Holstein-Friesian strain of cattle which causes the calf to die in hypoglycaemia soon after birth. Affected calves of this strain are carried as many as 90 days beyond the normal 280 days of gestation. The genetic defect appears when the calf is homozygous for the trait. Both the heterozygous cow and bull are capable of generating a normal progeny if crossed with a non-affected animal; and the cow is capable of normal-length pregnancy if it does not carry a homozygous, affected calf. Holm1 has reported that during an affected pregnancy the urine of these cows lacks a magenta pigment that can normally be detected in organic solvent extracts of hydrolysates of urines of non-affected cows. These findings are reported to be consistent enough to be used for the screening of the pregnant cows to detect those that carry an affected foetus.