Crossbreeding in Dairy
In the past decades, the focus in dairy cattle breeding has been mainly on the production of high volumes of diluted milk. Pure - breeding is used in almost all breeds. Purebred and related breeding has led to a deterioration of animal health parameters and reproduction traits. However, heterosis through crossbreeding has a positive effect on the fitness of the animals. Continuous heterosis in crossbred herds has a positive effect on milk fat and milk protein percentage compared to purebred Holstein-Friesian herds. In addition, crossbred animals have, on average 30-40 days shorter service period and about 50-60 days shorter time between calvings, 15-20% lower insemination index, 55-65% fewer foot and feet diseases, 50-60% less mastitis. An example of crossbreeding for dairy cows is Procross breeding. This is a three breed continuous rotation crossbreeding procedure when Holstein-friesian cow crossed with Montbeliarde sire, then the F1 cow with Swedish Red and White sire, then Holstein sire again. There are side effects, or limitations such as: producing cross-breeding partners by pure-breeding, inappropriate crossing partners reduce the heterogeneity of the animals, and Procross breeding requires appropriate expertise to maintain heterosis.
Resilience for Dairy
Completed | 2021-2024
- Main funding source
- Horizon Europe (EU Research and Innovation Programme)
- Geographical location
- Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Germany, France, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Poland, Spain, Slovenia, Netherlands, Northern Ireland