Birth traits of pure Holstein calves versus Montbeliarde-sired crossbred calves

• Published in: Journal of dairy science 2010-05, Vol.93 (5), p.2293-2299
• Main Authors: Heins, B.J., Hansen, L.B., Hazel, A.R., Seykora, A.J., Johnson, D.G., Linn, J.G.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animal productions; Animals; Biological and medical sciences; birth weight; Birth Weight - physiology; breed differences; Breeding; breeding value; calves; calving; calving difficulty; Cattle - physiology; cattle breeds; Cattle Diseases - epidemiology; crossbreds; crossbreeding; Female; Food industries; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; gestation length; Holstein; Hybridization, Genetic; Male; Milk and cheese industries. Ice creams; Montbeliarde (cattle breed); Obstetric Labor Complications - epidemiology; Obstetric Labor Complications - veterinary; Pregnancy; purebreds; Random Allocation; reproductive traits; sires; stillbirth; Stillbirth - epidemiology; Stillbirth - veterinary; Terrestrial animal productions; traits; Vertebrates
• ISSN: 0022-0302; 1525-3198
• DOI: 10.3168/jds.2009-2911

Pure Holstein calves and Montbeliarde-sired crossbred calves from multiparous Holstein dams were compared for gestation length, calf weight at birth, calving difficulty, and stillbirth in 2 research herds of the University of Minnesota. The Montbeliarde-sired calves from multiparous Holstein dams had significantly longer gestation lengths (283.2 d) than Holstein-sired calves from Holstein dams (278.4 d), and Montbeliarde-sired calves from multiparous Holstein dams had significantly greater calf weight at birth (48.3kg) compared with Holstein-sired calves from Holstein dams (43.3kg). However, calves sired by Montbeliarde bulls were not significantly different from calves sired by Holstein bulls for calving difficulty and stillbirth. In addition, Jersey × Holstein crossbred cows mated to Montbeliarde artificial insemination (AI) bulls were compared with pure Holstein cows mated to Holstein AI bulls for gestation length, calf weight at birth, calving difficulty, and stillbirth at their first 3 calvings. Gestation length was significantly longer for Jersey × Holstein cows bred to Montbeliarde bulls than for pure Holstein cows bred to Holstein bulls at first calving (280.3 versus 277.7 d) and second and third calving (282.2 versus 278.6 d); however, Jeresy × Holstein cows bred to Montbeliarde AI bulls were not significantly different from pure Holstein cows bred to Holstein AI bulls for calf weight at birth, calving difficulty, and stillbirth at the first 3 calvings.