Short communication: Jersey × Holstein crossbreds compared with pure Holsteins for production, mastitis, and body measurements during the first 3 lactations

• Published in: Journal of dairy science 2011-01, Vol.94 (1), p.501-506
• Main Authors: Heins, B.J., Hansen, L.B., Seykora, A.J., Hazel, A.R., Johnson, D.G., Linn, J.G.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; body measurements; Body Size - genetics; bovine mastitis; breed differences; Cattle - anatomy & histology; Cattle - genetics; Cattle - physiology; Cell Count - veterinary; crossbreds; crossbreeding; Crosses, Genetic; dairy cows; Dietary Fats - analysis; Female; Genetic Predisposition to Disease; Holstein; Jersey; lactation; Lactation - genetics; Lactation - physiology; lactation number; lifetime production; lipid content; mastitis; Mastitis, Bovine - genetics; Milk - chemistry; Milk - secretion; milk composition; milk fat; milk proteins; Milk Proteins - analysis; milk yield; prediction; protein content; somatic cell; Species Specificity; udder clearance
• ISSN: 0022-0302; 1525-3198
• DOI: 10.3168/jds.2010-3232

Jersey (JE) × Holstein (HO) crossbred cows (n=76) were compared with pure HO cows (n=73) for 305-d milk, fat, and protein production, somatic cell score (SCS), clinical mastitis, lifetime production, and body measurements during their first 3 lactations. Cows were in 2 research herds at the University of Minnesota and calved from September 2003 to June 2008. Best prediction was used to determine actual production for 305-d lactations as well as lifetime production (to 1,220 d in the herd after first calving) from test-day observations. During first lactation, JE × HO cows and pure HO cows were not significantly different for fat plus protein production; however, JE × HO cows had significantly lower fat plus protein production during second (−25kg) and third (−51kg) lactation than pure HO cows. Nevertheless, JE × HO cows were not significantly different from pure HO cows for lifetime production or lifetime SCS. The JE × HO cows were not significantly different from pure HO cows for SCS and clinical mastitis during first and second lactations; however, JE × HO cows tended to have higher SCS (3.79) than pure HO cows (3.40), but significantly lower (−23.4%) clinical mastitis during third lactation. The JE × HO cows had significantly less hip height, smaller heart girth, less thurl width, and less pin width than pure HO cows during the first 3 lactations. Furthermore, JE × HO cows had significantly less udder clearance from the ground and significantly greater distance between the front teats than pure HO cows during their first 3 lactations.