Health treatment cost, stillbirth, survival, and conformation of Viking Red-, Montbéliarde-, and Holstein-sired crossbred cows compared with pure Holstein cows during their first 3 lactations

摘要

Three generations of crossbreds from a 3-breed rotationof the Viking Red (VR), Montbéliarde (MO), andHolstein (HO) breeds were compared with their HOherdmates in 7 commercial dairy herds in Minnesota.The designed study enrolled 3,550 HO females in 2008to initiate crossbreeding and a control of pure HOherdmates within each herd. Service sires were highranking,proven AI bulls selected for high genetic meritwithin each of the VR, MO, and HO breeds. Cows inthis study calved from 2010 to 2017 and collection ofdata ended on December 31, 2017. The first generationof cows consisted of 644 VR × HO and 616 MO × HOcrossbreds and their 1,405 HO herdmates. The secondgeneration had 615 VR × MO/HO and 568 MO ×VR/HO crossbreds and their 1,462 HO herdmates. Thethird generation had 466 combined HO × VR/MO/HOand HO × MO/VR/HO crossbreds and their 736 HOherdmates. Total health cost was the sum of veterinarytreatment cost, pharmaceutical cost, and farm laborcost to treat 16 different health disorders. Conformationtraits and body condition score were subjectivelyscored once during early lactation for each of the first3 lactations of cows. Total health cost of the 2-breedcrossbreds was significantly lower during first (−23%),second (−29%), and third (−21%) lactation comparedwith their HO herdmates. For the 3-breed crossbreds,total health cost did not differ during first lactation butwas −26% lower during both second and third lactationcompared with their HO herdmates. The stillbirthrate for calves born to 2-breed crossbred dams (4%)was significantly lower compared with calves born totheir HO herdmates (8%) at first calving. Survivalfrom first to third calving (+9%) and first to fourthcalving (+11%) was significantly higher for the 2-breedcrossbreds compared with their HO herdmates. Also,the 3-breed crossbreds had significantly higher survival to third (+11%) and fourth (+19%) calving comparedwith their HO herdmates. Across each generation ofcrossbreeding, the crossbreds had uniformly shorterstature, less angularity, and less body depth comparedwith their respective HO herdmates. The crossbredcows also had significantly less udder clearance fromthe hock but significantly more rear teat width andlonger teat length compared with their respective HOherdmates. Furthermore, the crossbred cows had higherbody condition score compared with their HO herdmatesduring each of their first 3 lactations.