Comparison of breed of dairy cow under grass-based spring milk production systems.

Abstract

The objective of this study was to investigate the potential differences among different dairy cow breeds across two feeding systems on milk production, udder health, milking characteristics, body weight, body condition score, hormone parameters, ovarian function, survival and overall reproductive efficiency. The breeds investigated included Holstein-Friesian (HF), Montbéliarde (MB), Normande (NM), Norwegian Red (NRF) and Holstein- Friesian × Montbéliarde (MBX) and Holstein- Friesian × Normande (NMX). Selection within the HF breed has, until recently, been predominantly for milk production with little or no direct selection for functional traits other than those correlated with superior type. The MB and the NM have been simultaneously selected for both milk and beef production in the past. The NRF were imported as calves and come from a more balanced total merit index incorporating production and cow functionality since the early 1970s. The dairy cow breeds were grouped into blocks of two within breed groups and randomized across two spring-calving grass-based feeding systems: low concentrate feeding system (LC) and high concentrate feeding system (HC). Those on LC feeding system were offered approximately 530 kg/cow over the total lactation, while those on HC feeding system were offered approximately 1030 kg/cow. There was no genotype by environment interaction observed for any of the milk production, BCS, BW, udder health, milking characteristics, reproductive performance or feed intake/efficiency parameters investigated. Compared to the MB and NM, all other breeds had higher total lactation milk, fat, protein and lactose yield, with the HF having the highest. Animals on the HC feeding system had higher total lactation milk, fat, protein and lactose yield. Compared to the NRF, SCS was higher for the HF, NM, MBX and NMX breed groups, while SCS of the MB was not different. The NM and MB had lower AMF compared to all breeds. The crossbreds achieved the higher AMF. The NM had the lowest PMF, while that of the crossbreds were higher compared to all breeds. Milking duration was not affected by breed. Differences between breeds for AMF, PMF and MD were not apparent after adjustment for milk yield. Animals offered a HC diet had higher AMF, PMF and MD compared to those on the LC feeding system. Somatic cell score did not differ between the feeding systems. The interaction between breed and milk yield influenced SCS, AMF, PMF and MD thus implying that for each unit increase of milk yield by breed, the response in SCS, AMF, PMF and MD was different for some breeds. The response in SCS was similar for the NRF, MBX and NMX, while MD was similar for the MB and MBX. The effect of one unit increase in daily average milk yield caused a favourable decrease in SCS; however a one unit increase in PMF and MD did not influence SCS. No interactions were observed for breed with any milking characteristic on SCS. The HF had the lowest BCS, the MB and NM the highest, while the NRF, MBX and NMX were intermediate. The NRF had the lowest BW; the NM had the highest while the other breeds were intermediate. The NRF had increased likelihood of SR24, PREG1, PREG42 and FINALPR and greater survival compared to the HF. Both MBX and NMX had shorter CSI and CCI and were more likely to be pregnant at the end of the breeding season, thus had higher survival rates compared to the HF; however heterosis estimates for these traits was not significant, likely due to the small data size. Feed system did not influence reproductive performance of the different breeds. Breed of dairy cow did not influence any of the ovarian parameters studied. Breed of dairy cow did not influence insulin or IGF-1 concentrations at any sampling period. Breed significantly effected gestation length, calf birth weight and calving ease score. The NRF had the shortest gestation, lightest calves and least calving difficulty. Genotype had a significant effect on estimated dry matter intake, being highest with the HF, MBX, NMX and lowest with NM and NRF. Genotype also had a significant effect on yield of milk solids per kg of DMI. The highest yield of milk solids per kg of DMI was achieved with the NRF, HF and MBX. Comparisons between genotypes reveal that estimated residual feed intake estimates were lowest (most favourable) for the NRF, compared to other genotypes with the exception of HF.