Service Sire Effects on Body Condition Score, Milk Production, and Rebreeding of Mixed-Aged Dairy Cows Bred to Angus and Hereford Bulls—A Case Study in New Zealand
Beef-breed bulls are used in dairy herds to produce a calf of greater value for finishing than calves sired by dairy bulls. There is limited research about which beef-breed bulls are most appropriate, and whether any negative impact on cow performance in terms of milk production and rebreeding shoul...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-11-01
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| Series: | Dairy |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2624-862X/2/4/49 |
| _version_ | 1797505536725352448 |
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| author | Lucy Coleman Penny Back Hugh Blair Nicolas López-Villalobos Rebecca Hickson |
| author_facet | Lucy Coleman Penny Back Hugh Blair Nicolas López-Villalobos Rebecca Hickson |
| author_sort | Lucy Coleman |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Beef-breed bulls are used in dairy herds to produce a calf of greater value for finishing than calves sired by dairy bulls. There is limited research about which beef-breed bulls are most appropriate, and whether any negative impact on cow performance in terms of milk production and rebreeding should be considered. The aim of this case study was to compare the body condition score, milk production, and rebreeding performance of mixed-aged dairy cows bred to a selection of Angus and Hereford beef-breed bulls. Body condition score, post-calving live weight, milk production, rebreeding performance, and survival of 952 mixed-aged dairy cows artificially bred to 65 Angus and Hereford bulls were compared. There was no effect of service sire on post-calving live weight, days in milk, milk production, or inter-calving intervals of mixed-aged cows. Service sire had an effect on the calving day due to differences in gestation length (<i>p</i> < 0.001), although this did not translate into an effect on days in milk. A longer gestation length negatively influenced pregnancy rates, and greater birth weight of the calf negatively influenced survival to rebreeding (<i>p</i> < 0.05), indicating the potential for an effect of service sire. Selection of beef-breed service sires for dairy cows should include emphasis on lighter calves and shorter gestation lengths. The general absence of the service sire effect on the parameters measured in this study indicated that any of the service sires used in this experiment would be appropriate for use over dairy cows. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T04:19:59Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-6c702b54d5d04c3f87d4fe3140b731c8 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2624-862X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T04:19:59Z |
| publishDate | 2021-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Dairy |
| spelling | doaj.art-6c702b54d5d04c3f87d4fe3140b731c82023-11-23T07:51:28ZengMDPI AGDairy2624-862X2021-11-012463764810.3390/dairy2040049Service Sire Effects on Body Condition Score, Milk Production, and Rebreeding of Mixed-Aged Dairy Cows Bred to Angus and Hereford Bulls—A Case Study in New ZealandLucy Coleman0Penny Back1Hugh Blair2Nicolas López-Villalobos3Rebecca Hickson4Animal Science Group, School of Agriculture and Environment, Massey University, Private Bag 11 222, Palmerston North 4442, New ZealandAnimal Science Group, School of Agriculture and Environment, Massey University, Private Bag 11 222, Palmerston North 4442, New ZealandAnimal Science Group, School of Agriculture and Environment, Massey University, Private Bag 11 222, Palmerston North 4442, New ZealandAnimal Science Group, School of Agriculture and Environment, Massey University, Private Bag 11 222, Palmerston North 4442, New ZealandAnimal Science Group, School of Agriculture and Environment, Massey University, Private Bag 11 222, Palmerston North 4442, New ZealandBeef-breed bulls are used in dairy herds to produce a calf of greater value for finishing than calves sired by dairy bulls. There is limited research about which beef-breed bulls are most appropriate, and whether any negative impact on cow performance in terms of milk production and rebreeding should be considered. The aim of this case study was to compare the body condition score, milk production, and rebreeding performance of mixed-aged dairy cows bred to a selection of Angus and Hereford beef-breed bulls. Body condition score, post-calving live weight, milk production, rebreeding performance, and survival of 952 mixed-aged dairy cows artificially bred to 65 Angus and Hereford bulls were compared. There was no effect of service sire on post-calving live weight, days in milk, milk production, or inter-calving intervals of mixed-aged cows. Service sire had an effect on the calving day due to differences in gestation length (<i>p</i> < 0.001), although this did not translate into an effect on days in milk. A longer gestation length negatively influenced pregnancy rates, and greater birth weight of the calf negatively influenced survival to rebreeding (<i>p</i> < 0.05), indicating the potential for an effect of service sire. Selection of beef-breed service sires for dairy cows should include emphasis on lighter calves and shorter gestation lengths. The general absence of the service sire effect on the parameters measured in this study indicated that any of the service sires used in this experiment would be appropriate for use over dairy cows.https://www.mdpi.com/2624-862X/2/4/49beef-cross-dairydairy beefdairymilk productionrebreedingbody condition score |
| spellingShingle | Lucy Coleman Penny Back Hugh Blair Nicolas López-Villalobos Rebecca Hickson Service Sire Effects on Body Condition Score, Milk Production, and Rebreeding of Mixed-Aged Dairy Cows Bred to Angus and Hereford Bulls—A Case Study in New Zealand Dairy beef-cross-dairy dairy beef dairy milk production rebreeding body condition score |
| title | Service Sire Effects on Body Condition Score, Milk Production, and Rebreeding of Mixed-Aged Dairy Cows Bred to Angus and Hereford Bulls—A Case Study in New Zealand |
| title_full | Service Sire Effects on Body Condition Score, Milk Production, and Rebreeding of Mixed-Aged Dairy Cows Bred to Angus and Hereford Bulls—A Case Study in New Zealand |
| title_fullStr | Service Sire Effects on Body Condition Score, Milk Production, and Rebreeding of Mixed-Aged Dairy Cows Bred to Angus and Hereford Bulls—A Case Study in New Zealand |
| title_full_unstemmed | Service Sire Effects on Body Condition Score, Milk Production, and Rebreeding of Mixed-Aged Dairy Cows Bred to Angus and Hereford Bulls—A Case Study in New Zealand |
| title_short | Service Sire Effects on Body Condition Score, Milk Production, and Rebreeding of Mixed-Aged Dairy Cows Bred to Angus and Hereford Bulls—A Case Study in New Zealand |
| title_sort | service sire effects on body condition score milk production and rebreeding of mixed aged dairy cows bred to angus and hereford bulls a case study in new zealand |
| topic | beef-cross-dairy dairy beef dairy milk production rebreeding body condition score |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2624-862X/2/4/49 |
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