Many of us were taught that every Holstein is genetically the same as the next. This article sheds light on how crossbreeding has changed the dairy cow, its production potential and the profit stream that flows from these living manufacturing units.
Source: Dairy Herd Management, April 20, 2016.
We needed a heartier cow in the late 1990s. A cow that can maintain some body condition and still milk. And that’s where the modern Holstein is today.” says Greg Andersen, American Falls, Idaho. The Andersens began looking for a different answer. “The crossbreds, with Montbeliarde and Viking Reds fit that mold pretty well,” he says.
INSIGHTS: This article features one dairy family’s experiences and is a learning event for me. To identify the two breeds referenced see the links here: Montbeliarde and Viking Red.