With more than 250,000 Norwegian Red crosses in lactation\nworld-wide, we know crossing with Norwegian Red contributes to\nincreased profit when compared to pure Holsteins for most commercial dairy\nfarmers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Norwegian Red crosses can\ngive the same production income with lower production costs (better fertility,\nless diseases, easier calvings, increased longevity and better feet\nand legs) – – resulting in higher net profit per liter or lbs. of milk.\nSeveral scientific trials and on-farm testimonials show that net income per\nliter of milk can reach 10-20% higher with Norwegian Red crossbreds\ncompared to pure Holsteins. Norwegian Reds typically increase the solids output\nin a Holstein herd and in most cases will sustain close to the same volume of\nmilk. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Increased fertility<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Fertility has been\nincluded in the Total Merit Index (TMI) of the Norwegian Red breed since 1971.\nThe genetic trend for fertility is positive in the Norwegian Red with an\naverage 56-day non-return rate of 72.4% in cows in Norway (2014). It is most\nlikely that the Norwegian Red is the most fertile breed of dairy cattle in the\nworld.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Throughout the world,\nheat detection and conception rates are causing more and more problems,\nparticularly in pure Holstein herds. Expensive management tools such as heat\ndetection systems, estrus synchronization and activity monitoring are all\nhelpful tools, but they do not solve the basic problem of poor fertility in\ndairy cattle. Crossbreeding with Norwegian Reds can dramatically increase\nfertility across most dairy herds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Taking the U.S. as an\nexample where average Holstein daughter pregnancy rates (DPR) are 0.1%, the 15\nNorwegian Red sires available in the U.S (2014) will produce daughters that are\non average 5.7% higher for daughter pregnancy rate than average active AI\nHolsteins. The top 5 Norwegian Red bulls for DPR available for crossbreeding in\nthe U.S are 6.8% or 27 less days open on the Holstein scale. (Daughter\nPregnancy Rate (DPR) is a U.S. measure of female fertility and these estimates\ninclude heterosis since all Norwegian Red semen is used in crossbreeding in the\nU.S.) <\/p>\n\n\n\n Source: USDA\/CDCB August\n2014 genetic evaluation<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Increased health<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Health traits such as\nresistance to mastitis, ketosis and other diseases have been included in the\nTMI for the Norwegian Red since 1978. Positive genetic trends for health, as\nwell as production and fertility, have been possible due to the very\ncomprehensive data collection system in Norway together with large daughter groups\n(minimum 200) in each bull's first proof.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Overall improved health\nresults in fewer cows in hospital pens, less use of antibiotics, withholding of\nmilk and even fewer treatments related to claw disorders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Improved calf survival\nand health has resulted from long-term selection for easier calvings and less\nstillbirths. Cows of all parities in Norway average 2% difficult calvings\nand 2.7% stillbirths. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Dairy producers who want\nmoderate-sized cows with extremely high fertility and mastitis resistance\nas well as outstanding fat and protein production will be pleased with\ndaughters of NRF sires. The Norwegian Red complements many other dairy breeds\nand works well in almost any management system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Norwegian Red can be\na key profit-generating component of a 2-way or 3-way cross in an\nwell-designed crossbreeding system. In addition to the Norwegian Red, each\ncrossbreeding system must include the breed or breeds that work in the\nfacilities, climate, milk market, nutritional regime and level of management\navailable.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" With more than 250,000 Norwegian Red crosses in lactation world-wide, we know crossing with Norwegian Red contributes to increased profit when compared to pure Holsteins for most commercial dairy farmers. Norwegian Red crosses can give the same production income with lower production costs (better fertility, less diseases, easier calvings, increased longevity and better feet and legs) – – resulting […]<\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":321,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0},"categories":[34],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n