B8: Dairy cattle breeds (classification, characteristics, types), breeds for production of consumption milk

Question 1

How has the type of dairy breed characterised?
(what are the parameters involved)

Answer 1

-> body size,
-> conformation,
-> composition of product,
-> quantity and quality of product.

Question 2

Name cattle breeds that are Single Purpose Dairy Breeds

Answer 2

jersey
guernsey cattle
ayrshire
holstein - freisian / holstein
milking shorthorn
hungarofreisian
norwegian dairy cattle

Question 3

Jersey milk content, weight, annual yield, calving ease etc

Answer 3

next most important dairy freed after HF.
channel island breed.

‣ Small breed: Cows 360-540 kg, Bulls 540-820 kg

4000 - 6500kg / lactation
fat: 4.5 - 5.5% (higher than normal)
protein: 3.5 - 4% (normal)
lactose: 4.8 - 4.9% (normal)
(above is from GAT)

beef quality is poor, yellow fat.
calving is easy.

Danish jersey -> dual purpose breed.
US Jersey -> more milk prod, less milk fat.

Question 4

Guernsey cattle milk content, weight, annual yield, calving ease etc

Answer 4

channel island breed

‣ Buff color with distinct white spots

‣ Cows 450-550 kg
‣ Bulls 700-800 kg

‣ Annual yield = 5800-6000 kg
‣ Renowned for rich flavor for golden-colored milk (high beta-carotene content)
‣ 4.6-5.0 % butterfat
‣ 3.6 % protein

‣ Low incidence of calving difficulty
‣ Longevity

Question 5

Holstein - friesian / holstein cattle milk content, weight, annual yield, calving ease etc

Answer 5

Highest producing large sized dairy cow.

‣ Originated in Europe (Holland & Fresiland), developed in USA from Dutch Fresian.

‣ Hostein – North American stock; Fresian – Animals of traditional EU ancestry: Holstein - Fresian is a cross between the two.

‣ Distinct black (or red) & white markings

‣ Annual yield = 8000-12000 kg - high milk prod but components of milk are low:
* 3.7 % butterfat
* 3.2 % protein

‣ Mature bulls weight up to 1200 kg
‣ Mature cows up to 700-800 kg

‣ Heifers can be bred around 18 months (500 kg)
* Breeders aim for 1st calving ~ 23-36 months

Question 6

ayrshire cattle milk content, weight, annual yield, calving ease etc

Answer 6

‣ Light/ dark red & white

‣ Cows 500-600 kg
‣ Bulls 750-850 kg

‣ Annual yield = 6400 kg
* 4% butterfat
* 4% protein

‣ Finnish Ayrshire 80% of cattle production in Finland

Question 7

hungarofresian cattle milk content, weight, annual yield, calving ease etc

Answer 7

hungarian spotted/ hungarian milking spotted X holstein or Jersey.

Question 8

norweigan dairy cattle milk content, weight, annual yield, calving ease etc

Answer 8

-> open synthetic breed.
-> cow selected for milking potential rate: milk flow + fertility.

Question 9

milking shorthorn (dairy shorthorn) cattle milk content, weight, annual yield, calving ease etc

Answer 9

‣ Easy calving & management.
‣ Economical – can thrive on home-produced forage & grass.
* Annual production = 7000 kg (over 305 days)
* 3.8 % butterfat
* 3.3 % protein

Question 10

name some dual purpose cattle breeds

Answer 10

2 groups:
(1) simmental group:
–> fleckvieh
–> pie rouge
–> montbeliard
–> hungarian spotted
–> hungarian milking spotted
–> US beef simmental

(2) brown swiss group:
–> braunvieh
–> aubrac
–> french brown / german brown

both are mountain breeds

(see pic in camera roll of table of muscling and milk production).

Question 11

simmental milk content, weight, annual yield, calving ease etc

Answer 11

Colour: red and white (head white)

cow wither height 138-142 cm

Weight of cows 650-750 kg
Weight of bulls 1100-1300 kg

Milk production 4500-5000 kg

good casein for cheese

Average daily gain :1200-1300g
Beef quality 60-63 %.

• rapid growth development; outstanding production of milk, butter, and cheese; and for their use as draught animals
• in America the Simmental is a beef breed! – US type.

Question 12

hungarian spotted milk content, weight, annual yield, calving ease etc

Answer 12

Characteristics:
Colour: red spotted

weight of cows 600-700 kg
weight of bulls 900-1300 kg
cow wither height 135-140 cm

Production traits:
first breeding at (month) 18-22
weight (kg) 400
Milk production, kg 4000- 5000
Milkfat % 3,7 - 4,0
Protein % 3,2 - 3,5

Machine Milking: middle
Calving: normal
Average daily gain: middle

• original breed was the Hungarian Grey
• the crossing breed was the Simmental

Question 13

montbeliarde milk content, weight, annual yield, calving ease etc

Answer 13

*belongs to the Continental red and white breed like the other european breeds (Simmental, Fleckvieh, Abondance).

Milk prod. 7285 kg
Fat 3.86 %
Protein 3.42 %

Question 14

braunvieh milk content, weight, annual yield, calving ease etc

Answer 14

*various shades of brown
*The border of the muzzle is very light, as is the poll, and often a lighter colored dorsal stripe is seen. The udder and inside of the legs and underline also being lighter shade.

Milk production 4500kg.

Question 15

brown swiss cattle milk content, weight, annual yield, calving ease etc

Answer 15

-> purebred (no cross breeding)
-> specialiased dairy breed.
-> light grey.

-> cow: 600 - 700kg

-> milk production: 6500 - 8000 kg
*milk fat: 3.7% - 3.9%
*protein: 3.3% - 3.5%