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Holstein Cows and Calves Under Beef Cattle Management¹

Department of Animal Science, University of Nebraska, Lincoln 68503
and University of Nebraska Experiment Station, Mitchell 69357

ABSTRACT

Holstein cows were maintained under beef cattle management during six years. Cows had a potential for producing 14 kg milk daily for four months, but it was not until the calves were four months old that they consumed all this milk. At the end of 155 days single calves had consumed an average of 1,760 ± 65 kg milk and had gained 152 ± 6 kg since birth. Birth weights, 205 day weights, and age at weaning for 32 male and 34 female calves were 43.8 ± 1.0 kg and 41.3 ±1.0 kg; 245 ± 7 kg and 236 ± 7kg; and 253 ± 8 days and 232 ± 8 days. Although the cows were high milk producers, no serious complications arose. Mastitis occurred in some cows but did not constitute a major problem. There was no evidence of active mastitis when the calves were weaned. Only during one summer was there serious trouble with scours. Since it occurred only in one of the six years, it could not be attributed to the high intake of milk by the calves. The calving interval for Holsteins under beef management and natural breeding was similar to the calving interval for the same cows when they were under dairy management and were bred artificially.

¹ Published with the approval of the Director as Paper 2795 Journal Series, Experiment Station, Lincoln. The data for this study came from a contributing project to the North Central Regional Project NC-2, Improvement of Dairy Cattle Through Breeding.