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Reproductive Efficiency of Purebred and Crossbred Dairy Cattle¹

Department of Animal Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14850
University of Georgia, Coastal Plain Experiment Station Tifton, Georgia 31794
Department of Dairy Science, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina 29631
Iberia Livestock Experiment Station Jeanerette, Louisiana 70544
Animal Physiology and Genetics Institute, USDA, Beltsville, Maryland 20705

ABSTRACT

Nine measures related to breeding efficiency were used for comparisons among purebred Ayrshires, Brown Swiss, Holsteins, and Jerseys and between pure-breds and 32 crossbred groups representing 2-breed, 3-breed, 5/8, and back-crosses by purebred sires and progeny of crossbred sires. There were four herds with Holsteins common to all, Brown Swiss and Jerseys in three herds and Ayrshires in one herd. Four 2-breed, two 3-breed, and two backcross groups were common to two or more herds. Among purebreds, breed effects were significant in 16 of 72 tests, but there was no consistent trend favoring one breed. Generally, Jerseys were better than Holsteins, and Brown Swiss were poorer than Holsteins. Purebred females bred to their breed required similar services for conception (1.77 versus 1.79) as when bred to a different breed of sire. Least squares estimates of differences between purebreds and crossbreds favored crossbreds in 86 of 144 tests suggesting advantages for breeding efficiency; however, few were significant. Standard errors frequently exceeded estimates of differences. Parity was not associated with superiority in the crosses.

¹ This work was part of the Southern Regional Dairy Cattle Breeding Project, S-49 (Genetic Methods of Improving Dairy Cattle for the South).

² Veterinary Institute, Tropical and High Altitude Research, Universidad Nacional, Mayor de San Marcos, Lima, Peru.

³ Present address: Dairy Experiment Station, Lewisburg, Tennessee 37091.

⁴ Present address: Department of Animal Science, North Carolina State University, Raleigh 27607.

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