1. Is our dairy cow sustainable for the future? L. B. Hansen University of Minnesota

2. Cow desired by dairy producers Early maturing High milk production Sound fertility Functional udder Mobility (lameness) Disease resistance Long herd life

3. Change of Holsteins over the past 35 years Dramatic gain in milk production (+10,000 lb) Much better udders Larger body size (much taller and deeper) Less body condition (much “sharper”)

4. Traits historically ignored for Holsteins calving difficulty stillbirth cow fertility cow health cow longevity

5. Change of Holstein cows Birth year M.E. Milk (lb) # of Lactations Days open 1960 13,8133.63103 197015,2283.48115 198017,6993.17117 199020,9592.78125 200025,3212.76142 200526,0772.70**137

6. Longevity of cows The typical Holstein cow in the U.S. has somewhat more than two lactations About 10% of Holstein cows die on farms Less chance to voluntarily cull cows with time, because cows cull themselves (fertility, lameness, health) Replacement heifers cost about $1500 Cull cow prices are currently very high

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8. Body size of cows Is bigger better? No! Not based on research Natural tendency to choose bigger cattle Show ring demands large body size Holsteins are becoming bigger and bigger with time

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11. Genetic relationships with longevity (on scale of +1 to -1) Trait1980-82 1 1995-97 2 Milk+0.43 –0.11 Body condition (“sharpness”)+0.41 –0.25 Stature+0.05 –0.13 Strength –0.13 –0.20 Body Depth –0.07 –0.29 1 Weigel et al. (1998) J. Dairy Sci. 81:2040. 2 Tsuruta et al. (2005) J. Dairy Sci. 88:1156. Birth year of cows

12. Optimum score for longevity (on scale of 1 to 9) Trait U.S. 1 Germany 2 Canada 3 Body condition3 (round) 59 (sharp) Stature2 (low set) 3 (low set) 9 (tall) Strength3 (narrow) 1 (very narrow) 9 (wide) Body depth3 (shallow) 2 (shallow) 7 (deep) 1 Caraviello et al. (2004) J. Dairy Sci. 87:2677. 2 Buenger et al. (2001) J. Dairy Sci. 84:1531. 3 Sewalem et al. (2004) J. Dairy Sci. 87:3938.

13. Smaller and Rounder Current Goal Future Goal ??

15. Lameness Dr. Temple Grandin: Lameness is the single largest animal welfare issue facing the dairy industry today Bigger cows have more weight on legs & feet, and they have more problems with cow comfort in stalls At least 25% (and perhaps 30% to 35%) of U.S. dairy cows are clinically lame

16. Average inbreeding of U.S. Holsteins Birth year Inbreeding (%) 1992 3.0 1998 4.3 2004 5.1 2010 5.7

17. Relationship to Holstein breed Elevation (born 1965)15.4% Chief (born 1962)14.2% Blackstar (37.5% Elevation and Chief) 16.0% BW Marshall (grandson of Elton) 14.6% Mtoto (grandson of Starbuck and of Blackstar) 14.4% Durham (son of Elton out of a Mark) 14.0% Valiant (son of Chief) 13.6% Starbuck (son of Elevation) 13.6% Mark (son of Chief) 13.4%

18. Genomics It’s the latest “magic bullet” It’s being called a “revolution” – probably not Genomics is an elegant new tool to improve the efficiency of progeny testing of young bulls Should be effective in “weeding out” the “stinkers” – the young bulls that lack top genetics for traits Should NOT be used for across-breed selection – but it is! The “hype” continues

19. Impact of genomics Planet+0.24+412.0% O-Man+0.14-1013.4% Shottle+2.80+313.4% Goldwyn+3.16+111.8% Ramos+0.48-1110.4% Bolton+2.15+1112.0% Bull Stature Days open Relationship

20. Overview of California study Six cooperating dairies in central California Holstein cows bred to A.I. sires from numerous breeds Holstein Normande Montbeliarde Nordic Red (Swedish Red and Norwegian Red)

21. Total removals during first lactation Holstein4168.715.9 All Crossbreds1,0752.6 ** 7.4 ** Normande-Holstein2513.6 * 9.6 * Montbeliarde-Holstein5032.4 ** 7.0 ** Nordic Red-Holstein3212.2 ** 6.2 ** Prior to 1 st Calving to Breed Cows milk recording 305 days ------------ (%) ------------ ** p <.01, * p <.05

22. Days open Pure Normande- Montbeliarde- Nordic Red- Holstein Holstein HolsteinHolstein ----------------------------- (days) ----------------------------- 1 st lactation (360) 148 (232) –21** (477) –16* (305) –14* 2 nd lactation (275) 144 (196) –17* (396) –24** (254) –11† 3 rd lactation (180) 146 (146) –14† (302) –16* (181) –14† 4 th lactation (97) 147 (93) –16 (195) –27** (116) –1 5 th lactation (37) 157 (43) –34* (72) –48** (33) –19 All lactations148 –20** –26** –11* Cows were required to have 250 days in milk. Number of cows in parentheses. ** p <.01, * p <.05, † p <.10

23. Average of all 305-day lactations Pure Normande- Montbeliarde- Nordic Red- TraitHolstein Holstein Holstein Holstein Milk (lb) 25,169 –3468**–1483** –1920** % Fat3.58+0.15+0.11+0.13 Fat (lb)902 –93**–27**–33** % Protein3.09+0.17+0.09+0.11 Protein (lb) 777 –71**–25** –30** Fat (lb) + Protein (lb) 1679 –164** –52**–63** % of Holstein –9.8%–3.1%–3.8% Lactations1,100 807 1,653 1,107 ** p <.01

24. Longevity Subsequent Pure Normande- Montbeliarde- Nordic Red- calving Holstein Holstein HolsteinHolstein ------------------------------ (%) ------------------------------- 1 st calving (165) --- (168) --- (369) --- (218) --- 2 nd calving (124) 75 (148) +13** (328) +14** (186) +10** 3 rd calving (84) 51 (123) +22** (276) +24** (155) +20** 4 th calving (48) 29 (89) +24** (203) +26** (110) +21** Number of cows in parentheses. ** p <.01

25. Pure Normande- Montbeliarde- Nordic Red- TraitHolstein Holstein Holstein Holstein Milk (lb) 61,918 +3,703+10,592** +7,033* Fat (lb)2,195 +238*+488**+349** Protein (lb) 1,921 +210*+395** +291** Fat (lb) + Protein (lb) 4,117 +448* +883**+640** % of Holstein +11%+21%+16% Cows 165 168 369 218 Production within the 4-year period (1,461 days) after first calving ** p <.01, * p <.05 Lifetime production within 4 years of first calving

26. Input values for lifetime profit $1200 – replacement cost $250 – live heifer calf $100 – live bull calf $125 – dead cow disposal $525 – cull cow $40 – breeding cost Feed costs for daily fat-corrected milk of each cow with fixed body weight of 1200 lb (first lactation) and 1500 lb (later lactations) $5.33 – average daily feed cost Actual value of all solids and SCC in milk for U.S. from 2007 to 2009 $15.61/cwt – average milk price

27. Projected lifetime profit (ignoring differences in health costs) Pure Normande- Montbeliarde- Nordic Red- TraitHolstein Holstein Holstein Holstein Days in the herd946d1263d1358d1305d Lifetime profit$4312 $5441$6480 $6247 Difference --------- +$1129** +$2168**+$1935** % of Holstein +26%+50%+45% Cows 165 168 369 218 ** p <.01

28. Profit per day in the herd (ignoring differences in health costs) Pure Normande- Montbeliarde- Nordic Red- TraitHolstein Holstein Holstein Holstein Cows 165 168 369 218 ** p <.01 Profit per day$4.51 $4.23$4.74 $4.66 Difference from Holstein ─ $0.28** +0.23**+0.15** % of Holstein daily profit ─ 6.2%+5.1%+3.3%

29. Swedish Red Montbeliarde Holstein Example of a 3-breed rotation

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31. Designed crossbreeding study with large dairies in Minnesota 10 dairies enrolled during 2008 Rotational crossbreeding with ProCROSS Holstein Montbeliarde Swedish Red Holstein Swedish Red Montbeliarde 4185 pure Holstein heifers and cows enrolled 40% bred to Holstein A.I. bulls 30% bred to Montbeliarde A.I. bulls 30% bred to Swedish Red A.I. bulls

32. Designed crossbreeding study with 10 large dairies in Minnesota Trait Average of dairies Number in each dairy743 cows Milk28,370 lb Fat1014 lb Protein822 lb SCC 225,000

33. Designed crossbreeding study with 10 large dairies in Minnesota Trait Average of dairies Days open132 days Services per conception 2.5 Calving interval 13.6 months Stillbirth rate 7.6% Death rate 7.9% Turnover rate of cows 34%

34. 34 1-08 284d 24,720 3.9% 952 2.9% 710 305-day mature equivalent – 32,890 lb Pregnant on 1 st service at 69 days open Montbeliarde x Holstein

35. 35 Swedish Red x Holstein 1-10 288d 24,650 3.5% 875 3.1% 770 305-day mature equivalent – 30,360 lb Pregnant on 1 st service at 71 days open

36. Conclusions Selection against body condition on top of production has reduced fertility and longevity of Holstein cows Cows that are more moderate in size have advantages over big cows for fertility, health, and longevity The cow that is best for most dairies is “smaller and rounder” than what has been the goal

37. Conclusions (continued) Inbreeding of Holsteins has been increasing at a continuous rate of +0.1% per year Genomics will likely accelerate the rate of increase in inbreeding within Holsteins Genomics is marketed as a “magic bullet” that will improve the fertility and health of cows, which is doubtful

38. Conclusions (continued) Crossbreeding eliminates concerns about inbreeding and, instead, provides a boost from hybrid vigor Hybrid vigor has greatest and immediate impact on traits related to fertility, health, and longevity Consumers embrace production systems that improve the health and well-being of livestock Sustainability of dairying can be improved by the use of carefully designed crossbreeding systems