ACTA VETERINARIA ET ZOOTECHNICA SINICA ›› 2018, Vol. 49 ›› Issue (2): 270-281.doi: 10.11843/j.issn.0366-6964.2018.02.006

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A Comparison Study on Economically Important Traits between Holstein and Simmental×Holstein Crossbred Cows

CHANG Yao1, ZHU Ying-lin1, SHI Jia-qing1, AN Tao1, YU Ya-dong1, ZHANG Hai-liang1, XU Wei1, ZHANG Bao-shi2, WANG Zhi-gang3, WANG Ya-chun1*   

  1. 1. College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China;
    2. Datong Sifanggaoke Agriculture and Animal Husbandry Co., Ltd., Datong 037001, China;
    3. National Animal Husbandry Service, Beijing 100125, China
  • Received:2017-07-11 Online:2018-02-23 Published:2018-02-23

Abstract:

In order to deeply understand the efficiency of crossbreeding system using Simmental sire×Holstein cows, fixed and mixed models (GLM and Mixed procedures, SAS9.2) were used to analyze 8 economically important traits of 4 dairy cattle groups, namely Montbeliarde×Holstein (MO×HO), Fleckvieh×Holstein (FL×HO), Chinese Holstein (CHO) and Holstein imported from Australia (AHO), based on information collected from a large scale farm with 4 393 milking cows. The results showed that, in terms of milk performance, daily milk yield and herd test adjusted corrected milk (HTACM) of MO×HO cows were significantly higher than those of AHO (P<0.05), and MO×HO had the highest milk fat percentage and milk protein percentage among the 4 groups. No significant difference among 4 groups were observed (P>0.05) for somatic cell score (SCS) and milk urea nitrogen (MUN);Referring to reproductive traits, the age at first service (AFS) of MO×HO heifers was significantly lower than those of CHO and AHO (P<0.05), and crossbred cows had shorter calving to first service interval (CTFS) than that of the pure breed groups. Number of services (NS) of AHO heifers was significantly lower than that of CHO cows (P<0.05). Furthermore, days open (DO) of MO×HO was 38.43 and 20.93 d fewer than that of CHO and AHO cows, respectively; For growth performance, all traits of crossbred cattle were greater than those of CHO cows except for body depth, and there was a significant difference in chest circumference between MO×HO and CHO(P<0.05); Indexes related to the heat stress were measured on smaller number of animals, results showed that, the morning rectal temperature (RT) of crossbred cows was lower than that of both CHO and AHO cows, the difference between FL×HO and AHO was significant (P<0.05), and no significant difference was found in afternoon RT among groups (P>0.05); In addition, crossbred cows had significantly higher body condition score (BCS) than that of CHO cows (P<0.05), while no significant difference in temperament score and locomotion score were found among breeds groups (P>0.05). Skinfold thickness measured on the skin over the mid-point of the last rib of FL×HO was significantly greater than that measured on the same position of the other groups(P<0.05). In conclusion, preliminary results indicate that crossbred F1 cows of Simmental sire×Holstein dam have better overall performance than pure Holstein cows in the experimental farm.

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