New Zealand Holstein Sires

[milkinpigs]

Would like to hear experiences that any of you might have had with A.I. sire from New Zealand.I know that Up North has used New Zealand sires, have they proven to be better grazers thanU.S. sires?

[Up North]

On balance we have been happy with them. Good milk components, good fertility, rugged, low maintance cows. I guess you would have to look at what areas you would like to improve on with cows you have, and think about whether using NZ Fresian-Holsteins would do that?
go to www.taurus-service.com .....click on Sire gallery...click on Livestock improvement...click on Global sire team...move selector from fresian to Kiwicross....Click on 501038 Scott's NorthSea.

Now there's a grazing sire.

[Tad]

We also have used NZ bulls, they are smaller cows with good components but the don't keep up production wise with the others. Probably break even with the other cows when production is worked out to pounds not percents.

[milkinpigs]

Thanks Tad and Up North, I'll be giving the fresians a try.WE pretty much milk along the same as the New Zealand farmers,so I think they may work. We feed grain in the barn (flat barn) and then they are out on grass or grain pasture the rest of the time. We don't have silage or alfalfa, no TMR, so we don't expect to get the same production.Since we've been blessed with a little rain we've saved quite a bit in feed.The NZ genetics sales pitch sure sounds like what would work for us, the pics they show look a lot like our cows.

[JeffNY]

ABS puts out a sire directory "Grazing Genetics" is what they call it. Not sure if these are NZ sires, or what they are.


Jeff

[Up North]

Would be to replace 3 large body Holsteins with 4 medium size grazing cows.
This may be tough in northern climates where smaller farms are limited by a finite number of stalls in barn where cows are housed and milked. You, however are blessed with a milking parlor setup where a few more cows thru the parlor doesn't lead to diminishing returns. You also have the advantage of outdoor housing where cows do not have to stand on concrete for long periods of time.
I guess the question you have to ask is which is more profitable and less problematic for your specific operation:
3 Large cows that produce 20,000 lbs/ year = 60,000 of milk & 3 calves
4 medium cows that produce 15,000 lbs/ year = 60,000 of milk & 4 calves
Which will yield best feed conversion? Which will offer best breeding efficiency? Which will have lowest vet costs? Which will have least calving difficulty, allowing you to spend more time with other interests(Oink, Oink).
Which type of cow will have least drop in production when it hits 100F and stays there?
The large cow proponent would say-More salvage value and more dollars for larger bull calves. This is only true on an individual cow basis.
3 1550 lb. cows = 4650 lbs beef on hoof.
4 1250 lb. cows = 5000 lbs. beef on hoof.
Analagous for bull calves.
Salability of dairy stock to other farms? It is my beleif that as Diesel Fuel prices continue to rise, more dairies will convert to grazing production, thus keeping demand strong for medium size grazing dairy stock. And many large confinement dairies are starting to use medium size cross-genetic
cows to adress problems of calving interval length, milk components, and high cull rates.
Have fun thinkin' on all that. PS our big project is coming along as planned.
UpNorth.

[Up North]

Originally Posted by Tad

We also have used NZ bulls, they are smaller cows with good components but the don't keep up production wise with the others. Probably break even with the other cows when production is worked out to pounds not percents.

Tad's outlook is astute. In the future, pounds of Protien and pounds of butterfat will determine a milk check. If Dairy plants want water, they will drill a well.

[milkinpigs]

Much obliged, you yankee teat pullers sure are smart!!!!

[Up North]

Originally Posted by milkinpigs

Much obliged, you yankee teat pullers sure are smart!!!!

You western hog farmers are pretty bright as well. Most of the confinement dairy farmers around here running $250,000 of machinery on $2.80 Diesel fuel to feed their cows think I am a total nutcase. Since they don't pay my feed bill or my mortgage, I don't care what they think,LOL.
Only in America..........................