Successful experience of introduction of the Brown Swiss in the northwest of Vietnam Serge Lacaze Biotechnologies Manager AURIVA 1

Content 1 part1 st part : Context : ASODIA-AURIVA and the milk company in Moc Chau 2 nd part : Introduction of Brown Swiss, Methods and Results 3 rd part : Conclusion, Perspectives 2

ASODIA-AURIVA French association created in 1975 (NGO) Composed of main professional agricultural organizations of the Midi-Pyrénées Province in France AURIVA (Midatest),Coop Garonne, Crédit Agricole…) Works locally, by building partnerships like Moc Chau Milk Company Goal: To fight against poverty in rural area by improving farmer incomes generated by agricultural and agribusiness products. 3

4 Moc Chau 4

5 Moc Chau : 250 km west of Hanoi Semi-tropical climate : 3500 mm rainfall / year, Elevation around 1050 meters, humidity rate of 90%). Weather conditions in Moc Chau 5

The Moc Chau Milk Company 486 farmers, Holstein animals ; 960 ha of total exploitation area. Daily production : 20,4 kg/day, kg/ lactation. An annual production of collected milk in 2009 : tons of milk (+ de 57% to compare to 2008) ; Daily sale of 80 tons of milk in Hanoi ; 200 kg/month of cheese and yogurt since March

7 Getting to cows in total to tons of milk per year Getting cows having to kg/lactation Getting 10 cows/ha To optimize the average area : from 0,5 to 7 ha / farmer Objectives of the milk company 7

Concerning the grass, one farmer grows in average: 45 % of corn silage ; 25 % signal ; 9 % ruzi ; 18 % elephant grass ; 3 % others Adviced feeding by the milk company: very intensive 8

Tradicional Feeding System 9

Genetic improvement 10

Objective General: To diversify the risks and to improve the global performance of the Moc Chau herd, by introduction of a more adapted breed than the Holstein: the « Brown Swiss» Rustic breed,fertility breed, adapted to Moc Chau conditions Milk production Milk rich in protein, casein, great for cheese production Diversification : risk minimisation strategy In 2011: to evaluate the adaptation of female F1 to the environment 11

Implementation modalities In october 2008 : Importation doses of pure Brune semen, from 7 different bulls, provided by BGS-AURIVA ( Jérome Lagarde, Olivier Bulot) Support to the insemination, expertise mission by Serge LACAZE, AURIVA 12

First results of the cross F1 Pure semen Brune x Holstein = F1 (1050 insemination on heifers, calving from 2009 to 2010). 863 heifers inseminated, 515 gravid 515 heifers calved (245 males F1 and 270 females F1) Succes rate 1st IA : 57% Sucess rate of AI/born : 46% 13

First results of the cross F1 (2) Birth of the calves F1: Calving have taken place normally, without help of farmer (birth weight: 33,5 kg) Very easy going and manageable to breed ( growth of 720 g per day - docility) No problem of disease Insemination weight : 338 kg F1 inseminated, first calving have started in June

15 First results of the cross F1 (3) Parameters of fertility : Rate of AI 1 st success of heifer F1: 66% (F0 : 57%) Coming back on heat after calving very early, due to recuperation of the body state very quickly after calving. 15

16 First results of the cross F1 (4) Parameters of production and morphology : Average production per day, per cow F1 : 20 kg. The maximum production is 26 kg/cow/day. Average production of Moc Chau :21kg Udder quality Strength of legs and feet 16

17 strength of legs and feet

18 Udder quality

19 Udder quality

20 Brune and Holstein after the first lactation

21 Holstein cow

22 F1 Holstein- brune

Current status of F 1 april F1 &F2 Longevity : 5 cows in fifth lactation (F1) 58 cows in forth lactation (F1) 140 cows in third lactation (F1) 242 cows in second lactation ( F2-F1) Production Production : Average milk: 21.8kg/day Average milk in high: 35kg/day Sanitary Status : Good health, good hoof, easy eating

24 F1 Holstein- brune

25 F1 Holstein- brune

Conclusions 26 Successful experience of F1 with Brune Technical results ( semen fertility, calving conditions breeding, diseases, fertility after calving F1 …) Production results ( milk,morphology) Good adaptation in semi-tropical conditions Acceptability and very favorable opinions of the breeders => Decision of the milk company to use the 300 remained doses

Future prospects 27 Registration of the Brown Swiss breed in Vietnam (Evolution International ) to export semen and increase Brune in Vietnam Cheese production with Brown Swiss milk

28 Thank you very much for your attention 28

Practices of reproduction of the milk company 29