Beyond Calf Export Forum Andy Dodd March 2011

UK Diversity

Crossbreeding case studies Provide clear rewards/implications of crossbreeding Gaps in research 7,000 – 9,500 grazing/TMR systems Separate business decisions from genetics Assess health and fitness differences between breeds

Case studies continued Bull calf and cull cow values Survival rates Assess yield differences between crossbreds and pure breds Environmental impact of crossbreeding Farmers reasons for crossbreeding

Case study farm three MB+ AverageFarm Three Number Of Cows Labour Hrs/Cow2720 Grazing Weeks2631 Feed (ppl) Vet & Med (ppl) AI/Breeding (ppl) Calves Transferred (ppl) Cost Milk Production (ppl) Margin (ppl)

Fertility 1/9/10 - 1/2/11 Swedish Red XDanish Red XHolstein Number of Cows Yield (305 day)10,11810,56210,559 SCC (12month rolling) Days – 1 st Serve Serves - Conception % in 100d Conception Rate %39 (26)18 (8)33 (23) Mastitis Cases per 100 cows Lameness Cases per

Herd genetic reports

Pure breds - Crossbred ConventionalCrossbred Top 10%Bottom 10%Top 10%Bottom 10% Av. Herd size Av. Yield (l/cow) Grazing weeks Total feed cost (p/l) Labour (hrs/cow) Herd replacement (%) Net margin (p/l) Milkbench+ business benchmarking data sets 1/12/2009 – 30/6/2010 Pure bred farms (195 conventional and 40 organic) Crossbred farms – 39 farms

Bull selection HUK

What is the difference? HF Bullocks average 21 months £640/head HF X Monti Bullocks average 17 months = £820/head

Impact group aims Provide impartial crossbreeding research results for all breeds in one place Get like minded farmers together –Already crossbreeding –Considering crossbreeding Help farmers find answers/solutions to specific questions Find where gaps in research exist and try to fill these

So many choices...

Thank you for your time