2001NAAB / S-284 Meeting, Baltimore, 2001 (1)

Implications of Crossbreeding Implications of Crossbreeding on Dairy Cattle Improvementon Dairy Cattle Improvement

Paul VanRaden and Ashley SandersPaul VanRaden and Ashley SandersAnimal Improvement Programs LaboratoryAgricultural Research Service, USDA, Beltsville, MDpaul@aipl.arsusda.paul@aipl.arsusda.govgov, , asandersasanders@@aiplaipl..arsusdaarsusda..govgov

Paul VanRaden 2001NAAB / S-284 Meeting, Baltimore, 2001 (2)

00 2525 5050 7575 100100

0.880.88

0.900.90

0.920.92

0.940.94

0.960.96

Prot

ein

kg/d

Prot

ein

kg/d

% Holstein genes% Holstein genes

0.860.86

—— Holstein meanHolstein mean

Crossbreeding TheoryCrossbreeding Theory Holstein Holstein Brown Swiss Protein Yield Brown Swiss Protein Yield

——A+Dominance (D)A+Dominance (D) max heterosis (H)max heterosis (H)—— A+D min HA+D min H—— A+D+AA+D+AA max HA max H—— A+D+AA+D+AA min HA min H

—— Additive (A) onlyAdditive (A) only

Paul VanRaden 2001NAAB / S-284 Meeting, Baltimore, 2001 (3)

Crossbreeding ResearchCrossbreeding Research

Document current levels of crossbreeding in the US Document current levels of crossbreeding in the US from DHI data.from DHI data. 3500 parent-identified crossbreds cows born in 1997. 600,000 sire-identified Holsteins. 35,000 sire-identified Jerseys.

Determine if crossbreeding makes sense in dairy Determine if crossbreeding makes sense in dairy cattle.cattle.

If yes, advise breeders on possible selection and If yes, advise breeders on possible selection and mating systems across breeds.mating systems across breeds.

Paul VanRaden 2001NAAB / S-284 Meeting, Baltimore, 2001 (4)

Crossbred and Purebred DataCrossbred and Purebred Data

Yield and SCS dataYield and SCS data 572 herds each with at least 5 crossbred cows. 10,442 F1 crossbred cows born since 1990. 140,421 purebred herdmates (80% were Holstein).

Productive life dataProductive life data 41,131 crossbred cows born since 1960. 726,344 purebred herdmates.

Other traitsOther traits Body size breed means and heterosis from literature. Udder, feet and legs, calving ease, etc. values were 0.

Paul VanRaden 2001NAAB / S-284 Meeting, Baltimore, 2001 (5)

Breed Differences & Heterosis for Breed Differences & Heterosis for Economic Merit Economic Merit

BreedBreed Net Merit ($)Net Merit ($) Cheese Merit ($)Cheese Merit ($) Fluid Merit ($)Fluid Merit ($)

AyrshireAyrshire -510-510 -469-469 -728-728Brown SwissBrown Swiss -355-355 -256-256 -808-808

GuernseyGuernsey -761-761 -692-692 -1117-1117JerseyJersey -305-305 -186-186 -865-865

M. ShorthornM. Shorthorn -892-892 -862-862 -1073-1073HolsteinHolstein —— —— ——

HeterosisHeterosis $197$197 $207$207 $163$163

Paul VanRaden 2001NAAB / S-284 Meeting, Baltimore, 2001 (6)

Merit of FMerit of F11 Holstein Crossbreds Holstein Crossbreds

Second BreedSecond BreedNet Net

Merit ($)Merit ($)CheeseCheeseMerit ($)Merit ($)

FluidFluidMerit ($)Merit ($)

AyrshireAyrshire -58-58 -27-27 -201-201

Brown SwissBrown Swiss 1818 7979 -241-241

GuernseyGuernsey -184-184 -138-138 -395-395

JerseyJersey 4444 113113 -269-269

M. ShorthornM. Shorthorn -249-249 -223-223 -373-373

Compared to 2000 genetic base for Holstein

Paul VanRaden 2001NAAB / S-284 Meeting, Baltimore, 2001 (7)

Mates for Holstein CowsMates for Holstein Cows

Brown SwissBrown Swiss JerseyJersey

Top US SireTop US Sire RansomRansom Fan ClubFan Club

NM$ NM$ (breed scale)(breed scale) $519$519 $467$467Breed Difference Breed Difference (from HOL)(from HOL) - $178- $178 - $153- $153

Heterosis Heterosis (NM$)(NM$) + $197+ $197 + $197+ $197Adjusted NM$ Adjusted NM$ (HOL scale)(HOL scale) $538$538 $511$511

NM$ Rank (HOL scale) 2828 4040CM$ Rank (HOL scale) 1313 1212

Paul VanRaden 2001NAAB / S-284 Meeting, Baltimore, 2001 (8)

Separate or Combined Breed Separate or Combined Breed EvaluationsEvaluations

Separate data sets reduce bias in evaluations Separate data sets reduce bias in evaluations within breeds, but some information is lost:within breeds, but some information is lost: Crossbred cows evaluated inaccurately or not at all “Conversion formulas” to compare cows across breeds

New Zealand, Australia, and the Netherlands New Zealand, Australia, and the Netherlands include crossbreds and account for heterosis in include crossbreds and account for heterosis in evaluations.evaluations.

USDA-DHIA evaluations exclude crossbred cows USDA-DHIA evaluations exclude crossbred cows unless identified as part of a “grading-up” program.unless identified as part of a “grading-up” program.

Paul VanRaden 2001NAAB / S-284 Meeting, Baltimore, 2001 (9)

Sires with Many Crossbred Sires with Many Crossbred DaughtersDaughters

Sire nameSire nameSireSire

breedbreedPurebredPurebreddaughtersdaughters

DamDambreedbreed

CrossbredCrossbreddaughtersdaughters

J Pete RoseJ Pete Rose BSBS 20792079 HOHO 9090M-B-S BerrettaM-B-S Berretta JEJE 16,47416,474 HOHO 7474I Quiet RevolutionI Quiet Revolution MSMS 301301 HOHO 2121LL Bell HiltonLL Bell Hilton HOHO 28,98928,989 GUGU 1818V JS Bell BossV JS Bell Boss HOHO 22,99822,998 AYAY 1515

Only 113 sires had Only 113 sires had >> 10 crossbred daughters. 10 crossbred daughters.

Paul VanRaden 2001NAAB / S-284 Meeting, Baltimore, 2001 (10)

ConclusionsConclusions

Paul VanRaden 2001NAAB / S-284 Meeting, Baltimore, 2001 (11)

ConclusionsConclusions

CurrentlyCurrently < 0.5% < 0.5% of DHI cows are crossbred. of DHI cows are crossbred. Heterosis was about Heterosis was about 4%4% for yield traits, for yield traits, < 1%< 1%

(unfavorable) for SCS, and (unfavorable) for SCS, and 1%1% for PL. for PL. Profit from Jersey Profit from Jersey Holstein and Brown Swiss Holstein and Brown Swiss

Holstein crosses was higher than from Holsteins Holstein crosses was higher than from Holsteins when compared at PTA = 0.when compared at PTA = 0.

Fewer extreme PTA bulls are found in minor breeds.Fewer extreme PTA bulls are found in minor breeds. Matings with high additive merit and low inbreeding Matings with high additive merit and low inbreeding

make sense.make sense.

Paul VanRaden 2001NAAB / S-284 Meeting, Baltimore, 2001 (12)

Paul VanRaden 2001NAAB / S-284 Meeting, Baltimore, 2001 (13)

Complete Outcross Pedigree!Complete Outcross Pedigree!

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Future daughter inbreeding = 5.6%Future daughter inbreeding = 5.6% Average for active AI Holsteins = 4.9%Average for active AI Holsteins = 4.9% Inbreeding when mated to Jerseys = 0.0%Inbreeding when mated to Jerseys = 0.0%