Crossbreeding boosted by distributor deal
THE Green Acres trading division of Semex Ireland has been appointed the exclusive distributor in Ireland for Geno Global, the farmer co-op which controls cattle breeding in Norway.
The deal is significant for Irish farmers with herds largely consisting of Holstein cattle, looking for the crossbreeding "quick fix" for fertility related problems.
Crossbreeding adds "hybrid vigour", which should improve health traits for dairy cattle by 15 to 20%, resulting in animals which go in calf easier. And the milk yield for the crossbred animal should be 5% above the average of the two breeds.
Crossbreeding has been on trial around the world, as countries relying heavily on the Holstein look for ways to combat their infertility problems. The Norwegian and Swedish Reds, the Normande and the Montbeliarde have been included in crossbreeding trials.
US researchers Les Hansen and Brad Heins of the University of Minnesota reported preliminary California crossbreeding trial results at last November's Teagasc National Dairy Conference, which showed the cross of Norwegian and Swedish Reds on Holstein outproducing Holstein, Normande x Holstein and Montbeliarde x Holstein for fat and protein yield.
With the Norwegian Red (NRF) breed performing well for crossbreeding with the Holstein (the dual purpose Montbeliarde has also done well), Geno Global has enjoyed a semen export boom, and is now sending 200,000 doses per year overseas.
The US is their biggest market, with about 70,000 doses per year going to the big dairy farms in California, says export manager Egil Hersleth. He knows of farmers there who had major calving difficulties and increased their calf crop 10% by using the Norwegian Red as a cross bred. But Irish breeders are likely to be more interested in the Norwegian Red's genetics for yield, mastitis resistance and fertility, than for the easy calving.
Green Acres will market semen from four NRF bulls here, at prices from €10 to €21. Their relationship with Geno Global stems from the Semex Alliance joint marketing venture with Geno Global. The Semex Alliance of four Canadian AI companies has turned to the Norwegian Red to add its calf viability, female fertility and disease resistance traits to the Holstein's high milk, protein and fat production.
