A2O-Lancaster Farming, Saturday, June 15,1985
BY JAMES H. EVERHART
LANCASTER Throughout the
state, dairy producers often
discuss the merits or the attributes
of the different breeds of dairy
cattle.
More in an attempt to enlighten,
and certainly not to create
dissention, Lancaster Faming con
tacted the officers of the various
breed organizations, and asked
them to summarize the virtues of
their breeds.
We urged them to make sure
their comments were phrased in a
positive light, and not slanted so as
to “put down” another breed.
Almost universally, the
respondents accepted those
limitations and expressed their
comments in a way that should be
viewed favorably by the average
reader.
Their comments follow:
Holstein
By almost any measure,
Holsteins are the dominant dairy
breed in this country, virtually
setting the standard for production
and milk products.
Holstein cows produce ap
proximately 90 percent of the fluid
milk consumed in this country. In
addition, about 90 percent of all
dairy cows in the country are
Holsteins.
Milk output last year for a
typical Holstein cow averaged
15,791 pounds statewide and 15,862
nationwide, with fat totals of 586
and 576 pounds, respectively.
The breed’s 3.5 percent average
for butterfat, in fact, is the ac
cepted consumer standard for fluid
milk.
Holsteins are rugged, durable
animals that do well in all
climates. A total of 500,000 animals
are registered, while the nation’s
total Holstein herd is estimated at
BUTLER MFC. CO. I
Attn P E Hess ■
P 0 Box 337, Oxford, PA 19363 ■
ASK ABOUT OUR
NEW DEALER PROGRAM
MAIL IN COUPON TODAY
Name
Address
Counl
City
Sr
10 million.
The breed is backed by an
aggressive organization, the U.S.
Holstein Association, the largest
dairy breed association in the
world. The association, which is
celebrating its 100th anniversary
this year, conducts a variety of
programs to keep its 52,000
members in touch with the various
advances in breeding, herd
management, marketing and
genetics research.
The Holstein Association con
ducts a progeny testing program
for young sires, and works closely
with A.I. firms to evaluate
daughters of their young sires,
according to the association.
It has also recently introduced
the Total Performance Index for
cows, which allows breeders to
compare the genetic merit of in
dividuals within their herds. Using
the Index, the association last year
compiled its first Premier Per
formers List, which identifies the
top 2,000 genetically superior
registered Holstein cows in the
country.
sB,9l4°°‘
State
Z?ne Akins
FARMSTED® I
BUY OR LEASE
T***
“Industry use of this information
is expected to have an accelerating
effect on the rate of genetic ad
vancement within the breed,” said
Zane Akins, the association’s chief
executive officer.
The breed has attracted at
tention worldwide, as tens of
thousands of animals are exported
each year to countries like Saudia
Arabia, Tunisia, Hungary, Mexico,
Canada, South America, China and
South Korea.
“During the last 40 years, total
milk produced in the United States
has increased 21 percent, with only
46 percent as many cows,” said
Akins. “Average milk production
of all Holsteins in tested herds has
soared to nearly 16,000 pounds,
with the top Holstein Association
member herd averaging more
than 27,000 pounds.
“The progressive use, by our
members, of technology has been
responsible for development of
Holsteins as the world’s most
productive, efficient dairy breed.
The tools provided through the
Association have been
evolutionary, beginning with the
simple measurement of production
and conformation traits and
progressing, in steps, to con
temporary comparisons and
stardardized indexes of genetic
transmitting ability.
“The rate of genetic im
provement in the breed must be
considered phenomenal. For the
registered population of Holstein
cattle, the annual rate of genetic
improvement is 150 pounds of milk
and five pounds of butterfat.
“Today, the Holstein
Association’s computer technology
makes the genetic evaluation tools
available to dairymen. For the
Association, technology has
become a valuable production. It's
a high-tech business serving a
high-tech world.”
GRANT’S CONSTRUCTION C&M SALES INC
CO, INC RD»I
RDM Honesdale PA 18431
Buffalo Mills, PA 15534 PH 7172531612
PH 814-842-6540
MYERS BUILDING
SYSTEMS, INC
R D #l. Box 161
Clear Spring MD 21722
PH 301 582-4200
*)reed leaders talk abo
Red and White
Sometimes not viewed as a
separate breed, Red and White
Holsteins do have slightly different
characteristics than their black
and white sisters.
The latest breed average from
USDA shows a slightly lower
annual production figure (15,840
pounds), but reports slightly
higher fat (3.69 percent) and
protein (3.18 percent) levels.
“As a breed in the formative
stages, this opportunity to develop
higher butterfat and protein, while
having the production of the
Holstein breed, gives Red and
Whites promise for the future
market when hauling expenses will
increase and protein payments will
become more common,” says John
Carpenter, president of the Red
and White Dairy Cattle
Association.
Currently, Carpenter notes, the
RWDCA is pursuing an “Open
Herdbook” policy which allows
breeders with black and white or
colored breed cattle to join the
group, enroll their cattle and
develop a registered Red and
White from them.
The practice, he says, “is a
unique opportunity among breed
associations.”
The major problem in the breed,
he notes, is “trying to keep them on
the farm.”
DHIA Production Records
Milk, Fat, Fat,
pounds percent pounds
15791 3 71 586
15578 3 70 576
13655 4 13 564
12372 4 02 497
11677 4 69 548
Jersey 10564 4 85 512
Source, Pennsylvania DHIA 1983-84 Statistics
Breed
Holstein
Red&White
Brown Swiss
Ayrshire
Guernsey
F. 0.8.
NAZARETH BUILDING
SYSTEMS, INC
P O Box 47
Nazareth, PA 18064
PH 215-837 7700
Holsteins
TRI-COUNTY
AGRI-SYSTEMS
R D #l, Box 55
Swedesboro. NJ 08085
PH 609-467-3174
“While this may sound like a
humorous answer, it is true,” he
notes. “Many breeders have a
difficult time keeping their best
Reds because of the pressure to
sell and the high premium they can
receive.”
Generally, registrations of Red
and Whites have been on the rise
for the past five years, although
1984 figures were down slightly, an
apparent reflection of “difficult
financial times” experienced by
the members.
The group has a number of
programs designed to make sure
an adequate number of sires is
available, and foreign demand for
red semen encourages develop
ment of all available opportunities.
“The Red and White breed is the
most attractive and exciting breed
in the dairy business,” Carpenter
summarized. “Combining the
many advantages of the Holstein
breed with our unique color -and
tremendous demand in both the
U.S. and foreign markets, is
making Red and Whites red hot.
“Another huge advantage that
Total Registrations, U S
US Holstein Association 500 000
American Jersey Cattle
Club
Red and White Dairv Cattle
Association
American Guernsey Cattle
Club
Brown Swiss Cattle Breeders
Association
Ayrshire Breeders
Association
Protein,
percent
3 24
3 26
3 58
3 40
3 63
3 82
See What $B,
Will Buy From You
MO
BUT <
WILL GIVE YOU Q
GOMPF CONSTRUCTION
CO . INC
1841 Jerry s Road
Street, MD21154
PH 301-692 5350
50 000
49 000
20 765
17 500
10 153
Protein,
pounds
511
508
489
420
423
403
I’ii. . -M,i\ V.ir H
MATTSON ENTERf
1605 Mt Holly A®
Burlington, NJO®
PH 609-386-lW