Use of Beef Breeds for Crossing on Dairy Herds in the Netherlands

Summary

The use of beef breeds for crossbreeding in the Netherlands is still limited. In 1980 the inseminations with semen of bulls of specialised beef breeds comprised only 1.1% of the total number of inseminations. Of the total of 21,000 beef inseminations, 44% were done with semen of Piedmont bulls and 29% with semen of double muscled bulls of the local breeds. The percentage of inseminations with semen of Charolais bulls has decreased to 5% because of the high incidence of calving difficulties with bulls of this breed.

Double muscled bulls are used by a particular category of farmer who is attracted by the very high prices of the calves and who takes into account the common use of caesarian sections. A further increase in the use of semen of double muscled bulls is not expected.

The majority of the dairy farmers are only interested in crossbreeding with beef breeds on condition that there will be no extra risks at calving. In this regard, results obtained with Piedmont bulls in recent years have been promising and there is a growing interest in the use of Piedmont bulls. Results obtained with Piedmont crossbred calves in bull beef and veal calf production systems have been good. However, the experience is based on a relatively small number of Piedmont bulls. Future developments will depend very much on the availability of an intermediate type of Piedmont bull, which combines a good beef production ability with guaranteed easy calving.