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Recently
released annual milk performance data for different breeds by the
National Herd Improvement Service in Australia demonstrates the
impressive performance of Simmental.
The results show the average milk produced by Simmental at
5,763 litres is second only to Holstein. Average milk produced per day
of lactation for Simmental is also only just lower than that of
Holstein and well above other breeds and breed crosses.
Total
Fat and Total Protein levels for Simmental are very impressive
compared to other dairy breeds and crosses.
The
results show that Simmental has a very real place to play
either as a purebred or when crossed with other dairy breeds to
produce high milk yields with high fat and protein levels.
The
major benefit in using Simmental as a dairy cow is the added
value of their calves when sold as bobbies or reared to heavier
weights. The Simmental cow has also demonstrated high
fertility, health and longevity advantages, further enhancing the
breed's value as an alternative dairy breed.
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| Breed |
No
Cows |
Milk |
Fat |
Fat |
Protein |
Protein |
Lactn
Lngth |
Milk/Day
Lactn |
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|
(Litres) |
(%) |
(kg) |
(%) |
(kg) |
(days) |
(ltr/day) |
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| Holstein |
654,737 |
6,048 |
3.91% |
237 |
3.22% |
195 |
305 |
19.83 |
| Simmental |
397 |
5,763 |
3.94% |
227 |
3.26% |
188 |
300 |
19.21 |
| Commercial
Dairy |
126 |
5,687 |
4.05% |
230 |
3.38% |
192 |
304 |
18.71 |
| Meuse-Rhine-Issel |
17 |
5,486 |
4.28% |
235 |
3.46% |
190 |
319 |
17.20 |
| Holstein/Jersey
cross |
38,285 |
5,143 |
4.37% |
225 |
3.44% |
177 |
294 |
17.49 |
| Aust
Red Breed |
5,831 |
5,106 |
4.22% |
216 |
3.44% |
176 |
296 |
17.25 |
| Illawarra |
11,547 |
5,043 |
4.06% |
205 |
3.45% |
174 |
301 |
16.75 |
| Brown
Swiss |
3,020 |
5,025 |
4.18% |
210 |
3.46% |
174 |
308 |
16.31 |
| Ayrshire |
7,494 |
4,797 |
4.08% |
196 |
3.32% |
159 |
297 |
16.15 |
| Red
Poll |
42 |
4,703 |
3.99% |
188 |
3.29% |
155 |
282 |
16.68 |
| Guernsey |
4,144 |
4,626 |
4.37% |
202 |
3.51% |
163 |
309 |
14.97 |
| Aust
Milking Zebu |
76 |
4,587 |
4.19% |
192 |
3.34% |
153 |
316 |
14.52 |
| Jersey |
91,964 |
4,335 |
4.91% |
213 |
3.70% |
161 |
296 |
14.65 |
| Dairy
Shorthorn |
660 |
4,268 |
3.84% |
164 |
3.27% |
139 |
285 |
14.98 |
| AFS |
193 |
4,028 |
4.33% |
175 |
3.60% |
145 |
281 |
14.33 |
| TOTAL |
940,712 |
5,682 |
4.02% |
229 |
3.28% |
186 |
302 |
18.81 |
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