Dairy breeds that exist in the United States today were formed by use of purebred bulls on a population of less specialized cattle that were clearly not purebred. The new stock, a variety of the Normande breed, were also known for large quantities of high-quality milk. Loruk Farm PO Box 104-10400 Nanyuki The medium sized Guernsey requires less feed than the larger Holstein, yet converts that feed into more Protein and Butterfat per unit of body weight. The modern Friesian is pre-eminently a grazing animal, well able to sustain itself over much lactation, on both low lying and upland grassland, being developed by selectivebreedingover the last 100 years. Since then, the export of breeding stock from the islands has been a major agricultural enterprise. Her qualities as the producer of an unique golden coloured milk high in Protein and Butterfat and rich in flavour made her the envy of the emerging dairy industry of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. If a crossbred cow is related, even remotely, to her purebred mate, some inbreeding will exist in their crossbred progeny. Milk production potential is low (10 liters/day) 96% of Guernsey cows carry the protein Beta Casein A2 in their milk. Those animals would always be bred to Swedish Red sires, and calves born to those matings would always be bred to Holstein bulls. 5. Advantages of a corporation include personal liability protection, business security and continuity, and easier access to capital. Recording officially and accurately the quantity (kgs) and quality (Butterfat) of milk produced by each cow in every recorded herd. Dairy Cattle Business Management and Dairy Farm Labor, Dairy Cattle Mastitis and Milking Management, Dairy Cattle Nutrition of Milking and Dry Dairy Cows. The breed has little or no calving problems, greater fertility, a shorter calving interval, and earlier maturity. Inbreeding can lead to smaller animals, less productive animals, high incidences of deformities and low disease resistance among other undesirable characteristics. The closing of the island herds encouraged the standardization of the islands breeds. 3. The Guernsey is of medium size: cows weigh 450 to 500 kg, and bulls 600 to 700 kg. Properly identified crossbred animals contribute to genetic evaluations of their purebred sires in the current USDA genetic evaluation system, the all breed animal model. Being accustomed to desert condition, it covers vast distances in search of grazing and water and in some areas is only watered on alternate days or on the third day. This effect is known as heterosis or hybrid vigor, and is the opposite of inbreeding. The primary genetic interest in crossbreeding is in whether animals with genes from different parent breeds perform differently in combination than the average of their parent breeds. Fertility has declined in U.S. purebred dairy populations as a correlated response to selection for higher yields and/or from inbreeding depression. Some examples of simple breeding strategies we can mention: 1. Ayrshire milk is referred as "the ideal drinking milk"; it is not excessively rich, not lacking adequate fat, and it possesses desirable quantities of proteins.Potential yield: 30 litres/day, 4,7% butter fat, depending on feeding and management.Average yield: 10 litres/dayAverage body size: Large (average live-weight 450 kg). Although Guernseys are not as frail as commercial Holsteins, they are still prone to a variety of health problems ranging from lung problems to udder infections. Today, for example, Island Guernseys are the leading MILK and PROTEIN producers of the British Channel Island populations (Jersey and Guernsey). 2. Meanwhile, inbreeding increases as the breeds numbers decline. [5], Exports of cattle and semen were for a while an important economic resource for the island, and in the early 20th century, a large number of Guernsey cattle were exported to the United States. WebGuernsey milk contains 12% more protein, 30% more cream, 33% more vitamin D, 25% more vitamin A and 15% more calcium than average milk. Fruit Some things have changed in the last 50-plus years. Although the Guernsey is still one of Americas favorite dairy breeds, its fortunes have not recovered since the Holstein phenomenon began. 5. Ololua Farm (Carol Rees) PO Box 21007 Nairobi, Tel-891015 The following is a brief overview of some breeding methodologies. Heifers should not be bred too early, or they may injure themselves by producing too much milk. Field Crops Rawhide (Janet Mills) Nakuru 051-343005 Guernsey are adaptable to all climates and management systems and lack any known undesirable genetic recessives. WebProducers must consider the advantage and disadvantages of a tillage system before changing systems. 9 Embryo Transfer in Cattle- Advantages and Disadvantages . Many other factors, such as body size of mature animals, fertility, calving ease, somatic cell scores, and availability of frozen semen from many bulls with accurate genetic evaluations, also influence breed choices. The Holstein cattle breed is dominating in milk production. We rely on the support of our members, grants, and donations from the public to raise the $700,000 a year needed to maintain our conservation work with rare breeds of farm animals. The cross bred offspring may take more after one parent than the other, but there are very good experiences with such crosses. Guernseys perform well in both housed and grazing situations. 3. Good beef conformation for the discerning consumer. Choosing a Breed of CattleIs the Guernsey right for you? The Boran is typically white in colour with dark points and pigmented generally black skin. Participate in production recording systems that contribute records to the national genetic evaluation program. Skin is generally thin, with loose folds and pliable. Exotic breeds are more expensive to buy and require more sophisticated housing facilities. Boran cattle have developed adaptive traits of crucial importance for their survival. The Jersey, Alderney, and Guernsey CowAn old book in the public domain. By the time the first crossbred female reaches breeding age, a decision must have been made as to the breed of the sire to which she will be mated. 5. High production potential with good management and good feeding. Milk has high butter fat content 5.2%. Kenya is a home to a wide range of cattle genotypes. The Jersey breed is in second place for number of bulls sampled, while the remaining breeds have smaller programs. Sanctury Farm PO Box 244-20177 Naivasha Individuals selected must possess desirable characteristics which have good repeatability and heritability and will, therefore, be passed on to offspring. Use AI or natural mating - carefully noting the name of the sire providing semen at each AI service or the bull mating the cow - next to the name of the cow in your diary. The preference for black-pied cattle, particularly in the United States, led to the further segregation of red-pied animals and presently this colour variation only exists in small number in the Netherlands. The first recorded importation of Guernseys occurred sometime around 1830, when a schooner captain named Prince took two heifers and a bull to his home in Boston. ; Betbeze C M, Villers M R, Telle M R & Grissett G P (2021) Surgical correction of cicatricial entropion in cattle: two cases.Clin Case Rep 9 (3), 1299-1303 PubMed Wiley. Throughout this site you will find affiliate links to items that we have read or used and highly recommend. 9. Jerseys in Kenya are typically light brown in colour, though this can range from being almost grey to dull black. On that basis, the Holstein breed is in a formidable position. The herd instinct of the Boran makes it very easy to manage in bush country. 12. Poultry 86:4148-4154. The major disadvantages are that crossbreds also have the weaknesses of the breeds from which they descend and heterosis in initial crosses declines with any backcrossing to parental breeds. To increase disease resistance in exotic dairy breeds: Introduction of animals with better resistance to disease such as Boran or Sahiwal will improve the disease resistance of the dairy breeds. They are noted for being able to 'graze on the trot' and they will always stay together. Potential milk yield: low to moderate (10-15 liters/day). Under sub-optimal conditions the indigenous breeds stay healthy and animal welfare is less at risk as with exotic breeds in the same situation. Essentially, one can get many of the benefits of two breeds of cattle in the first generation of a cross by using unrelated parent stock. Guernsey milk has been promoted under the trademark Golden Guernsey. Butter made from the milk is distinctively golden. Kisima Farm, PO Box 19- 20107 Njoro Breeding within small populations, such as a herd, without introduction of new animals from outside (not related to the herd or flock), leads automatically to a certain amount of inbreeding. High milk production potential (30 litres/day). Barbara Rischkowsky, D. Pilling (eds.) Accurate and complete identification of ancestry is recommended for all crossbred dairy animals. She is the ideal cow for intensive grazing. Guernseys are very popular for crossbreeding purposes. 2. Weigel, K.A. Although Guernseys are not given to passionate outbursts of affection, by the same token they are not prone to fits of irritability, instead forming a quiet bond with their owners. History These cattle does not require proper space to be kept, Registering and issuing of certificates for both pedigree and grade livestock. The largest herds in Kenya are kept by KARI, Naivasha and El-Karama Nanyuki. Cows are noted for their quiet dispositions, although bulls should be handled with care. 3. Although Guernsey milk was far superior in quality, no breed could outstrip the Holstein for gallons of milk per lactation. Copyright 20132023 All rights reserved. and K.A. Some of the Middle Eastern cattle probably arrived in Brittany and came to the Channel Islands in A.D. 960 with a group of monks. Makongi Farm, PO Box 1320-30100 Eldoret 2. We can reduce problems with food waste thanks to factory farms. No alternative plans, such as using lesser known dairy or dual-purpose breeds or use of crossbred sires, are sufficiently attractive to offset the opportunities available through within-breed selection and use of purebred sires in AI. This Zebu breed originates from India and Pakistan. WebAdvantages and Disadvantages of Fossil Fuels Advantages: Fossil fuels can generate a large amount of electricity at a single location. Free sample pages are available here. The Guernsey is primarily a dairy breed, one of the favorite choices of self-sustaining family farms and direct marketers of grassfed dairy products. Results of a producer survey regarding crossbreeding on US dairy farms. Guernsey cattle were first imported to North America in the 1830s, with importations peaking in the late 1800s and early 1900s. It was followed by a series of crossbreeding experiments conducted by universities and research institutions in the years following World War II. Such programs are strongly recommended. Complete identity of crossbred cows offers the important advantages of maintaining genetic evaluations within pure breeds for future sire selection decisions, Purpose:Meat and milk production ADC Olngatongo PO Box 680-30200 Kitale This is different from secondary data, where there is more time lag between data collection and publication. The Guernsey is strong numerically, especially in Britain, but the breed has an uncertain future. Chemusian Farm PO Box 86-20107 Menengai. Nutrition The Guernsey has a unique type of beta casein in its milk, which would point to the Middle East for its ancestry. [4]:4 During that century large numbers of cattle were exported from the Channel Islands to England; some of them had previously been brought from France. ADC Lanet Farm PO B0x 1124-20100 Nakuru 7. Travel Within the East and Central Africa region, Kenya has the highest number of exotic dairy cattle. They are a sociable breed and sometimes cows will watch over another cows calf like a babysitter to allow the mother some respite. At that time, imports into Guernsey were stopped and the island herds were closed. 1. KARI Ol Joro Orok Private Bag 20302 Ol Joro Orok Purpose:Meat productionAverage body size:Large (average live-weight 800 kg)Description:Body color white. Feed requirements is relatively low (65-85 kg fresh forage/day i.e. One of the best advantages of the internet is that it keeps us on top of the news. The Jersey's hard black feet are much less prone to lameness. SEE ARTICLE, DOWNLOADS AND LINKS. The Guernsey was the result. WebSuch strengths include having excellent maternal traits, fertility, calving (or freshening) ease, and great marbling. There may also have been some influence from Dutch cattle in the eighteenth century. Three-breed systems, at equilibrium, maintain 86 percent of full heterosis and can reduce large differences from one generation to the next in rate of maturity, mature body size, milk components, and associated nutritional requirements that some two-breed rotational systems may create. Good breeds for marginal areas. Affords the farmer a chance to contribute in the NationalBreedingprogram through the contract mating program which requires that the Bull dam be registered with the KSB. The Livestock Conservancy is Americas leading organization working to save over 150 heritage breeds from extinction. It has been developed over the last century through inputs of bloodlines from Britain, South Africa, Sweden, New-Zealand, Canada and USA. High milk production potential (25 lts/day) withmoderate butter fat content 4.3%. It traditionally had several other good qualities: it was long-lived, calved without difficulty, grazed well and being relatively small-sized was an efficient milk producer. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Docile. 4. Some agro-ecological zones (AEZ's) are not suitable for pure breed high yielding milk cows, but can benefit from crossbreeding the local breeds of cattle with exotic breeds. 3. Frequent calving in their lifetime, longevity, so need less replacements, They are known for their versatility: they provide high quality milk and high quality lean meat, Susceptible to diseases, susceptible to milk fever, Feed requirements high (90-110 kg fresh forage/day i.e. No content on this site may be reproduced in any way without prior written permission. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. 2. Keep close breeding records of all animals in the herd, Make sure parents do not breed with offspring and. Boran produce a calf a year. Click hereto learn how you can help. Setting up the registration rules in liaison with the respective Breed societies. Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Chicken Predators in Kansas: Foxes, Coyotes & Domestic Dogs, Your Path to Abundant Living in Flyover Country. ADC Lanet Farm PO B0x 1124-20100 Nakuru Dairy Advantages: 10. The Guernsey is extremely docile. Farms keeping Ayrshire in Kenya (officially registered): 1. Subsequent imports brought cattle from Normandy and this founding population was variable in size and in color, including white, red, black, brindle, and fawn. Performance of the first crosses will probably please most producers because 1) producers usually use their second favorite breed on their first favorite breed to produce that cross, and 2) first crosses display full hybrid vigor and tend to be uniform animals. At the same time, it reduces food security issues for the entire region. Three factors represent the main advantages of WFH: (i) work-life balance, (ii) improved work efficiency and (iii) greater work control. Russell, K. (1980). Ol Donyo (Tara Llewelyn) PO Box 111 Nanyuki Ontulele (Biddy Davis) Nairobi Tel-891518) Some weaknesses include having a low heat tolerance and low 4. ADC Olngatongo PO Box 680-30200 Kitale List of the Advantages of Poultry Farming. Fairly hardy and adaptable to varied agro-ecological zones (AEZs), They are relatively resistant to diseases and free of genetic diseases, Better suited to range management than the Fresian breed, Need plenty of clean water (60 litres/day). Guernsey produce calves big at birth, which are easy to rear. This trait has developed over many generations of cattle living close to man. Good levels of protein, butterfat, beta-carotene, and other nutrients. The Principles of Dairy Farming. One should be aware when crossbreeding that with early generations of crosses, there may be considerable diversity with regard to size, body condition, and other traits, depending on the breeds utilized. Wind energy is renewable and clean. 4. Jack McAllister, University of Kentucky. Milk has high butter-fat of 4.8% (The Jersey breed was developed on the neighboring island of Jersey, and the two breeds are related.) By having a good breeding strategy such inbreeding can not only be totally avoided, but the opposite can be achieved namely higher productivity, better milk and meat yields, healthy animals with good disease resistance, just to mention a few of the most common goals for breeding strategies. They have become safer over time. Trials have shown that Guernseys also calve easily even when crossed with heavier beef breeds. 2. if (window.showTocToggle) { var tocShowText = "show"; var tocHideText = "hide"; showTocToggle(); }. 3. 8. The rump is long, wide and muscular in the male and the buttocks are well fleshed. Sanctuary Farm PO Box 244-20177 Naivasha When established, herds with such a program would have all three crosses at all ages, but decisions regarding service sire would be driven by the simple ear tagging system. 1. UK Kingshay/National Milk Records survey showed that UK Guernseys had +1 lactations over other breeds. There is some anecdotal evidence that this protein MAY be better for the health of some people than the Protein Beta Casein A1 that is found in most other milks. Draft work is a less common use of the breed, but its steady temperament makes it a good choice for beginners. Thus the length of ear in sheep is the expression of the genes that regulate ear length. The breed is usually horned, though polled strains have been developed. A rather important advantage of nuclear energy is that it is much safer than fossil fuels from a public health perspective. When AI (Artificial Insemination) is used, a small number of sires again are used to serve a large number of females. The exact origins of the breed are difficult to determine but it is known that in the 18th century, herds of small black-and-white cattle were brought into northern Holland and Friesland from northern Jutland to replace animals that had fallen victim to disease and flooding. There has been some renewed interest in dairy crossbreeding as it offers some important advantages. and bulls 2,000 lbs. Milk production potential is low (10 Kg/day) Purpose: Milk production.Average yield:22 litres/day and 6.3% butter fat.Average body size:Small - medium (350 Kg). 2 gunny bags) Cattle were first brought to Guernsey from Brittany over 1,000 years ago. Purpose: Milk and meat productionAverage body size:small (average live-weight 250-300 kg), Description: Body colour is variable, the breed has a prominent hump, Advantages: A third breed may be a hard choice or even a big compromise if no third breed interests a particular producer. Read more onBreeding in Organic animal husbandry (in Animal health promotion and disease prevention according to IFOAM norms here. Besides, researchers can also update data regularly, as needed. More importations followed between 1850 and 1880. [3]:192 These advantages have been compromised by recent selective breeding strategies, which have led to larger animals, with longer legs. Egerton University, PO Box 356, Njoro J. Promotion of proper animal identification. However, the cow is usually removed from the dairy herd around ages six to eight,[citation needed] and marketed for beef, and other processed meats. Extension services offered to the Registered and New farmers andsound advise on Livestock management and proper record keeping at the farm level. Nevertheless, the reduction in heterozygosity may be relatively small in such cases, because many young sires are used for progeny testing, and several tested sires enter into service each year. Both two- and three-breed systems are simple enough to manage, even in very large herds, by placing a different color ear tag in offspring of different sire breeds. Channel Islands/Isle of Guernsey. A few contacts/farms where Jersey can be found in Kenya are: 1. 3. For instance, a Guernsey can be crossed with a Holstein to improve the temperament, calving ease, and milk components of the offspring. Waunyomu Ngeke Ranch PO Box 236-00232 Ruiru Includes a brief profile of the Guernsey breed. Advantages: 3. This effect even extends to crosses between breeds of cattle, which is why crossbreeding programs are popular (for producing cattle for beef operations, for instance). is not available), Multiple ovulation embryo transfer (MOET) (. Plant Health Interest in crossbreeding of plants and animals is nearly as old as the science of genetics, dating back to the early 1900s. Another captain named Belair brought three cows to New York around the same time. High production potential with good management and good feeding. The Guernsey cattle breed originated in the Channel Islands between France and England and was named for the Isle of Guernsey, which is the westernmost of the group. This breed is adapted to utilization of of poor quality pasture and rough terrain. Higher growth rate (also related to good nutrition), 7. Difficult breeders, most mating at night. It is hardy and adaptable to varied AEZs. To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Milk production potential is low (5 liters/day) Disadvantages: Adding value to your stock since registered stock fetch better prices. Outdoors Because the breed has many desirable characteristics, it is a popular choice in dairy crossbreeding programs. 4. When trading inbreedingcattle, it is often found that registration with the Kenya stud book, will more than double the price of your animals. Also suitable for crossbreeding/ improving local breeds. Registration records are also an important National assets for the management of animal. The composition of Guernsey milk is ideal for making cream, butter, cheese, and yogurt. They make a good family cow because they are a medium size and easy to milk. Makongi Farm, PO Box 1320-30100 Eldoret Read more onIntegrating animals into the farm (in what to consider when choosing to keep animals) here. The effectiveness of indirect selection depends upon the correlation between two traits. Farms where they can be found include: Faith The two breeds mingled over the years, isolated from outside influences by the waters of the English Channel. The breed was introduced to Kenya in 1908 from South Africa. The general conclusions were that purebred Holstein cows almost always gave more milk in a single 305-day period than any cross studied; however, there was evidence of heterosis for yields, livability, growth, and reproduction. - Are mature and can be bred early. Some outstanding examples of the breed have 12 to 15 lactations to their credit, emphasizing their inherent natural fecundity. ADC Sabwani Complex, PO Box 680 Kitale, Fleckviehhas usually a white head and tail andred (brown) coat, Purpose: Meat and milk productionAverage body size: Large (average live-weight 750 kg)Description: Body color brown andwhite or black and white, 1. Inbreeding:Mating of animals more closely related to each other than the average relationship within the breed or population concerned. The depth of eye muscle, marbling, even fat cover and ratio of hind to forequarter make the Boran difficult to beat, hence the preference of Kenya butchers for young, well-finished Boran steers. The Guernsey is one of three Channel Island cattle breeds, the others being the Alderney now extinct and the Jersey. The most important advantage of conservation tillage systems is significantly less soil erosion due to wind and water. There was extensive trade between the Channel Islands and England, France, and the Netherlands, and cattle were part of this trade until the early 1800s. 1. The milk is also rich in colour which is naturally produced from carotene. Research has shown that Guernseys have the lowest incidence of calving difficulty of any of the major dairy breeds. In this extreme form of inbreeding, in just two generations the defect went from being expressed in one out of all the animals to one out of every four animals, with three-quarters of the animals now carrying the defect. Birdwatching The modern trend in artificial insemination is to use the tested sires for only relatively short periods of time, after which they are replaced with younger sires, which presumably have made even better records. Description: 2. The coat is red or fawn (wheat-coloured), and may or may not be pied red-and-white or fawn-and-white. Good grazer, adaptable to variety of climates and conditions, Copyright 2020 | ALL RIGHTS RESERVED | PO BOX 477, 33 Hillsboro St, Pittsboro, NC 27312 |, How to Shear a Sheep & Why Its Important, They make a good family cow because they are a medium size and easy to milk. Very adaptable to warm climates. 116-120 . For registered pedigree grade cattle, its best to consult the KSB. The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes. OlEndeti (Grammaticas) Nairobi, Tel-2067686 The rich-milking cattle from Brittany were later influenced by more French cattle brought by more monks sometime in the 11th century. In farm animals, each male may be used to serve a large number of females, and under such conditions the increase of the inbreeding coefficient per generation in a closed breeding unit can be estimated simply by dividing 100 by eight times the number of males used. Indirect selection improves a trait by selecting cows with a related trait. Production levels of this breed declined during the 1950's when excessive emphasis was placed on correct colour pattern. Kenya Aryshire cattle breeders emphasize on medium cow balanced for type, production, longer life and fertility. Population size and young sire sampling efforts, as well as production characteristics are important when choosing breeds. 6. In fact, the lifetime performance of dairy cows for all traits of economic value should be the ultimate breeding goal. Table 1 shows seven of the most promising breeds for crossbreeding programs. Today, Guernseys are medium to large, with cows weighing 1,400 lbs. Heifers generally come into milk at about two years of age. The medium sized Guernsey requires less feed than Yields may range from 5-10 litres/dayAverage body size:Large (average live-weight 350-400 kg)Description:Body colour is solid brown, Advantages: Steady milk production, even in hot weather. 11. Heifers generally come into milk at about two years of age. The U.S. Holstein is a large animal with some calving difficulty issues. It is quite normal for 15 years oldbreedingcows to be sound mouthed and it is also on record that a 16 year old Boran bull is still producing high quality semen for artificial insemination. In contrast to disadvantage, there are a lot of advantages of Brown swiss cattle. Hall, D. Phillip Sponenberg (2016). Such rapid turnover in sires serves also to reduce the length of the generation interval in breeding programs. 2016-2020 World Guernsey Cattle Federation Inc. All rights reserved. Calves in particular tend to be delicate. Channel Islands cattle were exported to England beginning in the 1700s where they were widely used in the establishment and improvement of other breeds. Soil 1. 2. Four-time author Michelle Lindsey owns and operates Homestead on the Range, an independent publisher dedicated to helping Kansans and others around flyover country achieve an abundant country lifestyle. ADC Olngatongo PO Box 680-30200 Kitale When not pursuing hobbies ranging from music to gardening to birdwatching, she can usually be found researching or writing about her many interests. 4. 2. Dairy farmers all over the world confirm that her moderate temperament and disposition make the Guernsey the easiest breed to work with. Their popularity rose to a peak from the 1950s to the 1970s, but by 1970 a new trend was beginningmass production of Holstein milk. Ask your AI provider to bring different origin semen over time. 6. Gogar Farm PO Box 6-201080 Rongai Borans are generally less affected by foot and mouth diseases than exotics and recover faster. Producers should plan crossbreeding strategies carefully and have reasonable expectations of the process. Guernseys have had a prominent place in American agriculture, but the breed has fallen into decline in recent decades. 1. 16. Boran heifers reach puberty at an average age of 13 months. Buyers want to know the history of theirbreedingstock and how to choose the mates without resorting accidentally to inbreeding through AI, and they are willing to pay for this service. The Guernsey is the result of two centuries of continuous breed development and improvement. WebThey are relatively resistant to diseases and free of genetic diseases Better suited to range management than the Fresian breed Disadvantages: Feed requirements high (90-110 kg Food Both quantity and quality must go together for efficient production. 4. Three-Breed Rotational Systems with Purebred AI Sires. With the dairy industry focused exclusively on the quantity of milk produced under confinement conditions, and pricing favoring the quantity of fluid milk over the quality of the components, such as protein and butterfat, the Guernseys strengths lost market value.