• Home
• Bulls Available
• Crossbreeding
• Contact Us

Cows with various breeds

Ayrshire X

(ALL IN DARRAUGH HERD)

Ayrshires are rapidly becoming the number one choice for dairy herds in the UK using a crossing programme to extend the working lives of the cows. There are hundreds of black and white Ayrshire x heifers and cows throughout the UK. Black is the dominant colour when using Ayrshire semen on black and white cows taking up to 3 generations to change black and white to red and white. Semen sales are constantly rising year on year and are been exported all over the world.

I have been using Ayrshire bulls crossing on various breeds of dairy cows with very satisfactory results on all breeds. With a herd of 230 cows producing 1.65 million litres calving all year round, I find that Ayrshire x cows fit into both spring and autumn calving systems successfully. Yields haven’t suffered and milk solids improving all the time in a system where cows are housed at night for most of the year. Latest milk tests for Jan 2010 were Butter fat 4.06 Protein 3.46 Lactose of 4.78 and Somatic cell count of 196,000 this is an average of 165 cows milking at 27 Litres per day. Fertility and mobility of the herd is excellent with exceptionally well connected udders particularly on the Ayrshire x cows.

This is the why in conjunction with Cattle Services Ltd Scotland I have decided to market and promote the use of Ayrshire genetics as an alternative in the cross breeding of dairy cows. After extensive research and consultation with Mr. Edward Evans head of marketing cattle services in Ayr Scotland I decided to import the number one proven Ayrshire bull in the UK Ardmore Crown Napier (100% pure Ayrshire) tailor made for pure breeding and as an outcross sire, daughters are modern dairy cows robust, durable, easy care and productive. His 2010 figures are +238 in milk, +6.2kgs in ptn, +12.9kgs in bf, +2.3 for mam and +0.4 for legs and feet with +1.8 for type and -0.4 in stature and crucially -10 in scc, rel 89% which should make his progeny bred for longevity hence lower replacement rates with good production in both volume and solids which should make him a first choice for cross breeding. They are very suited to modern dairy units where herd size are increasing. We need to produce a dairy cow that will produce large volumes of quality milk predominantly from forage while maintaining a robust frame and a consistant calving pattern to compete in the modern volatile world dairy markets.

Declan Donohoe,
RED & WHITEGENETICS

Farmers Testimonials

Gerard McKiernan, Swanlinbar, Co Cavan

I milk about 100 cows which were 100% Holstein until I purchased a pure breed Ayrshire bull 5 years ago. I noticed a marked improvement in Ayrshire cross young stock, in health and thriftiness having a noticeable improvement in food conservation.

I am very impressed with the first calving heifers entering the herd. They are giving no trouble and are milking well while holding body condition, and going back in calf easily, with some calving their 2nd calf, I am very satisfied and I am continuing to use Ayrshire on all the herd.

　

Jack & Mervyn Holl, Newbliss, Co Monaghan

We have been milking pure breed Ayrshires now for 48 years with a herd of 66. For the last few years we have had only one empty cow last year and two the year before. The vet only came last year to two calving cases and other than that we rarely have a sick cow. They have reasonable BF and PT and excellent SCC with an average for 2010 of 135,000.

We would not consider using any other breed.

　

Barry O’Donovan, Nadore, Druimoleague, Co Cork

I have the first calves on the ground bred by Ayrshire AI used in spring 2010. I am very happy with the quality of the calves and with some of them 5 - 6weeks old you can see a noticeable difference in their body strength and their general thrive.

On visiting a farm in Co Cavan which has the HF x Ayrshire heifers milking I was very impressed with their strength and quality, with heifer yields up to 7 gallons, so much so that I bought a pure breed Ayrshire bull.

　

Declan Donohoe, Darraugh, Ballyconnell Co Cavan

I milk 220 cows mainly Ayrshires and Holstein x Ayrshire filling 340,000 gallon quota, 50% autumn 50% spring.

In 2010 the average Butterfat was 4.0, Protein was 3.37, Somatic Cell Count was 172,000. I was calving all year round.

Averages somatic cell count for January and February 2011 of 113,000 for 56,000 gallons supplied BF 4.13 and PT 3.34.This is with no grass in diet as we do not get out to grass for another three weeks in this region.

The herd is very healthy, hold body condition well, go back in calf promptly and are generally very easily managed. We rarely need to call a vet.

In my opinion crossbreeding with Ayrshire on HF gives the advantages of hybrid vigour while maintaining a quality more robust easily managed cow with decent quantities of good quality milk. After crossing with various other breeds I find the Ayrshire x cows are the most suited to Irish conditions and with expanding herd size are very easily managed leaving you with more free time.

(All images from Declan Donohue's Darrugh herd include image above, a Fr x Jer x Ayrshire)