VikingHolsteins are served with VikingRed, and VikingRed-sired animals are served to Coopex Montbéliarde. These then go back to VikingHolsteins.

Fertility improvements mean most of their replacements are bred from heifers, with 90% of heifers calving at 22 months.

“They receive two straws of genomic sexed semen and then Angus. First lactation heifers also get one straw of sexed semen, and we used some on our best cows that have had no health issues in the previous lactation to ensure we have enough replacements,” explains Tom, who likes to carry more heifers as an insurance policy against TB.

This aligns with recommendations from Morten Kargo, Product Manager for DairyCross at VikingGenetics. Morten encourages farmers to use sexed semen on higher-ranking heifers to reduce the genetic lag between dairy cows and artificial insemination (AI) bulls.

At Chance Hall Farm, the cull rate has fallen to 23%, with cows now surviving until the fourth lactation and beyond. This allows the Haltons to be more discerning when selecting herd replacements. They sift out cows with conformation and udder misdemeanours and cull animals with health issues in their last lactation.

“It’s actually quite difficult to find cull cows because we have to go and find cull cows; they don’t find us,” says Karen.

However, they noted health has improved exponentially since using the three-way cross.

Overall, 98% of the cows score 0-1 for lameness (with 0 being good), and there is no longer a hospital pen for sick cows.

Prioritising early-life growth is the key

Karen believes herd health starts in the maternity pen. She is passionate about youngstock health and welfare and has honed management techniques to achieve exceptional performance.

 Calf mortality is under 1%, and fewer than 10% of cows require assistance during calving.

Herd data from 2023 shows that 100% of first-lactation heifers survive to second lactation, with 88% entering their third. In comparison, only 83% of heifers in the UK make it to first lactation, according to a recent study by AHDB and Reading University.

“When we started crossbreeding, I noticed how much easier calves were to rear ­– they drank more colostrum and were worth more money when I took them to market. They are bigger, stronger, healthier calves,” explains Karen.

During the ProCROSS Conference, Annica Hansson from Växa, one of VikingGenetics’ member cooperatives, presented studies showing that feeding more milk in early life was beneficial for calf growth, health and milk production in first lactation. “A good goal is that you should double [the calf’s] birth weight by eight weeks,” she said.

Joe Stone from HJ Lea Oakes echoed this: “Ultimately, we are investing in our youngstock for the future. You wouldn’t go and run a marathon without training, so why would you expect these to do multiple lactations without the right upbring?”

To give calves the best start to life, the Haltons feed heifers with their dam’s colostrum ad libitum for five days before transitioning to milk powder. They then receive milk powder ad lib until they are five weeks old.

After moving onto an automatic feeder at about 10 days of age, milk is gradually reduced at five weeks, and calves are fully weaned by day 50, provided they eat at least 3kg a head a day of a 20% crude protein pellet.

Karen reiterates the importance of good early-life growth so heifers can reach breeding target weights. “It is our job to get the first bit right because we are not going to get a second chance at this,” she emphasises.

Diversification gives a boost to business

To help stabilise their income, the Haltons diversified into selling raw milk in 2016 and now sell both raw and pasteurised milk directly at the farmgate. The business, called The Milk Shack, has grown significantly, and its product range has advanced from bottled milk to milkshakes, cakes, and coffees. They now sell approximately 150 litres of milk per day. 

When asked what he would have done differently if he had the chance to rewind the clock when he started his crossbreeding journey, Tom said: “I would have sold my cows, gone out and bought ProCROSS because I’ve had to wait so long to get the herd to where I want it.”

Farm facts:

• Milking 500 ProCROSS cows three times a day
• Averaging 11,800 kg of milk at 3.8% fat and 3.4% protein
• Farming 600 acres, all tenanted
• Selling to County Milk Products
• Growing 450 acres of grass and 150 acres of maise
• Calving year-round, fully housed
• Zero grazing during the spring and summer
• 11 staff members full-and-part time on the farm and the Milk Shack.