Why these Three-breeds ?

Capturing and sustaining heterosis is a key part of an efficient crossbreeding programme. Once you experience the extra bonus of heterosis, it’s important not to diminish this effect to less than 75%. However, if only two breeds are used in the programme, heterosis will drop to 50% in the second generation – levelling at a constant 67% in future generations.  A system of four breeds results in even higher heterosis, levelling at 93%. But it is very hard to find four complementary, unrelated breeds which produce enough milk. ProCROSS is a three-breed rotation which generates optimum results and achieves an average heterosis of 86% through its entire duration.

The three breeds, VikingRed, Montbéliarde by Coopex and Holstein, were quickly identified as the most efficient when they demonstrated the greatest advantages of crossbreeding in the first trial in California. At that time, many breeds were used for crossbreeding although each programme retained the internationally dominant Holstein at its core. Other breeds considered included the Norwegian Red, although this was unable to match the production standards once crossed with many of the pioneers’ herds, and the Brown Swiss, although this did not bring any vitality to the crossing. The pioneering breeders quickly identified the Montbéliarde by Coopex and the VikingRed as the breeds which would guarantee a very high level of production while also benefiting from the functional qualities of health, longevity, robustness and fertility. These first observations were confirmed several years later with the release of various studies comparing ProCROSS cows with pure Holstein herds.