Short communication: Jersey × Holstein crossbreds compared with pure Holsteins for production, mastitis, and body measurements during the first 3 lactations

Jersey (JE) × Holstein (HO) crossbred cows (n = 76) were compared with pure HO cows (n = 73) for 305-d milk, fat, and protein production, somatic cell score (SCS), clinical mastitis, lifetime production, and body measurements during their first 3 lactations. Cows were in 2 research herds at the University of Minnesota and calved from September 2003 to June 2008. Best prediction was used to determine actual production for 305-d lactations as well as lifetime production (to 1,220 d in the herd after first calving) from test-day observations. During first lactation, JE × HO cows and pure HO cows were not significantly different for fat plus protein production; however, JE × HO cows had significantly lower fat plus protein production during second (-25. kg) and third (-51. kg) lactation than pure HO cows. Nevertheless, JE × HO cows were not significantly different from pure HO cows for lifetime production or lifetime SCS. The JE × HO cows were not significantly different from pure HO cows for SCS and clinical mastitis during first and second lactations; however, JE × HO cows tended to have higher SCS (3.79) than pure HO cows (3.40), but significantly lower (-23.4%) clinical mastitis during third lactation. The JE × HO cows had significantly less hip height, smaller heart girth, less thurl width, and less pin width than pure HO cows during the first 3 lactations. Furthermore, JE × HO cows had significantly less udder clearance from the ground and significantly greater distance between the front teats than pure HO cows during their first 3 lactations.