At Gobetti Dairy Farm they are milking 150 cows. Herd average milk yield is 10,000 kg, 3.40% fat and 3.50% protein (2,68 caseina). They produce milk for the Parmigiano Reggiano cheese production.
70% crosses
Gobetti Dairy Farm started crossbreeding some years ago, using Norwegian Red and other breeds (SRB, Pezzata Rossa Italiana and Montbeliarde). About 70% of the herd are crosses.
"Today I can easily say that the NRF crosses are the best," says Marco Gobetti. "They gave me exactly the cows I expected when I started crossbreeding: strong and robust dairy cows. The NRF crosses have fantastic udders, they produce a lot of milk with good solids, and above all they show amazing conception rates and low SCC. All together this means more profit to the farm," says Marco.
"It’s not easy to believe the performance regarding SCC and days open of the NRF crosses if you don’t look at the data because they are amazing! The average of SCC is 70% less compared to the herd’s average, and days open will be reduced immediately by at least of 30 days."
More profitable cows
"We started crossbreeding because we were tired of the problems with the Holsteins, and because we wanted more robust cows with better longevity. We’re very happy with the NRF crosses and I think we’re doing well with the TWOPLUS system.
The crosses have never been treated by the vet., never needed anything for the feet and legs since they’re so strong, and they always show a good Body Condition Score and good heat, too.
I think that also in Italy the crossbreeding with Norwegian Red will help many farmers to save money and have more profit."
Watch the video of the NRF crosses at Gobetti Dairy Farm on Facebook
150 milking cows for Parmigiano Reggiano cheese production:
Milk yield 305 days: 10,000 Kg
% fat: 3.40
% protein: 3.50
Average SCC: 200,000
Days Open: 138
Data on some of the NRF x Holstein crosses in milk by 12.06.2010:
Sired by NRF 05694 Brenden (the one in the video)
DIM: 150
Last milk control: 35 Kg/day
% fat: 3,67
% protein: 3,40
SCC average: 30,000
Days Open: 65
Sired by NRF 05694 Brenden
DIM: 233
Last milk control: 32 Kg/day
% fat: 3.60
% protein: 3.40
SCC average: 25,000
Days Open: 64
Sired by NRF 05612 Ryggvold
DIM: 40
Last milk control: 38 Kg/day
% fat: not available
% protein: not available
SCC average: 23,000
Not yet pregnant
Sired by NRF 05694 Brenden
DIM: 190
Last milk control: 30 Kg/day
% fat: 3.8
% protein: 3.5
SCC average: 20,000
Days Open: 90
Sired by NRF 05694 Brenden
DIM: 224
Last milk control: 28 Kg/day
% fat: 3.52
% protein: 3.61
SCC average: 50,000
Days Open: 58