 A Norwegian Red cow, daughter of NRF-sire 10579 Eggtroen | |
| Other names | Norsk rødt fe (bokmål) Norsk raudt fe (nynorsk) NRF (acronym) |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | Norway |
| Distribution | More than 30 countries including USA, Italy, UK, Be-Ne-Lux, China, Israel, Turkey and Poland |
| Use | Dual Purpose Dairy/Beef |
| Traits | |
| Weight |
|
| Height |
|
| Coat | Red and white, black and white; |
| Horn status | Polled and horned; |
| |
Norwegian Red (Norwegian: Norsk rødt fe) is a breed of dairy cattle developed in Norway starting in 1935.
Since the 1970s, breeders have heavily prioritised functional traits, resulting in excellent production and world-leading performance in health and fertility. Norwegian Red cows can have either a red and white or a black and white coat.[1] A high proportion are genetically polled.
Purpose and history
The Norwegian Red (NRF) is a dairy breed that has been selected based on broad objectives, with increasing emphasis on functional traits like health and fertility.[2] The Norwegian Red was originally bred in 1935 through crosses of dairy breeds and Scandinavian breeds, including the Norwegian Red-and-White, Red Trondheim and the Red Polled Østland.[3] By the mid-1970s it had become the dominant breed in its native country, comprising 98% of the cattle population.[1] Semen is exported to more than 30 different countries for crossbreeding and is very often crossed with Holstein cattle in the U.S. dairy industry. Geno Breeding and A.I. Association, a cooperative organization owned by Norwegian dairy farmers, is the breeding organization for the Norwegian Red.[4]
Norwegian Dairy Herd Recording System
Owners of Norwegian Red cattle in Norway participate in a comprehensive registry system called the Norwegian Dairy Herd Recording System.[2] Norwegian farmers have been recording data in the comprehensive recording system since the 1960s. This system collects all of the information about each cow in Figure 1.
Characteristics
Size and weight
Production in the best herds exceeds 8,000 kilograms (18,000 lb), with the top cows milking more than 16,000 kilograms (35,000 lb). Growth traits are also included in the index, and young sires for progeny testing have a growth rate of approximately 1.4 kg/day. Fully-grown cows and bulls have a live weight of up to 500–600 kilograms (1,100–1,300 lb) and 1,300 kilograms (2,900 lb) respectively.[5]
Norwegian Red cows have an average height of 137 centimetres (4.49 ft) at the point of withers. The height for bulls varies greatly, but the average is around 145 centimetres (4.76 ft) tall at the point of withers.
Fertility and health
Fertility was first included in the Norwegian Red breeding program in 1971.[2] The Norwegian Red is likely the most fertile breed of dairy cattle in the world due to the selective breeding for increased fertility over more than 40 years.[2]
Calving ease has been included in the selection program since 1978.[2] The Norwegian Red is characterized as a breed with a low frequency of calving difficulties. Less than 2% of the calvings are reported as having major calving difficulties. Stillbirths are also included in the index, and less than 3% of Norwegian Red calves are stillborn.[5]
Health traits have been included in the net merit index since 1978.[2] Currently, mastitis and other diseases (in particular ketosis, milk fever, and retained placenta) are included in the breeding program. Although these are low heritability traits, progeny testing based on a high number of daughters provides a selection index with high accuracy. Progeny testing for mastitis is currently based on approximately 300 daughters.
Polled
Norwegian Reds may be either polled or horned. Currently 40% of the calves in Norway are born polled (genetically without horns).[6] Systematic selection of polled sons after polled elite sires during recent years has increased the frequency of polled animals.
Genetics
Total Merit Index (TMI)
Norwegian Red bulls are ranked based on the Total Merit Index (TMI). The Norwegian Red TMI is based on 11 traits that are weighted. The TMI is adjusted based on the decision of the board of Geno Breeding and A.I. Association, which is composed of 41 representatives who gather input from farmers and people involved in the dairy cattle industry of Norway.[7]
The most recent update of the TMI became effective on June 1, 2015. This update placed slightly more emphasis on udder conformation and resistance to diseases other than mastitis. There is still a large emphasis placed on fertility and health.[8]
| Trait | Previous weight before
June 1, 2017 (%) |
Updated weight as of
June 1, 2017 (%) |
|---|---|---|
| Production (protein & fat) | 28 | 24 |
| Udder health (mastitis & SCC) | 18 | 16 |
| Fertility (cow & heifer) | 18 | 14 |
| Udder Conformation | 18 | 23 |
| Beef (carcass growth, muscling & fat) | 6 | 7 |
| Claw health | 4 | |
| Foot & leg | 2 | |
| Temperament | 1 | 1 |
| Milking speed | 4 | |
| Calving ease | 0.5 | 1 |
| Stillbirths | 0.5 | 0.5 |
| Diseases other than mastitis | 2 | 0.4 |
Geno Group
Geno SA is the breeding association of the Norwegian Red Cattle. Norsk Rødt Fe (NRF), established in 1935, changed its name to Geno in 1999. Since then, Geno has continued to grow and has expanded to international markets. Geno Global AS was established in 2003 to handle the expansion. Companies that are included in the Geno Group include Geno Turkey, Xsires, SpermVital AS, and Cryogenetics AS.[4]
Evidence of crossbreeding with Norwegian Red
Because the Norwegian Red breed has been bred to increase heritable traits such as health and fertility, it is suitable to crossbreed with other cattle. Various studies and published articles show that when other dairy cattle breeds, particularly Holsteins, are crossed with Norwegian Reds, the offspring will have superior fertility, mastitis resistance, calving ease and survival rates.[9][10][11]
References
- 1 2 Ekarius, Carol (2008). Storey's Illustrated Breed Guide to Sheep, Goats, Cattle and Pigs. Storey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-60342-036-5.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Breeding program". www.norwegianred.com. Retrieved 2015-06-18.
- ↑ "Norwegian Red". Oklahoma State University Dept. of Animal Science.
- 1 2 "Geno, Breeding and AI Association, Norway".
- 1 2 "Characteristics". www.norwegianred.com. Retrieved 2015-06-19.
- ↑ "POLLED". www.norwegianred.com. Retrieved 2015-06-19.
- ↑ "Organisering". www.geno.no. Retrieved 2015-06-19.
- ↑ "Total Merit Index". www.norwegianred.com. Retrieved 2018-02-01.
- ↑ Heins, B. J. (21 October 2011). "Short communication: Fertility, somatic cell score, and production of Normande × Holstein, Montbéliarde × Holstein, and Scandinavian Red × Holstein crossbreds versus pure Holsteins during their first 5 lactations". Journal of Dairy Science. 95 (2): 918–924. doi:10.3168/jds.2011-4523. PMID 22281356. Retrieved 18 June 2015.
- ↑ Buckley, F. (15 September 2008). "Differences in udder health and immune response traits of Holstein-Friesians, Norwegian Reds, and their crosses in second lactation". Journal of Dairy Science. 92 (2): 749–757. doi:10.3168/jds.2008-1356. PMID 19164687.
- ↑ Ferris, C. P. (10 April 2014). "Calving traits, milk production, body condition, fertility, and survival of Holstein-Friesian and Norwegian Red dairy cattle on commercial dairy farms over 5 lactations". Journal of Dairy Science. 97 (8): 5206–5218. doi:10.3168/jds.2013-7457. PMID 24952782.
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