Lactation curves of Montbéliarde-sired and Viking Red-sired crossbred cows and their Holstein herdmates in commercial dairies.

Lactation curves were estimated for Montbéliarde (MO) × Holstein (HO) and Viking Red (VR) × HO 2-breed crossbred cows and for MO × VR/HO and VR × MO/HO 3-breed crossbred cows and their HO herdmates from test-day observations in 7 high-performance herds that participated in a designed study. Cows calved from 2010 to 2017. Test-day observations from milk recording were used to fit the lactation curves of cows in their first 3 lactations. Lactations of cows were required to have at least 250 DIM and to have at least 6 test days ≤265 DIM. Lactation curves from random regression (RR) were compared for 305-d production (kg), peak production (kg), peak day of production, and production from 4 to 103 DIM (kg), from 104 to 205 DIM (kg), and from 206 to 305 DIM (kg) for milk, fat, and protein. Also, the persistency of production was compared. First-lactation versus second- and third-lactation cows were analyzed separately for both the 2-breed and 3-breed crossbred cows and their respective HO herdmates. Legendre polynomial RR had the best goodness of fit for the lactation curves compared with Ali-Schaeffer and Wilmink RR from the test-day observations of milk, fat, and protein production. For fluid milk production of first-lactation cows, the MO × HO 2-breed crossbreds were not different from their HO herdmates for any of the lactation-curve characteristics, except persistency. However, the VR × HO 2-breed crossbreds had less fluid milk production compared with their HO herdmates. For first lactation, the MO × HO 2-breed crossbreds had more persistency of milk, fat, and protein production compared with their HO herdmates. The first-lactation MO × VR/HO 3-breed crossbreds had more persistency of fluid milk production compared with their HO herdmates. For second and third lactations, both the MO × HO and the VR × HO 2-breed crossbreds had higher fat production compared with their HO herdmates. Furthermore, the MO × HO 2-breed crossbreds had more protein production (kg) in all 3 periods of lactation compared with their HO herdmates. Crossbred cows may have advantages over HO cows for persistency of production in high-performance herds.

Herd life, lifetime production, and profitability of Viking Red-sired and Montbéliarde-sired crossbred cows compared with their Holstein herdmates.

The first 2 generations from a 3-breed rotation of the Viking Red (VR), Montbéliarde (MO), and Holstein (HO) breeds were compared with their HO herdmates in high-performance commercial herds in Minnesota. The designed study enrolled pure HO females in 2008 to initiate a comparison of 3-breed rotational crossbreds with their HO herdmates. Sires of cows were proven artificial insemination bulls selected for high genetic merit in each of the 3 breeds. The first-generation cows calved for a first time from 2010 to 2014 and had 376 VR × HO and 358 MO × HO crossbreds to compare with their 640 HO herdmates. The second-generation cows calved for a first time from 2012 to 2014 and had 109 VR × MO/HO and 117 MO × VR/HO crossbreds to compare with their 250 HO herdmates. Collection of data ceased on December 31, 2017, and all cows studied had the opportunity for 45 mo in the herd after first calving. Production of milk, fat, and protein (kg) during lifetimes of cows was estimated from test-day observations with best prediction. The lifetime profit function included revenue and cost. Revenue was from production, calves, and slaughter of cull cows. Costs included feed cost during lactation, lactating overhead cost, dry cow cost (including feed cost during dry periods), replacement cost, health treatment cost, insemination cost, fertility hormone cost, pregnancy diagnosis cost, hoof trimming cost, and carcass disposal cost. For individual cows with herd life longer than 45 mo after first calving, survival of cows was projected beyond 45 mo after first calving to estimate herd life, production, and profitability. The 2-breed crossbreds had +158 d longer herd life and the 3-breed crossbreds had +147 d longer herd life compared with their respective HO herdmates. Also, 12.4% of the 2-breed crossbreds died up to 45 mo after first calving compared with 16.3% of their HO herdmates. Furthermore, approximately 29% of both the 2-breed and 3-breed crossbreds lived beyond 45 mo after first calving compared with approximately 18% of their respective HO herdmates. On a lifetime basis, the 2-breed and 3-breed crossbreds provided +$122 and +$134, respectively, more cull cow revenue compared with their HO herdmates. For lifetime replacement cost, the 2-breed crossbreds did not differ from their HO herdmates; however, the 3-breed crossbreds had -$28 less lifetime replacement cost compared with their HO herdmates because of their younger age at first calving. The combined 2-breed crossbreds had +$0.473 (+13%) more daily profit (ignoring potential differences for feed efficiency) and the combined 3-breed crossbreds had +$0.342 (+9%) more daily profit compared with their respective HO herdmates. This resulted in +$173 more profit/cow annually for the combined 2-breed crossbreds and +$125 more profit/cow annually for the combined 3-breed crossbreds compared with their respective HO herdmates.

Health treatment cost, stillbirth, survival, and conformation of Viking Red-, Montbéliarde-, and Holstein-sired crossbred cows compared with pure Holstein cows during their first 3 lactations.

Three generations of crossbreds from a 3-breed rotation of the Viking Red (VR), Montbéliarde (MO), and Holstein (HO) breeds were compared with their HO herdmates in 7 commercial dairy herds in Minnesota. The designed study enrolled 3,550 HO females in 2008 to initiate crossbreeding and a control of pure HO herdmates within each herd. Service sires were high-ranking, proven AI bulls selected for high genetic merit within each of the VR, MO, and HO breeds. Cows in this study calved from 2010 to 2017 and collection of data ended on December 31, 2017. The first generation of cows consisted of 644 VR × HO and 616 MO × HO crossbreds and their 1,405 HO herdmates. The second generation had 615 VR × MO/HO and 568 MO × VR/HO crossbreds and their 1,462 HO herdmates. The third generation had 466 combined HO × VR/MO/HO and HO × MO/VR/HO crossbreds and their 736 HO herdmates. Total health cost was the sum of veterinary treatment cost, pharmaceutical cost, and farm labor cost to treat 16 different health disorders. Conformation traits and body condition score were subjectively scored once during early lactation for each of the first 3 lactations of cows. Total health cost of the 2-breed crossbreds was significantly lower during first (-23%), second (-29%), and third (-21%) lactation compared with their HO herdmates. For the 3-breed crossbreds, total health cost did not differ during first lactation but was -26% lower during both second and third lactation compared with their HO herdmates. The stillbirth rate for calves born to 2-breed crossbred dams (4%) was significantly lower compared with calves born to their HO herdmates (8%) at first calving. Survival from first to third calving (+9%) and first to fourth calving (+11%) was significantly higher for the 2-breed crossbreds compared with their HO herdmates. Also, the 3-breed crossbreds had significantly higher survival to third (+11%) and fourth (+19%) calving compared with their HO herdmates. Across each generation of crossbreeding, the crossbreds had uniformly shorter stature, less angularity, and less body depth compared with their respective HO herdmates. The crossbred cows also had significantly less udder clearance from the hock but significantly more rear teat width and longer teat length compared with their respective HO herdmates. Furthermore, the crossbred cows had higher body condition score compared with their HO herdmates during each of their first 3 lactations.

Fertility and 305-day production of Viking Red-, Montbéliarde-, and Holstein-sired crossbred cows compared with Holstein cows during their first 3 lactations in Minnesota dairy herds.

Three generations of crossbred cows from a 3-breed rotation of the Viking Red (VR), Montbéliarde (MO), and Holstein (HO) breeds were compared with HO herdmates in 7 high-performance, commercial dairy herds in Minnesota. The designed study was initiated in 2008 with the enrollment of 3,550 HO females. Sires of cows were proven artificial insemination bulls and were high-ranking for genetic merit within each of the VR, MO, and HO breeds. The first generation of cows calved a first time from 2010 to 2017 and consisted of 644 VR × HO and 616 MO × HO 2-breed crossbreds and their 1,405 HO herdmates. The second generation calved a first time from 2012 to 2017 and consisted of 615 VR × MO/HO and 568 MO × VR/HO crossbreds and their 1,462 HO herdmates. The third generation calved a first time from 2014 to 2017 and was composed of 466 HO × VR/MO/HO and HO × MO/VR/HO crossbreds combined and their 736 HO herdmates. Collection of data ceased on December 31, 2017, and for the duration of study, many of the 2-breed and 3-breed crossbreds and their HO herdmates had the opportunity to complete at least 3 lactations, whereas the HO-sired crossbreds and their HO herdmates had the opportunity to complete 1 lactation. The 305-d actual (not mature equivalent) production of milk, fat, and protein was estimated from test-day observations with best prediction and cows with <305 DIM were projected to 305 d. The 2-breed and 3-breed crossbred cows had superiority over their HO herdmates for all of the fertility traits measured. The 2-breed crossbreds had -9, -17, and -15 d fewer days open than their HO herdmates during first, second, and third lactation, respectively. Also, the 3-breed crossbreds had -15, -19, and -20 d fewer days open than their HO herdmates during first, second, and third lactation, respectively. Cows in these herds had young ages at first calving of 22 to 23 mo across the breed groups, and the 3-breed crossbreds had significantly younger ages at first, second, and third calving than their HO herdmates. The 2-breed crossbreds had +2% higher fat plus protein production (kg) during first lactation, but did not differ during second and third lactation, from their HO herdmates. The 3-breed crossbreds had -3% to -4% lower fat plus protein production (kg) than their HO herdmates in each of their first 3 lactations. During first lactation, the HO-sired crossbreds did not differ for fat plus protein production (kg) from their HO herdmates.

Three-breed rotational crossbreds of Montbéliarde, Viking Red, and Holstein compared with Holstein cows for dry matter intake, body traits, and production.

Rotational crossbred cows of the Montbéliarde, Viking Red, and Holstein (HO) breeds (CB) were compared with HO cows for dry matter intake (DMI), body weight (BW), cow height, body condition score (BCS), and production during the first 150 d of first, second, and third lactations. Primiparous and multiparous CB (n = 63 and 43, respectively) and HO (n = 60 and 37, respectively) cows calved from September 2014 to June 2017. Cows were fed the same total mixed ration twice daily, with refusals weighed once daily. The BW was recorded twice weekly, and height at the withers and the hips was recorded monthly. The BCS was evaluated weekly. The fat plus protein production from 4 to 150 d in milk was calculated from monthly test days using best prediction. Primiparous and multiparous cows were analyzed separately. Statistical analysis for primiparous cows included the fixed effects of year of calving and breed group, and the analysis for multiparous cows included the fixed effect of breed group and the repeated effect of cow nested within breed group. Primiparous CB cows (2,807 kg) had lower mean DMI than HO cows (2,948 kg) from 4 to 150 d in milk of first lactation. Mean BW was not different for the CB (562 kg) and HO (556 kg) cows, but primiparous CB cows had mean wither height that was 4.0 cm shorter and mean hip height that was 2.0 cm shorter than that of HO cows. Primiparous CB cows (3.46) had higher mean BCS compared with HO cows (3.20). Mean fat plus protein production did not differ for the primiparous CB and HO cows (331 vs. 329 kg, respectively). Multiparous CB cows (3,360 kg) also had lower mean DMI than HO cows (3,592 kg) and did not differ (636 kg) from HO cows (644 kg) for mean BW. The CB cows had mean wither height that was 3.5 cm shorter than that of HO cows, but mean hip height did not differ for multiparous CB (145.2 cm) and HO (146.4 cm) cows. Mean BCS was higher for multiparous CB cows (3.25) than for HO cows (3.06), and mean fat plus protein production was not different for multiparous CB (445 kg) and HO (441 kg) cows. The lower DMI of the CB cows than HO cows resulted in less feed cost without loss of revenue from fat plus protein production.

Fertility, survival, and conformation of Montbéliarde × Holstein and Viking Red × Holstein crossbred cows compared with pure Holstein cows during first lactation in 8 commercial dairy herds.

Montbéliarde (MO) × Holstein (HO) and Viking Red (VR) × HO crossbred cows were compared with pure HO cows in 8 large, high-performance dairy herds in Minnesota. All cows calved for the first time from December 2010 to April 2014. Fertility and survival traits were calculated from records of insemination, pregnancy diagnosis, calving, and disposal that were recorded via management software. Body condition score and conformation were subjectively scored once during early lactation by trained evaluators. The analysis of survival to 60 d in milk included 536 MO × HO, 560 VR × HO, and 1,033 HO cows during first lactation. Cows analyzed for other fertility, survival, and conformation traits had up to 13% fewer cows available for analysis. The first service conception rate of the crossbred cows (both types combined) increased 7%, as did the conception rate across the first 5 inseminations, compared with the HO cows during first lactation. Furthermore, the combined crossbred cows (2.11 ± 0.05) had fewer times bred than HO cows (2.30 ± 0.05) and 10 fewer d open compared with their HO herdmates. Across the 8 herds, breed groups did not differ for survival to 60 d in milk; however, the superior fertility of the crossbred cows allowed an increased proportion of the combined crossbreds (71 ± 1.5%) to calve a second time within 14 mo compared with the HO cows (63 ± 1.5%). For survival to second calving, the combined crossbred cows had 4% superior survival compared with the HO cows. The MO × HO and VR × HO crossbred cows both had increased body condition score (+0.50 ± 0.02 and +0.25 ± 0.02, respectively) but shorter stature and less body depth than HO cows. The MO × HO cows had less set to the hock and a steeper foot angle than the HO cows, and the VR × HO cows had more set to the hock with a similar foot angle to the HO cows. The combined crossbred cows had less udder clearance from the hock than HO cows, more width between both front and rear teats, and longer teat length than the HO cows; however, the frequency of first-lactation cows culled for udder conformation was uniformly low (<1%) across the breed groups.

Production and calving traits of Montbéliarde × Holstein and Viking Red × Holstein cows compared with pure Holstein cows during first lactation in 8 commercial dairy herds.

Montbéliarde (MO) × Holstein (HO) and Viking Red (VR) × HO crossbred cows were compared with pure HO cows in 8 large, high-performance dairy herds. All cows were either 2-breed crossbred or pure HO cows that calved for the first time from December 2010 to April 2014. Best Prediction was used to calculate 305-d milk, fat, and protein production, as well as somatic cell score, and 513 MO × HO, 540 VR × HO, and 978 HO cows were analyzed for production in first lactation. Calving difficulty was scored from 1 (no assistance) to 5 (extreme difficulty). The analysis of calving traits included 493 MO × HO, 504 VR × HO, and 971 HO cows at first calving. Age at first calving was similar for breed groups, and the herds calved both crossbred (23.8 mo) and HO (23.9 mo) cows at young ages. The MO × HO crossbred cows had +3% higher production of 305-d fat plus protein production (actual basis, not mature equivalent) than the HO cows, and the VR × HO were similar to the HO cows for fat plus protein production. Breed groups did not differ for SCS during first lactation. The VR-sired 3-breed crossbred calves (from MO × HO dams) were similar to pure HO calves for calving difficulty; however, MO-sired male calves born to VR × HO dams had a mean score that was +0.5 points higher for calving difficulty than pure HO male calves. The 3-breed crossbred calves from both MO × HO (4%) and VR × HO (5%) first-lactation dams had a much lower stillbirth rate compared with pure HO calves (9%) from first-lactation dams.

Production, fertility, survival, and body measurements of Montbéliarde-sired crossbreds compared with pure Holsteins during their first 5 lactations.

Two-breed crossbreds of Montbéliarde and Holstein (MO × HO) as well as 3-breed crossbreds of Montbéliarde and Jersey/Holstein (MO × JH) were compared with pure Holstein (HO) cows for production, somatic cell score (SCS), fertility, survival to subsequent calving, mortality, and body measurements during their first 5 lactations. Cows calved for the first time between 2005 and 2010 and were housed in either a confinement herd or a herd that had access to pasture for 165d of the year in the north central region of the United States. Body, hoof, and udder measurements of cows were also objectively measured. The MO × HO crossbred cows were not different from pure HO cows for fat-plus-protein production during any lactation. However, the MO × JH crossbred cows had 5% lower fat-plus-protein production compared with pure HO cows in the confinement herd. On the other hand, the MO × JH crossbred cows were not different for fat-plus-protein production in the third to fifth lactation compared with pure HO cows in the seasonal pasture herd. Across the 2 herds, the MO × HO and MO × JH crossbred cows had 21% higher first-service conception rate, 41 fewer days open, and 12% higher pregnancy rate compared with the pure HO cows. Furthermore, the MO × HO (5%) and MO × JH (12%) crossbred cows had lower mortality rates than the pure HO cows (18%). Because of superior fertility and lower mortality rates, the MO × HO and MO × JH crossbred cows, combined, had greater survival to second (+13%), third (+24%), fourth (+25%), and fifth (+17%) lactation compared with pure HO cows. For body measurements, MO × HO were similar to pure HO cows for hip height and heart girth, but MO × HO cows had more body condition and greater body weight (+39kg) across the first 5 lactations. The MO × JH cows had more body condition but 5cm shorter hip height and 28kg less body weight than pure HO cows across the first 5 lactations. Foot angle was steeper and hoof length was shorter for MO × HO cows, but MO × JH cows were similar to pure HO cows for hoof measurements.

Montbéliarde-sired crossbreds compared with pure Holsteins for dry matter intake, production, and body traits during the first 150 days of first lactation.

Montbéliarde (MO)-sired crossbred cows (n=57) were compared with pure Holstein (HO) cows (n=40) for dry matter intake (DMI), production, hip height, body condition score (BCS), and body weight (BW) during the first 150 d of first lactation. Also, production for 305 d was compared for first lactation. The MO-sired crossbred cows were composed of MO × HO cows (n=33) and MO × Jersey/HO cows (n=24). Cows were individually fed a total mixed ration twice daily. The DMI was measured for the first 150 d of lactation, except from d 1 to 3 postpartum to permit cows to acclimate to stalls in a confinement barn. Hip height was measured once between 20 and 172 d postpartum, and BCS and BW were recorded every other week. The MO-sired crossbred cows did not differ from the pure HO cows for 150-d DMI, 150-d fat plus protein production, or for 305-d fat plus protein production. Hip height was similar for MO × HO and pure HO cows, but MO × Jersey/HO cows had shorter hip height than the pure HO cows. Despite the lack of difference for DMI, the MO-sired crossbred cows had significantly greater BCS (3.30 vs. 2.74) and BW (551 vs. 528 kg) than the pure HO cows. The MO-sired crossbred cows (122 d) had fewer days open than the pure HO cows (150 d). The higher BCS of the MO-sired crossbred cows, especially during early lactation, may have provided an advantage for fertility. Differences for DMI between breed groups were not studied for the latter half of first lactation or for multiparous cows.

Short communication: Jersey × Holstein crossbreds compared with pure Holsteins for body weight, body condition score, fertility, and survival during the first three lactations.

Crossbred cows (n=80) resulting from the use of Jersey (JE) semen on their pure Holstein (HO) dams were compared with pure HO cows (n=77) for body weight, body condition score, fertility, and survival during their first 3 lactations. Cows were in 2 research herds of the University of Minnesota and calved from September 2003 to June 2008. The JE × HO crossbred cows had significantly less body weight during the first (-56 kg), second (-67 kg), and third (-82 kg) lactations than pure HO cows. However, JE × HO cows had significantly greater body condition score during the first (2.94 vs. 2.84), second (2.97 vs. 2.84), and third (2.99 vs. 2.87) lactations than pure HO cows. For fertility, JE × HO cows had fewer days to first breeding during the first (-10.6d), second (-8.4d), and third (-12.3d) lactations than pure HO cows. Crossbred cows were not significantly different from pure HO cows for number of services during first lactation; however, JE × HO cows had significantly fewer services (2.2) than pure HO cows (2.7) during the second lactation. Also, JE × HO cows had significantly fewer days open than pure HO cows in the first (-24 d), second (-42 d), and third (-42 d) lactations. For survival, JE × HO cows were not significantly different from pure HO cows for percentage of cows calving a second time; however, a tendency existed for a higher percentage of JE × HO cows (63.8%) than pure HO cows (49.4%) to calve a third time, and a higher percentage of JE × HO cows calved a third time within 28, 34, and 40 mo of first calving than pure HO cows.

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.

Birth traits of pure Holstein calves versus Montbeliarde-sired crossbred calves.

Pure Holstein calves and Montbeliarde-sired crossbred calves from multiparous Holstein dams were compared for gestation length, calf weight at birth, calving difficulty, and stillbirth in 2 research herds of the University of Minnesota. The Montbeliarde-sired calves from multiparous Holstein dams had significantly longer gestation lengths (283.2 d) than Holstein-sired calves from Holstein dams (278.4 d), and Montbeliarde-sired calves from multiparous Holstein dams had significantly greater calf weight at birth (48.3kg) compared with Holstein-sired calves from Holstein dams (43.3kg). However, calves sired by Montbeliarde bulls were not significantly different from calves sired by Holstein bulls for calving difficulty and stillbirth. In addition, Jersey x Holstein crossbred cows mated to Montbeliarde artificial insemination (AI) bulls were compared with pure Holstein cows mated to Holstein AI bulls for gestation length, calf weight at birth, calving difficulty, and stillbirth at their first 3 calvings. Gestation length was significantly longer for Jersey x Holstein cows bred to Montbeliarde bulls than for pure Holstein cows bred to Holstein bulls at first calving (280.3 versus 277.7 d) and second and third calving (282.2 versus 278.6 d); however, Jeresy x Holstein cows bred to Montbeliarde AI bulls were not significantly different from pure Holstein cows bred to Holstein AI bulls for calf weight at birth, calving difficulty, and stillbirth at the first 3 calvings.

Crossbreds of Jersey x Holstein compared with pure Holsteins for body weight, body condition score, dry matter intake, and feed efficiency during the first one hundred fifty days of first lactation.

Jersey x Holstein crossbred (JxH) cows (n = 24) were compared with pure Holstein cows (n = 17) for body weight, body condition score, dry matter intake (DMI), and feed efficiency during the first 150 d of first lactation. Cows were housed in the University of Minnesota dairy facility at the St. Paul campus and calved from September 2004 to January 2005. The JxH cows were mated by artificial insemination with Montbeliarde bulls, and Holstein cows were mated by artificial insemination with Holstein bulls. Cows were weighed and body condition was scored every other week. Cows were individually fed a TMR twice daily, and feed refusals were measured once daily. The DMI of cows was measured daily and averaged across 7-d periods. Milk production and milk composition were from monthly Dairy Herd Improvement records. Best Prediction was used to calculate actual production (milk, fat, protein) for each cow from the 4th to 150th day of first lactation. The JxH cows had significantly less body weight (467 vs. 500 kg) and significantly higher body condition scores (2.90 vs. 2.76) than pure Holstein cows. The JxH cows had significantly less milk production (4,388 vs. 4,644 kg) during the 4th to 150th day of lactation than did pure Holstein cows. However, fat plus protein production during the first 150 d of lactation was not significantly different for JxH (302 kg) and Holstein (309 kg) cows. The JxH and pure Holstein cows did not differ significantly for daily DMI (22.0 vs. 22.7 kg, respectively), and the JxH (4.7%) and pure Holstein (4.5%) cows consumed similar DMI based on percentage of body weight. Consequently, feed efficiency for the 4th to 150th day of lactation did not differ for JxH and pure Holstein cows.

Crossbreds of Jersey x Holstein compared with pure Holsteins for production, fertility, and body and udder measurements during first lactation.

Jersey x Holstein crossbreds (JxH; n = 76) were compared with pure Holsteins (n = 73) for 305-d milk, fat, and protein production; conception rate; days open; proportion of cows pregnant within fixed intervals postpartum; and body and udder measurements during first lactation. Cows were housed at 2 research locations of the University of Minnesota and calved from September 2003 to May 2005. The JxH were mated to Montbeliarde sires, and Holstein cows were mated to Holstein sires. Best Prediction was used to determine actual production (milk, fat, and protein) for 305-d lactations with adjustment for age at calving, and records less than 305 d were projected to 305 d. The JxH (274 kg) and pure Holsteins (277 kg) were not significantly different for fat production, but JxH had significantly less milk (7,147 vs. 7,705 kg) and protein (223 vs. 238 kg) production than pure Holsteins. The JxH had significantly fewer days open than pure Holsteins (127 vs. 150 d). Also, a significantly greater proportion of JxH were pregnant at 150 and 180 d postpartum than pure Holsteins (75 vs. 59% and 77 vs. 61%, respectively). The JxH had significantly less body weight (60 kg) at calving, but significantly greater body condition (2.80 vs. 2.71). Furthermore, JxH had significantly less udder clearance from the ground to the bottom of the udder than pure Holsteins (47.7 vs. 54.6 cm), and greater distance between front teats (15.8 vs. 14.0 cm) than pure Holsteins during first lactation.