Dairy cattle

Milk fatty acids of Holstein cows compared with Holstein, Jersey, Montbéliarde, Normande, and Viking Red crossbred cows in an organic grazing and conventional dairy herd

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Abstract

Consumers have a growing interest in milk with perceived health benefits from fatty acids (FA), and this may open marketing opportunities for dairy producers. The objective of the study was to compare milk FA of Holstein cows (n = 166), crossbred dairy cows composed of Montbéliarde, Viking Red, and Holstein breeds (MVH; n = 516), and crossbred dairy cows composed of Normande, Jersey, and Viking Red breeds (NJV; n = 233). Data were from a low-input conventional and an organic grazing herd that were managed similarly at the University of Minnesota West Central Research and Outreach Center, Morris, MN. Total, de novo, mixed, preformed, and individual FA were from monthly milk samples from Minnesota DHIA and data was from February 2021 to June 2024. A cow was required to have at least 3 test dates during a lactation. Test-day observations were used to fit Legendre polynomial random regression lactation curves to compare 305-d FA production. First lactation and second and greater lactation curves were evaluated separately. For statistical analysis of FA composition (g/100g of milk and g/100g of total FA), the fixed effects were breed group, sire breed nested within breed group, lactation number (first, second, or third and greater), herd (conventional or organic), calving season (spring or fall) nested within herd, month, and the interactions of lactation number and breed group, month and herd, and lactation number and month. Random effects were cow nested within breed group and herd and days in milk on test-day. For statistical analysis of 305-d FA production, the fixed effects were herd, lactation number, breed group, sire breed nested within breed group, calving season nested within herd, and the interactions of lactation number and breed group and lactation number and herd. The random effects were cow nested within breed group and herd. The organic herd had higher preformed (37.8 vs 35.3 g/100g total FA), C18:0 (11.4 vs 10.6 g/100g total FA) and C18:1 cis-9 (20.6 vs 19.6 g/100g total FA) FA than the conventional herd. Both crossbred (MVH and NJV cows) groups had higher de novo (25.9 and 26.0 vs 25.4 g/100g total FA) FA and lower C16:0 (35.2 and 34.7 vs 35.6 g/100g total FA) FA than HO cows, respectively. Phenotypic correlations between 305-d FA and SCS, days open, and survival did not suggest negative impacts of selection for improved FA production. Crossbreeding along with high forage diets from pasture for cows may improve milk FA for niche markets.

Keywords: 2026

How to Cite:

bosley, K., Hansen, L. & Heins, B., (2026) “Milk fatty acids of Holstein cows compared with Holstein, Jersey, Montbéliarde, Normande, and Viking Red crossbred cows in an organic grazing and conventional dairy herd”, World Congress on Genetics Applied to Livestock Production Digital Archive 2026(1): 2280597. doi: https://doi.org/10.31274/wcgalp.23449

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