Holstein-Friesian cows are large, and usually black and white. In New Zealand they produce over 4,000 litres of milk per season from a grass-based diet. The first Dutch Friesians were imported by Canterbury’s John Grigg in 1884. The national Friesian herd now contains about 40% North American Holstein.
Cross-bred cows
Crossing Friesian-Holsteins with Jersey cows produced an animal midway in size between the two parents and with the advantages of both. Such cows have good udders and excellent longevity, and calve easily. Their gestation period is seven days less than Friesian-Holsteins.
Jersey cow
Jersey cattle are a small breed of dairy cattle. Originally bred in the Channel Island of Jersey, the breed is popular for the high butterfat content of its milk and the lower maintenance costs attending its lower body weight.
Ayrshire cows
The advantage of the Ayrshire breed is its longevity of production. A higher proportion can be milked for 10 years or more – longer than any of the other main breeds.
How much does dairy contribute to New Zealand export?
Dairying Today. With annual exports in excess of NZ$13.7 billion, the dairy industry is New Zealand's biggest export earner, accounting for more than 29% by value of the country's merchandise exports. Around 95% of New Zealand's milk is exported.
What is the most common breed of cow?
You are probably most familiar with the Holstein-Friesian (black and white) dairy cow. It is the most popular among dairy farmers because it produces more milk than the other breeds.
What types of feed do dairy cows need?
The nutrients required by dairy cows are energy, fibre, protein, water, vitamins and minerals. Energy is the key driver of milk production. It determines milk yield, milk composition (fat and protein content) and body weight. The main feed energy sources are carbohydrates (starch, sugar) and fibre. Protein and fats in feeds can also be used for energy sources.
Dairy Cow Numbers In New Zealand
Dairy cattle increased 68.9 percent, from 3.84 million in 1994 to 6.49 million in 2015.
New Zealand farmed around 29.1 million sheep, 10.0 million cattle (6.5 million for dairy), and 0.9 million deer in 2015.
In 2015, Waikato had the highest number of dairy cattle (1,761,949), followed by Canterbury (1,253,993), Southland (731,209), and Taranaki (541,931).
Dairy cattle numbers increased 539 percent (616,831) in Southland, 490 percent (1,041,501) in Canterbury, and 368 percent (302,806) in Otago between 1994 and 2015.
What types of feed do dairy cows need?
Cull Potatoes- Potatoes are high in energy, very pleasant to taste, and medium to low in protein and vitamin A. Their high starch content puts them in the same category as feed grains in terms of energy. Potatoes should be considered a high moisture grain, not forage. Meal- Meal feeding has a cost but this is offset by stocking rates, improved milk yield, less health problems. Kiwifruit- Kiwi fruit are a high energy feed suitable for feeding cattle of all types. Excellent for putting on weight with its high sugar levels.
I thought this would give you more of an idea about how the silage is harvested.