CMSS | The Breed

You may be unfamiliar with the Milking Shorthorn breed, and are therefore unaware of the breed's several advantages in today's dairy industry. Here's a quick list...

Milking Shorthorns are a very old and established breed, and is currently regaining popularity in Canada as a very efficient and profitable breed of dairy cattle. The breed was established in the 18th century in Northwestern England, in the Valley of the Tees River bordering the counties of Durham, Northumberland and York. Bates and Booth established a "dairy-type" strain of Shorthorns on their farms in the region, and that strain has remained until this day.

Until the early 1990's, they were known as Dual Purpose Shorthorns in Canada, but this name was changed to reflect the changing genetic focus of the breed. Canadian Milking Shorthorns also have cousins all around the world, known by many different names. In the UK and New Zealand, there are Dairy Shorthorns, retaining many valuable dual-purpose qualities. In Australia, the Illawarra breed has been established using a very high percentage of Dairy Shorthorn ancestry. Similarily, the Norwegian Red and Swedish Red breeds also has a significant percentage of Milking Shorthorn heritage. Canadian Milking Shorthorns are most similar to Milking Shorthorns found in the United States, as we have been using many of the same sires.

In the past decade, Milking Shorthorns have increased average milk production and overall dairy character, while retaining the structural soundness and feed efficiency that has long been characteristic of Shorthorn cattle. Fat percentage usually averages 3.8%, while protein percentage often averages from 3.3 - 3.5%.

Milking Shorthorns are also known for their structural soundness and longevity. Most cows are productive for five or more lactations, and the top cows in the breed produce in excess of 10,000 kgs per lactation as mature cows. Milking Shorthorns have very few problems with feet and legs, allowing the producer to cut out the expenses of lost milk production, veterinary bills, and replacement animals due to feet and leg difficulties. Both cows and heifers are easy calvers and excellent mothers, substantially decreasing calf mortality or unthriftiness.

One of the greatest contributors to decreased milk production is mastitis, so any way to decrease this condition is very important. So, it is very important to note that a study of North-Eastern U.S. dairy cattle found that Milking Shorthorns had the lowest average somatic cell score, an indicator of mastitis. It has also been shown by studies in Idaho that Milking Shorthorns in the same herd as Holsteins suffered statistically less incidence of metabolic diseases such as milk fever and ketosis, and of other conditions such as abortion, lameness, and dystocia (Lee, 1995).

Another attribute seen in Milking Shorthorn herds is an advantage in reproductive efficiency. Lee (1995) notes that Milking Shorthorns have almost one half the incidence of cystic ovaries as Holsteins, while Minnesota DHI data from 1995 shows Milking Shorthorns as having the lowest calving interval, fewest days open, highest conception rate (70%) and fewest percentage of repeat breeders. This could prove to substantially improve herd profitability, as less money is wasted on semen and service charges, as well as more time per cow spent in milk production instead of being dried off. Finally, studies from the Canadian Dairy Network show the Milking Shorthorn breed to have the highest non-return rates of any Canadian dairy breeds, resulting in fewers days open and a shorter calving interval.

Finally, the most important input cost in dairy farming is feed, so finding a more efficient alternative to turn feed into milk is very important. Minnesota DHI data shows Milking Shorthorns as having the lowest feed cost per hundredweight of milk, and the lowest total dry matter intake per hundredweight of body weight. This is important, as gross production of milk is being increasing dismissed as an indicator of success, but instead the efficiency in which feed is converted to milk.