 Selected
for its proven milk and cheese qualities The application
of milk quotas has not diminished en thusiasm for the Montbeliarde
breed. Far from it - it is emerging as the leading profitable
breed. 50% of controled cows are registered with the National
Unit for Selection and Promotion of the Montbeliarde breed
(UPRa), which means that 4,500 breeders are involved in the
breed selection choices.
A
sound selection basis
With close to 360,000
controled cows, the Montbeliarde breed is the 2nd
French dairy breed. An adult
- 319 days
- 7486 kg
- 3.45 TA (protein content)
- 3.89 TB (fat content)
(2004 résults)
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The breed orientation managers have
always simultaneously worked on the nitrogen and caseins levels
in the milk
In 10 years the breed has progressed by a 1.1 g/kg nitrogen
level. At the same time each bull has been typified on Kappa
Casein chain. The frequency of allele B on Kappa Casein chain,
favourable for cheese yield, increased by 14.3% in 5 years
in the Montbeliarde inseminations.
The breed is appreciated by cheese cooperatives that manufacture
cheeses or great renown, such as:
- Comté, the cheese from the breed's place of origin,
38,500 tonnes per year
- Reblochon, 16,500 tonnes
- Mont d'Or, 3,200 tonnes
- Abondance, 777 tonnes
(1997 data)
Means
More than 50,000 cows in first lactation are classified
each year on their beef value and their format for bull indexing.
More than 350 bull-calves pass through an individual control
testing station and only 60% are retained on conformation
and feed efficiency criteria before being presented for testing.
Results
Excellent growth and carcasses. Typical weight at 10 months
= 420 kg (SCI)
Excellent feed conversion
High veal price
Numerous selection tools to improve
Mastitis resistance: The Montbeliarde
is one of the breeds with the greatest mastitis resistance.
Ease of calving: 25% of Montbeliarde females
inseminated per week by Charolais bulls - this is proof enough.
Fertility: Convincing results in France
and abroad. In Ireland on the Moorepark farm (61% success
rate in 1st Al against 50, 43 and 32% in 1998 for the other
breeds).
Functional longevity: The Montbeliarde breed
has given its proof in French livestock - 200 cows have already
produced more than 100 tonnes of milk today - 50% more cows
beyond the fifth lactation. |
