Contact
lotta.rydhmer@slu.se, +46 (0)18-67 4544
Crossbred cows for more sustainable milk and meat production
Last changed: 25 February 2025
Traditionally, almost all dairy cows in Sweden have been purebred, although there are many advantages to dairy cows that are crosses between two or three dairy breeds. Crossbred cows can make milk and beef production more sustainable by improving cow reproduction, animal health and carcass quality. Crossbred cows in the dairy herd also increase the scope for the use of sexed semen and semen from beef bulls, resulting in faster growing and meatier calves. In the EU project Re-Livestock, we follow dairy farms that have crossbred cows.
Aim and objectives
The overall objective of Re-Livestock is to understand and stimulate the application of innovative practices to increase the sustainability of livestock production, adapt livestock production to climate change and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. We are studying practices and technologies that are not yet standard but are already being used in practice, and that can make a difference to the sustainability of animal production. The work is done at different levels, from animal and herd to industry and region.
Re-Livestock is based on a strong collaboration with the industry and brings together researchers from over thirty organizations in Europe. Re stands for resilient in the sense of a less vulnerable production of milk and meat. The animals (Livestock) in Re-Livestock are cattle, pigs and sheep and the farms included are located in eight countries.
About the project
The Swedish field study on crossbred cows in Re-Livestock is done in collaboration with eight dairy farmers. They use ProCross which is an rotational three-breed cross. Some have been using ProCross for a long time and some have recently started with ProCross. The project is about the whole farm and the dairy farmer - not just milk production, but milk and meat from the dairy farm's calves and cows, fodder cultivation, and all the benefits that the farm contributes, such as biodiversity and jobs. We work with interviews, and discussions at workshops where advisors also participate. In a broad sustainability assessment of each farm, environmental, social and economic aspects are mapped.
The project also includes a simulation of the herd with the SimHerd tool. The simulation is based on data from the milk recording scheme and other data from the farm. The result shows the recruitment needs, herd structure and estimated economic performance of the farm's current herd in comparison with a purebred herd or a herd where all cows are crossbred cows.
Contact information
The field study on crossbred cows
Lotta Rydhmer, prof
Department of Animal Biosciences (HBIO)
lotta.rydhmer@slu.se, 018 674544
SLU, partner in Re-Livestock
Elin Röös, Associate Professor
Department of Energy and Technology (ET)
elin.roos@slu.se, 018 671866