DAIRY farmers seeking higher fertility rates are starting to recognise the advantages of introducing British Holsteins to their herds.
East of Deniliquin on an irrigated dairy farm at Blighty, Andrew and Cathy Lostroh, run one of the only registered British Holstein studs in the Riverina region of southern NSW.
After holding an open day last week for their recently launched Cloverlea stud, the couple admit the breed is fast gaining momentum.
“We had nearly 50 farmers turn up,” Mr Lostroh said.
“One even came from as far as Fish Creek in South Gippsland.”
He says while poor reproduction performance is a growing problem in other dairy breeds, British Holsteins are holding their ground.
Since purchasing their first British cows two years ago from the Solney stud, Warragul, Mr Lostroh says fertility has improved by 15 to 20 per cent.
“We are getting a 90pc in-calf success rate now,” he said.
“We’ve never had that figure before, it’s a huge difference.”
The Lostrohs originally ran Holsteins, but after seeing what results Alan Jefford was getting in his West Gippsland herd, they decided to take the jump.
Longevity was another big drawcard.
“Alan had 25 cows in his herd that were over 15 years of age and still performing,” he said.
“I thought if you got over 10 cows like that it was great, but that just paled in significance when I saw this herd.”
They invested in 50 Solney cows and five bulls; rapidly expanding their herd.
The Lostrohs – who milk 280 registered cows – say the combination of improved fertility and longevity has allowed them to reap rewards from the export market to China.
“We’ve found we have excess heifers now, so the export market was a good option,” he said.
“We looked at Jerseys too in the beginning, but going for British Holsteins meant we could keep that black and white component.”
Their split-calving herd produces a consistent 7500 litres per cow, with the British Holstein genetics helping to boost protein and fat levels.
“When people come to see our herd now, we always get comments on their width too,” he said.
“They have a very strong constitution.”
Cloverlea have young stock available for sale, but have been selling calves to local farmers over the past year.
“They are coming back for more now, because they can see the results in their herds,” Mr Lostroh said.
One AI company even secured enough Cloverlea semen for 18 months, but had sold it in less than three months.
“That tells us people are looking for change,” Mr Lostroh said.
“People who have used British Holstein semen are getting results and the word is spreading fast.”
The Lostroh family moved to Blighty in 1983, after a severe drought in the Darling Downs, Qld, forced them to greener pastures.
Ironically, drought followed them there too, but it seems the tides have now turned.
“The farm is looking pretty good now,” Mr Lostroh said.
British Holsteins have made a huge difference to the bottomline and livelihoods at Cloverlea.
“When you put all those things together – fertility, longevity, ease of calving – it means more calves on the ground,” Mr Lostroh said.
“And that means improved profitability and in the end that’s a big reason why we are all here.”
