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How do I get started with ProCROSS?

Learn the four steps to your success with ProCROSS.

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What should I do first?

The first step is to decide on a strategy, then contact your local distributor and make a plan. After that, it is crucial to stick to the plan because it takes time and patience to see the results.

  1. Decide to start ProCROSS
  2. Contact your local distributor
  3. Make a crossbreeding plan
  4. Stick to the plan!

Choosing ProCROSS as a strategy

  • It will take 10 years to have a real ProCROSS herd. To make a good start, well-adapted to your farm, you will require advice from your local ProCROSS distributor.
  • Some pure breeding dairy farmers might criticize your choices. Consider your own strategy, and not theirs. 
  • Only by using the best bulls, specially selected by the ProCROSS partners Coopex and VikingGenetics, will you obtain the optimum results. Do not go for the second-best option, the results of which will most likely disappoint you.
  • A strategy is made for the long run. In breeding you have to stick to your strategy; if you change strategy every second year, you get lost.
Your local distributor can help
you to start with ProCROSS Find your distributor

Making the plan

Depending on your herd, you need to choose the correct breed to start with, keeping calving ease in mind. Below is an example of how to get started.

 

It is important to strictly follow the same order for each breed in the rotation. Color tagging (one color per breed) helps you recognize your mixed breeds. Keeping up with the rotation will ensure that you do not get lost with the mating and you will achieve the best hybrid vigor aka heterosis.

 

You need to use 3 different colored ear tags:

  • Blue tag - VikingHolstein
  • Orange tag - VikingRed
  • Yellow tag - Coopex Montbéliarde

Here is an example of the mating and tagging when starting with a Holstein: 

  • A purebred Holstein cow is mated with a Coopex Montbéliarde sire. The heifer born should be marked with an orange tag to indicate that it should always be mated with a VikingRed sire to maintain the three breeds in her offspring. Her offspring are then tagged with a blue tag to always be mated with VikingHolstein (reverting back to the original breed you started with), and their offspring tagged with a yellow ear tag to always be mated with Coopex Montbéliarde (second breed used originally) and the next generation should then be mated back with VikingRed (third used breed) and the rotation carries on with the three breeds, in the same order, for future generations. 

Simply tag the heifer calves with the colored tag that identifies the breed she needs to be mated with. No matter who is managing and mating your cows at any time, they will know what breed of sire to mate with the cow because of the tag color.

Sticking to the plan

Successful crossbreeding is a result of patience and consistency in the mating plan. You need to stick to the rotation of breeds and do it systematically in order to achieve the desired results. It will take about ten years to have a real ProCROSS herd. 

Within the three breeds you can select bulls that best match your breeding goals. Production of milk, fat & protein, milking speed, udder health, size - all important traits you can select for within the bulls offered to you.

Your distributor has mating services and plans available. Ask for these tools: they help you and your staff to make the correct choices. Do not use too many bulls per breed, three is enough. In this way your herd will become more uniform.

Learn how to get started with ProCROSS

In the video, you can learn more about how to get started with ProCROSS and what you should expect when working with VikingGenetics. To achieve a true ProCROSS herd takes time and is a journey to success. We are here to help and support you every step of the way.

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