How To Get Started With ProCROSS?

The first step is to decide on a strategy, then select 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.
   

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 need advice from you local ProCROSS distributor.
  • Some purebreed dairy farmers might criticize your choices. Take in consideration your own and not their strategy. 
  • Only by using the best bulls, specially selected by the ProCROSS partners Coopex and VikingGenetics will give you the optimum results. Do not go for the second best option. You will most likely be disappointed with the results.
  • 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.

Finding the distributor

Go to our contact page and find your local distributor. They will provide you with all the details you need to get started. You can also send us a message here and we will assist you in your query. 

Making the plan 

Depending on your herd, you need to choose the correct breed to start with, keeping the calving ease in mind. Below are some examples if your herd is a Holstein herd. 

  1. Inseminate all your Holstein cows with Montbéliarde bulls.
  2. Inseminate all your Holstein heifers with VikingRed bulls.
  3. Inseminate the 1st generation (G1) animals with the missing breed. For example: G1 heifer is Holstein x Montbéliarde, inseminate her with a VikingRed bull.

It is important to strictly follow the same order for each breed in the rotation. Colour tagging (one colour per breed) helps you recognize your mixed breeds. Keeping up with the rotation will ensure that you don't get lost with the mating and you will achieve the best hybrid vigour aka heterosis.

Read more about the easy system here. 

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 wanted results. It will take about ten years to have a real ProCROSS herd. 

Within the three breeds you can select bulls that match best 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 by your ProCROSS distributor.

Your distributor has mating services and plans available. Ask for these tools. It helps you and your staff making the correct choices.
Do not use too many bulls per breed, three is enough. In this way your herd will get more uniform.