It can provide any dairy farmer with the type of animal they require, from the smaller-framed cow for pasture consumption to the larger, high-producing cow for high feed-input systems.
“Holstein-Friesian herds are amongst the most profitable in the country,” he says, explaining the high-yielding breed has a high protein-to-fat ratio that increases the value of the milk produced.
Courtman says LIC and DairyNZ statistics show the breed, in the 2012-13 season, earned an average five cents more per kilogram of milksolids than the Fonterra average of $5.84.
Fonterra’s July figures show the breed could earn eight cents more than the $8.40 payout for the 2013-14 season, applying the 2012-13 production statistics.
“The value of protein was almost double that of fat in Fonterra’s milk payment for last season,” Courtman says.
The VCR (valued component ratio) is 0.51, meaning fat is worth 51% to that of protein.
“Fonterra has set the VCR for the 2014-15 season at 0.43, which means that protein is worth even more.”
Even going into a potentially low milk payment season, the value of protein is more than twice that of milk fat.
High volumes of protein will ensure the Holstein-Friesian breed maintains an above-average payout, he says.
Arguments against the profitability of Holstein-Friesians include that it takes more energy (food) to produce milk and being heavier the cows can do more damage to land.
“Fewer cows, fewer feet, same production,” Courtman says.
He says the income from milk produced outweighs the cost of feeding the animal.
More milk means fewer animals to the hectare so less damage to land.
And liveweight is not really an issue.
“Bull breeders and breeding companies are breeding bulls to suit the NZ dairy industry including a smaller, efficient animal with a lower liveweight to suit pasture-based farmers.
“Alternatively, farmers can have the larger-framed animal that produces more milk if they use a high-input system of feeding.”
“The extremes (of size and liveweight) are no longer there,” he says.
Fertility is also a misnomer that follows the breed, particularly when overseas bulls are used.
“Fertility in the breed is improving all around the world. The bulls brought in are selected carefully,” Courtman says.
“As with any breed or cross, make sure the heifer or cow is in good condition and she will have a much better chance of getting in-calf.”
Courtman recalls US-bred bull O-Bee Manfred Justice-ET (known as O-man) as an example.
Not only did O-man make it onto the NZ RAS (Ranking of Active Sires) list with a high Breeding Worth, he had one of the highest fertility breeding values at the time (mid-late 2000s) and retained a fertility breeding value of +9.1.
His NZ-bred sons included Oakura Oman Overdrive, marketed by CRV Ambreed with a fertility BV +5.8, and Kailey Oman Kracka-ET, marketed by LIC with a fertility BV +6.2.
The live export of Holstein-Friesians to Asia is still buoyant.
LIC and Fonterra are contract mating for heifer calves, using sexed semen, which they buy for $500 at four-days-old for export.
Courtman cautions farmers it is still important to keep the best genetics in NZ and farmers should take careful note of what animals they send overseas for a quick buck.
“In the long term, it could be to the detriment of the national dairy herd if the best purebred animals are sent to China and substandard genetics remain in NZ.”
Other sources of income the Holstein-Friesian breed offer to farmers include the sale of bull calves that often make it into the national beef herd, as well as any heifer calves that are crossed with beef.
Bobby calves and cull cows also have an increased value over smaller breeds or crossbred animals.
