Dairy Cattle Breeds in Finland

Ayrshire

Origin: Scotland, Ayrshire

Average weight of cows: 573 kg (2008)

Average milk yield and components (2009): 8 625 kg milk, fat content 4.24 %, protein content 3.42 %

There are about 200 000 Ayrshire cows in Finland, and over three quarters of them are milk recorded. Ayrshire has been the main dairy breed in Finland since the 1960s and currently accounts 66 % of the total recorded cattle. About 40 % of inseminations in the Finnish Ayrshire cattle population are done with young sire semen. This is to guarantee progeny testing of a large number of dairy bulls with sufficient accuracy. Finland is one of the few countries with such an intensive use of young sires. About 125 Ayrshire bulls are tested in Finland every year. The number of test bull doses is about 1 300, which are used in milk recorded herds. Large progeny groups are the basis for accuracy of estimating breeding values for health and fertility traits. Some 50 % of cows are inseminated with best proven bulls and cows culled from dairy breeding with beef bulls to produce crossings for effective beef production.

Holstein-Friesian

Origin: Northern Holland, Friesland

Average weight of cows: 618 kg (2008)

Average milk yield and components (2009): 9 366 kg milk, fat content 3.90 %, protein content 3.32 %

Holstein-Friesian is the second most common dairy breed in Finland with 100 000 cows. Three quarters of the Holstein-Friesian cows are milk recorded, and 33 % of the total recorded dairy cattle in Finland are Holstein-Friesian. The best cows produced more than 21 000 kg of milk. Finland tests about 55 Holstein-Friesian bulls per year. Large progeny groups are the basis for accuracy of estimating breeding values for health and fertility traits. The test bull doses are used in milk recorded herds. Some 50 % of cows are inseminated with best proven bulls and cows culled from dairy breeding with beef bulls to produce crossings for effective beef production. About 40 % of inseminations in Holstein-Friesian cattle population are inseminated with young sire semen to guarantee progeny testing of large number of dairy bulls with sufficient accuracy. There is hardly any country with more intensive use of young sires.

Finncattle

Origin: Finland

Average weight of cows: 526 kg (2008)

Average milk yield and components (2009): 6 218 kg milk, fat content 4.31 %, protein content 3.43 %

Finncattle is the traditional native cattle breed of Finland. There are three different types: the golden-brown Western, the white Northern and the Eastern type that is red-sided with a white back. All types of Finncattle are usually naturally polled. There are about 4 000 Finncattle cows left, and three quarters of them are milk recorded. Only 1 % of dairy cattle are Finncattle cows nowadays. Most of the Finncattle cows are of the Western type, the Northern and the Eastern type are rare and endangered. Finncattle has higher milk component values than the more common dairy breeds in Finland. The best Finncattle cows produced more than 17 000 kg. About 70 % of inseminations in the Finncattle population are inseminated with young sire semen because the population is quite small. Using mostly young bulls helps keep the genetic base of the breed as wide as possible.

Jersey

Origin: Isle of Jersey

Average weight of cows: 488 kg (2008)

Average milk yield and components (2008): 7 922 kg milk, fat content 5.16 %, protein content 3.90 %

While Jersey is the second most common dairy breed around the world, it is very rare among Finnish dairy cattle. There are only a few Jersey cows being milk recorded in Finland.