Archive News

10/08/2005, American genetics bring success

Wilsonview Kahn Morgan Daughter, one of the bulls used by Andrew Malcolm

WAIKATO dairy farmer Andrew Malcolm runs 150
Jersey cows on his 40Ha farm in Waitoa near
Morrinsville.
His herd is comprised completely of cows from
American genetics which he has been using over his
stock for about 10 years.
Mr Malcolm uses American bulls because their
daughters milk just like New Zealand cows do but last
for a longer period of time because of their strong composition.
Thanks to using outcross genetics, he is now achieving
greater milk production with a lower number of
cows.
Mr Malcolm links the milking success of American
genetics to the soundness of the cows, which he says
have always been bred to have strong confirmation
traits such as legs, feet and udders.
He says the other major bonus of the American outcross
cows is their good temperament.