Breeding purpose

Holstein cows are bred for high lifetime production. They come in black and white, red and white or all red, black or white. The goal is to breed a high-performing, profitable cow with a focus on milk production which remains productive through many lactations thanks to its stable health, robustness and good fertility and which has good development potential with a high feed intake capacity and optimal feed conversion.

In terms of milk production, the aim is a genetic potential of 10,000 kg milk (305-day yield) with a fat content of 4% and a protein content of 3.5% in order to achieve lifetime yields of more than 40,000 kg milk.

Adult cows should reach a sacrum height of 145 to 156 cm and a weight of 650 to 750 kg. Their conformation and movement mechanics, including correct, robust feet and legs, must meet the requirements of both high performance and a long productive life. Another requirement is healthy udders and easy milkability, which support high daily yields over many lactations with excellent quality and functionality.

The current breeding objective is composed of 36% milk, 18% length of productive life, 18% health, 7% fertility, 3% calving traits, 3% calf fitness and 15% conformation.

The Holstein breed is widespread all over the world. It is the most commonly found dairy breed.

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