Dairy Crossbreeding: An Option to Face the Challenges of Climate Change-Productive and Reproductive Features from Two Different Genetic Groups

Crossbred animals are widely used in dairy farming, especially in regions with adverse environmental conditions and poor forage availability.This study was carried out on Girolando dairy cows belonging to two different genetic compositions.These cows were followed from the beginning of pregnancy until the postpartum period, when the cyclic activity was restored.The aim was to analyze milk yield, body condition scoring (BCS), uterine involution, and return to cyclicity and to check if there was a correlation between these parameters.Productivity and reproductive performance in two different climatic periods were also evaluated.We used 49 cows representing two crossbreeding levels, the GS1 group (1/2 Gir × 1/2 Holstein; n = 31) and the GS2 group (3/4 Holstein × 1/4 Gir; n = 18).Cows in the GS1 group had higher milk production, recovered BCS faster and consequently required fewer days to return to cyclicity (p < 0.05).No differences were observed in the other parameters evaluated including time for uterine involution, and BCS at calving (p > 0.05).The cows in the GS1 group were better than those in the GS2 group in the studied production system.Cows calving in the winter showed earlier uterine involution, return to cyclicity, more milk production, and had better BCS in the postpartum period when compared to those calving in the summer.