Over the years the breed has evolved to offer improved milk components and yield along with quality udders and mastitis resistance. This has been accomplished while maintaining the strength and robustness the breed is renowned for.
Fleckvieh x Holstein 2 yr lact. 305 days 8240 kgs milk, 7.7% Fat,
3.6% Protein, 117% of herd average proj. calving interval 350 days.
Tom Voizey of Somerset, England is milking pure Fleckvieh, imported from Austria; «We see bull calves as a potential source of profit, not an expense. Fleckvieh with their combination of good milk yields and beef quality are exactly what we are looking for!»
Fleckvieh is also rapidly gaining popularity in dairy crossbreeding programmes as well. Many dairy farmers are looking for improved hardiness and longevity to improve profitability. Fleckvieh have strength and body reserves to withstand the challenges of modern dairy production.
Austrian Fleckvieh sires are thoroughly proven in a modern young sire testing programme. Proofs are compiled by independent third parties so all proofs are accurate, reliable and un-biased. The breeding programme in Austria puts emphasis on the dairy traits of production, health/fertility and conformation plus body and muscling traits to ensure the breed continues to improve durability. Interestingly over 85% of cows milked in Austria are Fleckvieh.
Recently Fleckvieh have experienced a tremendous growth in demand. Heifers, embryos and semen are being exported to an increasing number of countries as producers come to recognize the benefits of the breed.
Johannes Tanzler of Fleckvieh Austria remarks: «Fleckvieh have proven themselves to be profitable in a wide variety of conditions. For example; in Northern Ireland we see producers using Fleckvieh and Fleckvieh crosses in extensive grazing systems. In Britain, Germany, Czech and other countries farmers are using Fleckvieh genetics in intensive, high output systems. Essentially farmers appreciate the strength of the breed. They have the ability to produce well and get back in calf, even when conditions aren’t perfect.»