About our cows: Why MRI?

ROBIN HALL

When asked by visitors about the breed of milk cows that we have, I often get a puzzled look when I say “they’re MRI cows...” This response is hardly surprising as such animals are relatively rare in the UK. Meuse-Rhine-Ijssel evolved as a distinct breed in the east and south-east of the Netherlands, in an area bordered by the rivers from which the breed takes its name. The ancestry of the MRI breed includes the indigenous cattle of the Netherlands and the red-and-white cattle breeds found in nearby Germany and Belgium. The characteristics of MRI cattle that make them an ideal breed for Plaw Hatch Farm are as follows:

Longevity: they are sturdy cows with strong legs and good hoof structure. Their robust qualities have been proven on this farm and we currently have 12 cows aged 9 years and over. These cows will have 7 or more lactations; the average for a commercial dairy cow is 3 or less!

Milk quality: the milk from MRI cows is particularly good for cheese-making. It contains higher levels of Kappa-Casein B; a protein that is required for this.

Dual-purpose: most modern cattle have been bred for a specific purpose, generally dairy or beef. One of the issues with the popular Holstein/Friesian cattle in the UK is that the bull calves are of little economic value as they do not finish well for beef. Although MRI cattle are kept primarily for milk production, they will produce sturdy bull calves that can be finished for beef. This tendency is enhanced when they are served by a beef bull such as our native Sussex bull, Winston.