The first dairy genomic bull proofs come out in April. What are your thoughts on genomics? Will you select genomically tested young bulls and do you think you will genomically test your herd in the future?....

Yep we have been using them for 3 years in NZ bur the reliability is not that flash and in general their genomic index declines toward their daughter proven record but some are better than their genomic index ,it is another tool but I would not rely on it totally yet there is still a lot to learn.some of our top Dairy farmers are using 20% genomic selected bulls and 80% proven bulls till the technology gets better.

Rather the question is can you afford not to use them and the potential speed up of genetic improvement of your herd?? 

been using genomic tested bulls for the last few years now. And as of yet the proofs have to be established for me in the parlour! That being said it seems to be working on a national level. However there are certain warnings to be aware of.. such as if using these bulls pick a minimum of 5 thus splitting the potential of a bad geno typed bull leaving you with a lot of not so good prodgeny. And of course use no more than 50% of these bulls overall like mentioned all ready use proven bulls too. 

 As for testing my herd into the future, im certain i will but with the constraints of costs ( v. high individually 77 stg/animal)  so it will have to wait ! Plus with the freeing up of the milk market looming i predict any animal with an elder will be milker for the foreseeable future!

definite yes it will open up the industry and make the minor breeds of cattle viable such as ayrshire,shorthorn and the like and will also help to speed up the process and reduce the risk of carrying poor quality animals !!!

I'm using it to source high genetic merit embryos which I implant in my maiden heifers. I sell the resulting progeny (bulls into AI, heifers to fellow breeders) and reinvest the money made into my business.