Livestock Event 2014: Spring calving index to be launched

The first new across-breed bull proof index aimed specifically at New Zealand-style, spring calving herds will launch next month.

The Spring Calving Index is an across-breed ranking which DairyCo has spent the last 18 months developing for the 10% of dairy farmers who are operating spring calving, grass-based systems.

Extension officer Andy Dodds explained at the Livestock Event that it is similar to PLI, but with costs adjusted for the spring system, such as less weighting on autumn feed.

“In addition, it is more focused on milk quality rather than volume, as these farmers tend to be on constituent-based milk contracts.”

Other factors include a greater weighting on health traits like fertility and udder health.

See also: Guide to using key indices for dairy bull proofs

Another factor, which is also being applied to the existing PLI, is a new maintenance figure. “There were concerns that cows were getting too big. This change will maintain size, we are not looking to reduce size,” he told Farmers Weekly.

The index gives these farmers a UK based system using UK prices, as they have had to rely on overseas rankings, such as the existing Irish EBVs and New Zealand Breeding Worth index. 

“It accounts for environmental factors in the UK, such as weather, giving them a home-based index,” said Mr Dodds.

The first bull proof run will be featured in the 15 August Farmers Weekly.

See also: All the coverage from the Livestock Event 2014