UK-BREDHOLSTEIN IS CLIMBING UP
UK-BREDHOLSTEIN IS CLIMBING UP
AN increasing number of UK-bred and proven Holstein bulls are climbing up the PLI and TOP Interbull rankings with each proof run – a sign of success for UK breeding programmes.
This proof runs highest climber is Moet Lookout, who has increased his £PLI from 68 to 89 since May. His proof also shows he offers 950kg for milk, 23.5kg (-0.19%) of fat and 28.9kg (-0.03%) of protein, with a type merit score of 1.7.
Lookout, a Lord Lily son, is also fifth on Holstein UKs TOP ranking, adds Genus James Simpson. "In May he had many daughters with records in progress. Now, more daughters have completed lactations and we have seen a massive increase because they are persistent in lactation."
Persistency is typical of his cow family, he says. The bulls dam, Moet Slocum Kizzy, produced 27,000 litres in 650 days before her second calving.
"The bull is also negative on somatic cell count and scores over two points for udder composite and two points for feet and legs."
Yet Mr Simpson believes this is only the start of what Genus Moet herd has to offer. "We now have the fourth generation of nucleus herd evaluated dams at Moet. Lookout himself has six brothers to come through the breeding programme."
Another high climber in the PLI ranking is Elton Star, a Fatal son, from Cogent having moved up from 16th place in May to fourth in August with a £PLI of 94. His proof offers 737kg of milk 29.4kg (0.00%) fat and 25.1kg (0.01%) protein, with a type merit score of 0.9.
Cogent Courier the first place bull in May has lost £2 PLI, so moves into third position. But Couriers reliability has improved to 75% with the addition of daughters to his proof and he still offers a high milk predicted transmitting ability (PTA) of 1106kg with 15.8kg (-0.38%) fat and 35.8kg (0.00%) of protein.
The PLI ranking is now led by Dutch-bred sire Delta Webster, closely followed by Ricecrest Marshall. Both these bulls are also in the top five TOP ranking introduced by Holstein UK earlier this year. But the TOP ranking is headed by Manat, closely followed by Stouder Morty with a type merit of 3.56.
But many of the high ranked bulls are negative on milk fat %, says Gordon Swanson of MDC Evaluations. He advises using ones with a fat % PTAs less than -0.20 with caution in any herd. But herds with low milk quality should seek bulls at more than -0.10% fat and protein when thats possible without jeopardising other breeding goals.
"Over the past 10 years, changes in milk payment schemes have led to increased selection for milk yield and has subsequently depressed milk quality in some herds," he warns. n
£PLI £PIN Type merit TOP Supplier Price
Delta Webster 101 92 1.8 861 Avoncroft £25
Ricecrest Marshall 100 91 1.6 854 Alta £35
Cogent Courier 99 93 1.5 782 Cogent £22
Elton Star 94 88 0.9 712 Cogent £16
Lorak 94 97 1.2 748 Supersires £24
Newhouse Spiceman 93 98 0.0 658 Avoncroft £15
Ricecrest Brett 93 93 0.6 678 Genus £16
Cogent Merrick 92 97 0.8 679 Cogent £15
Elite Mountain Donor 91 88 0.0 615 Semen World £16
Eastland Festival 91 94 -0.1 603 Avoncroft £17
McCloe-pond Trent 91 94 1.0 785 Avoncroft £25
Manat 90 79 2.9 883 Dairy Dtrs £28.50
Moet Lookout 89 86 1.7 850 Genus £16
Bagworth Zander Keet 89 89 n/a 263 Livestock Imp £17
Vision-Gen Ozzie 89 92 1.3 782 Genus £30
Zandenburger Royal 88 80 0.0 549 Avoncroft £12
Silverpost Sinatra 88 76 1.9 779 Genus £24
Lanugo Cel 87 89 0.8 722 Supersires £9
Crichel Principal 86 86 2.0 816 Cogent £18
Welcome Garter 86 89 1.6 746 Avoncroft £45
Source: MDC Evaluations.
TOP £PLI Type merit Supplier Price
Manat 883 90 2.91 Dairy Dtrs £28.50
Stouder Morty 882 64 3.56 Semex £33
Delta Webster 861 101 1.82 Avoncroft £25
Ricecrest Marshall 854 100 1.62 Alta £35
Moet Lookout 850 89 1.71 Genus £16
Comestar Stormatic 821 67 3.4 Semex £55
Alzi Juror Ford 817 77 2.45 Semen World £26
Crichel Principal 816 86 1.96 Cogent £18
Sandy-Valley Forbidden 789 77 2.4 Semen World £26
McCloe-Pond Trent 785 91 1.04 Avoncroft £25
Emil 783 81 2.31 Supersires £20
Cogent Courier 782 99 1.47 Cogent £22
Vision-Gen Ozzie 782 89 1.25 Genus £30
Silverspost Sinatra 779 87 1.94 Genus £24
Bernadis BW Laibert 769 79 1.64 Semen World £16
Tidy-Brook Steven 769 83 1.39 Avoncroft £32
Maughlin Storm 762 41 3.33 Semex £80
Etazon Lord Lily 762 71 2.03 Genus £26
Himter Grandprix 752 75 1.75 Avoncroft £18
Sandro 751 57 2.82 Dairy Dtrs £15
Source: Holstein UK
Moet Lookout daughters (such as pictured above) are said to offer persistency in lactation. His dam showed the same trait.