Archive for December 2018

Top 8 of 2018 – The Bullvine’s Most Popular Articles of the Year

The Bullvine team is pleased to once again bring you the most well-read articles in the three most popular sections of our website for the past year.   This list reflects content published from January 1st, 2018  through December 27th, 2018 and is based on Google Analytics with over 2,900,000 monthly views from almost 2,200,000 unique yearly visitors.

Top 8 Feature Articles

  1. Dairy Breeders – Stop the Insanity
  2. US April 2018 Genetic Evaluations – Highlights
  3. Why Inbreeding is a good thing!
  4. The Future Value of Genomic Testing
  5. Dairy Industry Devastated as Tragedy Strikes Couple on Cross Country Tour Promoting Canadian Supply Management System
  6. US August 2018 Genetic Evaluations – Highlights
  7. How profitable is dairy farming?
  8. Bottom Line: Who Is Responsible For This Mess?

Top 8 News Stories

  1. The Rumours are True – There is a NEW AI Stud in Town!
  2. The Planned Destruction of the American Dairy Farmer
  3. Dairy farmer left devastated after 105 cows test positive for bTB
  4. Sex Is Big Business in Dairy Farming and the Focus of Legal Battles
  5. 300 dead cows were found at California Ranch
  6. Best advice to U.S. dairy farmers? ‘Sell out as fast as you can’
  7. Farmers Stand In Silence At Auction So A Young Man Can Buy Back His Family Farmhouse
  8. Walmart’s milk production hits farmers hard

Top 8 Dairy Cattle Shows

  1. International Holstein Show 2018
  2. Royal Holstein Show 2018
  3. Northeast National Spring Holstein Show – New York Spring Holstein Show ’18
  4. Quebec Spring Holstein Show 2018
  5. Ontario Summer Holstein Show 2018
  6. Le Supreme Laitier – Supreme Dairy Show 2018 – Holstein
  7. International Jersey Show 2018
  8. International Red & White Show 2018

 

A lot has changed since 2012, (Read more: The Top 10 of 2012 – The most read articles of 2012) in both the dairy industry as well as here at the Bullvine.  Looking ahead to 2019, there is no question things will continue to change.  It certainly has been a very busy year and these articles were among the most talked about in the industry.  Thanks again for your continued reader

The Bullvine 2018 All-North American Awards

Take out all the politics, all the baloney and just look at who had the best year, and that is the Bullvine’s 2018 All North American Contest.  In the same way that Golf, Nascar and many other major sports determine their yearly winners, the All-North American system is designed to keep it simple, clear and fair. The All-North American awards are a clear points system that takes all the bias and political headaches that have killed the other contests out of the equation.  This year we had two winners that did not win at either Expo or the Royal, but thanks to their body of work throughout the whole year take home the All-North American award.

The rules are simple:

  1. To be eligible all animals must be shown at either World Dairy Expo or The Royal
  2. In each class, the animals earning the top two positions on points will have their results compared head to head, to see how they did when in the same ring on the same day. If the 2nd highest point earner wins the head to head battle by two or more points, i.e.3 to 1, the 2nd highest point earner will be declared the victor.
  3. In classes where the judge or associate judge at World Dairy Expo or The Royal owned and/or bred one of the top three point earners, all animals in the top three will have their points compared excluding the show that the judge evaluated and the one with the most points will be declared the victor.

The shows that are eligible are:

  1. USA
    1. International Holstein Show (World Dairy Expo)
    2. New York International Spring Holstein Show
    3. Mid-East Spring National Holstein Show
    4. Midwest Spring National Holstein Show
    5. Western Spring National Holstein Show
    6. Mid-East Summer National Holstein Show
    7. Midwest Fall National Holstein Show
    8. Northeast Fall National Holstein Show
    9. Eastern Fall National Holstein Show
    10. Mid-East Fall National Holstein Show
    11. Western National Holstein Show
  2. Canada
    1. The Royal
    2. Le Supreme Laitier
    3. Autumn Opportunity
    4. Westerner Championship Show
    5. Eastern Ontario Western Quebec
    6. Atlantic Fall Championship
    7. Ontario Summer Show
    8. Quebec Spring Show
    9. Ontario Spring Show
    10. BC Spring Show
    11. Atlantic Spring Show

The point system is as follows:

  1. Regional National Shows
    • 1st = 5 points
    • 2nd = 4 points
    • 3rd = 3 points
    • 4th = 2 points
    • 5th= 1 point
  2. National Championship Shows (World Dairy Expo and The Royal)
    • 1st = 15 points
    • 2nd = 13 points
    • 3rd = 11 points
    • 4th = 9 points
    • 5th = 8 points
    • 6th = 7 points
    • 7th = 6 points
    • 8th = 5 points
    • 9th = 4 points
    • 10th = 3 point

Please note: Spring Heifer Calf and Milking Yearling will be published shortly

Spring Calf

All North American – REYNCREST AVALNCHE LUSHA
Reserve All-North American – BLONDIN T&L AVALANCHE ANGELINA
HM All North American – MAPEL WOOD DOORMAN DANCER
Top at US Shows: REYNCREST AVALNCHE LUSHA
WDE Winner: REYNCREST AVALNCHE LUSHA
Top at CDN Shows: MAPEL WOOD DOORMAN DANCER
RWF Winner: REYNCREST AVALNCHE LUSHA

  US TOTAL CAN TOTAL TOTAL
REYNCREST AVALNCHE LUSHA 20 15 35
BLONDIN T&L AVALANCHE ANGELINA 13 14 27
MAPEL WOOD DOORMAN DANCER 0 23 23
OAKFIELD AVALAN LIBERTY 0 18 18
SHOW-MAR D-BACK UPPERCUT 14 0 14
BUDJON ABBOTT ANITTA 10 0 10

Winter Heifer Calf

 

All North American – MISS OCD DOORM GEORGETTE
Reserve All-North American – GENO DOORMAN TESLA
HM All North American – BESLEA DOORMAN LATTITUDE & SUN-MADE CRAVE DRN DIANE
Top at US Shows: BESLEA DOORMAN LATTITUDE
WDE Winner:BESLEA DOORMAN LATTITUDE
Top at CDN Shows: GENO DOORMAN TESLA
RWF Winner: MISS OCD DOORM GEORGETTE

  US TOTAL CAN TOTAL TOTAL
MISS OCD DOORM GEORGETTE 16 15 31
GENO DOORMAN TESLA 7 18 25
SUN-MADE CRAVE DRN DIANE 13 11 24
BESLEA DOORMAN LATTITUDE 24 0 24
PFAFFSWAY DEFIANT JEN A 16 0 16
ALL-GLO BYWAY MONTRAL 8 7 15
VELTHUIS ATWOOD PASSION 0 10 10

Fall Heifer Calf

All North American – GARAY DOORMAN BLIND DATE
Reserve All-North American – KNONAUDALE SUNNYLODGE JASMINE
HM All North American – LUNCREST AMBISSION-1924
Top at US Shows: KNONAUDALE SUNNYLODGE JASMINE
WDE Winner:GARAY DOORMAN BLIND DATE
Top at CDN Shows: GARAY DOORMAN BLIND DATE
RWF Winner: GARAY DOORMAN BLIND DATE

  US TOTAL CAN TOTAL TOTAL
GARAY DOORMAN BLIND DATE 15 25 40
KNONAUDALE SUNNYLODGE JASMINE 17 11 28
LUNCREST AMBISSION-1924 11 13 24
MILEY AVALANCHE GENESSEE 9 8 17
WINRIGHT GOLDWYN KARAMEL 0 16 16
ALL-GLO O KOOL TULLY 7 9 16
CROVALLEY SOLOMON SPARKLE 3 12 15
KAMPY CORVETTE GRETCHEN 8 6 14
SAVAGE-LEIGH LALAS FIRST 14 0 14
GABZ DEFIANT REAGAN 12 0 12
JACOBS GOLD CHIP VERSION 6 4 10

 

Summer Yearling

All North American – JM VALLEY DEMPSEY LYZARA
Reserve All-North American – MILKSOURCE TAELYN
HM All North American – KIRKLEA JACOBY BUBBLEGUM
Top at US Shows: MILKSOURCE TAELYN
WDE Winner:MILKSOURCE TAELYN
Top at CDN Shows: KIRKLEA JACOBY BUBBLEGUM
RWF Winner: JM VALLEY DEMPSEY LYZARA

  US TOTAL CAN TOTAL TOTAL
JM VALLEY DEMPSEY LYZARA 11 19 30
MILKSOURCE TAELYN 20 5 25
KIRKLEA JACOBY BUBBLEGUM 0 23 23
KAROLSTEIN LILASTRUCK 1STGRADE 9 9 18
OAKFIELD BLAKE LUXURIANT 11 7 18
MAPLE-DOWNS-PV DRMAN GAVINA 18 0 18
COREDALE DIAMONDBACK IVY 16 0 16
PETITCLERC CONTROL ARIANNA 0 15 15
ULMAR CONTROL ETERNITY 0 15 15
COMESTAR LARION CONTROL 11 0 11
MISS SOLOMON HORIZON 11 0 11
BIRKENTREE DOORMAN LAINY 0 10 10
CLAIRCREST SOLOMON CHIPOLTE 0 10 10
ROSEDALE AVALA LOLLIPOP 4 6 10

Spring Yearling

All North American – WINRIGHT BEEMER BABY ENTHEM
Reserve All-North American – AHD DOORMAN SILK & RYAN-VU GOLDWYN RAVISH
Top at US Shows: AHD DOORMAN SILK
WDE Winner:AHD DOORMAN SILK
Top at CDN Shows: MS MAPLE-DOWNS A S GWEN
RWF Winner: GLENNHOLME MARIO MERCILESS

  US TOTAL CAN TOTAL TOTAL
WINRIGHT BEEMER BABY ENTHEM 11 23 34
RYAN-VU GOLDWYN RAVISH 19 11 30
AHD DOORMAN SILK 30 0 30
MS MAPLE-DOWNS A S GWEN 0 26 26
GLENNHOLME MARIO MERCILESS 0 20 20
PETITCLERC DOORMAN SAPPHIRE 17 0 17
GARAY SOLOMON ALIX 9 7 16
FLEURY DOUGLAS LISALY 0 15 15
RAN-CAN ALONZO CLICHÉ 15 0 15
CERPOLAIT DOORMAN FANTASTIC 3 11 14
BLONDIN AVALANCHE SASHA 0 10 10

Winter Yearling

All North American – WINRIGHT GOLD CHIP EXPLOSION
Reserve All-North American – BRIGEEN BRASH PADDY
Honourable Mention All-North American – CRAIGCREST RUBIES SMARTY PANTS
Top at US Shows: BUDJON-ABBOTT ALEXANDRA
WDE Winner:BUDJON-ABBOTT ALEXANDRA
Top at CDN Shows: WINRIGHT GOLD CHIP EXPLOSION
RWF Winner: WINRIGHT GOLD CHIP EXPLOSION

  US TOTAL CAN TOTAL TOTAL
WINRIGHT GOLD CHIP EXPLOSION 7 30 37
BRIGEEN BRASH PADDY 14 10 24
CRAIGCREST RUBIES SMARTY PANTS 5 18 23
BUDJON-ABBOTT ALEXANDRA 22 0 22
JM VALLEY ATWOOD ALY 4 17 21
CLAIRCREST ATWOOD MARMELADE 0 14 14
ROB-JO DOORMAN EMBRACE 14 0 14
QUIETCOVE WINNING WAYS 13 0 13
COCALICO GOLDWYN MORGAN 0 11 11
RONBETH DOORMAN SULTANA 0 11 11
SAVAGE-LEIGH GOTTA LOOK 11 0 11

Milking Yearling

All North American – MIDAS-TOUCH AV CLING
Reserve All-North American – MS PG PV DOORMAN ASPIRE
HM All North American – HODGLYNN BEEM ME UP
Top at US Shows: MIDAS-TOUCH AV CLING
WDE Winner: MIDAS-TOUCH AV CLING
Top at CDN Shows: REPA JENNIA DOORMAN
RWF Winner: MS PG PV DOORMAN ASPIRE

  US TOTAL CAN TOTAL TOTAL
MIDAS-TOUCH AV CLING 20 8 28
MS PG PV DOORMAN ASPIRE 6 15 21
HODGLYNN BEEM ME UP 13 5 18
REPA JENNIA DOORMAN 0 16 16
Westcoast Orion Aryane 4727 11 5 16
BONACCUEIL RANTA GOLDWYN 0 15 15
LELLAVAN AVALANCHE FUJI 5 9 14
BERWEN AVALANCHE FANTOM 8 5 13
BOSDALE SOLOMON PORTLEA 0 11 11

Junior Two Year Old

All North American – GARAY AWESOME BEAUTY
Reserve All-North American – TOLAMIKA ARMANI WILL
Honourable Mention All-North American – MIDAS TOUCH JEDI JANGLE
Top at US Shows: JUNIPER SID CHARDONNAY
WDE Winner: JUNIPER SID CHARDONNAY
Top at CDN Shows: MIDAS TOUCH JEDI JANGLE
RWF Winner: GARAY AWESOME BEAUTY

  US TOTAL CAN TOTAL TOTAL
GARAY AWESOME BEAUTY 18 15 33
TOLAMIKA ARMANI WILL 7 16 23
MIDAS TOUCH JEDI JANGLE 5 17 22
JUNIPER SID CHARDONNAY 20 0 20
ROLL-N-VIEW BYWAY LIGHTING 10 9 19
FRAELAND DOORMAN BONNIE 16 0 16
QUIETCOVE FOXYS LOLLIPOP 14 0 14
PREMIUM GOLD DIVINE 0 12 12
BEST NORD ATWOOD LOLLY 9 2 11
AUTUMN LANE ROSWITHA ROCKSTAR 0 11 11

Senior Two Year Old

All North American – MS SMITH OAK PW D MAGGIE
Reserve All-North American – FLORBIL DOORMAN LILLY
Honourable Mention All-North American – JACOBS DOORMAN VICTOIRE
Top at US Shows: DUCKETT DOORMAN GISELLE
WDE Winner: KINGSWAY DOORMAN ANDREA
Top at CDN Shows: FLORBIL DOORMAN LILLY
RWF Winner: FLORBIL DOORMAN LILLY

  US TOTAL CAN TOTAL TOTAL
MS SMITH OAK PW D MAGGIE 16 18 34
FLORBIL DOORMAN LILLY 0 25 25
JACOBS DOORMAN VICTOIRE 7 14 21
SCO-LO-AF SID SANGRIA 13 7 20
BERNADALE GOLDWYN INDIGO 6 13 19
DUCKETT DOORMAN GISELLE 17 0 17
KINGSWAY DOORMAN ANDREA 16 0 16
MS BEAUTYS BLACK VELVET 14 0 14
RUANN DOORMAN JEAN 55162 14 0 14
SCO-LO DOOR ACURA 2218 9 4 13
FRAELAND BLACK BEAUTY 0 11 11

Junior Three Year Old

All North American – ALFINCH ZELGODIS TACI
Reserve All-North American – ROLL N VIEW DEF BOJANGLES
Honourable Mention All-North American – ERBACRES SNAPPLE SHAKIRA
Top at US Shows: ERBACRES SNAPPLE SHAKIRA
WDE Winner: ERBACRES SNAPPLE SHAKIRA
Top at CDN Shows: ALFINCH ZELGODIS TACI
RWF Winner: ALFINCH ZELGODIS TACI

  US TOTAL CAN TOTAL TOTAL
ALFINCH ZELGODIS TACI 0 20 20
ROLL N VIEW DEF BOJANGLES 11 9 20
ERBACRES SNAPPLE SHAKIRA 15 0 15
R-M ATWOOD BRENDA 0 14 14
JACOBS MCCUTCHEN BRITT 0 13 13
VINBERT KINGBOY BIRDY 0 13 13
UNIQUE DEMPSEY CHEERS 13 0 13
BUTLERVIEW DOOR ALEAH 12 0 12
OAKFIELD A SHAMPAGNE-RED 0 11 11
MS LISTERINES LOOK AT ME 11 0 11
HENDERCROFT ATWOOD HARMONY 0 10 10

Note: There was a tie between ALFINCH ZELGODIS TACI and ROLL N VIEW DEF BOJANGLES.  The tie is broken by head to head matchups.

Senior Three Year Old

All North American – MAPLELEY GOLDWYN JULIA
Reserve All-North American – MS GOLDWYN SATURDAY
Honourable Mention All-North American – WEEKSDALE ABSOLUT VODKA
Top at US Shows: MAPLELEY GOLDWYN JULIA
WDE Winner: MS GOLDWYN SATURDAY
Top at CDN Shows: MAPLELEY GOLDWYN JULIA
RWF Winner: MAPLELEY GOLDWYN JULIA

  US TOTAL CAN TOTAL TOTAL
MAPLELEY GOLDWYN JULIA 17 16 33
MS GOLDWYN SATURDAY 15 15 30
WEEKSDALE ABSOLUT VODKA 5 13 18
KINGSWAY GOLDWYN LIP BALM 12 5 17
CORLANE SEAVER MISTY 14 3 17
KINGSWAY DOORMAN WANDA 3 11 14
VALLEYVILLE GOLDWYN BISSY 0 13 13
T-TRIPLE-T PERFECT STORM 12 0 12
KINGSWAY GOLDWYN LADONNA 0 11 11
GEG SID MADONNA 4 7 11
KINGSWAY GOLDWYN LAUREN 6 5 11
TEEBROOK DEMPSEY REBECCA 8 3 11
MISS WBK BRITTANY 11 0 11
VALE-O-SKENE LAUTHORITY KITTY 10 0 10

Four Year Old

All North American – JACOBS WINDBROOK AIMO
Reserve All-North American – WILLOWS-EDGE ATWOD FAITH
Honourable Mention All-North American – IDEE WINDBROOK LYNZI
Top at US Shows: MS ELLMVUE NOVELTY KEELEY
WDE Winner: JACOBS WINDBROOK AIMO
Top at CDN Shows: WILLOWS-EDGE ATWOD FAITH
RWF Winner: JACOBS WINDBROOK AIMO

  US TOTAL CAN TOTAL TOTAL
JACOBS WINDBROOK AIMO 15 19 34
WILLOWS-EDGE ATWOD FAITH 9 24 33
IDEE WINDBROOK LYNZI 13 13 26
JUNIPER-HAVEN ATWOOD DOLLY 10 11 21
MS ELLMVUE NOVELTY KEELEY 16 0 16
WEBB VIEW BUTTERBALLS MCCUCHEN 0 14 14
GAMBLIN ARMANI GLADE 12 0 12
CITYVIEW BRAXTON LOIS 0 10 10

Five Year Old

All North American – JACOBS JORDAN CARMEL
Reserve All-North American – CO-VALE DEMPSY DINA 4270
Honourable Mention All-North American – AL-SHAR DEMPSEY ALISON
Top at US Shows: WALKERBRAE DORMAN LOCKET
WDE Winner: CO-VALE DEMPSY DINA 4270
Top at CDN Shows: JACOBS JORDAN CARMEL & AL-SHAR DEMPSEY ALISON
RWF Winner: JACOBS JORDAN CARMEL

  US TOTAL CAN TOTAL TOTAL
JACOBS JORDAN CARMEL 13 20 33
CO-VALE DEMPSY DINA 4270 15 13 28
AL-SHAR DEMPSEY ALISON 6 20 26
WALKERBRAE DORMAN LOCKET 16 0 16
JEANLU STANLEYCUP ALEXIS 0 15 15
BERNALTA DUDE DRESSY 0 14 14
MISS APPLE ARIA RED 10 4 14
HARVUE ATWOOD GINGER 13 0 13
WAYHOLME REGINALD PETUNIA 0 11 11
AROLENE GOLDWYN DIVINE 10 0 10

Mature Cow

All North American – JACOBS LAUTHORITY LOANA
Reserve All-North American – TK-PLAIN-VIEW RIPLEY & WEEKS DUNDEE ANIKA
Top at US Shows: JACOBS LAUTHORITY LOANA
WDE Winner: JACOBS LAUTHORITY LOANA
Top at CDN Shows: JACOBS LAUTHORITY LOANA
RWF Winner: JACOBS LAUTHORITY LOANA

  US TOTAL CAN TOTAL TOTAL
JACOBS LAUTHORITY LOANA 15 20 35
TK-PLAIN-VIEW RIPLEY 11 13 24
WEEKS DUNDEE ANIKA 13 11 24
ZIMMER KRUSADER AVA 7 11 18
HENDERCROFT FEVER BAZOOKA 0 11 11
ROBELLA GOLDWYN EDGELEY 0 11 11
CAVANALECK DEMPSEY BOZICA 6 8 14
HOMTOSTA ATTIC FEREEDA 4 7 11
GAMLAKE DESTRY SALLIE 12 5 17
T-TRIPLE-T PLATINUM 13 0 13
LAIDLAWN SANCHEZ GEMINI 11 0 11
BELLA-ROSA GW SARA 10 0 10
UTAG WINDBROOK ECLIPSE 10 0 10

Production Cow

All North American – LIDDLEHOLME RESUR LU
Reserve All-North American – LOYALYN GOLDWYN JUNE
Honourable Mention All-North American – JACOBS FEVER CAEL
Top at US Shows: LIDDLEHOLME RESUR LU
WDE Winner: LIDDLEHOLME RESUR LU
Top at CDN Shows: LOYALYN GOLDWYN JUNE
RWF Winner: LIDDLEHOLME RESUR LU

  US TOTAL CAN TOTAL TOTAL
LOYALYN GOLDWYN JUNE 13 23 36
LIDDLEHOLME RESUR LU 20 15 35
JACOBS FEVER CAEL 6 15 21
TC SANCHEZ KRISTINA 19 0 19
PHOENIX BAXTER GEOMETRY 0 18 18
CACHE-VALLEY LHEROES 2331 17 0 17

Please note: In shows that did not have a production class but the animal does qualify for this class, their mature cow class points are used. Also note that LOYALYN GOLDWYN JUNE actually had more points than LIDDLEHOLME RESUR LU, but due to rule #2 in regards to head to head matchups LU takes home the all North American Award.

The Bullvine Bottom Line

 The Bullvine congratulates the hard work of all the exhibitors and we are proud to recognize the 2018 All-North American winners. 

We would love to know your thoughts.  Please enter them in the comments box below or email them to allnorthamerican@thebullvine.com

Reality Check – Is Balanced Breeding Working?

‘Balanced Breeding’ has been promoted and followed in dairy cattle breeding for at least the past forty years. It is when the important traits that breeders desire to improve are combined in what is called a total merit index. All the traits in the index are weighted according to their relative importance for the breed but not for individual breeders. An example could be applying a weighting of 5% for SCS in an index and expecting that all bulls in the top hundred for that index will be improvers for mastitis resistance. On average, there is increased total genetic merit but not an increase for all trait in the index.

Reality Check Time

Here’s the question The Bullvine puts to you – “Is using total merit indexing (aka balanced breeding) the best way to select and mate animals to achieve maximum genetic gain for profit? It could very well be that using balanced breeding gives breeders false hopes of improving all traits in the total merit index.

Check the Facts

If you say it isn’t so, then do this quick check. How many top (25x) daughter-proven US Holstein sires are above 2.90 for SCS and less than 2.0 for DPR? The truth is that that number is higher than you might guess it to be. For TPI there are seventeen (68%), for DWP$ there are sixteen (64%) and for NM$ there are twenty-two (88%) sires that are higher for SCC and lower for DPR than those levels. The Bullvine chose those levels because they are the index values needed to improve a herd that is average for mastitis resistance and fertility.

Furthermore, it is not just US Holstein sires or US total merit indexes. 80% of the top ten LPI Canadian proven Jersey sires, 60% of top ten Pro$ Canadian proven Jersey sires, 80% of top ten LPI Canadian proven Holstein sires and 100% of the top ten Pro$ Canadian Holstein sires are not rated as significant breed improvers for resistance to mastitis and daughter fertility.

The truth is that, by using a high-ranking sire based on North American total merit indexes, a breeder can only in about 30% of the time expect to achieve meaningful improvement in resistance to mastitis and female fertility.

What does Genetic Theory Tell Us?

When practicing single trait selection, breeders can expect to make 100% of the possible genetic gains from a given sire mated to a given dam. Table 1 shows the possible gain for each trait as the number of traits selected for is increased.

Table 1 – Expected Genetic Response

# of Traits Selected For Average % of Genetic Gain Achieved for Each Trait
1 100%
2 71%
3 58%
4 50%
5 45%
6 41%
9 33%
12 29%
16 25%

Of course, the genetic gain achieved is also a function of the merit of the parents. A sire needs to be 1 Standard Deviation above the breed mean (67%RK) before his progeny will exhibit improvement when he is mated to average females.  If a female in the top 1% of the breed (99%RK) for a trait is mated to a 67%RK sire their progeny will be 83%RK. Some breeders mistakenly feel that if they mate their 99%RK cow to a slightly above average sire (60%RK) that the progeny will retain the breed leading genetic merit of the dam. It just isn’t so.

Total merit indexes usually contain a dozen or more traits and as can be seen from Table 1, on average, for each of twelve traits the maximum gain possible will be 29% of what would be possible if single trait selection was practiced for each trait.

Bulls of the Past

Total merit indexes were partially implemented so there could be one ranking system for animals in a breed. Before there were total merit indexes marketers were all claiming to have the #1 sire – albeit they may have been #1 for type or production but not #1 overall.

Before total merit indexes, sires were known for what they did best – Marquis (type), Bell (milk yield), Fond Matt (udders), Sheik (% Fat), Rudolph (calving and fertility), Duncan Lester (production), Gemini (type), etc. Most often a sire’s weaknesses were ignored by breeders. So total merit indexes were good as they positioned a sire in the breed according to a combination of his strengths and weaknesses.

Dairy Cattle Breeding in 2025

2025 is less than three generations of cattle into the future. Profitable cows then will need to yield more lifetime profit that our cows do now. How will that come about? It will be by having cows that generate more revenue and decrease some costs. For farms that produce 95% of the milk, cows will generate more revenue by the uniqueness of the milk (i.e. %F, A2A2, BB, … etc.) and by reducing costs by having superior genetic indexes for traits like feed efficiency, productive life, disease resistance, fertility, mobility and milk ability.

Future Focused Selection

Selecting for the six cost reducing indexes mentioned above will slow genetic progress to 41% (see Table 1) of what is possible. The best route for a breeder to follow is to identify the three limiting traits in the herd and to select primarily for those three traits. That way the herd would make 40% more genetic improvement for those traits.

A.I. centers are already doing this when selecting the sire that they mate to a bull dam. They identify the dam’s three most limiting traits and find the bull that does the best job of improving those three traits.  They are having excellent success at producing top young sires using this method of breeding. A.I. sire analysts may use a total merit index (i.e. TPI, NM$, JPI, …etc.) to narrow down the list of sires to be considered but they require that a service sire for the bull dam be outstanding (95+%RK) for the dam’s limiting traits.

The Bullvine Bottom Line

Breeding for a balance for a host of traits, some of which do not need to be significantly improved in a herd, is not the way of the future. To maximize the rate of genetic improvement in a herd, breeders will need to identify their 3 most limiting traits and then find and use the best sires for those three traits. In the future, focused breeding on the traits needed to maximize a herd’s future profit rather that a balance of traits will lead the way.

 

 

 

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US December 2018 Genetic Evaluations – Highlights

For most breeders, finding all the different lists, and having the time to sort out what’s what is just not something you have time for.  That is why we here at the Bullvine have done the work for you.  Here are some of the highlights:

  • Genomic Sires >12 Months
    • PINE-TREE LEGACY (Frazzled x Yoder x Liquid Gold) from the Coyne-Farms Yelena Cri-ET family (Dam of Co-Op Bosside Massey) LEGACY holds on to the #1 position at +2949. He is +172 for combined Fat and Protein and over 1 point for PTAT and UDC. He is also the #1 NM sire over 12 months of age.
    • MR DYNASTY NASHVILLE (Dynasty x Nominee x Robust) grandson of Miss Ocd Robst Delicious-ET VG-87 GMD DOM (Dam of Mega-Duke, Delta, Denver, Draco, Delco and more) remains the #2 sire at +2944. Over +2000 lbs of milk, positive components and type scores.
    • New to the top 5 sires at +2919 is OCD PINNACLE DIESEL (Pinnacle x Draco x McCutchen) from the Windsor-Manor Rud Zip TV TL EX-95 3E GMD DOM cow family. Diesel is positive components with high type and good fertility.
    • OUR-FAVORITE UPGRADE (Crush x Atwood x Shottle) is the #1 PTAT sire over 1 year of age at +4.59. From the Our-Favorite Conceited TV TL EX-92 3E GMD DOM cow family UPGRADE is over 2 points on all composites and positive components, DPR and PL.
    • BOMAZ ALTADELSON P (AltaRobson x Delta x Numer Uno) from the Bomaz Garter 2796-ET TL VG-88 GMD DOM cow family is the #1 polled sire over 1 year of age in the world at +2801.
  • Proven Sires
    • EDG RUBICON (Mogul x Robust x Planet) remains the #1 proven sire at +2824. His dam is Sandy-Valley Robust Ruby-ET (EX-90), a 7th gen VG/EX from the EX-95 Dellia family. He is the #1 for FAT sire (+121), and #2 NM sire (+972) and #2 Grazing Merit sire (+890) and is +2.13T. RUBICON is one of four Mogul sons in the Top 10 and has 6 sons himself over +2800G. Of interesting note is that in the Top 10 proven TPI sires, Robust x Planet appears 4 times in the MGS x MGGS column – but Rubicon is the only one not from Robst Delicious.
    • MR MCCUT DANTE 1407 (McCutchen x Robust x Planet) moves ahead of UECKER SUPERSIRE JOSUPER (Supersire x Beacon x Jango) for the #2 spot. DANTE is a McCutchen brother to Delta & Denver from Robst Delicious. He is also the highest ranked A2A2 bull available, with Denver being the only other A2A2 bull in the Top 10.
    • S-S-I MONTROSS DUKE (Montross x Supersire x Snowman) from the Roylane Shot Mindy 2079-ET VG-86 DOM, DUKE is the highest newly proven sire at +2747 and #5 on the high ranking sire report.
    • DYMENTHOLM MR APPLES AVALANCHE (McCutchen x Regiment-Red x Durham) from the Apple clone is now the #1 proven type sire.
    • VIEW-HOME POWERBALL-P (Earnhardt x Robust x Zenith) remains the #1 proven polled sire in the world at +2494.

US Genetic Evaluation Lists

“Delta” Continues to Lead for Both Pro$ and LPI – Canadian Genetic Evaluation Highlights 12/18

MR MOGUL DELTA 14271

For the second proof run in a row, Mr Mogul Delta 1427-ET maintains a hold on his position as the breed leader for both Pro$ and LPI (#4 Fat). Of the newly proven bulls this round, two rank among the Top 10 for Pro$. Boldi Accurate, a Vieuxsaule Flame-ET son out of Velthuis Supersonic Alyssa, is the highest newly proven Pro$ sire taking #5 spot (#35 LPI). His full brother, Boldi Andre, is this round’s highest newly proven sire for LPI grabbing #11 position (#61 Pro$). Bryceholme Brodie-ET, a Supersire son out ofMarbri Oman Oman Bea, is the second highest newly proven bull for both Pro$ and LPI,ranking #7 and #18 respectively (#6 Milk, tied #9 Protein).

Pro$ has now been available for over three years. Over time, it has become evident that certain bloodlines are pushing the two top lists to gradually become more diverse. This December, along with #1 sire Delta, only two other proven sires rank among the Top 10 for both national indexes. Ranking #2 for both LPI and Pro$, as well as being tied at #3 for Protein, is the previously proven Glen-D-Haven AltaHotrod (Jerod x AltaIota). Synergy AltaParquet-ET (Numero Uno x Planet) takes a jump up both lists this December, landing at #4 LPI and #6 Pro$.

Other previously proven bulls ranking among the Top 10 for Pro$ this round include Seagull-Bay Sargeant-ET (#3 Pro$, #2 Milk, #107 LPI), Mr Coin Draco 15006-ET (#4 Pro$, #43 LPI), De-Su Mickelson 11598-ET (#8 Pro$, #49 LPI) and View-Home Day Missouri-ET (#9 Pro$, #26 LPI, #2 Protein, #7 Milk). After improving his rank substantially since the August proofs, Boldi V Armour, a maternal brother to the previously mentioned leading newcomers, Accurate and Andre, rounds out the Top 10 Pro$ list in #10 position (#39 LPI).

Following the two breed leaders for LPI this round, Delta and AltaHotrod, is EDG Rubicon (Mogul x Robust) in #3 spot (#25 Pro$), who also stays firm at #2 in the breed for Fat. Three other bulls maintain their elite status on the Top 10 LPI list from last round, namely Comestar Lautrust, at #5 LPI (#28 Pro$), Gillette Byroad (#6 LPI, #78 Pro$) and Mapel Wood Brewmaster (#7 LPI, #24 Pro$), who maintains his position as the breed leader for Fat. Completing the Top 10 LPI list are three sires that improve their rank to secure them a place among the Top 10 this round. These include Lone-Oak-Acres AltaRoble-ET (#8 LPI, #73 Pro$, tied #6 Conformation, Mogul x Observer), Co-op Renegade-ET (#9 LPI, #102 Pro$, McCutchen x G W Atwood) and Regel AltaToprock (#10 LPI, #47 Pro$, Shamrock x Million).

Other noteworthy news this round is the arrival of Bovo Bomba (Doorman x Super) as a newly proven sire that reaches #1 Conformation at +16, to be tied with Velthuis SGC Atmost, as well as the increase of 10 kg for Protein for the polled sire, View-Home Powerball-P-ET (Earnhardt x Robust), to become the new breed leader.

Ample Diversity Among Newly Proven Bulls in the Top 50

Outside of the newly proven sires already mentioned, there are eight other impressive newcomers that make their debut among the Top 50 for Pro$ and/or LPI. One bull manages to reach this status for both national indexes as Bomaz AltaSabre-ET (Jacey x Robust) arrives at #34 LPI and #35 Pro$. Two other sires, both out of dams by Epic, rank well for Pro$ as Boldi V Astrolab (Jabir son out of Boldi V S G Epic Aster) takes #15 Pro$ (#53 LPI) and Seric Rico (Jacey son out of Seric Epic Mayana) enters at #34 Pro$ (#77 LPI). Other sires with an interesting start for Pro$ are Crasdale Blondin BH Mars-ET, who is a Cashcoin son out of Sully Numero Uno Maribel-ET that receives his first official proof at #42 Pro$ (#57 LPI), as well as Mr American Daft Punk-ET (Day x Robust), debuting tied at #44 Pro$ (#88 LPI). Finishing off the newcomers that pentrate the Top 50 LPI list this round are Bacon-Hill Pety Modesty-ET (Pety x Supersire), who is tied at #40 LPI (#81 Pro$) and EDG Saturn Sender 8136-ET (Mogul x Man-O-Man) at #45 LPI (#182 Pro$).

Top GLPI and Pro$ Lists Each Welcome a Newly Indexed Cow

This December release sees one newly indexed cow enter each list of Top 10 Pro$ and Top 10 GLPI, and both are sired by AltaHotrod. Peak Loyal Hrod 60124-ET, who is out of Mapel Wood McCutchen Loyality, debuts at #5 Pro$ (#17 GLPI), while Progenesis Hotrod Mia (dam is Woodcrest Def Manhattan-ET) arrives tied at #9 GLPI (#18 Pro$).

Four previously indexed cows rank among the Top 10 for both GLPI and Pro$. Three of these impressive animals carry the “Stantons” prefix and are sired by “Delta”. Leading the GLPI list again this December is Stantons Does Appear-ET (#1 GLPI, #7 Pro$). Stantons Bee Desired-ET stays firm in her #1 rank again this round for Pro$ in addition to being #2 GLPI (tied #10 Fat). Stantons Delta Approved-ET, full sister to Stantons Does Appear-ET (dam is Stantons Cameo Appearance), holds steady among the Top 10 for each list at #4 Pro$ and #5 GLPI. The fourth cow to penetrate both Top 10 charts is Dudoc Superman Somnanbule, tied at #3 GLPI and #9 Pro$, who’s dam is Dudoc McCutchen Rancune P*POC (#16 GLPI, #44 Pro$).

Three other daughters of Rancune*POC also all manage to maintain their Top 10 status for either index as Dudoc Silver Sarcasme*POC is tied at #3 GLPI (#12 Pro$), Dudoc Boastful Blaspheme takes #8 Pro$ and #9 GLPI, and Dudoc Missouri Menace-P*POR at #8 GLPI and #10 Pro$. Benner Octoberfest Jingko moves up from #4 to #2 Pro$ this round and ranks #14 GLPI. Stantons Bee Daisy-ET, full sister to the previously mentioned Stantons Bee Desired-ET (Delta daughters out of Ri-Val-Re Num Uno Bee- ET), now occupies #3 Pro$ (#13 GLPI), while Silverridge V Sshot Erynne moves up to #6 Pro$ (#20 GLPI) and is tied at #6 for Protein in the breed.

The list of Top 10 GLPI cows is completed by four previously indexed cows including two with very little change from August, namely Stantons Silver Emoticon-ET (#6 GLPI, #16 Pro$) and Stantons Real Dollars-ET (#8 GLPI, #15 Pro$). Two others, however, both daughters of Rubicon, take a jump up the GLPI list this round, namely Lindenright Rubicon Moofia (#7 GLPI from #21, #266 Pro$) and Stantons Rubicon Cranking Up (tied at #9 GLPI from #20, #54 Pro$). A final noteworthy newly indexed cow this round is Lima Biscuit Doorman (Doorman x Lima Biscotti Dempsey), who ties with Brenland Doorman Desirable and Sunnypoint 2024 Lady D as the #1 cow for Conformation at +17.

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