Breeding for Milk Production, Efficiency and Fertility

CRV Bulls Prove It’s Possible: Breeding for Milk Production, Efficiency and Fertility 

Every dairy farmer strives for a herd that achieves efficient milk production with little hassle  and labor. Good fertility is a prerequisite for this. Breeding can make an important  contribution here. CRV bulls prove in this index run that breeding for CRV Efficiency  goes hand in hand with good fertility. This not only results in higher returns but also  more job satisfaction and ease of work.  

Proven all-rounders for daughter fertility  

Take for example the widely used Delta Fast Lane. He received his first daughter proven  breeding value, directly based on the performance of more than 1,250 daughters. Fast Lane  transmits on high components, all-round excellent conformation, and good health traits with  108 claw health and 105 daughter fertility.  

Delta Lucardi also underlines his popularity. He now has more than 900 milking daughters,  which further improves his breeding values across the board. Lucardi is a true “high components sire” with +0.79% fat and +0.33% protein and 433 Inet, as well as a top  conformation score of 112 total conformation, including 109 feet & legs and 110 udder. Lucardi  also scores very well on claw health with an index of 111. In addition, he is a FeedExcel sire.  

Genetics

Speaking of proven sires: with now more than 8,600 daughters contributing to his breeding  value, Delta Eloy rf still ranks in the top 15 of the NVI list thanks to values such as 110 total  conformation with 111 feet & legs, 106 udder health, and 106 daughter fertility.  

Full brothers confirm reputation as efficiency leaders  

The full brothers Delta Dolmen and Delta Flagstone (Topstone x Relevant) received their first  daughter-based breeding values in this index run. They confirm their reputation as high milk production and efficiency leaders (+15% CRV Efficiency) with 610 and 575 euro Inet  respectively, thanks to a combination of high milk yield with strong positives for components.  Both brothers score 108 and 109 for feed efficiency, making them an excellent fit for the  FeedExcel breeding strategy.  

Both sires also increase milking speed (105 and 106), and on claw health they score 105 and  106 respectively. Dolmen scores 109 for feet & legs and 106 for overall appearance.  Flagstone reaches 107 for overall appearance with 107 feet & legs and 105 udder.  

Delta Dolmen also received a daughter-based breeding value in Germany. With a score of 145  RZG he is the third-highest daughter proven bull, and with 2292 RZ€ he ranks seventh on this  economic index. 

The popular Delta Perfect, great-grandson of the excellent 100-ton cow Delta Paulina,  doubled the number of daughters in his breeding value to more than 2,500. He slightly  increased in NVI and components and gained two points in daughter fertility. Strong feet &  legs and healthy claws remain his trademarks.  

Efficiency

Over 1900 kg milk with 107 daughter fertility  

Delta Boulevard (Wendat x Martin) is a young bull that perfectly proves that high milk yield  and excellent fertility can go together. He combines over 1900 kg milk with 107 daughter  fertility and has a flawless genetic profile including 108 claw health.  

VDR Spike (Boreso x Amuse) hailes from the family of VDR Sandra 2. He transmits 1083  days of longevity, more than 1700 kg milk, 109 total conformation, and 110 claw health. Spike  also scores a solid 103 on daughter fertility. With +20% CRV Efficiency and 111 feed  efficiency, this FeedExcel sire is an absolute top sire for efficiency.  

Boyan is BullsEye sire  

Boyan is BullsEye sire  has nearly 1500 kg milk and +0.38% fat and +0.17% protein, resulting in 178 kg fat and  protein and 628 euro Inet, Delta Boyan (Warren P rf x Endess rf) is a production leader. With  a breeding value of 110 for feed efficiency, he is also a true FeedExcel sire. With values of 110  udder health and 111 claw health, farmers can expect Boyan daughters to produce trouble free. And as a BullsEye sire, Boyan also directly contributes to improved semen fertility.  

One of the interesting new black-and-white sires with high genomic values is Sterksel Simson (Nobrainer x Marpon). He stands out with high values for udder and claw health (both 110)  and 102 daughter fertility, combined with nearly 1000 kg milk with high components. Simson  semen is not yet available.  

Delta Eurostar (Keystone x Powerlift rf) is available. This FeedExcel sire combines high milk  yield (+1152 kg) with strong components (+0.41% fat and +0.20% protein) and 591 days  longevity. With +19% CRV Efficiency and 112 feed efficiency, he scores very high on  efficiency traits. Eurostar is also a top sire for feet & legs (112) and claw health (111). His  pedigree traces back to Delta foundation cow Pietje 52.  

Polledness dominates in Red-and-White  

The Red-and-White offering from CRV is dominated by bulls carrying the polled gene. This  time, three homozygous polled daughter-proven bulls are in the spotlight.  

Delta Drone PP received his first daughter proven breeding value. He went up by 45 points  NVI thanks to increased milk production and type. Drone PP transmits more than 1000 kg milk with  strong positives for components, overall good health and functional traits, and flawless  conformation.  

In Germany, enough Drone daughters are now in milk for a breeding value. With 140 RZG and  2073 RZ€, he ranks number three for both indices and is the highest PP bull. In Canada,  Drone PP received a breeding value of 3693 LPI, making him the number two PP bull over  there. 

The first daughter breeding value of Delta Orange PP also comes out higher than his latest  genomic index, particularly due to a milk production increase. Orange is a “high component bull”  with +0.39% fat and +0.10% protein and transmits 110 total type, 108 feet & legs, and 106  udders.  

In the breeding value of the popular Delta Launch PP, performances of a large number of  second-lactation daughters have now been included. They confirm the high maturity index of  their sire, whose milk production value increased by €35. Launch PP also scores well for daughter  fertility with a breeding value of 102.  

Primetime PP sons score high ratings 

A large number of young sons once again prove the breeding power of sire Delta Primetime  PP with high genomic values.  

New in the lineup is Delta Samurai P (Primetime PP x Imperial), with a production index of  over 800 kg milk with +0.27% fat and +0.06% protein. He transmits 810 days longevity and  111 total type with 111 feet & legs. Samurai P excels in health traits with 110 udder health and  110 claw health, resulting in +8% CRV Health. With 106 calving ease, he is also suitable for  heifers.  

Also available now is Delta Pronto P (Primetime PP x Endless rf). He sires high production of  over 900 kg milk with +0.36% fat and +0.10% protein, combined with 104 daughter fertility.  Pronto also scores excellent for udder health with 111, and his CRV Health index is +8%. He  also transmits 111 total type.  

Samurai P and Pronto P are not the only Primetime sons with high ratings. The homozygous  polled Delta Ratings PP (Primetime PP x Launch PP) scores 113 total type with 112 feet &  legs and 110 udders. He also transmits over 1000 days longevity, supported by 107 udder  health, 111 claw health, and 103 daughter fertility.  

Ratings’ half-brother Delta Bonfire P (Primetime PP x Kenny) is also a type star with 113 total  type and 113 feet & legs. With 106 for daughter fertility, he also scores excellent. Farmers will  need to wait a little longer for semen from Ratings and Bonfire.  

Standouts for Health Traits  

Already available is Delta Chiptuner (Borax x Launch PP), an outstanding bull for type and  health traits. He scores 111 total type with 112 feet & legs, 109 claw health, 106 udder health,  and 101 daughter fertility.  

Delta Bridge P (Landstar rf x Launch PP) also scores excellent on health traits and sires good  type. But above all, he stands out for milk production with nearly 1000 kg milk with +0.53% fat and  +0.19% protein, resulting in €525 Inet..  

The homozygous polled Delta Barolo PP (Iron Man P rf x Launch PP) is a high-level  allrounder, distinguished by type: 111 total type with 109 udders, 109 feet & legs, and 112  claw health.  

 Daughters Confirm Breeding Values of CRV’s US Bulls  

The bulls from CRV’s USA breeding program performed very well this index run. In the top 100  TPI daughter-proven bulls, there are now four CRV bulls. Terra-Calroy Zuri, the surprise of  the April run, maintains his position with nearly 600 daughters and remains in the top five. With  1.57 PTAT, he is now the highest type sire in the top ten.  

FeedExcel bull Peak Zico received his first daughter-based breeding value. He transmits over  1,700 lbs milk with a feed efficiency of 108 and strong health traits, resulting in 689 NM$ and  3,087 TPI.  

Outside the US, CRV’s bulls also prove their strength. Zuri ranks number four in Canada for  LPI and he is in the top 50 in Italy for PFT. Peak Fugleman is number six in the  Netherlands/Flanders with 291 NVI and number two in Scandinavia with 40 NTM.  

Five over 3,400 GTPI  

Among the genomic bulls, five new CRV bulls scored over 3,400 GTPI, including Genosource  Nelson (Radical x Thorson) with 3,413 GTPI. Nelson is a very balanced sire transmitting  1,269 lbs milk with +0.19% fat and +0.03% protein, and breeding values of 4.7 Productive Life,  2.90 SCS, and 1.26 PTAT with an udder score of 1.49 UDC. 

FeedExcel bull Genosource Benson (Radical x Hannity) is absolute top for milk production  efficiency with +26% CRV Efficiency and 114 feed efficiency. He transmits 1,285 lbs milk with  +0.19% fat and +0.03% protein, along with 4.5 Productive Life and 2.97 SCS. Benson scores  986 NM$ and 3,411 GTPI.  

Genosource Jefe (Radical x Captain) also scores above 3,400 GTPI and is a FeedExcel bull  with 113 feed efficiency. Jefe transmits 1,397 lbs milk with 0.14% fat and +0.05% protein. He  scores 892 NM$ and +22% CRV Efficiency. With 1.42 PTAT and 1.43 UDC, he is also a solid  type sire, and for CRV Health he scores +5%.  

The fourth young CRV bull above 3,400 GTPI is Peak Embellish (Excitement x Alanzo). With  +0.38% fat and +0.15% protein, he is one of the top component sires in the US lineup. With  +6% CRV Health, he also ranks among the very best for health. Embellish scores 913 NM$ for  Net Merit.  

The new highest CRV bull Net Merit is Genosource Moti (Hobbs x Thorson) with 1,052  NM$. He also belongs to the very top for CRV Efficiency with +26%. Moti transmits 1,354 lbs  milk with +0.23% fat and +0.01% protein and scores 4.4 Productive Life. With 113 feed  efficiency, he fits perfectly into the FeedExcel breeding strategy.  

All-rounders at a High Level 

With Peak Eaglestone (Catapult x Overtake), CRV introduces a new allrounder at a high  level. Eaglestone scores on milk (988 lbs), components (+0.22% fat and +0.04% protein), and  efficiency (+17% CRV Efficiency, 110 feed efficiency, and FeedExcel). He also sires 3.1 PL,  2.87 SCS, and 1.30 PTAT with 1.48 UDC. His TPI is 3,314 GTPI.  

Peak Loadstone (Catapult x Achieve) reaches 3,370 GTPI and 939 NM$. He too is a  FeedExcel bull with +20% CRV Efficiency and 110 feed efficiency. His production is 1331 lbs  milk with +0.13% fat and +0.02% protein, and with 3.1 PL he also scores well on longevity. 

Winstar Cimrman (Andri x Duffy) is an absolute top sire for Productive Life with 5.3 PL. He is  also a FeedExcel bull with 108 feed efficiency and +19% CRV Efficiency. Cimrman transmits  1,106 lbs milk with +0.07% fat and +0.03% protein and scores 3,195 TPI.  

New top bulls for Red Holstein breeding  

For Red Holstein breeders, the August index run also brought good news, including one of the  very top Red Holstein bulls today: 3 STAR OH DiMaggio Red (Reality RF x OH-Ranger-Red)  with 3,053 GTPI. DiMaggio comes from a European cow family and scores 634 NM$ and  3,053 TPI on US base. He transmits 580 lbs milk with +0.08% fat and +0.05% protein and 4.2  Productive Life.  

Eskdale Redheat Red PP (Heatwave P x Rubels-Red) is a very complete Red Holstein bull  with PP and a top type score of 2.23 PTAT with 1.11 UDC and 1.29 FLC. He also scores  +17% CRV Efficiency and is a FeedExcel bull with 109 feed efficiency. Redheat transmits 567  lbs milk with average components and scores 2,878 GTPI.  

Eskdale Starpower RC (Hulu RC x Rubels-Red), a half-brother to Redheat, combines top  type with top milk production. His type index is 3.16 PTAT with 2.07 UDC and 1.97 FLC, and his milk production index is 674 lbs milk with +0.02% fat and +0.03% protein. He also scores 3.1  Productive Life and 2.88 SCS. Starpower reaches 3,141 GTPI and 417 NM$.  

Milk and components for Jersey  

From CRV’s US Jersey program, Jx Metcalf Ripp (Jx Chief x Jx Fournette) received his first  daughter breeding value. He combines 1,395 lbs milk with 16.5 JUI. His daughters will have  average stature and durable udders. Ripp scores 146 JPI and 488 CM$.  

The young sire MM Lockhart (Ur Noem x Nicklaus) brings both milk and components. He  transmits 516 lbs milk with +0.09% fat and +0.04% protein, combined with positive HCR and  CCR. Lockhart sires shallow, well-attached udders and slightly longer teats. He scores 138 JPI  and 422 NM$.