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April 2009 – Top Ten Proof Summary
TYPE
With almost 30 bulls with
a TM of over 3 currently on the market and a variety of pedigrees, there is
no shortage of choice of high quality breeding options for today’s dairy
industry.
The Spanish bred Mario
Xacobeo continues to dominate the Type Merit Available Bull list after the
release of the April proofs. This BW Marshall son from an EX92 Rudolph dam
from the ‘Jody’ family is proving his worth within herds in Spain breeding
extremely well attached, shallow udders. His Mammary score of 3.47
contributes greatly to his overall score of 3.81, ahead of fellow udder
improver ALH Dancer, the double cross of Dellia, bred in the Netherlands.
Improving his overall score to 3.69, he moves ahead of Braedale Goldwyn who
now has 732 daughters in 306 UK herds who have come out with an impressive
improvement over dams and contemporaries of 3.53, with particular strength
in their feet and legs.
The next three listed
available sires have also simply undergone a slight reshuffle after the
latest evaluations with Pine-Shelter Lennon Der, Blue-Haven-Ltd OTS Bryce
and the home bred Picston Shottle all close with 3.43, 3.42 and 3.38
respectively. Into 7th spot jumps another from the ALH stable – this time
Dandy (from the Triuna family). Tested in Spain and with daughters milking
in the UK and the Netherlands, this release has resulted in a big
improvement from 2.64 to 3.38. Type specialist Mesland Duplex is leaving
some fancy and consistent daughters on UK yards, illustrated by a 3.34 score
and equalling this, Jango provides high production alongside high type. M.E.
Dal Alliance also retains his top ten spot at 3.31.
PRODUCTION
Although entitled
‘Production’, maybe this should be recognised as more of an all-rounder,
breeder friendly group given the level of management traits now incorporated
within the Productive Life Index. Almost every bull in the top 10 is a cell
count improver, all offer better than average daughter lifespan and most
transmit better than average daughter fertility.
There is just one bull
accounting for six places in the new top ten; O-Bee Manfred Justice. Whilst
any bull would be considered hugely influential to provide five sons in the
top listing, O-Man himself eclipses all others and yet again maintains the
top spot with an increased PLI of £285 based on the performance of 563 UK
daughters, with a remarkable -22 SCC and 0.6 Lifespan. Another popular UK
proven sire, Braedale Goldwyn consolidates his position of one of the most
consistent bulls, improving his index to £228, followed by the first O-Man
son, all-rounder Morningview Legend and the now familiar face of Wizzard, a
recognised fat improver. Still leading in Lifespan improvement, Laudan
follows in fifth.
The first of the new
entries comes in at number six, in the shape of Macomber O-Man Bogart. He
ranks among the best daughter fertility improvers at FI +4.3, and has a PLI
of £208. His paternal brother - Lot-O-Rok Oman Jake - follows in seventh,
again improving on all the important fitness traits as well as production.
Although he has been around for many years, the Rudolph son Ramos now makes
his debut to the top 10, his extra daughters performing particularly well
for fertility in the UK, reflected in his Fertility Index, up to a
phenomenal +8.6, the highest of the top 50 bulls. Wa-Del Hayden maintains
his top 10 position at £197 and is followed closely by the final new entry,
and also the highest milk bull available – Tomlu Oman Dotson
Acknowledgements:
DairyCo breeding+
HUK
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