Desirable traits often differ from farm to farm, so for now at least, I seek balance. This is after all the foundation we build the Premier Sires teams on: bulls that appeal to most of our everyday farmers.
Another layer of complexity is that the traits farmers breed for don’t always align with their culling decisions. That’s not to say those decisions are right or wrong, but it does raise the question of how we prioritise one trait over another.
Consider capacity: although frequently regarded as a non-negotiable trait, data from the past three seasons shows that fewer than 1% of cows were removed due to Unsuitable Type or Traits Other Than Production.
Don’t get me wrong, I value capacity highly too, particularly as it underpins a cow’s ability to thrive and produce year after year. But should it sit at the top of a breeding priority list? Or simply meet a modest threshold that protects your herd average? That one is up for you to decide.
With that in mind, let’s take a closer look at a selection of Holstein-Friesian genomic bulls offering a range of strengths to suit different breeding goals.
124016 OAKLINE SG ENFORCER-ET S3F
Enforcer is the closest we've come to a true unicorn, at least in my eyes. Bred by Paul and Kristin Midgley of Hāwera, Enforcer hails from the powerhouse that is Oakline Maxima Emma S2F. The combination of being sired by Goliath, the king of capacity himself and coming from a maternal line boasting three generations of dams who have scored seven for both Udder Overall and Dairy Conformation, make his own figures no surprise: 0.88 Udder Overall and 0.83 Dairy Conformation.
An A2A2 sire, Enforcer delivers combined Fat and Protein of 111kg, all while keeping a moderate 62kg Liveweight gBV. Add in his positive fertility and negative somatic cell counts, and you have a sire destined to leave a lasting mark on any herd.
124025 LIGHTBURN ICARUS ROWDY
Bred by forward-thinking John and Wendy Allen of Palmerston North, Rowdy represents the best of innovative breeding. Sired by popular overseas bull Sandy Valley Icarus, Rowdy brings valuable genetic diversity to the breed without sacrificing Fertility or Capacity, both of which he has with positive gBVs at 1.7% and 0.33 respectively.
With a respectable 467 gBW, and impressive production figures of 64kg of Fat and 43kg of Protein, Rowdy’s credentials are further strengthened by a strong Udder Overall gBV of 0.90. Rowdy is an excellent choice for those seeking an easier calving option for use over their heifers.
124077 MARQUEE GASOLINE LOKI-ET S3F
Loki is an exciting new addition for farmers looking to power up their breeding teams. Bred by John Harrison in Temuka, Loki combines the strength of two elite studs. His sire pathway doubles down on the renowned Lightburn genetics (Gasoline over Gusto) with his dam Busybrook Gusto Lass S2F, out of a robust maternal line from Busybrook. Lass impressed early classifying with an eight overall for both udder and Dairy Conformation as a two-year-old.
Loki brings outstanding Fertility with a gBV of 6%, strong farmer traits, and backed by a modest 0.75 Udder Overall gBV. Compact and stylish, Loki is perfect for farmers keen to moderate the size of larger Friesians without compromising production or type.
124004 PAYNES MON INVINCIPOLL-P S2F
Invincipoll carries a rare and valuable maternal legacy, with his dam, Paynes Milkshake Ivy-ET S1F, lost early in her first lactation making this the only opportunity to tap into her unique genetics. Sired by the widely used Monopoll, Invincipoll’s maternal line brings fresh influence through overseas sire Tag-Lane Milkshake and who classified a solid 7 for both Udder Overall and Dairy Conformation. This strength has clearly bred on, reflected in Invincipoll’s outstanding Udder Overall gBV of 1.14. Furthermore, as his name suggests, Invincipoll is heterozygous polled, offering a 50% chance of passing on the polled gene to his progeny, and is also considered an easier calving option. Congratulations to Brad and Claire Payne of Cambridge for breeding such an exciting young bull.
Your non-negotiable breeding values will shape the future of your herd. By utilising this versatile lineup of sires, you will have the tools to breed a herd that will thrive today, and for many generations to come.
Michele van der Aa, Bull Acquisition Specialist
