Bullseye September 2014

New Daughter Proven Sires Take Centre Stage

WestGen customers will be pleased with new high-calibre daughter proven options added to the proof sheet in August. They provide several well-rounded complimentary mating options to many of the bloodlines in milking strings and heifer pens today and are thus timely in their arrival.

Without question the big story of the August proof update is Marbri FACEBOOK (Man O Man x Airraid), the former Genomax star-turned Daughter proven mega-star. After all, ascension to the number 1 TPI position will do that especially for an Immunity+ bull. While milking daughters in Canada should provide him his first “Canadian” proof in December, for now his MACE evaluation also promotes him to the # 1 LPI position by a considerable margin over his nearest international rivals, and by even more over the top Canadian proven sires.

Facebook is first and foremost a production specialist. High milk yields supported by excellent components help provide him with in excess of 200Kg of combined fat and protein yield. In fact, no bull combines for more total yield than Facebook. That he combines this production specialty with solid Conformation improvement (+11) – particularly Udders (+9) and F&L (+12) – and an excellent health trait profile (108 Herd Life, 104 Daughter Fertility, 104 Calving Ability) in addition to confirmed Immunity+ status almost ensures that his impact on the breed will be lasting. Semex has already sampled 17 sons including the likes of Enforcer (+3444 LPI) –  who already has daughters in Western Canada and who will no doubt also receive renewed interest based on the success of his sire, Facebook.

Having just missed getting a proof in April, Larcrest CONTRAST (Alexander x Shottle) had been widely discussed as an up-and-coming Conformation specialist. With 177 classified daughters in his debut Canadian daughter proof there should be little doubt about his ability to leave the right kind of cows. At +14 Conformation he is indeed a Type specialist. Looking closer at the numbers tells the story on why all producers should use him: moderate in stature (+3) but wide of chest (+8) and wide through the rump (+12) this is a bull that just fits hand in glove to what the breed needs right now. Further, while the Contrasts are moderate milk producers, they produce extremely high fat content milk (+0.82%F). They track extremely straight when viewed from the rear (+11) and are among the breed’s best to work with displaying exceptional temperament (112). Use Contrast with confidence to build better herds.

Two additional bulls new to the WestGen proof sheet include Comestar LEMUST (Planet x Bolton x Titanic – dam of Lavanguard) and Parile LOTO (Planet x Goldwyn). Lemust is an extremely well balanced bull with few areas of weakness. He provides high production yields, positive components, strong and balanced Type improvement – particularly udders and F&L – and a balanced Health trait profile. Most notably he is easy to use as his Laurie Sheik family pedigree contains no Goldwyn, no Shottle and no O Man! That makes him very unique! Loto is also a Planet son and while he does have Goldwyn in his pedigree close up, his profile of medium sized cows with exceptional udders and feet & legs, along with high Herd Life and Daughter Fertility and breed-leading Mastitis Resistance compels us to offer him to our customers. On the traits that really matter Loto comes up with all the right numbers.

For so many years Comestar, has been a prefix associated with balanced breeding Holstein sires.  Comestar Beautifull (Iatola x First Prize) provides the same prefix and the same type of sire for the Jersey breed. Beautifull is among the Type leaders in the breed and is immediately our best for LPI. Beautifull is a true Conformation specialist offering remarkable overall Type (+11) and in particular exceptional F&L improvement (+12). High component percentages come along with the Type package. We could go on – clearly, this bull will be very popular!

It is a most satisfying proof round that delivers much added power to WestGen’s proven marketing lineup. Despite an exceptional Genomax offering that begs attention too, if one were scoring this round, it would be a unanimous decision for the daughter proven set.