Bullseye May 2014

Misty Springs Superpower

Rare it would have been in past sire-procurement models that any bull dam would be given 8 opportunities to produce that top-ranked proven son for one AI organization. That however, is exactly what has been afforded the highly acclaimed Misty Springs Shottle Satin. Although scored VG-86 as a 2 year old in 2008, so busy was Satin producing sons and daughters that there was no opportunity for even a second lactation. That Misty Springs Superpower – generated from her 1st Semex contract – already debuted as perhaps the most interesting new proven addition to WestGen’s proof sheet bodes well for the faith Semex has placed in Satin herself. It certainly increases the stock value of Superpower’s Immunity+ brothers by Superstition; Speech and Supersonic (sire of Hathaway) as well as a trio of Man-O-Man brothers: Number One sampled in the US, Shockwave sampled by CIAQ and Stunning sampled right here at WestGen.

For genetic junkies like us who bring these bulls and their stories to you, the genomics era may indeed be exciting. We rattle off all the connections to other bulls waiting in our barns. For producers however, it is more than a bit confusing having to keep track of the hundreds of names of sires now being marketed immediately as young bulls. How refreshing it is then to have a proven sire, reasonably unrelated to the many pedigrees in our herds that can be used widely across both milking strings and heifer pens. Superpower’s balanced proof providing solid milk yield improvement along with strong fat deviation and supported by a very pleasing linear Type profile is exactly what many producers having been looking for. That he delivers on several current key breeder demands – slightly wider teat placement, slightly longer teat length, moderate size and sloping rumps – is more than just a bonus. From the cross of Bonair on Shottle, Superpower is also a calving ease sire with a reputation for easy-to-work-with cows.

We are indeed excited to introduce Superpower to WestGen customers. Irrespective of how much or how little your emphasis today has shifted to Genomax products, this is a Proven star that we believe should be incorporated for the pedigree diversity he brings, as well as the genetic excellence and exceptional value he represents. He is proof that not all the good ones will already have been used as Genomax bulls and a reminder of why “sampling” still makes sense. And finally, Superpower is testament to the fact that creating a variety of sons from the right bull dam, a strategy we see Semex using regularly, is a terrific strategy.