ABS Australia August ABV Media Release
19th August
Removing the poor genes to deliver quality and certainty for Australian farmers
– ABS Australia has four of the top 10 proven Holstein bulls in the latest Australian Breeding Value (ABV) release.
– In an industry-first, ABS Australia has discontinued all bulls identified with Muscle Weakness or JH1.
– Farmer favourite Jersey CSCBRADY delivers consistency.
ANY Holstein bulls with the recognised genetic condition called Muscle Weakness and Jerseys with the JH1 haplotype – that effects fertility – have been removed from the market by ABS Australia.
But this bold, and industry-leading move, hasn’t affected the quality bull offering for Australian farmers.
ABS bulls claimed four of the top 10 Holstein proven rankings in the latest Australian Breeding Values (ABV) release – with many household names delivering in the vat for farmers across the country.
ABS Australia Business Operations Manager Bruce Ronalds said dairy farmers could purchase ABS bulls with confidence.
“Muscle Weakness Syndrome (MW) is a newly discovered genetic condition in Holsteins which is characterised by otherwise healthy animals which aren’t able to stand, while the JH1 haplotype has been linked to infertility in Jerseys,” he said.
“The recent discovery of these genetic conditions and haplotypes are just another thing the industry can thank genomics for.”
“Here at ABS Australia, we checked our marketed bulls and found 12 with the MW condition and two with the JH1 haplotype. They have been discontinued from our offering. Unfortunately one of these bulls was Denovo 14744 GINETTA which would have been number seven on the ABV Holstein proven list. Despite his other quality traits, we don’t want farmers to risk any progeny health issues.”
Holstein Winstar EQUITY- P-ET has also been removed from the market, however his highly popular son Denovo 19187 EMPORIA P is clear of the MW gene and remains in ABS Australia’s offering as a bull that excels in Daughter fertility at 120.
Gippsland-based semen reseller Leading Edge Genetics owner Brad Aitken said full disclosure of recessive carrying genes was important for the dairy industry.
“I take my hat-off to ABS for making people aware of Muscle Weakness and JH1,” he said.
“It is important farmers are aware of the genetic condition and haplotype, because in different ways, they both affect farm profitability.”
In the recent ABV release, farmer-favourite and long-time breed leader ABS JERONIMO P continues his domination of the Australian market at 461 Balanced Performance Index (BPI) and number eight, while big milk bull DG CHARLEY continues his run at the pointy-end of the ranks with 480 BPI and ranked fourth.
Thanks to an influx of daughters, Kings-Ransom S DREAMBIG and Hoogerhorst dg oh RUBELS-RED are Australia’s equal highest type bulls and have also lifted their production status.
DREAMBIG is now at number six proven Holstein with 330 milking daughters, 39kg of Protein and 39 kg of Fat and a Farmer Likability of 105.
“For farmers wanting profit, with outstanding type, DREAMBIG is for them,” Bruce said.
“He is leaving daughters with chest and body and widens the pins.”
RUBELS-RED, now at number seven at 463 BPI, is 111 for Type and 105 for Udders.
It’s no surprise black and white farmers are using him in their breeding program, Bruce said.
He has also improved to 111 for Mastitis Resistance.
ABS Australia has a strong, diverse range of proven Holstein bulls to suit any breeder or commercial dairy farmer.
“If you want Red or Black, high type Holsteins with good production we’ve got something for you” Bruce said.
“And equally if you have your sights set on health traits, there’s JERONIMO -P.
“When other bulls have fallen away, DG CHARLEY and JERONIMO- P stand firm – this is a testament to their balance and pedigree depth, and we know farmers are enjoying milking their daughters.”
Denovo 4798 ESTATE-PP is still the highest proven homozygous (Double P) Holstein bull in Australia at 536 BPI and he’s expected to remain popular with farmers.
Bruce said demand for PP bulls continues to increase and ABS is proud of the bulls it can offer the industry.
Consistent Jerseys deliver for all
The highly sought-after and continually impressive genomic bull Kaarmona Jeronimo Brady, CSCBRADY has delivered a consistent performance in this ABV release with 423 BPI and is equal number one for Type and four on ASI Production.
“CSCBRADY has been our most popular Jersey during the past four months with farmers wanting to take advantage of a balanced bull offered by Kaarmona, the only stud in Australian history with a Master Breeder award from two different breeds,” Bruce said.
“The highest ranked ABS Jersey genomic bull, farmers can purchase CSCBRADY with confidence and know he will deliver. It’s exciting to have this bull through our relationship with Central Sires Co-Operative and from one of the best cow families in the country.”
For Jersey polled breeding programs, Balnageith JANGO-P is the highest heterozygous or ‘single-P’ genomic Jersey at 366 BPI, while Wallancedale VAST-P at 364 BPI offers high production and type while delivering 50 per cent of his progeny without horns.
Forest Glen Craze TRIPP rose to fourth on the ABV Jersey proven rankings at 313 BPI and 317 milking daughters.
Performing well in Australian herds for production, high components, milk and 101 for Daughter Fertility, he’s still a popular choice for those wanting a sexed genetic product, according to Bruce.
CSCJAMIEO at 291 BPI is number six on the ABV proven Jersey rankings, proving consistency is key when it comes to bull selection.
Red wonder for downunder
Norwegian Red, and demonstrated performer, SAUSVATN-PP at 246 BPI – is the best option for those breeders looking to develop a polled herd as the number one homozygous (double-P) genomic bull with high-end Daughter Fertility at 104.
“It is great to see that we now have the only three Aussie Red homozygous polled bulls in the Good Bulls Guide,” Bruce said.
“This is a testament to the breeding program in Norway and its emphasis on polled genetics coming through. Farmers using SAUSVATN PP, SKJEFTSAD PP and HAUEN PP can be confident that they will match it with the best in the breed with all progeny born without horns.”
Phenomenal Norwegian Red ALME, ticking boxes for Australian farmers, is 326 BPI and number one on the Health Weighted Index (HWI) at 283. He’s also number two in the breed for Daughter Fertility at 106 and is now available in REDX and conventional.
ENDS
Kings-Ransom S DREAMBIG Courtesy of Holstein International
Four Milking RUBELS Daughters 2yo at Bomaz Farms
Media contact: Bruce Ronalds, ABS Australia Operations Manager, 0427 826 054
High resolution image file: Jonathan Douglas, Marketing Coordinator 0418 812 646
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About ABS
Headquartered in DeForest, Wisconsin, U.S.A., ABS Global, Inc. is the world‐leading provider of genetic improvement solutions and reproduction services that help customers PROFIT FROM GENETIC PROGRESS. Marketing in nearly 80 countries around the globe, ABS has been at the forefront of animal genetics and technologies since its founding more than 80 years ago. ABS Global is a division of Genus plc.