Genomically proven bulls are now available in the UK from Bullsemen.com, and the Shottle son Ian is already creating significant interest, according to the company's managing director Nick Kirby.

Ian, who is out of the renowned Delia family, demonstrates the all-round genetic improvement that is expected to become typical of genomically proven sires, with +3.5 PTAT, +0.5 Lifespan, +401kgs Milk and an outstanding -26% for Somatic Cell Count.

"DNA-tested bulls will bring wider choice from an increased gene pool and significantly reduce the waiting time for superior genetics", says Nick Kirby. "The average merit of a DNA-proven bull is 30% greater than progeny tested bulls".

"According to our partner CRI, who lead the way in genomics in the US, average reliability of a DNA-proven bull is 68%, which is equivalent to the first proof of an older bull with 50 milking daughters".  

"It's clear from the very early indications that we have had since we launched DNA-tested bulls in our new Bull Book in February that UK dairy farmers understand the advantages. Genomics offers the opportunity to make far greater improvements in the herd, albeit by sacrificing a few degrees of reliability".

Genomically proven Ian, who has 72% reliability on his US proof, has figures of +3.84 Mammary, +3.8 udder support and +4.3 fore udder attachment. He is available at £19/straw from Bullsemen.com.

According to Bullsemen.com’s Nick Kirby, these statistics indicate the growing significance of German genetics to the UK dairy farmer and tell just a small part of a larger success story.

“There are now more German-bred Holsteins in the top 100 £PLI than there are bulls from any other single country,” he points out, “and we are now seeing those with UK proofs in the top 10.

“Laudan is a good example, having climbed from 17^th to 2^nd in the latest proof run. He has outstanding reliability, with 20,127 daughters in 6,130 herds globally, and has proved that the performance can be replicated under UK conditions.

“Gibbon-son Gibor is another good example with 8,356 daughters in 3,379 herds globally. He has held his impressive position in the rankings for the second consecutive proof run having been the highest new entry in January 2008.

“Both Laudan and Gibor are typical examples of German Holstein breeding, with very good Lifespan and SCC figures and all the characteristics for breeding cows that will be long-lived and profitable in a modern dairy farming environment. 

“The dairy industry in Germany is substantial with more milk-recorded herds than we have herds in total in the UK. The breeding philosophy was possibly once considered too conservative, but the “no holes” policy of combining a sound balance of type and quality milk production with outstanding management traits is clearly correct for the modern UK dairy farmer.”

The impressive Gibor-daughter Killua GB Baler (Gibor x Brett x Baler Twine) was recently classified EX 92.

Killua GB Baler

She is housed at the farm of John Cunnance in the Lynbrook herd and enthuses with her excellent type and outstanding production. Several interesting sons are already housed in Irish AI studs.
The picture was taken at the end of her third lactation, when she produced in 305 days 15,004kg milk with 4.25 % fat and 3.80 % protein.

Gibor convinces worldwide with thousands of second crop daughters as Mr Fitness and is the No.1 Bulls for Lifespan at +0.7.

First and foremost Gibor makes his mark as sire of functional and long-lasting cows known for their will to milk in dairy herds. His late maturing daughters convince with best feet & legs and udders. The extremely good fertility is remarkable: Gibor’s daughters come in heat quickly and show very good fertility. The heifer bull should be on every dairy farm as guarantor for productive long-term production cows.

Co-op Oman Logan emerged from the latest Holstein proof run (Jan 2010) with an improved PLI of £185, placing him in the top dozen sires for this leading criterion, and with strong production (723kg), lifespan (0.2) and Type Merit (+0.96) figures. He is also a somatic cell count improver with a score of -20.

According to Bullsemen.com, Logan is currently the best value Oman son on the UK market. “As a son of top PLI sire O-Bee Manfred Justice out of dam BW Marshall, Logan - who we source from leading US co-operative CRI - fully reflects his pedigree,” says Bullsemen.com managing director Nick Kirby. “He represents exceptional value at his conventional semen price of £16/straw, and now we are able to offer a product with a minimum 75% heifer return for just £3/straw more. This really is a very cost effective way to gain access to the outstanding Holstein genetics of the current era.

“We launched the G75 sexed semen product last autumn with Wa Del Ricecrest HOLMAN, and this quickly became a best-seller for Bullsemen.com. It is a concept that dairy farmers like, because for most a 75% heifer return is sufficient for their breeding and replacement planning.” The G75 sexed semen product is possible due to a new application by CRI of established technologies, which are already proven and applied in the successful GenChoice 90 (G90) sexed semen product. A significantly higher proportion of the product survives the sexing process when achieving a 75% heifer return, and hence the product is more affordable. Fertility for G75 is the same as for G90.

Logan is also available from Bullsemen.com as a G90 product at a price of £36/straw.

Newly available Jocko Besne son JANOSCH sets a remarkable new standard for GB dairy farmers as the only Holstein bull with ratings of ‘Excellent’ for the in-demand characteristics of milk production, UK Type Merit, udders and legs & feet.

From the renowned Blackstar cow family and a full brother of the successfully established Janssen, Janosch boasts figures of +800kgs for milk production and 2.97 Type Merit and has the best second crop figures yet of any Jocko son.

For Holstein UK members familiar with the HUK website’s helpful bull selector facility, Janosch will stand alone if requesting over 700kg milk, +2.5 or more for Type Merit and Legs

“Janosch now has over 4,000 daughters in more than 1,000 herds contributing to his production figures and 600 daughters in 285 herds behind his type data, so this is a well-proven dairy bull,” explains Nick Kirby of Bullsemen.com.

“He is an outstanding example of the strength of German Holstein breeding and will be of great interest to dairy farmers in Britain who are seeking to build a herd for the future based on highly productive long-lived cows.

“This bull’s combination of production and type is unrivalled by any other Holstein currently available in the UK, and specifically Janosch has mammary figures at +2.5 and legs & feet at +2.51, which are both Excellent. With an overall £132 PLI to back up these individual elements of his proof, Janosch sits well within the Minimum Standards that we recommend should form the basis of future herd breeding.”

Bullsemen.com’s Leif has now strengthened his UK proof with 120 daughters in 40 herds, and has made further improvements on his strong international position.

His long-lasting international daughters (8,644 in his total proof at 0.6 lifespan) produce clean (-20% Somatic Cell Count) and good quality milk (+0.18% Fat & +0.04% Protein).

The daughters exhibit good fertility at +2.30 and are very strong, being recommended by Blade Farming for dairy beef, so bull calves will have a useful life. Chest width is +2.02, Body Depth +1.30 and Rump Width +1.18.

In the latest (August 2009) proof run, his UK Type Merit score has improved to +1.62, with well attached and supported udders at +1.44 and very good feet & legs with a foot angle of +1.86.

With a PLI of £192, Leif qualifies as an “Elite Profit Bull” within the Bullsemen.com catalogue. He is a Lukas son from a Zack dam and is recommended for use in most herds. Leif is currently available from Bullsemen.com at £15 per straw and can be ordered directly by calling 0808 202 3230.

Co-op Oman LLOYD at £226 PLI is the highest PLI sire of all new entrants onto the latest (August) Holstein UK bull proof listing and is one of three new releases from Bullsemen.com with a PLI over £200.

A son of top PLI sire O-Bee Manfred Justice out of dam BW Marshall, Lloyd is from US co-operative CRI and fully reflects his pedigree with an outstanding +886kg for milk and +33.1kg fat (+63kg fat and protein combined), and -22 for somatic cell count. With a Type Merit of over +1 indicative of very strong linear traits, Lloyd is a new star performer within Bullsemen.com’s Minimum Standards recommendations of £100 PLI, +1 Type Merit and +200kg milk.

Lloyd’s full brother Co-op Oman LOGAN brings similar potential to Bullsemen.com’s latest catalogue with £209 PLI, +798kg milk and a combined fat and protein of +57kg. Logan is also a somatic cell count reducer with a rating of -15 and has an impressive Type Merit of +1.51.

Another O-Bee Manfred Justice son Dansire Oman OMAR completes the over £200 PLI treble for Bullsemen.com. Like Lloyd and Logan, Omar comfortably qualifies for Bullsemen.com’s Minimum Standards catalogue with a £202 PLI, +495kg milk and +1.11 Type Merit. Omar has a combined fat and protein figure of 53.1kg and is another somatic cell count improver with a -8 rating.

Six bulls in the top 10 of the January 2009 £PLI rankings, plus one of the first O-Bee Manfred Justice sons as a top 30 new entry, gives Bullsemen.com an unprecedented and unrivalled position in the latest Holstein bull proof run.

Laudan maintains his position at number 2 in the rankings with an increased PLI of £229, a milk production of 642kg and a Type Merit of 2.4. He confirms his all round strength with the unbeatable Lifespan Index of +0.8, which means his daughters are on average surviving for almost a full lactation longer than the average cow.

Laudan shares his German heritage with fifth placed Leif and Gibbon-son Gibor who enters the top 10 for the first time at number eight. Like Laudan, both Leif and Gibor are typical examples of German Holstein breeding, with very good Lifespan, Fertility and SCC figures and all the characteristics for breeding cows that will be long-lived and profitable in a modern dairy farming environment.

Of many other significant performers from the Bullsemen.com stud, the American sire Classic Merrill Lynch from CRI, at number 10, again stands out for his outstanding fertility index, which rises to 7.3 and is derived from a global proof based on a phenomenal 44,897 daughters in 9,654 herds.

The January 2009 proof run is notable for the first appearance of sons of the remarkable O-Bee Manfred Justice, who still tops the £PLI rankings, and Bullsemen.com has one of these sons in the top 30 new entrant Wa-Del Rice Holman. From an Mtoto dam, Holman enters the rankings with a PLI of £167, 562kg milk, 1.56 Type Merit and outstanding fitness traits that contribute to a Lifespan Index of +0.2 (-32 SCC, +3.4 Fertility). He also has a calving ease figure of 6% making suitable for use on heifers.

Bullsemen.com has 10 bulls in the top 30 ranked by UK £PLI, double the number of any other semen company, and claims the best value for money genetics in terms of PLI points per £ spent