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Sterksel Simson would have been an anonymous bull calf if CRV had not used genomic selection. The story of this InSire bull began with the purchase of an anonymous heifer from the dairy farm of Vecunda Vee CV in Sint Anthonis (the Netherlands). This daughter of Delta Skyline caught CRV’s attention because her genomic breeding values were sky-high compared with her expected values. The heifer was moved to CRV’s test farm run by Hans van Middelaar, who named her Sterksel Simone.

“The Bertha family? They’ve been on our farm since 1980 and have simply performed well,” says André Frijters from the Netherlands. The dairy farmer never imagined he would one day breed an AI bull from this family, until he got a message from CRV asking if he would take a hair sample when the third calf of Listrotto daughter Bertha 193 was born.

Which calves will grow into strong and productive cows? With genomic testing, this can be predicted at an early stage. A genomic test analyzes a calf’s DNA and compares it with the genotypes of 1.8 million cattle in a large database. This makes it possible to predict which animals will perform te best. Below you can find a step-by-step plan regarding genomic testing.

Royal cooperative CRV u.a. achieved a solid financial result in the past financial year. In particular, turnover in the home market (the Netherlands-Flanders) exceeded expectations, while the effects of cost-saving measures became clearly visible.

The red-and-white homozygous polled InSire bull Delta Brussels PP proves with an exceptionally complete breeding profile that breeding for polledness in 2025 will certainly not be at the expense of genetic progress in other important traits. He transmits more than 1,200 kg of milk with +0.15% protein, resulting in an Inet value of 413 euros. Brussels PP combines this high production inheritance with 447 days of longevity and a daughter fertility breeding value of 104. With a claw health breeding value of 107, more than 5 percent fewer claw problems can be expected in his daughters.Daughters of Brussels PP will show persistent production (breeding value 106) and will improve performance from lactation to lactation (late maturity breeding value 106). They will develop into strong cows with plenty of width in the forehand and excellent feet and legs (106 in the topline). Brussels PP also scores with distinction for the flawless linear traits in his conformation report.

When CRV started genomic testing, he was one of the first users. And when the Create program was introduced three years ago, he quickly joined so he could immediately use sire Delta Warren P RC. Dairy farmer Menno Jensma from the Netherlands does not consider himself a breeder. However, he does make full use of all possibilities to breed the best commercial cows.