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Farmers who make breeding decisions based on genomic testing achieve greater genetic progress. But genomic testing becomes twice as valuable when the results are used to sharpen selection of breeding animals.

CRV is moving the Feed Efficiency research into the next phase. Two of the original test farms are completing their role, while three commercial farms (Duursma, Meerkerk and Van Gastel) will continue the research. Thanks to them, we maintain continuity in data collection and a solid foundation for our genetic analyses.

Ask any dairy farmer about their breeding goal and you will get a similar answer: cows that produce efficiently and trouble-free, and that last a long time. Makes sense, every farmer wants to achieve the highest possible return with maximum job satisfaction. That’s why CRV offers an attractive selection of bulls for dairy producers all over the world. All bulls excel in efficiency, longevity, and health, while each has its own specific strengths such as polledness and strong conformation.

Efficiency and health remain the cornerstones of our Fleckvieh (FV) breeding philosophy. By focusing on balanced performance traits and long-term sustainability, we continue to deliver genetics that support modern dairy and beef production. Our breeding goal centers on cows that provide sufficient milk and components, combined with excellent exterior—particularly in feet and legs and udder quality—while also maintaining strong beef performance. Equally important are traits that ensure cows are easy to manage throughout their entire lifetime. This includes robust health, improved udder health, strong longevity, and highly fertile daughters. Together, these core elements define the unique strengths of our FV program and set our genetics apart.

It has been three months since Stefanie De Roo (38) and her husband, Jo De Clercq (44) from Poesele, Belgium, last encountered a case of mastitis, quite a change from earlier years.

Every dairy farmer knows the pattern: as soon as the weather turns warmer and more humid, more cases of mastitis start appearing in the barn. “If the milk recording report shows that more than 15% of your cows have elevated somatic cell counts, it’s time to take action,” advises veterinarian Arnout Patyn. “Sound the alarm as well if your bulk tank somatic cell count exceeds 250,000 cells per milliliter.” Dr Sofie Piepers, udder health specialist at Ghent University, adds: “In herds with multiple risk factors, warm and humid conditions can provide just the extra push that turns a subclinical infection into visible mastitis. Those risk factors lie in the milking routine, milking technique, bedding, and the functioning of the milking machine. It’s crucial to address as many of them as possible.”