Popular bull Warlock (Weissensee x Hugoboss) has received his first breeding value based on daughter performance. At 132 GZW, this exceeds his genomic breeding value, partly due to an increase in milk production (now +988 kg). Warlock is a calving ease sire and sires excellent feet and legs (breeding value 114) along with healthy hooves (breeding value 106). He also improves udders (breeding value 117) and udder health (breeding value 115).
Efficiency and Health: CRV’s Fleckvieh program delivers results
In today’s challenging economic climate, farmers around the world need cows that can produce milk and meat efficiently and effortlessly to achieve good business results. CRV’s Fleckvieh breeding program, with its strong focus on health and efficiency traits, delivers the best genetics to meet this need.
Bulls that were already popular as InSire bulls have proven their worth again in this latest index run through the performance of their daughters. The breeding values of young InSire bulls show that even more can be expected from the next generation, with the quality of polled bulls also rising rapidly.
CRV Fleckvieh Beef is the ideal choice for Beef on Dairy operations, known for exceptional beef quality, with ideal marbling and intramuscular fat. This rapidly growing segment within our breeding program in Germany and the Czech Republic offers PP homozygous polled bulls, all genomically tested for traits like easy calving, high daily gain, and superior carcass quality. With diverse bloodlines and male sexed semen available, we help maximize revenue from bull calves.
The production breeding value of Virginia (Villeroy x Hubraum) is now based on the performance of 837 daughters, many of whom are in their second lactation. Virginia's milk production has increased to +1,025 kg, and his total index has risen by 2 points to 137 GZW. He is also an excellent conformation sire, with scores of 113 for feet and legs and 116 for udder. This proven Fleckvieh bull enhances milking speed (114), sires cows suitable for robotic milking, and can be used on heifers.
In April, Makay (Malawi x Varta), who was extensively used as an InSire bull, received his first breeding value based on daughter performance. With more daughters and longer lactations, his total index has risen by three points to 135 GZW. Makay improves fat and protein components, with +0.25% fat and +0.09% protein, and his milk production has also increased. He sires strongly attached udders (breeding value 120) with excellent udder health (breeding value 125). Makay’s daughters are well-suited for automatic milking and have a long lifespan expectation (breeding value 118).
Range of polled bulls strengthened further
In this proof run, CRV introduced a number of young InSire bulls with high genomic breeding values for efficiency and health traits. After a rigorous selection process, six of these bulls were added to the international range. Of these, five are polled, and two are homozygous polled, meaning farmers will not need to dehorn any calves from these bulls.
At 129 GZW, Heinz PP* (Hirte P*S x Mercedes Pp*) is an intriguing new InSire bull in the range. Heinz PP* produces dual-purpose Fleckvieh cows efficiently. He scores +9% for CRV Efficiency, with +948 kg of milk, a milk index of 120, a lifespan breeding value of 119, and a beef index of 108. This homozygous polled efficiency winner also enhances milking speed, with a breeding value of 114.
Won PP* (Wannabe PP* x Zeiger) also boosts production, with an increase of +769 kg of milk, neutral protein content, and a slight decrease in fat. He sires excellent conformation, particularly in udders and feet and legs, with breeding values of 110 and 109, respectively. With a score of 123, he excels in udder health. Won PP* has a total index score of 127 GZW.
New high-scoring all-rounders
With a GZW of 141, +8 CRV Efficiency, and +6% CRV Health, the heterozygous polled Modena P*S (Milford P*S x Wuhudler) is an all-round high-scoring Fleckvieh bull. He boasts +884 kg of milk with -0.07% fat and +0.06% protein, resulting in a milk index of 124. He also scores 121 for lifespan and 119 for the beef index. This new InSire bull excels in udder health (125) and hoof health (110), and improves conformation with scores of 118 for feet and legs, 110 for udder, and 115 for muscularity. Additionally, his daughters are well-suited for robot milking.
With +10% CRV Health, Space Pp* (Sputnik x Verismo PP*) is an ideal bull for breeding trouble-free Fleckvieh cows. He has breeding values of 128 for daughter fertility, 111 for udder health, and 104 for hoof health, along with a vitality index of 118. With a calving ease score of 121, he is also a calving ease sire. Space Pp* demonstrates balanced production, siring cows with +752 kg of milk, +0.04% fat, and +0.03% protein. He makes his debut with a GZW of 139.
Horex P*S (Halbmond Pp* x Virginia) also scores 139 GZW but particularly excels in efficiency traits. This new InSire bull sires more than 1,000 kg of milk with neutral components. He has a breeding value of 118 for lifespan and scores +11% for CRV Efficiency. Horex P*S enhances milking speed with a score of 117 and comes from a successful cow family. His dam, granddam, and great-granddam are all still in full production at breeder Josef Maier’s farm in Teisendorf.
After this proof run, the young bull Sunit (Sputnik x Helikon), with a GZW of 141, can be added to the segment of ‘calving ease sires’. He sires nearly 1,000 kg of milk, with a milk index of 124, and a lifespan score of 122. Sunit is a true dual-purpose Fleckvieh bull, with a muscularity score of 109 and a beef index of 119. His calves are born easily, and his daughters also experience smooth calvings (maternal calving ease score of 110) and conceive quickly again (daughter fertility score of 114).
