Genomic bulls live up fully to expectations once daughters start milking

As a young genomic bull, the red-and-white Delta Borax (Freestyle x Jakarta) already stood out as a class apart. What this efficiency top performer promised then, he now fully delivers through the performance of his daughters. With 339 NVI, he is the absolute number one among daughter-proven bulls. His first daughter-based breeding value profile is almost identical to his genomic profile.

Borax daughters excel in efficiently converting feed into kilograms of fat and protein, while maintaining daughter fertility. The Freestyle son transmits nearly 1,000 days of longevity, 114 udder health, and strong functional conformation, including 107 for feet and legs. Internationally, Borax already impressed with his genomic values, and he is now fulfilling those promises abroad as well. In Germany, for example, he is the highest daughter-proven red-and-white bull with 146 RZG.

Delta Emoji P (Eloy x Handy P) also received his first breeding value based on daughter performance. The Eloy son delivers what he promised as a genomic bull: a good volume of milk (almost 900 kg), strong component percentages (+0.36% fat and +0.10% protein), solid daughter fertility (106), and strong feet and legs (108).

Delta Firestone (Eloy x Faithful) also shows a strong first daughter proof. Although he is no longer available, he already has a very interesting son in the lineup: Lowlands Solaris (Firestone x Listrotto). Bred by André Frijters from Waalre, Solaris highlights problem-free, farmer-friendly cows. This FeedExcel bull combines over 800 kg of production with +0.16% fat and +0.15% protein, along with high longevity, good health traits, and strong functional conformation.

The national ranking of red-and-white genomic bulls is now led by five absolute CRV top bulls, four of which are polled. The new number one is Delta Bloss (Statement x Flagstone). He shows an all-round transmission at an exceptionally high level, with over 1,400 kg of milk, +0.30% fat and +0.24% protein, combined with 110 feed efficiency and +10% CRV Health. This is supported by traits such as 105 daughter fertility, 113 udder health, and 112 hoof health. The Statement rf son also scores 108 for feet and legs.

With nearly 2,500 kg of milk, more than 200 kg of fat and protein, and €740 Inet, Delta Richman PP (Universe P x Warren P) is the highest production transmitter among the red-and-white top bulls. His daughters will require relatively little feed for this level of production (feed efficiency 112). The homozygous polled Universe P son also transmits nearly 1,000 days of longevity, 113 udder health, and 109 hoof health.

In terms of longevity, Delta Modiwood P (Blue Zone P rf x Warren P rf) surpasses even Richman PP with more than 1,100 days and shows an exceptionally high level for hoof health (117).

These three new top bulls are already available, along with Delta Tadej P (Bulldozer P x Eloy rf), a true “high-component” bull with +0.74% fat and +0.25% protein and excellent conformation transmission (110 overall type and 111 feet and legs).

The black-and-white efficiency top bull Delta Dolmen (Topstone x Relevant) now has 731 daughters in his proof, many of which have already calved twice. The Topstone son increased another 20 NVI points and remains among the top black-and-white bulls with daughters in the Netherlands and Flanders. His full brother Delta Flagstone (Topstone x Relevant) (nearly 1,400 daughters) also improved further.

Delta Dolmen scores 107 for feet and legs, making him one of only eight bulls in the top 100 daughter-proven black-and-white bulls with a score of 105 or higher. Coincidentally or not, all eight bulls are products of CRV’s breeding program.

The absolute top bull for feet and legs remains the still popular Delta Eloy rf (Jacuzzi x Finder) with a score of 112. Delta Appetizer rf (Amuse x Jacuzzi) received his first daughter-based proof and is also a top bull for feet and legs with a score of 110.

Although Appetizer is currently not available, he already has a grandson in the lineup: Delta Standout rf (Statement rf x Appetizer rf). He transmits over 2,200 kg of milk with +0.15% protein and combines this with 104 daughter fertility. He also excels in udder health (108) and hoof health (109), and like his grandsire, he scores 110 for feet and legs.

CRV also offers a strong grandson of the still popular Delta Fast Lane (Remington x Lustrum): Delta Roadtrip (Statement rf x Fast Lane). He transmits more than 2,500 kg of milk, €681 Inet, and 109 feed efficiency, combined with 103 daughter fertility. He also offers nearly 900 days of longevity, supported by 109 udder health, 112 hoof health, and 112 feet and legs.

Delta Flexor (Activator x Taskforce P) is the highest black-and-white conformation bull with a total score of 115 and is now freely available. He also scores 115 for feet and legs and 112 for hoof health, while transmitting over 1,500 kg of milk with +0.10% fat and +0.10% protein.

Following the red-and-white breeding program, the polled gene is also gaining importance in black-and-white breeding. Delta Time Jump P (Universe P rf x Sunrise) is an interesting new all-round sire with over 400 NVI and nearly 2,000 kg of milk. He scores positively for daughter fertility, along with 112 udder health and 109 hoof health. His total conformation score is 106, including 107 for feet and legs.

The homozygous polled Delta Tiramisu PP (Primetime PP x Fair Play P) shows an exceptionally high level. He transmits around 800 kg of high-component milk, 741 days of longevity, 114 udder health, and 109 hoof health, while improving conformation (108 total and 108 feet and legs).

With 1,125 NM$ and 3,494 TPI, the new bull Pen-Col Grandprize (Makeover x Sheepster) is the number one in CRV’s American offering. He scores very high for CRV Efficiency (+27%) and transmits over 2,000 lbs of milk with +0.19% fat and +0.04% protein, combined with very high feed efficiency (116). He is also an excellent choice for robotic milking systems (robot index 114, milking speed 107) and transmits medium stature with wide, high-attached rear udders.

Also new is Peak Multiverse (Inspire x Woodside), a FeedExcel bull combining efficient production of fat and protein with longevity and health. He transmits over 1,000 lbs of milk with +0.24% fat and +0.09% protein and 111 feed efficiency. He scores low for somatic cell count (2.77), high for fertility traits, and transmits long productive life (4.6 PL). His daughters will be strong cows with open frames and wide, slightly sloping rumps. Multiverse comes from the Oman-Mirror family, just like Peak Prizepick, Peak Fugleman, and Peak Motorhead.

Genosource Moti (Hobbs x Thorson) is another efficiency leader with +27% CRV Efficiency and 116 feed efficiency. He transmits 1,317 lbs of milk with +0.24% fat and +0.02% protein, and his daughters will be smaller than average. With +6% CRV Health, he is also among the top bulls for health traits, including 107 daughter fertility and 108 udder health. Moti comes out at 1,046 NM$ and 3,289 TPI.

Aurora Tyrol (Parfect x Eisaku) received his first daughter proof in December. With additional data, he now rises to 3,237 TPI and 536 NM$. He improved in milk yield (now 950 lbs) while maintaining positive components. He is a strong conformation sire (1.57 PTAT), with improved feet and legs (1.28), and can correct short teats while increasing milking speed. Tyrol daughters are fertile (105), with positive scores for DPR, CCR, and HCR, and show low susceptibility to ketosis (104).

In the Jersey breed offering, three high udder sires stand out. River Valley Crackerjack (Chief x Milton) combines high milk production (1,128 lbs) with very good udders. He transmits firmly attached, high rear udders. His Jersey Udder Index (JUI) therefore comes out at 18.94. Crackerjack also improves udder health with a SCC of 2.95 and increases longevity with a breeding value of 1.8 PL. His overall type score comes out at 1.20.

Also, JX Forest Glen Heart (Chatham x Thrasher) is an excellent udder sire with a JUI of 20.66. With a balanced breeding value profile, he scores a very high 170 JPI. He transmits 879 lbs of milk with flat components, 2.92 SCC, and 3.8 PL.

One level higher than Heart is his full brother JX Forest Glen Hearth (Chatham x Thrasher). With a JPI of 177, he is now the highest bull in the offering. With +10% CRV Health, he is also a top scorer for health traits. Hearth scores 2.78 SCC, 1.0 DPR, and 4.9 PL. In addition, he transmits high milk production of 1,421 lbs and improves udders with a JUI of 16.44.

The breeding values of all bulls have decreased in this index run due to the annual base adjustment. This adjustment is the same for all bulls and therefore has no effect on the ranking.

The increases and decreases shown in the publications are based on a comparison with a shadow run, in which the base adjustment has already been applied to the December figures. These differences therefore reflect the actual changes in breeding values.

In addition, Cooperative CRV has implemented several improvements in the breeding value estimation, resulting in slightly more variation compared to December. However, this will lead to more stable breeding values going forward.