News

With effect from the December index run, CRV will use a new model for estimating the genomic breeding values, the “single-step method.” This new calculation method will result in an increase in the reliability of genomic breeding values for young bulls and female young animals by an average of 11 percent.

HerdOptimizer, CRV's genomic testing program is now available worldwide to support dairy farmers in making breeding decisions.

Steyn Bouma, inseminator at CRV, recently inseminated this financial year’s two millionth semen straw from a CRV bull, in the Netherlands/Flanders market. This insemination took place with semen from the bull Woody at the VOF Mulder farm in Nieuwolda, Groningen. Lammert Veenhuizen, managing director of CRV Netherlands/Flanders, was present at the festive event to congratulate the Mulder family and in doing so, symbolically thank all Dutch and Flemish farmers for the trust they have placed in CRV’s genetics.

As a strategic and technical farm consultant, almost every day Niels Achten speaks with dairy farmers in the Netherlands and Flanders about ways of optimising their farm management. Niels works at consultancy firm Liba and, along with his parents, operates a dairy with 280 cows. He can therefore directly link the numbers on paper to his own practical experience.

“We have always been a detail-oriented, high-production dairy. But we have always struggled with components. I made the CRV jump because we wanted to focus on components. We saw the value of components and we knew it was going to continue to increase," says Brian Robbins, owner of the 1,200-cow herd North Harbor Dairy Farm in Sackets Harbor, New York. With the help of CRV Sales Representative Tim Fargo, Brian adapted a new breeding strategy. "Nowadays I don't get too involved in it. I told Tim what I was looking for, eight or nine years ago. He has done very well. So, I don't really ask a lot of questions," Brian Robbins says.

Grootendorst Farms, located in Maryhill, Ontario, Canada, is owned and operated by brothers Henk and Ary Grootendorst. They farm 1000 acres, and milk 600 cows 3 times a day in a double 16 herringbone parlor. The immaculately kept farm produces 11,800 kg milk, with 4.33% fat, and 3.38% protein.