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The famous English biologist Charles Darwin introduced his theory about the ‘survival of the fittest’ in 1859. Loosely translated: the best animal adapted to its environment has the greatest chance of surviving and reproducing. Darwin’s theory still applies in 2025, although progress in 21st-century cattle breeding thankfully moves much faster. The numbers of the new InSire bull Delta Fitter PP speak for themselves. His daughters are expected to live about a year and a half longer than average and achieve an extra lifetime production of over 20,000 kg of milk. They are, in short, excellently adapted to the demands of today.

Delta Dewy P is distantly related to the renowned American dam Markwell Blackstar Raven. The red-and-white dam of Chiptuner and Steadfast P is a heifer the Dutch dairy farmer Arjan van Erp likes - flawless and strong, yet also attractive and dairy-typical. She produces 4 percent protein.

In August, CRV's Holstein bulls received their first Methane Saved breeding value. This is now also available in the online catalogue.

Just as the Eurostar train transports passengers at high speed, Delta Eurostar rapidly delivers cows that perform at the highest level. This new InSire sire transmits high milk production (+1,152 kg) with strong components (+0.41% fat and +0.20% protein), resulting in +156 kg fat and protein and €549 Inet. He also adds +591 days of longevity. This means his daughters will remain productive for an average of ten months longer, yielding over 10,000 kg of additional milk throughout their lifetime. Eurostar also achieves an impressive +19% CRV Efficiency score.

Sire bull Delta Marcher PP is a strong example of international gene exchange in Holstein breeding. His sire, Marsrover PP, is a Delta bull with a German sire from an originally American cow family. His dam descends from a German cow family that was developed with the influence of Dutch sires. The granddam of Marcher PP is HWH Ella P, from the successful German ZT Elaine cow family. No fewer than seven of her – polled – sons were used at various AI organizations. Ella is a daughter of Caudumer Solitair P, bred in Friesland in the Netherlands. From this outstanding brood cow, CRV purchased a heifer calf by Poppe Freestyle, another Dutch sire with an international profile. This heifer, Farina P, has since calved and is now working at CRV’s test farm De Barendonk. Her first lactation is projected at nearly 13,000 kg of milk. She is showing remarkable progress: at 221 days in milk, she produced 48 kg, her highest daily yield to date. “And she is already pregnant again,” reports Jens Hermanussen, who describes Farina P as a dairy-typical heifer with a strong udder, excellent legs, and outstanding production.

Every dairy farmer strives for a herd that achieves efficient production with little hassle and labour. Good fertility is a prerequisite for this. Breeding can make an important contribution here. CRV bulls prove in this index run that breeding for CRV Efficiency goes hand in hand with good fertility. This not only results in higher returns but also more job satisfaction and ease of work.