TOP - NEWS - GGI France
TOP - NEWS - GGI France
TOP - NEWS - GGI France
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May 2008<br />
No. 19 / 3.00 Euro<br />
<strong>TOP</strong> - <strong>NEWS</strong><br />
• German Winter Shows<br />
• Changes in genetic evaluation<br />
• Holsteins breeding in Russia
Day of the Newcomer.<br />
10 interesting progeny groups<br />
of new bulls and a lot of excitement<br />
On May 29th, 2008<br />
from 9.30 to 16.00<br />
in Cloppenburg<br />
on the <strong>GGI</strong><br />
premisis.<br />
What else can be expected:<br />
- <strong>GGI</strong> members inform about the latest developments in breeding -<br />
- Food and drinks, a lot of fun and action -<br />
- Interesting discussions with breeding fellows -<br />
- Visit research farm of Urban Ltd. -<br />
- Open air museum Cloppenburg with guided tours -<br />
- Exhibition of agricultural companies -<br />
Day of the Newcomer 2006
Index<br />
2-3 The Red Holsteins hit<br />
the 8,000 kg mark<br />
3 Holsteins export report<br />
4-5 Winter-show-report<br />
6 Changes to breeding values<br />
7-10 Comment april proof run<br />
11 New bulls<br />
12 Portrait: Vachim<br />
13 Changes to breeding values<br />
14 Report: Holsteins in Russia<br />
15 News<br />
15 Events<br />
16 Preview: Day of the<br />
Newcomer<br />
PUBLISHER:<br />
German Genetics International (<strong>GGI</strong>)<br />
Am Osterfeld 14<br />
49661 Cloppenburg-Bethen<br />
Phone: ++49-4471-91740<br />
Fax: ++49-4471-917474<br />
e-mail: info@ggi.de<br />
www.ggi.de<br />
Design/Layout: German Genetics<br />
International GmbH<br />
Print: Ostendorf Druckerei<br />
und Verlag GmbH<br />
Cloppenburg<br />
Photo front cover: Lypoll 10.916401<br />
daughter Odana<br />
Photographer: Elly Geverink<br />
German<br />
Version<br />
available<br />
as PDF<br />
www.ggi.de<br />
The Red Holsteins hit the 8,000 kg mark<br />
In 2007 the German Holstein cows produced,<br />
on average, 8,747 kg milk; the<br />
Red Holsteins surpassed the 8,000 kg<br />
mark for the first time, with 8,030 kg (see<br />
figure). The number of herdbook cows increased<br />
slightly to<br />
1.64 mil lion animals.<br />
The top production<br />
record for all cows<br />
was registered for a<br />
Red Holstein, Lanze<br />
(s. Academy). The<br />
cow of D. Kaluza<br />
(Cuxhaven) produced,<br />
in her 5th lactation<br />
1,890 kg fat +<br />
protein from 18,604<br />
kg milk (305 days).<br />
Lanze is the first cow<br />
ever to be able to<br />
rank in all her 5 lactations<br />
among the<br />
six best heifers /cows.<br />
2<br />
The highest production record for fat +<br />
protein yield among the Holsteins was<br />
achieved by Lasso daughter Carina with<br />
1,503 kg solids in her 5th lactation<br />
(18,447 kg milk; 305 days). At No. 2<br />
2007 Cows Milk kg Fat % Fat kg Prot % Prot kg<br />
Holsteins 1,491,730 8,747 4.1 359 3.39 297<br />
+75 -0.01 +2 0 +3<br />
Red Hol. 137,081 8,030 4.21 338 3.41 274<br />
+66 -0.02 +1 +0.01 +3<br />
Still raising in 2007: Average milk yield for 1.6 mio Holstein and Red Holsteins<br />
Top lifetime production records (Holstein cows still alive in 2007, ranked by kg fat + protein<br />
Cow Sire Calves Milk kg Fat % Fat kg Prot % Prot kg F+P kg<br />
Holstein<br />
Nashville Enhancer 12 155,958 4.23 6,599 3.34 5,213 11,812<br />
Insine Stardom 10 168,953 3.66 6,197 3.29 5,554 11,751<br />
Wenka Chief Mark 13 166,890 3.91 6,530 3.10 5,164 11,694<br />
Eule Total 13 152,256 4.06 6,179 3.46 5,268 11,447<br />
Caroline<br />
Red Holstein<br />
Blackstar 13 159,138 3.96 6,302 3.00 4,775 11,077<br />
Roxi Creation 14 155,823 3.39 5,287 3.17 4,935 10,222<br />
Banny Appollo 13 155,933 3.4 5,294 3.03 4,729 10,023<br />
Danika Trivalent 14 125,663 4.26 5,349 3.42 4,301 9,650<br />
Carina, 5th lactation, (s. Lasso) on rank #1 of the Holstein cows in producing solids<br />
in 2007 with her 1,503 kg Fat + Protein.<br />
Adria VG85 (s. Stoll)<br />
cows (16,518 5.47
anks Villa (s. Luke), having produced<br />
1,468 kg fat + protein and 18,486 kg<br />
milk. The top production for amount of<br />
milk was by Gibbon-daughter Juna with<br />
20,051 kg in 305 days.<br />
In the Red Holstein list Stoll-daughter<br />
Adria from W. van Heek (Kleve) ranks<br />
No. 2 with 1,426 kg fat + protein over a<br />
Cadon-daughter (1,316 kg fat and protein).<br />
In the list of highest heifers, once again<br />
a Red Holstein heifer is on top. Origindaughter<br />
Michelle from the farm Caspar<br />
(Heimertshausen) achieved 1,109 kg fat<br />
+ protein. Ranked No. 2 and highest<br />
Hol stein heifer is Baronese (s. Best) in<br />
front of Aguna (s. Good) with 1,094 kg<br />
fat + protein.<br />
The highest lifetime production in 2007<br />
was reached by Enhancer Nashville with<br />
11,812 kg solids (155,958 kg milk).<br />
with 1,426 kg of solids is #2 of all Red Holstein<br />
3.16; 305 days.) in her 2nd lactation<br />
German Holsteins news<br />
German Holsteins – Unbroken Demand<br />
In 2007, a total of 61,046 breeding<br />
heifers have been sold to 32 countries.<br />
It gets even more impressive<br />
when you look at the results of the<br />
past 5 years. Since 2003 a total of<br />
over 310,000 Holstein breeding heifers<br />
have been exported. Even<br />
though the majority are black and<br />
white Holstein heifers, the customer’s<br />
demands are also met with the Red<br />
Holsteins. The demand for German<br />
Holsteins remains strong despite the<br />
prices having increased over the last<br />
year.<br />
The export to Southern Europe was<br />
very limited due to export restrictions<br />
following Bluetongue disease. However,<br />
the demand in the neighbouring<br />
countries of Belgium, Luxembourg<br />
and the Netherlands has risen strongly.<br />
Over the last year they imported<br />
7,500 Holstein heifers from Ger-<br />
Holstein: top lactation records (305d) 2007 - cows and heifers, ranked by kg fat + protein<br />
Cow Sire Lac. Milk kg Fat % Fat kg Prot % Prot kg F+P kg<br />
Holstein Cows<br />
Carina Lasso 5 18,447 4.72 871 3.43 632 1,503<br />
Villa Luke 9 18,486 4.89 904 3.05 564 1,468<br />
Elli Star 3 16,085 5.86 943 3.09 497 1,440<br />
Franke Black Boy 5 15,365 5.13 788 4.05 622 1,410<br />
Areila Marmax RF 3 17,226 4.59 790 3.59 619 1,409<br />
01.13310754 Predello 4 17,576 5.18 911 2.76 485 1,396<br />
Holstein Heifers<br />
Baronese Best 1 12,894 4.65 600 3.83 494 1,094<br />
Aguna Good 1 12,059 5.29 638 3.78 456 1,094<br />
Bella Ladin 1 15,346 4.05 621 3.02 464 1,085<br />
Rica Champion 1 11,800 5.19 612 3.99 471 1,083<br />
many. Many customers from European<br />
countries purchase directly from<br />
the monthly auction sales at which,<br />
annually, more than 20,000 breeding<br />
heifers are traded. This underlines<br />
the great satisfaction of our neighbouring<br />
countries with the German<br />
auctions and the good quality of<br />
German Holsteins.<br />
Other important importing countries<br />
within the EU have been Poland and<br />
Hungary and towards the end of the<br />
year, once again the traditional markets<br />
of Spain and Italy.<br />
More than half of the animals were<br />
exported to countries outside the EU.<br />
In particular, customers from Russia<br />
imported about two thirds of the heifers.<br />
Russia is one of the traditional<br />
buyers of German cattle as are countries<br />
in North Africa, Morocco being<br />
the biggest client for German breeding<br />
heifers in the last year. In the<br />
current year Algeria and Tunisia will<br />
be supplied in greater numbers since<br />
there is a very high demand and the<br />
veterinary certificates are being negotiated.<br />
Furthermore, heifers were<br />
delivered to Croatia and after a long<br />
break for the first time into the Ukraine.<br />
For the current export year the order<br />
books are full as Holstein genetics<br />
from Germany remain extremely popular.<br />
Red Holstein: top lactation records (305d) 2007 - cows and heifers, ranked by kg fat + protein<br />
Cow Sire Lac. Milk kg Fat % Fat kg Prot % Prot kg F+P kg<br />
Red Holstein Cows<br />
Lanze Academy 5 18,604 6.63 1,234 3.53 656 1,890<br />
Adria Stoll 2 16,518 5.47 904 3.16 522 1,426<br />
Arabella Cadon 3 16,244 4.64 753 3.47 563 1,316<br />
Lava Lentini 5 13,926 5.30 738 3.55 495 1,233<br />
Alma Laredo Red 7 14,129 5.09 719 3.60 508 1,227<br />
Verena Veteran 3 17,049 3.79 646 3.37 575 1,221<br />
Red Holstein Heifers<br />
Michelle Origin 1 13,052 4.73 618 3.76 491 1,109<br />
Arabella Rubens Red 1 12,885 4.30 554 3.67 473 1,027<br />
SN Ashley Paradox 1 13,553 4.31 584 3.19 432 1,016<br />
Annabel Rotschenk 1 13,737 3.95 543 3.42 470 1,013<br />
3
4<br />
German Holsteins news<br />
Winter shows present current sires with 39 daughter groups<br />
Current sires were presented with a total of<br />
39 daughter groups at 9 winter shows between<br />
September 2008 and March 2008.<br />
Pictures of chosen daughter groups can be<br />
found on page 9.<br />
A promising start was the “LTR Schau” in<br />
Lasdorf on September 15th, 2007.<br />
Among others, daughter groups of Bobas<br />
(Dutch Boy x Novalis) and Jelto<br />
(Jesther x Marconi) were presented. Bobas<br />
sires framy animals with stable feet<br />
& legs, well-attached, balanced and<br />
slightly bigger udders. The Jelto daughters<br />
mainly attract attention with functionality<br />
and very tight, well-attached udders.<br />
At the end of October, the “RUW Schau”<br />
took place in Hamm. The Folleto daughters<br />
(Ford x Addison) looked very stylish<br />
with good development in stature and<br />
frame. They impressed with good feet &<br />
legs and very tight quality udders. Redcross<br />
(Faber x Rubens) was bred and<br />
tested in Canada. His daughters were at<br />
the end of their first lactation. They are<br />
framy animals with very good pasterns<br />
and foot angle as well as outstanding udders.<br />
Also presented was a very uniform group<br />
of robust and strong Rubinrot (Rubens<br />
Red x Kom Leader) heifers showing well<br />
set rear legs as well as solid udders. Heifer<br />
Fakira was strong for feet & legs and<br />
udder and was chosen as champion heifer.<br />
Two Cadon daughters won in the Red<br />
Holstein classes: Geraldinchen in the<br />
middle class and Feuer of the old cows.<br />
Pisa (s. Strunz) became Reserve Champion<br />
of the young Holsteins.<br />
At the RBB show “Blickpunkt Rind” in<br />
Paaren at the end of November, the<br />
daughter group of<br />
Eminem (Eminenz x<br />
Malvoy) was very impressive.<br />
The charismatic<br />
daughters from<br />
the test period moved<br />
on very good feet &<br />
legs and showed udders<br />
with a very good<br />
ligament, high rear<br />
udders and correct<br />
teat placement. The Eminem daughter Elli<br />
became Champion. Ticket daughter,<br />
Ticka, was a winner in the middle classes.<br />
The Rinderzuchtverband Sachsen-Anhalt<br />
(RSA) hosted the “Nikolaus Schau”<br />
in Bismark in early December. There were<br />
progeny groups of the sires Formalist<br />
(Forbidden x Basar), Merinit (Mtoto x<br />
Geoffry) and Millennium CV (Mtoto x Luke).<br />
The newcomer, Formalist, does not yet<br />
have official figures. His daughters showed<br />
a strong front end and a deep rib.<br />
As well as impressive udders, they had<br />
extraordinary long and wide, very wellsloped<br />
rumps. The Formalist daughter<br />
Fantasy became Champion.<br />
The dairy Merinit daughters attracted attention<br />
with a very open rib as well as<br />
well-sloped rumps and impressive wide<br />
udders with a very<br />
strong ligament.<br />
The framy Millenium<br />
CV daughters showed<br />
very good bodies<br />
and attracted<br />
attention with high<br />
udders and a correct<br />
teat placement.<br />
The Bonatus daughter,<br />
Hanseatin, was<br />
able to win her second<br />
Grand Champion<br />
title at the Nikolaus<br />
Show. She<br />
achieved this in her<br />
6th lactation!<br />
At the beginning of<br />
January the “WEU-<br />
Konvent” took place<br />
in Oldenburg.<br />
Irana (s. Laroso) Champion “Hessens Zukunft”<br />
Daughter groups of Formalist and Merinit,<br />
who had already been successful at<br />
the Nikolaus Show, were presented.<br />
The daughter groups of Ludox (Lucky<br />
Red x Patron) were presented as well-developed<br />
dairy heifers, attracting attention<br />
with quality feet & legs as well as<br />
well-textured and firmly attached udders.<br />
Novize (Novalis x Jabot) is a top sire for<br />
longevity and components. His correctly<br />
sloped daughters impressed with good<br />
feet & legs. The highly attached udders<br />
with a good teat placement showed high<br />
quality. Among the Red Holsteins (old<br />
classes) Cadon daughter, Zimba, was<br />
able to win ahead of Alone (v. Vince).<br />
The RSH local show “Neumünster am<br />
Abend” took place in January. A total of<br />
11 Holstein, Red Holstein and Angler<br />
daughter groups were presented.<br />
A very uniform daughter group of Leif<br />
Geraldinchen (s. Cadon) Intermediate Champion “RUW Schau”, Hamm<br />
Anina (s. Louvre) Grand Champion “Exzellentschau”, Leer
(Lukas x Zack) showed a good dairy type<br />
with above-average capacity. The high<br />
and wide rear udders with a strong ligament<br />
were very eye-catching.<br />
The Vachim daughters (s. Brando x Celsius)<br />
showed a lot of capacity combined<br />
with long bodies. As well as good feet &<br />
legs with high feet, the daughters impressed<br />
with very good udders with an<br />
excellent teat placement (More about Vachim<br />
on page 12).<br />
Solid daughters of Hepcat (Lentini x Factor),<br />
with ample frame and wide rumps<br />
were presented. As well as correctly set<br />
rear legs and good feet, the udders were<br />
faultless.<br />
The daughter group of Runaway (Rubens<br />
Red x Power) presented itself with<br />
strong front end and body depth. The<br />
feet & legs and udders were perfect.<br />
The daughters of Taecks (Tulip x Caveman)<br />
were average for frame and dairy<br />
BCH Paola (s. Minister) Champion young cows “Rind aktuell”, Karow<br />
Larina (s. Leif ) Champion daughter groups “Neumünster am Abend”<br />
German Holsteins news<br />
type with dry and clear hocks. Highlights<br />
were the well-textured udders. Among<br />
the Red Holsteins Emsige (s. Achtung)<br />
won the middle classes ahead of Joyboy<br />
daughter, Eileen. Dunja (s. Faber) was<br />
able to win in the older classes. The Holstein<br />
heifer Heidelinde (s. Juote) became<br />
Reserve Champion.<br />
The show “Hessens Zukunft” (ZBH) took<br />
place in Alsfeld at the beginning of February<br />
2008.<br />
Dermory (Derry x Rudolph) was shown<br />
without official figures. His bright<br />
daughters are framy, functional cows<br />
with a good dairy type, good feet & legs<br />
and well-attached udders.<br />
The Dubby daughter group (Dutch Boy x<br />
Convincer) impressed with a good frame,<br />
capacity, very good feet & legs and<br />
udders.<br />
The Juwel daughters (Jesther x Lord Lily)<br />
caused excitement<br />
with a lot of type<br />
and fine, clean and<br />
correctly set feet &<br />
legs as well as outstanding<br />
udders.<br />
Starfire (Stadel x<br />
Andries) presented<br />
framy daughters with<br />
solid feet & legs, clean<br />
bone and wellattached<br />
udders.<br />
At the “Excellent -<br />
show” in Leer (VOSt)<br />
back in March<br />
daugh ter groups of<br />
the second crop bull,<br />
Minister (Mtoto x Rudolph)<br />
as well as of<br />
the 3 Champion sons<br />
Chapman (Champi-<br />
Elli (s. Eminem) Champion daughter groups, Paaren<br />
on x Starleader), Charts (Champion x<br />
Formation) and Chianti (Champion x<br />
Gelpro) were presented.<br />
Chapman presented long daughters with<br />
a correct top line and suitable depth and<br />
strength. The averagely high attached rear<br />
udders showed a strong ligament.<br />
The tall and productive Charts daughters<br />
impressed with a correct rump width and<br />
slope. The udders were well-attached<br />
with a strong ligament.<br />
The EX 97 classified Chapman, underlined<br />
his qualities as a conformation sire<br />
with the impressive Tara, who became<br />
Champion Heifer. Reserve Champion<br />
was Charts’ daughter, Lanka.<br />
Chianti presents daughters who are<br />
average for frame with a good depth<br />
and strength as well as correctly sloped<br />
rumps. The firmly attached udders show<br />
a clear ligament.<br />
The Louvre daughter, KHL Anina, was<br />
crowned Grand Champion and received<br />
the title „Miss Ostfriesland“.<br />
The final winter show was “Rind aktuell”<br />
in Karow (RMV) on March 19th, 2008.<br />
As well as the daughter groups of Leif<br />
and Vachim (RSH show) already mentioned,<br />
daughter groups of Check (Champion<br />
x Fatal), Moses (Morty x Emerson)<br />
and Zar (Zappa x Amaretto) were presented.<br />
The dairy Check daughters appeared<br />
very uniform with a lot of body depth,<br />
strength in the front end and a good top<br />
line as well as correct rear legs, good<br />
foot quality and impressive, long and<br />
firmly attached fore udders.<br />
Zac presented uniform and functional<br />
daughters. The animals appeared compact<br />
with sufficient body depth and were<br />
average for frame. The rear leg set was<br />
good as well as the feet.<br />
In the heifer class, the<br />
Minister daughter BcH<br />
Paola was placed<br />
over BcH Anabel (s.<br />
Predello).<br />
5
The German Holstein associations have<br />
approved important changes to be introduced<br />
in the April 2008 evaluation run.<br />
Most important is the introduction of the<br />
daughter fertility index RZR and its inclusion<br />
in the total merit index RZG. Furthermore<br />
the focus is now more on functional<br />
conformation with more weight on<br />
feet & legs and less on dairy type.<br />
In January 2008 VIT introduced the<br />
new multi-trait model for daughter fertility<br />
with five traits. Germany, Canada<br />
(new very similar model) and the joint<br />
Scandinavian evaluation are the only<br />
countries that can provide all 5 different<br />
fertility traits converted by Interbull.<br />
Up to now most countries have just<br />
two or three of these traits. Countries<br />
without good and complete insemination<br />
data can only evaluate calving interval.<br />
Daughter fertility index RZR<br />
For effective practical selection the five<br />
fertility traits are aggregated into the<br />
new daughter fertility index RZR<br />
(R=Reproduction). Besides genetic parameters<br />
the economic importance of<br />
the traits is accounted for. The four conception<br />
traits form the conception index<br />
(CON) and get 75 % relative weight in<br />
RZR. ‘Time Calving to First Insemination’<br />
representing the ability of recyc-<br />
ling after calving gets 25 % weight (see<br />
figure). Both complexes cause about<br />
the same amount of total genetic variance<br />
in calving interval but the economic<br />
impact of a prolonged calving interval<br />
by delayed first heat is less than<br />
by reduced conception ability. An extended<br />
calving interval results in a<br />
slight reduction in milk production in-<br />
6<br />
German Holsteins news<br />
Many changes in breeding value calculation<br />
dependently from the reason. A reduced<br />
conception causes additional costs<br />
for the (re-)insemination. The two complexes<br />
‘start of cycle’ and ‘conception’<br />
are genetically almost independent and<br />
all combinations of low/high are found.<br />
The heritability of fertility traits is low<br />
(1-4 %). Therefore the reliability of RZR<br />
from the test period of bulls is 60-70 %.<br />
High reliabilities, and with that, extreme<br />
values are reached only from se-<br />
Gibor profits from the changes:<br />
10 % weight for fertility (RZR 121); new trait locomotion<br />
(143); more weight for feet&legs (135)<br />
cond crop. An An important important aspect of sel<br />
ecting for fertility is the negative genetic<br />
correlation to milk production traits<br />
(-0.30). The higher the genetic level for<br />
production, the more difficult it is to<br />
combine it with good fertility. So the direct<br />
comparison of RZR between bulls<br />
transmitting very<br />
high production or<br />
Time Calving<br />
to 1st Ins. (CF)<br />
average production<br />
is not fair. However,<br />
solving current<br />
herd fertility<br />
problems is not<br />
possible by selecting<br />
high fertility<br />
bulls. The low heritability<br />
means that<br />
more than 95 % of<br />
Daughter fertility index RZR (R=Reproduktion) aggregates the 4 conception traits the differences in<br />
and the ability to recycle after calving according to the economic importance<br />
cow fertility are<br />
not based on genetics<br />
but other factors like management.<br />
Cow 25 %<br />
Non-return rate<br />
56 days<br />
(NR )<br />
1st to Last<br />
Insemenation<br />
Heifer 12,5 %<br />
Cow 25 %<br />
Heifer 12,5 %<br />
Relativ-EBV<br />
Relativ-EBV Reproduction<br />
Conception RZR<br />
(CON)<br />
75 %<br />
(FL ) Cow 25 %<br />
Re-<br />
Cycle<br />
Conception<br />
Changes within conformation<br />
The most obvious changes are the 15-<br />
20 % lower numbers for all conformation<br />
traits. The standardisation of all<br />
conformation breeding values was<br />
changed to the same system as for all<br />
Hilla, 6th La<br />
other relative breeding values; i.e. one<br />
GENETIC standard deviation is equal<br />
to 12 relative points. Before standardisation<br />
it was 12 points EBV within the<br />
bull base. The reduction of the variance<br />
due to standardization has no impact<br />
on the ranking of bulls.<br />
Re-rankings cause the other changes<br />
within conformation. Genetic evaluation<br />
for two new traits was introduced:<br />
‘Locomotion’ and ‘Body Condition Score<br />
(BCS)’. BCS is a possible predicted<br />
trait for fertility and is not included in<br />
the linear picture and conformation indices.<br />
Locomotion is the 5th linear feet<br />
& legs trait and gets 20 % relative<br />
weight within the feet & legs index.<br />
Now all 5 linear feet & leg traits get the<br />
same relative weight of 20 % in the feet<br />
& leg index. Locomotion has only medium<br />
genetic correlations to the other linear<br />
traits and describes important<br />
new aspects for the overall functionality<br />
of feet & legs.<br />
Overall feet & legs including locomotion<br />
gets more weight in total conformation<br />
RZE (30 %; see table). Farmers report<br />
feet & legs problems as 2nd most<br />
important reason for cows to leave the<br />
farm just behind udder health problems<br />
with fertility problems in 3rd place. The<br />
extra weight in RZE is taken from dairy<br />
type type (10 (10 %; %; before 15 %). Dairy type is<br />
Relative weight<br />
within RZE<br />
Holstein<br />
old new<br />
Dairy Type 15 % 10 %<br />
Body 20 % 20 %<br />
Feet&Legs 25 % 30 %<br />
Udder 40 % 40 %<br />
More weight for feet&legs in overall conformation<br />
RZE and less for dairy type<br />
negatively correlated to fertility. In former<br />
times dairy type played a major<br />
role in improving the ‘will to milk’ but<br />
today with very reliable EBVs for the<br />
production traits, this aspect of dairy<br />
type has lost importance.<br />
Another change within conformation<br />
concerns the weighting of dimension<br />
traits body depth, strength and stature<br />
in the body index. The breed organizations<br />
initiated research by Halle University<br />
continued on page 13
Many new figures, few new bulls<br />
The April proof run produced some news<br />
by changing the ranking of many bulls.<br />
The number of new bulls, however, is<br />
small. The introduction of the new fertility<br />
index RZR and its weight of 10 % in the<br />
Total Merit Index have made most of the<br />
Mtoto and Lukas sons go up and Jocko<br />
Besn sons drop. All conformation figures<br />
are about 15 % lower due to the new<br />
standardisation. Finally there was a shift<br />
of base for all relative breeding values<br />
with -3 resp. -2 points RZM for Holsteins<br />
and Red Holsteins .<br />
Holstein<br />
All these changes could not do any damage<br />
to the old and new No. 1, Mascol. Far<br />
from it! With a level RZG 151 he even gained<br />
2 points despite the shift of base and<br />
continues to maintain his lead. In particular,<br />
the combination of very high production<br />
and his daughter fertility RZR 111 is<br />
impressive. Gibor at No. 2 is probably the<br />
biggest winner in this proof run. With almost<br />
unchanged single traits, but now with<br />
more than 8,000 daughters all changes<br />
work for him so that he rises up by 9 points<br />
RZG to 147 and gains 11 places. With RZR<br />
121, he is highly positive for daughter fertility.<br />
As an undoubted feet & legs (135)<br />
and udder specialist, he is benefiting from<br />
the fact these conformation traits are<br />
weighted higher in RZG. Bobas looses a bit<br />
of his still very high RZM, but gains in udder<br />
health (122) and above all in longevity<br />
(116).<br />
The Jocko sons are not the strongest for<br />
daughter fertility and so Jardin (RZG 139),<br />
Jobess (RZG 137), Jacinto (RZG 132) and<br />
Strobel (Stormatic x T Funkis) daughter Stella<br />
German Holsteins news<br />
most of all Jefferson (RZG130) go down a<br />
few places. Juncker is one of the few Jocko<br />
sons with positive daughter fertility. As he is<br />
also climbing for udder health (RZS 107,<br />
+1) he is able to rise<br />
a few places and is<br />
now one of the highest<br />
Jocko sons around.<br />
Laudan now<br />
has more than<br />
20,000 daughters<br />
and at No. 12 is<br />
now the highest active<br />
Lukas son. He<br />
gains for udder<br />
health and in particular<br />
for longevity,<br />
now up to RZN 137<br />
(+5) and through his<br />
good daughter fertility<br />
(RZR 122). Leif<br />
also has RZR 112<br />
(RZG 130).<br />
Of the 3 Emersonsons,<br />
Eleve is now at the top (RZG 134).<br />
This conformation specialist (RZE 137) rises<br />
markedly for longevity (112, +5). Emil II remains<br />
constant. The slightly younger Emir<br />
(MS Juror), however, gets additional<br />
daughters and looses slightly in conformation<br />
(RZE 124). The Jesther sons Juwel<br />
(RZG 133), Jelder (RZG 128) and most of<br />
all Jurus gain for longevity with more<br />
daughter information available for the 2nd<br />
and 3rd lactations. Furthermore Jurus is<br />
positive for daughter fertility (104). One of<br />
the highest new entries in January, Eminem<br />
(Eminenz x Malvoy) is a winner but with some<br />
changes in his single breeding values.<br />
Losses in production (RZM 124) and conformation<br />
(RZE 121) are compensated for<br />
by gains in udder health (+4), longevity<br />
and good daughter<br />
fertility (RZR 110).<br />
The other newcomer,<br />
Vachim (V Brando x<br />
Celsius) remains steady<br />
(read portrait on<br />
page 12).<br />
Zar (Zappa x Amaretto) daughter Zerbst<br />
New Sires<br />
New on the list is Zar<br />
(RZG 132) thanks to<br />
clear gains in all<br />
traits compared to<br />
his debut (Read more<br />
about this protein<br />
and udder health<br />
specialist on page<br />
11). Rahn is the first<br />
Ramos son on the list (MS Prelude). Like his<br />
father, he is attractive for his high figures<br />
for functional traits.<br />
Mister has a very interesting pedigree with<br />
Mr Ships x Jocko Besn x Dannix. With RZM<br />
120, RZE 125, RZS 115 and RZN 107 he<br />
is more than solid. Sexed semen is available.<br />
Strobel with RZE 132 is the highest of<br />
the early Stormatic sons and from a Danish<br />
T Funkis dam. He is outstanding in feet &<br />
legs and udder health (read more on page<br />
11).<br />
Proven<br />
Stylist (RZG 132) rises for longevity, currently<br />
a clearly positive 108. Now with<br />
3,217 daughters, Novize is able to re-enter<br />
the Top 50. The longevity specialist also<br />
benefits from the changed weightings within<br />
the RZE: now 30 % weighting for his<br />
good feet & legs (119). Donato (RZG 127)<br />
gains slightly in production (RZM 120) and<br />
also rises thanks to a good RZR 107 and<br />
still excellent RZE 129. Folleto suffers the<br />
heaviest losses (RZG 126). The reasons are<br />
lower production figures of his German<br />
daughters and additional daughters in the<br />
Czech Republic from a co-test (RZM 119,<br />
-8). In conformation and udder health the<br />
additional daughters confirm the high level<br />
of this interesting Ford son (RZE 128, RZS<br />
114). The Mtoto sons remain steady, especially<br />
for health traits, with daughters from<br />
the second crop. Monami (RZG 126) does<br />
not yet have additional daughters, but Merinit<br />
already has more than 2,000 daughters<br />
from his second crop (RZG 124, +2).<br />
Minister (RZG 122) was one of the most<br />
used bulls for several years and now the second<br />
crop daughters are entering in big<br />
continued on page 10<br />
7
H O L S T E I N S<br />
R E D H O L S T E I N S<br />
8<br />
German Holsteins news<br />
Current proofs of <strong>GGI</strong> top sires (April<br />
Further information: www.ggi.de<br />
Name HB-No. Sire M.Sire Milk kg Fat Fat Prot Prot RZM Rel Dau /Herds Dairy C. Body F&L Udder RZE<br />
% kg % kg %<br />
MASCOL ET 840515 TLTV MTOTO RUDOLPH 1728 +0.03 74 +0.14 73 138 95 132 64 104 103 122 120 123<br />
GIBOR 667908 TLTV GIBBON SUNNYBOY 1773 -0.32 41 -0.05 55 122 99 8356 3379 89 90 135 113 119<br />
BOBAS 840609 TLTV DUTCH BOY NOVALIS 2524 -0.38 63 -0.06 79 139 92 95 52 118 106 115 105 114<br />
JANGO 831082 TLTV JOCKO BESN LUKAS 1983 -0.22 58 -0.02 66 131 90 65 36 107 127 132 130 142<br />
JARDIN 141437 TL JOCKO BESN TONIC 1425 -0.05 54 +0.22 70 134 96 182 157 110 110 125 117 126<br />
JOBESS 463395 TLTV JOCKO BESN AIRLINER 2169 -0.06 83 -0.01 73 138 97 287 183 97 102 113 111 113<br />
LAUDAN 810695 TLTV LUKAS RAIDER 1568 -0.33 31 -0.12 42 114 99 20127 6130 113 80 117 123 117<br />
JUNKER 810821 TLTV JOCKO BESN LASSO 1674 -0.20 49 +0.06 63 129 95 145 67 112 111 125 111 123<br />
ELEVE 142245 TLTV EMERSON STORM 2006 -0.45 36 -0.12 56 122 95 154 138 125 117 129 126 137<br />
JUWEL 632734 TLTV JESTHER LORD LILY 2526 -0.69 29 -0.21 63 125 94 113 80 112 108 121 122 127<br />
JACINTO ET 840559 TLTV JOCKO BESN FATAL 2419 -0.54 42 -0.06 77 135 93 97 54 114 110 101 115 114<br />
EMINEM 810944 TLTV EMINENZ MALOY 1080 -0.01 44 +0.19 55 124 93 110 54 120 101 121 113 121<br />
ZAR new 802593 TLTV ZAPPA AMARETTO 1565 +0.08 72 +0.04 57 129 93 131 59 99 99 107 122 116<br />
STYLIST 632644 TLTV STEVEN GIBBON 1215 +0.03 53 +0.21 62 129 94 133 105 118 111 125 123 131<br />
RAHN new 821429 TLTV RAMOS PRELUDE 1332 -0.08 47 -0.06 39 114 88 81 66 108 94 122 116 119<br />
EMIL II 140098 TLTV EMERSON ESQUIMAU 1112 +0.18 62 +0.14 51 124 95 141 132 104 121 114 115 122<br />
VACHIM 565756 TLTV V BRANDO CELSIUS 1569 -0.06 59 -0.07 47 120 92 105 92 127 105 132 125 135<br />
LEIF 801705 TLTV LUKAS ZACK 938 +0.24 61 +0.04 36 115 99 2844 1075 87 124 102 119 118<br />
JEFFERSON 810833 TLTV JOCKO BESN DOMBINATOR 2193 -0.54 34 -0.08 67 128 95 129 67 121 115 127 124 134<br />
NOVIZE 325517 TLTV NOVALIS JABOT 1114 +0.07 52 +0.11 49 121 99 3217 1146 102 92 119 116 116<br />
JELDER 821367 TLTV JESTHER BASAR 2369 -0.58 35 -0.16 63 126 94 120 90 119 131 117 128 137<br />
JURUS 810868 TLTV JESTHER ESENTATION 1185 +0.08 56 +0.03 44 118 95 132 61 122 104 107 128 124<br />
DONATO 810918 TLTV DUTCH BOY ZACK 946 -0.03 36 +0.18 49 120 89 101 53 119 118 115 124 129<br />
FOLLETO 671148 TLTV FORD ADDISON 2093 -0.44 40 -0.20 51 119 93 159 135 107 118 121 120 128<br />
MONAMI 670016 TLTV MTOTO LEE 1064 -0.15 30 +0.07 43 115 94 102 83 109 107 124 119 126<br />
HEROLD 801098 TLTV HELDOSTAR CHESAPEAKE 563 +0.15 36 +0.01 20 102 99 10181 2898 104 97 119 126 124<br />
MISTER new 802585 TLTV MR.SHIPS JOCKO BESN 1817 -0.23 51 -0.13 49 120 91 89 49 112 112 99 133 125<br />
DUBBY 670755 TLTV DUTCH BOY CONVINCER 1855 -0.49 27 -0.17 46 115 94 113 105 114 102 107 120 118<br />
MERINIT 821153 TLTV MTOTO GEOFFRY 1615 -0.15 52 -0.08 47 119 99 2131 945 112 108 123 113 123<br />
AMADOR 840503 TLTV AARON ESQUIMAU 1766 -0.53 19 -0.09 51 117 94 128 69 109 101 132 109 121<br />
TIAMO 326769 TLTV TANKER CORSARO 559 +0.16 37 +0.24 40 115 95 131 103 107 120 121 116 126<br />
MINISTER 140027 TLTV MTOTO RUDOLPH 1386 -0.32 26 -0.18 30 106 99 3734 1875 134 103 109 117 120<br />
STROBEL new<br />
802586 TLTV STORMATIC T FUNKIS 1112 -0.23 24 -0.18 21 100 93 114 56 106 115 127 124 132<br />
EMIR 141469 TLTV EMERSON JUROR 1212 -0.08 42 +0.04 45 117 94 135 114 126 120 108 117 124<br />
JORRIK ET 840527 TLTV JORRIELAKE ESQUIMAU 964 +0.16 55 +0.11 43 118 94 107 58 115 110 110 113 118<br />
ALLIANCE 142272 TLTV ALLEN LEE 739 -0.08 23 +0.01 27 104 94 192 148 120 128 126 129 141<br />
NOG SALEM 490247 TLTV SIERRA AMARETTO 1626 -0.30 37 -0.03 53 121 93 104 81 106 119 113 118 123<br />
JANNSEN 821197 TLTV JOCKO BESN MANDEL 1509 -0.29 33 -0.11 41 113 96 188 132 121 125 135 115 135<br />
DETROIT 327760 TLTV DURHAM LEE 996 +0.01 42 +0.07 40 115 95 179 146 115 119 100 117 118<br />
FOKUS 141444 TLTV FORD MTOTO 789 +0.02 35 -0.10 17 100 94 112 106 122 118 119 124 132<br />
ALIZA 631933 TV AARON BELL ELTON 1586 -0.45 21 -0.02 52 118 92 84 62 117 105 127 114 124<br />
LABIATE 565521 TLTV LADIN SALTO 927 +0.01 39 -0.04 28 107 96 197 147 109 116 131 127 136<br />
DOUGLAS 801759 TLTV DURHAM BLACKSTAR 458 -0.41 -17 -0.12 5 86 98 398 109 117 127 129 132 143<br />
JUOTE 561741 TLTV JUROR CLEITUS 420 +0.20 35 -0.08 7 95 99 23644 6323 127 104 110 129 127<br />
CECON 821365 TLTV CAPRI FORMATION 1027 -0.40 5 -0.19 17 95 95 146 104 109 111 114 134 131<br />
FIELDHOUSE 326226 TLTV LEE LINDY 114 +0.02 7 -0.06 -1 86 99 1218 703 126 122 109 123 129<br />
POLLENT PP 328093 TLTV LENTINI RF POLL. PLUS 1471 -0.59 2 -0.24 27 100 94 134 116 114 96 110 113 113<br />
TOCAR 915938 TLTV <strong>TOP</strong>RED LUCKY LEO 1432 +0.58 111 +0.22 68 142 90 72 65 113 109 110 106 113<br />
MALVOY 916301 TLTV MARMAX RF CELSIUS 2185 -0.59 37 -0.08 66 130 94 251 165 106 114 125 106 120<br />
STABILO 922092 TLTV STADEL LAREDO RED 1502 -0.02 62 -0.07 45 121 90 96 64 106 106 114 121 122<br />
FAMOS 831344 TLTV FABER TALENT R 1971 -0.41 46 -0.08 60 127 92 99 51 131 114 125 120 132<br />
CADISCO 915576 TLTV CADON KOERIER 1278 +0.16 67 -0.04 40 119 92 80 72 107 109 109 117 118<br />
STARFIRE 922046 TLTV STADEL ANDRIES 872 +0.04 40 +0.23 48 122 93 94 63 101 97 107 117 112<br />
CARMANO 915758 TLTV CADON LAY OUT 894 -0.10 30 -0.02 29 108 94 106 93 112 104 123 126 129<br />
BRAVISI 297571 TLTV CLIFHANGER MILESTONE 1869 -0.09 72 -0.12 52 126 95 210 143 127 109 106 106 113<br />
RUNAWAY 596296 TLTV RUBENS POWER 1399 -0.19 43 -0.14 35 113 92 98 75 100 113 115 120 122<br />
VINCE 926213 TLTV CADON AMEL 2025 -0.38 51 -0.25 46 119 93 106 86 127 99 128 116 126<br />
RUBINROT 916475 TLTV RUBENS KOM LEADER 558 +0.53 65 +0.28 40 121 92 172 117 100 104 113 112 114<br />
LUGARUS 915807 TLTV LUCKO KOM LEADER 2251 -0.54 45 -0.15 62 128 90 67 60 116 114 118 107 119<br />
FAROMIR 596291 TLTV FABER KOERIER 851 +0.04 39 +0.07 34 113 90 84 68 114 107 129 115 126<br />
RUBELLO 916500 TLTV RUBENS LAREDO RED 1325 +0.06 61 -0.13 34 115 90 80 69 112 122 111 112 121<br />
LUDOX 915040 TLTV LUCKY RED PATRON 1633 -0.01 68 -0.12 45 122 99 995 679 114 124 115 103 117<br />
CARTELL 921939 TLTV CADON KOM LEADER 982 +0.16 55 +0.12 44 120 94 112 89 112 107 114 111 117<br />
CARIBIC 921987 TLTV CARED TULIP 1247 -0.17 38 +0.01 43 117 94 236 99 110 108 114 122 123<br />
RICOBAR 926240 TLTV RUBENS TULIP 626 +0.71 82 +0.03 24 113 93 122 91 108 117 112 127 128<br />
DRAMBUIE 297708 TLTV RUBENS RF JUROR 1798 -0.62 21 -0.10 52 119 91 224 165 117 116 94 125 120<br />
FAME 916365 TLTV FABER FLANO ET 788 +0.16 47 +0.06 32 112 92 89 80 112 99 113 115 117<br />
BARNY RED 297691 TLTV RUBENS RF STORM 1279 -0.41 19 -0.11 34 109 89 72 48 123 105 117 128 129<br />
LAUREL 925880 TLTV LAY OUT CAVEMAN 79 +0.29 25 +0.18 16 101 99 1476 986 105 100 127 119 124<br />
LYPOLL PP 916401 TLTV LYON-RED CLIFHANGER 1556 -0.25 44 -0.20 35 113 92 125 112 106 112 116 122 125<br />
FABER 912913 TLTV FACTOR RF NICK 903 +0.04 42 +0.07 36 114 99 45756 14921 129 101 105 119 118<br />
JAKE-RED 297654 TLTV SOVEREIGN JOHNSON 1284 -0.47 15 -0.10 35 109 91 84 69 90 122 116 128 129<br />
REDCROSS 916527 TLTV FABER RUBENS RF 414 +0.06 22 -0.03 11 97 94 227 174 107 103 111 128 124<br />
TAECKS 594353 TLTV TULIP CAVEMAN -57 +0.96 67 +0.41 28 115 99 1899 1100 101 106 92 118 109<br />
AVANTI 297505 TLTV FLANO ET LEADMAN 423 +0.03 20 +0.08 20 102 99 10452 4289 107 132 135 111 133<br />
STAVROS 915966 TLTV STADEL FACTOR RF 1257 -0.61 2 -0.19 27 102 91 77 69 111 121 120 114 125<br />
FANROY 916370 TLTV FABER ROELS 149 +0.17 19 +0.03 7 95 93 107 94 110 119 110 132 131<br />
RUSTLER 297548 TLTV LAREDO RED MILESTONE 26 +0.57 42 +0.02 2 95 96 885 675 118 113 124 126 133
2008)<br />
RZR RZS RZN RZG Calving<br />
Ease<br />
128 117 111 151 ***<br />
128 132 121 147 ***<br />
122 116 96 141 **<br />
104 105 104 140 **<br />
92 113 99 139 ***<br />
114 111 87 137 **<br />
119 137 112 136 ***<br />
107 111 103 135 **<br />
105 112 103 134 **<br />
112 113 94 133 **<br />
104 103 96 132 ***<br />
98 108 110 132 ***<br />
123 108 94 132 **<br />
96 108 89 132 **<br />
121 127 105 131 **<br />
101 116 100 131 **<br />
98 106 102 130 **<br />
128 123 112 130 *<br />
91 105 88 130 **<br />
104 118 95 130 **<br />
105 112 80 128 **<br />
125 104 104 127 **<br />
101 105 107 127 **<br />
114 109 97 126 **<br />
114 114 100 126 ***<br />
99 136 115 126 ***<br />
115 107 96 125 **<br />
113 108 107 124 **<br />
102 101 102 124 **<br />
104 111 84 122 ***<br />
103 110 98 122 **<br />
113 126 107 122 ***<br />
118 118 112 121 **<br />
91 106 103 121 **<br />
102 102 100 120 **<br />
119 112 101 120 *<br />
113 103 82 120 **<br />
100 108 89 119 **<br />
119 115 89 119 **<br />
123 114 103 117 **<br />
100 97 80 116 ***<br />
102 102 83 113 ***<br />
119 121 109 112 **<br />
109 112 107 110 ***<br />
104 106 103 109 **<br />
104 115 111 103 **<br />
101 107 85 102 **<br />
103 108 93 137 **<br />
97 101 99 130 ***<br />
109 115 99 130 **<br />
87 99 99 129 **<br />
119 113 102 128 **<br />
118 109 100 128 **<br />
120 126 103 127 ***<br />
106 105 101 126 **<br />
119 111 109 126 *<br />
91 106 100 125 **<br />
106 104 102 124 **<br />
88 102 90 124 **<br />
101 106 109 124 **<br />
107 104 113 123 **<br />
96 108 97 123 *<br />
101 102 99 122 **<br />
108 101 100 122 **<br />
108 104 105 122 **<br />
111 107 96 122 *<br />
104 112 104 121 ***<br />
110 111 102 121 **<br />
111 114 120 120 ***<br />
114 107 . 119 **<br />
94 107 101 118 **<br />
116 103 95 117 **<br />
112 114 108 114 ***<br />
108 100 94 114 ***<br />
88 111 101 113 *<br />
107 111 96 111 **<br />
95 105 106 107 ***<br />
99 94 110 105 **<br />
Abbreviations:<br />
HB-No. ........ Herdbook Number<br />
M.Sire.......... Mothers Sire<br />
Prot.............. Protein<br />
RZM ............ Milk Yield<br />
Rel.%............ Reliability<br />
Dau ............ Daughters<br />
Herds .......... Herds<br />
Dairy C. ...... Dairy Character<br />
F&L .............. Feet&Legs<br />
RZE.............. Type Traits<br />
RZR.............. Reproduction<br />
RZS.............. Somatic Cell Count<br />
RZN ............ Survival Rate<br />
RZG ............ Total Merit Index<br />
Calving ease:<br />
* below average<br />
** good<br />
*** easy<br />
Daughter groups<br />
presented at the recent Winter Shows<br />
Leif daughtergroup presentet at “Rind aktuell” in Karow<br />
Ludox daughtergroup at “WEU Konvent” in Oldenburg<br />
Merenit daughters were presented at “WEU Konvent” in Oldenburg<br />
Minister daughters at “Exzellentschau” from VOST in Leer<br />
Novize daughters presented at “WEU Konvent” in Oldenburg<br />
9
German Holsteins news<br />
continued from page 7 Red Holstein<br />
numbers. He rose slightly in RZM and RZS<br />
but went down for conformation (RZE<br />
120). With Herold, another second crop<br />
bull moves into the spot light. Now with<br />
more than 10,000 daughters the Hel-<br />
Mister (Mr.Ships x Jocko Besn) daughter Mira<br />
dostar son jumps up +8 points to RZG 126<br />
and attracts new attention with high conformation,<br />
extremely good longevity (RZN<br />
136) as well as excellent fertility (RZR<br />
115). Amador didn’t really benefit from<br />
his first new daughters. The main reason<br />
for his lower RZG is the below average<br />
fertility, common to most of the Aaron sons<br />
like Aliza (RZR 80), Jannsen, the oldest<br />
Jocko son world wide, gets his first 49 additional<br />
daughters. They cause him to drop<br />
slightly in production (RZM 113; -2) and in<br />
conformation (RZE 135; -4) though he still<br />
belongs to the top when it comes to conformation<br />
(135). Dubby is able to compensate<br />
for losses in RZE with gains in longevity<br />
and good fertility (RZR 107). Tiamo<br />
appears without change and is still a good<br />
allrounder. The Jorrielake son, Jorrik didn’t<br />
have to worry about the changes to the<br />
new formula with RZR 100, good legs and<br />
udders (RZE 118). Among the conformation<br />
specialists, Allen son, Alliance with RZE<br />
141 is at the top together with Douglas<br />
(RZE 143) who, unfortunately, recently<br />
passed away. Labiate with his super feet &<br />
legs (131) and udders (127) was able to<br />
rise in RZE up to 136.<br />
Fokus (RZE 132) goes up 2 points in RZG.<br />
Cecon decreases in production down to<br />
RZM 95 but is positive in all other traits, in<br />
particular, conformation (RZE 131). With<br />
RZR 107, Juote (RZE 131) now confirms<br />
his fertility figures from Scandinavia.<br />
Fieldhouse went up slightly for production<br />
with additional daughters but the changes<br />
within the conformation affected him quite<br />
a bit. The polled Pollent Pp looses due to<br />
his below average daughter fertility.<br />
10<br />
The introduction and weighting of the RZR<br />
has led to fewer changes for the Red Holstein<br />
sires than for the Holsteins, as the important<br />
sires of sons do not show such an<br />
extreme variation in daughter fertility.<br />
Tocar still is at No. 1 but the lead of the Topred<br />
son has decreased. Malvoy rises up to<br />
No. 4. He goes up slightly for udder health<br />
and mainly in RZN up to positive 101. Stabilo,<br />
the highest Stadel son at No. 5, gains<br />
in RZN (115, +4). With 122, he still is the<br />
strongest sire for conformation among the<br />
top 5. The conformation sire Famos (RZE<br />
132) increases in production by 4 points up<br />
to RZM 127. Cadon sons, Cadisco (RZG<br />
128), Carmano (RZG 127) and Vince (RZG<br />
125) have improved again with better longevity<br />
and they are all positive for daughter<br />
fertility with RZR 102, 103 and 100 respectively.<br />
Starfire (RZG 128) rises in production<br />
(RZM 122; + 1) and udder health (RZS 118;<br />
+3). Bravisi, however, goes down some<br />
Rubinrot (Rubens x Kom Leader) daughter Fakira<br />
points in RZE to 113 (RZG 126) due to the<br />
changes in the conformation calculation. Runaway<br />
rises in almost every aspect, from<br />
production (RZM 113, +3) through to longevity<br />
(111, +7). With RZE 122 and RZS 119<br />
he is an interesting allrounder. The other two<br />
Rubens Red sons Rubinrot (No. 21, +11)<br />
and Rubello (No. 27, +25) have also improved<br />
their figures. Rubello is very good for<br />
daughter fertility (RZR 113). From the Rubens<br />
Red sons, only Ricobar decreases<br />
slightly even though he is very positive for<br />
daughter fertility (RZR 105). When it comes<br />
to components he still is an exception with<br />
+0.74 % fat, only exceeded by Taecks showing<br />
+0.96 % fat and +0.41 % protein, now<br />
with 1,899 daughters! Lugarus does not benefit<br />
from the new conformation calculation<br />
(RZE 119). He remains stable for production<br />
with RZM 128 and +2,251 kg milk. Faromir<br />
can benefit from the stronger weighting for<br />
his excellent feet & legs (129; RZE 126) and<br />
good fertility (read more on page 11).<br />
Proven<br />
Ludox now has nearly 1,000 daughters in<br />
his proof and confirms his high production<br />
figures (RZM 122) and moves up for conformation<br />
(RZE 117). Cadon son, Cartell, and<br />
Cared son, Caribic only change slightly. The<br />
high new entry of January, Drambuie, looses<br />
heavily having included the co-test<br />
daughters in Switzerland and USA. Fame<br />
remains stable: slightly lower production<br />
(RZM 112, -3) is compensated by a clearly<br />
better RZN (112, +7). Barny Red gets additional<br />
daughters reducing his RZE down to<br />
129. With udder 128<br />
and feet & legs 117, he<br />
is still showing outstanding<br />
figures and is positive<br />
for fertility. Polled<br />
Lypoll Pp (Lyon x Cliffhanger)<br />
confirms his<br />
production figures (RZM<br />
113, -1) and even rises<br />
for conformation (RZE<br />
125). Faber now has<br />
45,756 daughters. Jake<br />
Red remains unimpressed<br />
by all the changes<br />
and some new<br />
daughters did not affect<br />
his proof at all (RZE<br />
129). At the top of the Red Holstein conformation<br />
sires, besides the already mentioned<br />
Famos (RZE 132), is Avanti with RZE 133<br />
and 10,452 daughters, Rustler with RZE<br />
133 and Fanroy with RZE 131. Redcross is<br />
stable with RZE 124 combined with very<br />
good udder health (112) and longevity<br />
(114). Stadel son, Stavros went down slightly.<br />
A real winner of the changes is Laurel<br />
with the phenomenal daughter fertility of<br />
RZR 120! Another 1,000 daughters from the<br />
2nd crop also give him a slight increase in<br />
production.
Zar 802593 TLTV<br />
(Zappa x Amaretto x Ladin x Belmont)<br />
Strobel 802586 TLTV<br />
(Stormatic x T Funkis x Bellwood x Mascol)<br />
German Holsteins news<br />
Zar is one of the winners from the current evaluation run now ranking<br />
No. 26 having been No. 83 in January. The figures for this bull with a<br />
real German pedigree went up for all traits. His sire, Zappa, was a Southwind<br />
Zack son out of Blackstar with only limited semen availability but<br />
high protein. The components of Zar are also positive at +0.08 % fat and<br />
+0.04 % protein together with +1,565 kg milk! His dam Amaretto Walena<br />
has 5 positive sons with 3 ranked in the toplist. Besides Zar these are<br />
the Sierra sons, NOG Salem and NOG Sensal. Walena is still alive in<br />
her 6th lactation averaging 12,000 kg milk and 3.4 % protein. Besides<br />
production, Zar is an udder health specialist (123). The Zar daughters<br />
are no-nonsense cows with very good udders. He sires daughters with a<br />
very good balance of depth, strength and stature. Feet have a perfect set<br />
and foot angle is good. Despite the tremendous will to milk, the udders<br />
of the Zar daughters are shallow and very well-attached.<br />
Out of 26 Stormatic sons, Strobel is the most interesting Stormatic son<br />
with official figures. Strobel’s dam is a Danish EX92 T Funkis daughter<br />
tracing back to a Bellwood and then a US Mascot, R-E-W Naquita Nanett.<br />
Strobel combines the top conformation from Stormatic with one of<br />
the leaders in functionality and health, T Funkis: RZE 132, udder health<br />
118, daughter fertility 112, milking speed 109, body condition score<br />
107. Strobel daughters are above average for stature with lots of<br />
strength and depth. For feet & legs he is equal to his famous sire Stormatic.<br />
The feet of the Strobel daughters are very high and hard and locomotion<br />
is excellent. The snuck udders show a very good texture. Besides<br />
the fantastic conformation and functional figures the Strobel daughters<br />
milk well (+1,112 kg milk). Strobel is first choice for nice trouble-free,<br />
easy to handle cows. With 114 daughters already at the end of their first<br />
lactation, the figures of Strobel are very reliable.<br />
Faromir 596291 TLTV<br />
(Faber x Koerier 104 x Stollberg x Enhancer)<br />
aAa: 516342<br />
aAa: 162534<br />
aAa: 651423<br />
Faromir is one of the most interesting Faber sons and as he recently went<br />
up into the top-25 with his 2nd proof in April, he is in the spotlight. Faromir<br />
is the first proven son of Wanda VG88 (s. Koerier 104), but her<br />
cow family is already well-known through Knirps who is a son by Koerier<br />
104 from Faromir’s great grand dam Enhancer Dita Ex91. Between<br />
Dita and Wanda there is Tina, a VG87 daughter of Stollberg RF, the sire<br />
of Stadel. The cow family excels in production. His dam Wanda has<br />
an average of 10,787 kg milk with 4.0 % fat and 3.5 % protein in 4 lactations<br />
(305 days). Faromir has stabilized at +851 kg milk and has the<br />
rare combination of positive components and a good fat / protein ratio<br />
with +0.04 % fat and +0.07 % protein. His strongest figure is for overall<br />
conformation with especially good feet & legs in all traits. Faromir also<br />
has a very nice combination of good milking speed (110) and positive<br />
udder health (101). For daughter fertility Faromir scores high 109 RZR.<br />
The five maternal dams in his pedigree all had at least five calves and he<br />
is predicted at longevity 106.<br />
Dairy Character (Index)<br />
Body (Index)<br />
Feet and legs (Index)<br />
Udder (Index)<br />
RZE (Index)<br />
Dairy Character (Index)<br />
Body (Index)<br />
Feet and legs (Index)<br />
Udder (Index)<br />
RZE (Index)<br />
Dairy Character (Index)<br />
Body (Index)<br />
Feet and legs (Index)<br />
Udder (Index)<br />
RZE (Index)<br />
88 100 112 124<br />
88 100 112 124<br />
88 100 112 124<br />
99<br />
99<br />
107<br />
122<br />
116<br />
106<br />
115<br />
127<br />
124<br />
132<br />
114<br />
107<br />
129<br />
115<br />
126<br />
11
Is it just by chance that some of the most<br />
interesting newcomers this winter have<br />
Danish ancestry: Foletto, Strobel (see<br />
short portrait at page 11) and Vachim?<br />
Normally, about 20 young bulls per year<br />
originating from the northern neighbour<br />
are tested within the total test capacity of<br />
900 Holstein bulls in Germany. Perhaps<br />
as Germany has the most diversified breeding<br />
program worldwide, it was only a<br />
matter of time until the Danish part of the<br />
program delivered top bulls.<br />
‘We have been selecting some young<br />
bulls in Denmark for quite a long time’<br />
explains Mathias Leisen from A.I. Schleswig-Holstein<br />
the owner of Vachim.<br />
Schleswig-Holstein in the north is the direct<br />
neighbouring region to Denmark. ‘I<br />
saw Enggard Ulla 541, the Leadman<br />
grand dam of Vachim for the first time at<br />
the Danish national show. She had one<br />
of the best udders I’ve ever seen’, Leisen<br />
is still enthusiastic about the excellent<br />
Leadman with a 94 scored udder. The<br />
cow family behind Vachim is well known<br />
in Denmark. Not only Ulla 541, the dam<br />
of Vachim, was a successful show cow<br />
but also her VG88 Celsius daughter Ulrika<br />
650 too. The source of this quality is<br />
the great grand dam of Vachim, a VG88<br />
Jy Wilow daughter. Jy Wilow (Willow x<br />
Elevation) was a fantastic udder transmit-<br />
12<br />
German Holsteins news<br />
Vachim: new German star bred in Denmark<br />
In January he entered with his first figures<br />
at once the top-50. Now Vachim the new<br />
star with Denish roots climbed even up ten<br />
ranks with additional daughters.<br />
Dairy Type<br />
Body<br />
Feet&legs<br />
Udder<br />
RZE<br />
420 VG88<br />
(JY Wilow)<br />
Ulla 541 EX90<br />
(Leadman)<br />
Ulrika 650 VG88<br />
(Celsius)<br />
Vachim (V Brando)<br />
88 100 112 124<br />
127<br />
105<br />
132<br />
125<br />
135<br />
ter who stamped the Danish Holstein population<br />
and he was bred in Germany.<br />
‘The Celsius dam of Vachim and her sister<br />
were high in the cow index list with<br />
average production of more than<br />
12,000 kg milk 4.7 % fat and 3.5 % protein.<br />
Together with the proven show potential<br />
of this family, it was what we were<br />
looking for. Finally the cow family was<br />
contracted heavily by<br />
the Danish<br />
A.I.’s and they are looking, in particular,<br />
for the functional traits so this gave us extra<br />
confidence.’ says Leisen. The high demand<br />
for young bulls from the domestic<br />
A.I.’s was a problem when it came to<br />
making a contract with the breeders, the<br />
brothers Morgens and Knud Jense from<br />
Dössing Enggard Holsteins. ‘There was<br />
no possibility of getting a contract within<br />
a reasonable time period. The only possibility<br />
was to take an already available<br />
V Brando son, Vachim. Mathias Leisen is<br />
now not sorry even though, at the time,<br />
V Brando would never have been his first<br />
choice to use on Celsius Ulrika. From the<br />
five proven brothers of Vachim by different<br />
sires, the Aaron son, T Aaronson returned<br />
to service. The family will have<br />
more influence in Denmark through the<br />
Lord Lily sister to Vachim Enggard Lord<br />
Ursula. She has two positive sons F Engard<br />
(s. Kol Nixon) and T Hoston (s. Manat)<br />
who were even used as sire sons.<br />
V Brando, the sire of Vachim, is a Danish<br />
born and proven Esquimau son out of a<br />
Prelude. He is a high production bull with<br />
still almost +2,000 kg milk based on<br />
2.436 daughters. V Brando sires solid<br />
conformation with good type and very<br />
good rear udders. Up to now his 56 proven<br />
sons were all born in Scandinavia.<br />
His test<br />
Vachim was tested within the regular<br />
program of A.I. Schleswig-Holstein.
His 2nd proof is now based on 105<br />
daughters in 92 herds. In his home area<br />
he has been heavily used since August<br />
last year based on his preliminary results.<br />
‘Because of his completely Danish<br />
roots, Vachim’s pedigree index isn’t high<br />
on the German base but his daughter<br />
deviations for production were very high<br />
right from the start.’ So Vachim’s current<br />
production proof with +1,569 kg<br />
milk, -0,06 % fat and -0,07 % protein<br />
(RZM 120) isn’t really a surprise.<br />
A positive surprise for Mathias Leisen<br />
were the exciting conformation figures.<br />
‘The grand dam was a great cow and<br />
the dam definitely had stature and capacity<br />
but she is a Celsius daughter so I’m<br />
very glad that Vachim is showing up with<br />
this nice linear’. The figures show that<br />
Vachim transmits stature with style and<br />
average capacity. Very strong are his<br />
feet & leg figures with 132: perfect set,<br />
very clean bones and good locomotion.<br />
With 125 overall udder, Vachim is one of<br />
the best udder transmitters. Long in front<br />
and high and wide from the rear, the udders<br />
have perfect teat placement front<br />
and rear. These are not just figures as the<br />
two daughter groups shown in Neumünster<br />
in January and Karow in March demonstrated.<br />
Where should Vachim give<br />
the best results? ‘He is really an allrounder<br />
and from the test period gave very similar<br />
daughters mated on different<br />
bloodlines. I would protect a little bit for<br />
level rumps and perhaps for capacity.<br />
The Vachim daughters already have wide<br />
rumps as 2-year-olds but have only<br />
average chest width. ‘I like that very<br />
much because this is the type of animal<br />
that will surely grow into a good cow<br />
without being mature too early’, Mathias<br />
Leisen is convinced.<br />
For the functional traits, Vachim is a<br />
good ambassador for Denmark. His udder<br />
health proof has gone up to average,<br />
milking speed is high and the brand-new<br />
daughter fertility index RZR is positive.<br />
Meanwhile Vachim is used as sire of sons<br />
in many breeding programs.<br />
continued from page 6 - Changes in breeding value calculation<br />
positive<br />
negative<br />
No more extra weight for stature (Sta), body depth (BD) and strength (Str) in body index for EBVs above<br />
112 (+1.0 standard deviation)<br />
(Prof. Swalve). The results show clearly<br />
that extremely deep, wide and tall 2years-old<br />
have significantly reduced real<br />
herd life. These findings are now<br />
being taken into account in the composite<br />
index ‘Body’. Bulls with proofs of<br />
112 (+1.0 standard deviation) or higher<br />
for the above mentioned ‘dimension<br />
traits’ no longer receive any additional<br />
bonus (see figure).<br />
The modified weighting of extreme figures<br />
for the dimension traits results in a<br />
little less variation at the top of bulls for<br />
body index. There are only very few<br />
bulls with extreme EBVs for all three dimension<br />
traits. Bulls that are affected<br />
the most are bulls with only one very<br />
extreme EBV. These are often bulls with<br />
extreme stature but no extreme depth<br />
and strength. Finally, the top bulls for<br />
the new body index transmit more real<br />
capacity because bulls with just extreme<br />
stature are no longer at the top for body.<br />
The body index not only includes<br />
the dimension traits but also rump<br />
angle and rump width. Rump width as<br />
a functional trait is not restricted above<br />
112. Because of positive correlation to<br />
strength, the new formula indirectly gives<br />
more emphasis on overall width for<br />
body within the top bulls.<br />
New weightings in total merit index RZG<br />
The inclusion of daughter fertility index<br />
RZR made a realignment necessary. The<br />
realignment is based on current scientific<br />
research on the economic coefficients<br />
and index weightings in dairy<br />
cattle breeding. In future, the fitness<br />
will receive slightly more weight with<br />
40 % in total. In exchange, the<br />
weighting for production traits will be<br />
reduced by by 5 % to 45 45 %. The direct direct<br />
Relative weights<br />
in RZG<br />
*) old RZE; new: feet&legs and udder 1:1<br />
**) via former RZZ<br />
Holstein<br />
old new<br />
Production (RZM) 50 % 45 %<br />
Conformation 15 %* 15 %*<br />
Herd Life (RZN) 25 % 20 %<br />
Udder Health (RZS) 5 % 7 %<br />
RZZ 5 % -<br />
Fertility (RZR) (1 %)** 10 %<br />
Calving traits maternal (2 %)** 3 %<br />
New weighting within total merit index RZG<br />
weighting for conformation traits within<br />
RZG remains 15 %. But instead of the<br />
overall conformation RZE now only feet<br />
& legs and udder will be accounted for<br />
(each 7.5 %).<br />
The new weightings lead to slight changes<br />
in the ranking of bulls. Winners are<br />
bulls that can combine high production<br />
with good daughter fertility, good feet<br />
& legs and udders like Gibor, Ramos<br />
and Laudan. Now these bulls can profit<br />
from the higher weighting for their<br />
good fitness traits.<br />
13
For many years now, Russia has been<br />
one of the most important export markets<br />
for German breeding cattle. Over the last<br />
two years nearly 50,000 mainly Holstein<br />
heifers, in the early stages of pregnancy,<br />
have been exported from Germany to<br />
Russia.<br />
One of the numerous buyers, successfully<br />
producing milk in Russia with German<br />
Holsteins, is the farm “Nowoe Wysokowskoje”<br />
in the oblast (region) Kaliningrad.<br />
The farm has a total area of<br />
2,000ha; the traditional milk production<br />
always included around 500 Holstein<br />
cows.<br />
In 2005, it was decided by the farm<br />
management to expand the milk production<br />
and in order that they increase<br />
the herd over a short period of time it<br />
was decided to import pregnant Holstein<br />
heifers from Germany.<br />
Numerous changes have been made in<br />
the course of 2006 to be able to meet<br />
the requirements of the heifers. The previous<br />
herd was relocated to another<br />
German Holsteins news<br />
German Holsteins fill the milk tanks in Russia<br />
Manager Iwan Schkaleta<br />
14<br />
farm.<br />
The old tie stall has been completely reconstructed<br />
into a modern free stall for<br />
500 cows. The comfortable new set up<br />
has six rows of cubicles with an individual<br />
width of 1.20m each which supplies<br />
a very high level of cow comfort.<br />
Open side walls with adjustable roll up<br />
Freestall for appropiate exercise<br />
mesh walls guarantee a continuous flow<br />
of fresh air and some additional daylight.<br />
“The animals should not adapt to<br />
the barn but the barn has to adapt to<br />
the requirements of the animals. If you<br />
spend a lot of money on imported heifers,<br />
the housing conditions should be<br />
adapted accordingly.” These words<br />
from the farm manager Iwan Schkaleta<br />
describe very well the basic attitude of<br />
the farm towards modern milk production.<br />
Even the milking technique has changed<br />
with a 2 x 20 herring bone milking<br />
parlour with an electronic detection sy-<br />
“Nowoe Wysokowskoje“ in Oblast (destrict of Kaliningrad)<br />
stem as well as an automatic cluster removal.<br />
The waiting area is spacious<br />
and fitted with selection gates. So, when<br />
milking, a high working productivity is<br />
achieved.<br />
Iwan Schkaleta thinks the Holstein heifers<br />
imported from Germany back in the<br />
summer of 2006 adapted very well to<br />
the farm. They produce an average of<br />
25.5 kg milk per day with some of them<br />
even achieving nearly 50 kg milk per<br />
day.<br />
Thanks to these early changes to the<br />
farm, the herd of imported heifers produced<br />
a total of 7,600 kg milk with 3.9 %<br />
fat and 3.2 % protein in their first lactation.<br />
Alongside the excellent animal material,<br />
a big factor in this high milk yield<br />
has been the TMR-ration being fed<br />
equally to all animals.<br />
The farm management was very satisfied<br />
with the first delivery of 500 German<br />
Holstein heifers and, because of<br />
this, another 500 heifers have been<br />
Pen for dry cows<br />
purchased in spring 2007. In the course<br />
of increasing the herd a new modern<br />
cow barn was built. The animals of the<br />
second delivery also prove their quality<br />
under ideal environmental conditions in<br />
this new barn.<br />
Photos: Dr. Töws, ADT
At the Luxembourg heifer show 2008 in<br />
Ettelbrück, Fieldhouse-daughter OHV<br />
Dyna was the winner of the Reserve<br />
Champion title. Dyna was chosen<br />
Champion of her class by the judges and<br />
was named the best udder heifer in her<br />
class.<br />
German Holsteins news<br />
Fieldhouse: Show success in Luxembourg, <strong>France</strong> and Belgium<br />
OHV Dyna (s. Fieldhouse)<br />
<strong>GGI</strong> Bullday 2008<br />
In April 2008 the <strong>GGI</strong> Bullday took place<br />
for the 2nd time. 20 <strong>GGI</strong> representatives<br />
from abroad participated. This<br />
year’s Bullday focussed on Rinder-Union-<br />
West (RUW) with its<br />
top bull Gibor. The<br />
event was opened<br />
by Dr. Rensing (VIT)<br />
with a presentation<br />
on the new breeding<br />
values and<br />
continued with a<br />
presentation on the<br />
RUW by Dr. Hartmann.<br />
The evening<br />
was concluded with<br />
a dinner and discussions<br />
in a friend-<br />
Most popular Holstein bulls<br />
in Germany 2007<br />
The German cattle breeders’ federation<br />
has published the list of the most used<br />
bulls in 2007 based on 1st inseminations<br />
(FI). Minister and Janos changed places<br />
compared to 2006. After several years<br />
Faber now now at at No. 7 is is out of the top five. fi<br />
Red Holsteins FI<br />
Carmano 25,850<br />
Joyboy 23,616<br />
Laurel 11,114<br />
Lichtblick 10,794<br />
Avanti 9,965<br />
In <strong>France</strong>, Akotimi du Tombuy was No. 2<br />
in the heifer class on the Eurogénétique<br />
2008 in Epinal.<br />
On the “Night of Holsteins” 2008 in Libramont<br />
(Belgium) Farde de Jassogne<br />
became Reserve Champion of the young<br />
cows.<br />
Akotimi du Tombuy (s. Fieldhouse)<br />
ly atmosphere.<br />
On the second day, 8 outstanding Gibor<br />
daughters and were visited on differentfarms<br />
in the RUW-area.<br />
Group picture with Hilla (7th lactation). Hilla is one of the 90 Gibor daughters<br />
from the test period of which 30 have reached the 6th lactation<br />
Holsteins FI<br />
Minister ET 45,891<br />
Janos 42,202<br />
Jefferson 41,164<br />
Emil II 37,835<br />
Jannsen 35,500<br />
Laudan 34,358<br />
Jurus 32,706<br />
Ramos 31,876<br />
Junker 31,649<br />
Douglas 28,559<br />
Lexikon 22,978<br />
Mascol 21,872<br />
Janosch 21,248<br />
NOG Jumit 20,637<br />
Gibor 18,825<br />
E V E N T S<br />
29 th May<br />
Day of the Newcomer, Cloppenburg<br />
German Genetics International GmbH (<strong>GGI</strong>)<br />
5 th -7 th September<br />
Grüne Tage Thüringen;<br />
Landestierschau, Erfurt<br />
Rinderzuchtverband Sachsen Anhalt e.G. (RSA)<br />
11 th -14 th November<br />
EuroTier, Hannover<br />
Deutsche Landwirtschafts-Gesellschaft e.V. (DLG)<br />
24 th November<br />
Elite Auction, Hamm<br />
Deutscher Holstein Verband e.V. (DHV)<br />
12 th December<br />
Nikolausschau, Bismark<br />
Rinderzuchtverband Sachsen Anhalt e.G. (RSA)<br />
German Version<br />
available as PDF<br />
www.ggi.de<br />
15