DataGene released the latest Australian Breeding Values on August 19.
TOP HOLSTEIN COWS
Balanced Performance Index (BPI):
- There has been a change at the top of the Holstein Cow ABV list. Wilara Almamater Collie GP83 owned by Trevor Henry and family of Tinamba, Victoria is the new number one Holstein BPI cow. She is one of the top production cows in the Wilara herd with a PI of 127 with 3.9% protein and 5.75 fat. She has a BPI of 655.
- The Henrys also hold down second position with Wilara Nippon Jordonna (BPI 646). Her mother is also ranked 5th for BPI at 640.
- Carenda Jeronimo Vida, the former number one BPI Holstein cow, is now ranked equal 3rd at 643 BPI. Vida is classified VG87 as a 3-year-old and is a polled daughter of the high ranking bull ABS Jeronimo (29HO18698). Sitting alongside Vida in equal third is Adlejama Lastin Shauna 3699 GP83 owned by the Hogg family of Biggara, Victoria. She is a daughter of the number 2 daughter proven sire LASTIN who is available from Genetics Australia.
- With a BPI of 579, “16916” bred by Jelbart Dairies of Leongatha South, Victoria is the top genomic heifer for the fourth consecutive ABV run.”16916” has fantastic ratings for Daughter Fertility (122) and Mastitis Resistance (113) and is a daughter of the Genetics Australia bull KARAT.
Sustainability Index (SI):
- “16229” owned by Jelbart Dairies of Leongatha South, Victoria tops the SI at 1189. She is a Carenda PEMBERTON daughter with an extreme protein ABV.
- The number 2 BPI cow, Wilara Nippon Jordonna, is also the number 2 Sustainability Index cow with an SI of 1187.
- All of the owners of these top animals are members of GINFO, the dairy industry’s Genomic Information Nucleus that powers genomic testing through the provision of high-quality performance records.
TOP JERSEY COWS
- The number one Jersey BPI cow is Araluen Park Jiggy Sandra 86. Just 2 years old, her BPI is 541. Sandra was bred by Trevor Saunders and Anthea Day of Shady Creek, Victoria.
- In second spot, with a BPI of 504, is the 2-year-old Beulah Gislev H Bouy 83. She is bred and owned by Daryl and Lani Hoey, Wonthaggi, Victoria and is a daughter of the Viking bull VIKJGISLEV.
- The top two BPI Jersey cows are also the top two Sustainability cows.
- Beulah Gislev H Bouy is in the top position for Health Weighted Index (HWI) at 458 HWI.
- Craigielea Vicky 6682 is the top genomic BPI Jersey heifer at 451 BPI. Sired by the Agri-Gene bull ROULETTE, she is a daughter of the former number 1 BPI cow Craigielea Vicky 6151. She was bred by Bill Cochrane and family of Bamawm, Victoria, and is now owned by Pat and Brendan Nicholson of Girgarre.
TOP AUSSIE RED COWS
- Beaulands Ninjago Tina has edged ahead of Blackwood Park 1416 this ABV run with a BPI of 415. Tina was bred by Ron and Sam Graham of Numbaa, NSW.
- Longroad Onstad Trava is the number one Sustainability Index Aussie Red with an SI of 957. She is bred and owned by Tim and Marie Humphris of Nirranda South, Victoria.
TOP HOLSTEIN HERDS
- The Emu Banks herd of Bryan and Jo Dickson has retained top spot with an average BPI of 370. They are also the highest herd for the Sustainability Index at 646 and number one for the Health Weighted Index (HWI) at 355.
- In second position on BPI is George Wagner’s Rengaw herd with a BPI of 342.
- Rohan and Graeme Sprunt’s Kaarmona herd, Karimba, Victoria holds down third position with a BPI of 325.
TOP JERSEY HERD
- Con and Michelle Glennen’s White Star Jersey herd from Noorat, Victoria, is the top BPI, HWI and SI herd in the Jersey breed with a BPI of 269 and a HWI of 202 and a SI of 571.
OTHER BREED TOP HERDS
- Aussie Reds: Ron and Sam Graham of Numbaa, NSW, again have the number one herd for all three key indices.
- Illawarras: The Williams family’s “Treeton” herd of Meningie, SA is the top herd for BPI (120) and HWI (116) while the top SI herd is Michael Tuhan’s “Riversleigh” herd of Murchison, Victoria with an average of 214.
- Ayrshires: Trevor Saunders and Anthea Day of Shady Creek Victoria have the top BPI and Sustainability Index Ayrshire herd.
- Brown Swiss: P & S Balfour of Kanoona, NSW have the top Brown Swiss herd for BPI, HWI and SI while the Cleggett family of Glencoe, South Australia are the leading Guernsey herd for BPI and SI.
TOP HOLSTEIN BULLS
Australian-proven sires:
- At 487 BPI Carenda PILBARA is Australia’s top daughter proven Holstein sire. PILBARA comes from the acclaimed Carenda herd of the Kitchen family in WA. He is a high Protein transmitter with over 250 daughters in his production ABV.
- Redmaw Fedora LASTIN is in second position with a BPI of 494 based on 186 milking daughters in 40 herds. He was bred by Jared and Courtney Ireland of Lockington, Victoria.
- Carenda Pemberton moves back up the list and now has more than 500 daughters in his production ABV. He occupies third spot with a BPI of 487.
- All three bulls are owned and marketed by Genetics Australia.
Genomic bulls:
- Australian-bred sires occupy the top four positions on the Holstein genomic list and all are owned by Genetics Australia.
- Carenda AUSTRALIND (BPI 601) is the number 1 genomic bull, making it a double hit for the Carenda herd (top genomic bull and top daughter proven bull). AUSTRALIND is a Westcoast Rocknroll son from the breed’s former number 1 BPI cow, Carenda Jeronimo Vida VG87. This double marks an amazing achievement by Carenda Holsteins and the Kitchen family.
- Wilara JOBOLT (BPI 597) is the new number 2 BPI genomic bull. He was bred by Trevor Henry and family of Tinamba, Victoria. He is sired by BOLTI and like his sire, JOBOLT carries the Polled gene.
- In third spot is Winaview FENDER bred by Brendon Winter of Warragul South, Victoria. He has a BPI of 568 and narrowly edges out Wilara JORDLIV at 567. JORDLIV is from the same family as JOBOLT.
TOP JERSEY BULLS
Australian-proven sires:
- Con and Michelle Glennen (White Star) are the breeders of the number one Australian Proven Jersey bull as well as having the number 1 Jersey ABV herd. DOUGGAN continues his reign at the top of the list with a BPI of 396. DOUGGAN now has 856 milking daughters in Australia and rates well for health and fertility traits. DOUGGAN is also the top Australian Proven Sustainability Index bull with an ABV of 827 and is available from Genetics Australia.
- TLGBASHFUL has moved into second place this run. At 324 BPI this Polled carrier has almost 300 daughters in his production ABV. He was bred by Robert and Kerrie Anderson and family of Drouin, Victoria.
- Another polled sire, PIXSTARP retains 3rd spot at 320 BPI. He is available from Agri-Gene. PIXSTARP has sons and grandsons in the top genomic Jersey list.
- Miami Craze ELECTRIC bred by the Flemming Family of Cobrico, Victoria is the highest HWI Jersey bull due in part to his breed-leading Daughter Fertility ABV of 112. CSCBRADY is the highest SI Jersey with an SI of 903. He is a product of the Karmona breeding program.
Genomic bulls:
- Brookbora BORUNG has some early milking daughters but not enough to move him off the genomic list. At 465 BPI, BORUNG is available from Genetics Australia.
- White Star TWOUP is a newcomer to the list at 449 BPI and sits in 2nd position. Another product of the Glennen family breeding program, this ROULETTE son is available through Agri-Gene.
- Another White Star bull, LONGRUN is in third with a BPI of 429. He is a son of PICKLE and is available from Genetics Australia.
TOP AUSSIE REDS BULLS
- There has been quite a shake-up of the Aussie Red list with a group of new bulls from Scandinavia dominating the top positions. VIKRVINCIP sits at the top of the list at 372 BPI. He carries the polled gene and is a son of the new number 2 BPI Aussie Red in VIKRVESTY (356 BPI). The addition of 365 Scandinavian daughters to his breeding value via Interbull has contributed to his rise in the rankings.
- VIKRHOSEA has a BPI of 349 and is in third position. Like Vesty, Hosea has many daughters milking overseas. All three bulls are available from Viking Genetics.
- The top Sustainability Index bull in the Aussie Reds is a Norwegian bull, Nr Haaland P (252NR12344). He has an SI of 825 and is available from ABS.
OTHER BREED TOP BULLS
- Ayrshire: The leading Ayrshire sire is NZGSUPASONIC - Iwa Super Sonic with a BPI of 289. He is available from LIC (Livestock Improvement Corporation).
- Illawarras: The new genomic sire Cluain Lyons – CNLYONS is a clear leader at 311 BPI. This superior production transmitter was bred by Graeme and Michelle Hamilton, Mt Gambier, South Australia. CNLYONS can be purchased from Genetics Australia.
- Brown Swiss: 93SBJ03 Hercules at 242 BPI. He swaps places this run with GGIVIP who is now in second with a BPI of 234. Both bulls are available from GGI.
- Guernsey: The top Guernsey bull is BLMAFIA, Brookleigh Rep Mafia at 213 BPI. In second spot is BLBULLET, Brookleigh Bullet at 197 BPI. Both were bred by the Cleggett family of Glencoe, South Australia.
For more information, go to: https://www.datagene.com.au/
To see the August ABV tables, go to: https://www.datavat.com.au/abv-list-reports
Please note: Cows must be genomically tested to be considered for the ABVs.