DataGene released the latest Australian Breeding Values (ABVs) in December. Here are some of the key results.
HOLSTEIN COWS
Balanced Performance Index (BPI)
- Carenda Jeronimo Vida is again the number 1 BPI Holstein cow. Vida is classified VG87 as a three-year old and is a polled daughter of the high-ranking bull ABS Jeronimo (29HO18698). Vida has a BPI of 646 and was bred by the Kitchen family, Boyanup, WA.
- The number 2 cow comes from the number 1 Holstein herd owned by Bryan and Jo Dickson, Emu Banks Holsteins. Emu Banks Perseus Tiffany 11777 GP82 is a daughter of the Semex sire Westcoast Perseus (0200HO10777). The Dicksons also bred the number 3 BPI cow Emu Banks Jeronimo Sonia 1246 VG86.
- For the second consecutive ABV run, the number 1 genomic heifer in the Holstein breed is a daughter of the Genetics Australia bull KARAT. With a BPI of 583, ‘16916’ has fantastic ratings for Daughter Fertility (121) and Mastitis Resistance (113). She was bred and owned by Jelbart Dairies of Leongatha South, Victoria. These very high breeding values for health and fertility traits contribute to ‘16916’ also being the highest Heath Weighted Index (HWI) female in the Holstein breed.
Sustainability Index (SI)
- A Carenda Pemberton daughter with an extreme protein ABV is the number 1 Sustainability Index Holstein cow. ‘16229’ owned by Jelbart Dairies of Leongatha South, Victoria has a SI of 1223.
- The number 2 SI cow is Emu Banks Jeronimo Sonia 1246 VG86 with an SI of 1164. She is also the number 3 BPI cow. Emu Banks also has the number 3 SI cow Perseus Tiffany 11777 GP82 with a SI of 1151. She is also the number 2 BPI cow. Both are owned by Bryan and Jo Dickson, Emu Banks Holsteins, Terang, Victoria,
JERSEY COWS
Balanced Performance Index (BPI)
- There is some change at the top of the Jersey breed. Craigielea Vicky 6151 is the new number 1 BPI cow with a BPI of 496. She is owned by the Cochrane family of Bamawm, Victoria. She is classified VG87 and is a daughter of Ahlem Whistler (0200JE01140).
- The highly regarded Cairnbrae Valentino Daisy 11 EX-94, bred by Alan and Janine Carson and now owned by the Singh family of Kyogle, NSW, comes in at number 2 with a BPI of 474. Daisy 11 is the dam of the high-ranking bull ROULETTE available through Agri-Gene.
- For the fourth run in a row, the top Jersey genomic heifer is Beulah Doug T2 Fairy bred by Daryl and Lani Hoey of Wonthaggi, Victoria. She has a BPI of 415 with solid ratings for most of the health traits. Doug T2 Fairy is also the top Sustainability Index and Health Weighted Index (HWI) genomic heifer.
Sustainability Index (SI)
- Broadlin Ilagay 3791 EX-91 is the number 1 Sustainability Jersey with an SI of 1023. Bred and owned by Linton and Lisa Broad, Wonthaggi, Victoria, Iligay 3791 is a daughter of the WWS bull Matt (7JE01344).
OTHER BREEDS
- Aussie Red: Blackwood Park 1416 with a BPI of 436 is the top Aussie Red cow. Owned by R. & V. Clarke, Mt Gambier and bred by Jan Raleigh of Timboon, Blackwood Park 1416 is also the top Sustainability Index cow and the number 2 HWI cow. She is sired by VR Faber (VIKRFABER).
- Ayrshire: Hartwood Pistacio Karen owned by J. & K. Sykes of Ringarooma, Tasmania.
- Illawarra: ‘3309’ a daughter of KGPRISONER owned by J. & W. Hann of Lockington, Victoria.
TOP HERDS
Holstein
- The Emu Banks herd of Bryan and Jo Dickson has retained top spot with an average BPI of 359. It is also the highest herd for the Sustainability Index at 642 and number 1 for the Health Weighted Index (HWI) at 338.
- In second position on BPI is Rohan and Graeme Sprunt’s Kaarmona herd, Kaarimba, Victoria.
- Third position is occupied by Brendon Winter, Warragul, Victoria.
All three of these herds have numerous high-ranked cows in the ABV lists and bulls in the upper echelon of the Good Bulls Guide.
Jersey
- 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 255 and a HWI of 190 and a SI of 546.
Other breeds
- Aussie Red: Ron and Sam Graham of Numbaa, NSW, again have the number one herd for all three key indices. They are also the breeders of the top BPI Australian Proven bull Beaulands Swannies (ARBCYGNET).
- Illawarra: The Williams family’s Treeton herd of Meningie is the top herd for BPI (107) and HWI (100) while the top SI herd is Michael Tuhan’s Riversleigh herd of Murchison, Victoria with an average of 192.
- Ayrshire: D. & V. Penfold, Willow Grove, Victoria, hold down top spot for BPI in the Ayrshire breed.
- Brown Swiss: P. & S. Balfour of Kanoona, NSW have the top Brown Swiss herd for BPI, HWI and SI.
- Guernsey: The Cleggett family of Glencoe, South Australia are the leading Guernsey herd for BPI and SI.
HOLSTEIN BULLS
Australian-proven sires
- At 536 BPI Denovo 14744 Ginetta (29HO18957) is Australia’s top daughter-proven Holstein sire. A product of the Denovo nucleus program, Ginetta has exceptional ratings for Protein and Daughter Fertility.
- The perennial ABS Jeronimo (29HO18698), a popular, polled, A2 sire now has 931 milking daughters in Australia and moves back into second position. Always near the top of the list, his influence though his sons and grandsons will be seen for many years.
- The popular Genetics Australia sire Carenda PEMBERTON holds down third spot at 467 BPI. He has 469 daughters.
Genomic bulls
- Carenda AUSTRALIND is the newest product from the impressive Carenda breeding program. He is a Westcoast Rocknroll son of the breed’s number one BPI cow, Carenda Jeronimo Vida.
- With an influx of overseas daughters contributing to his ABV 7HO13981 Sandy-Valley BD Freeborn from WWS is the number 2 BPI sire.
- Carenda SONDALO at 572 BPI occupies third spot on the Holstein BPI list. He hails from the same herd as the number 1 genomic sire and is also available from Genetics Australia.
- Another Carenda bred bull, Carenda PILBARA is the number 1 Sustainability Index sire at 1135 SI.
JERSEY BULLS
Australian-proven sires
- The number one Jersey ABV herd, White Star, owned by Con and Michelle Glennen, are also the breeders of the number one Australian Proven Jersey.
- DOUGGAN ranks number 1 on this list with a BPI of 384. DOUGGAN now has 817 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 826.
- TLGBASHFUL, the polled sire from Total Livestock Genetics is a newcomer to the list and slots into second spot. holds down third position at 316 BPI. TLGBASHFUL has excellent ratings for Mammary System and Survival.
- Stablemate to DOUGGAN, DOBSON has a BPI of 310 and is a solid protein transmitter with good ratings for Survival and Workability ABVs. He has 262 daughters in 55 herds.
Genomic bulls
- CSCBRADY is a new addition to the list and heads the Jersey breed for BPI at 445. He has good ratings for ASI, Survival and Type ABVs. CSCBRADY is also the number 1 SI Jersey with a Sustainability Index of 953.
- Brookbora Borung and Bercar ARDENT are two bulls from Genetics Australia that are just adding their first milking daughters. They hold down the second and third positions on the genomic list respectively.
- The Agri-Gene sires ROULETTE (416 BPI) and PICKEM (396 BPI) are next on the list.
AUSSIE RED BULLS
- ARBSKEETA – Johville Park Skeeta, bred by Greg Goulding, Cohuna, Victoria is the leading BPI bull in the Aussie Reds. With a BPI of 331, ARBSKEETA is an exceptional production sire with good ratings for Type and Workability ABVs. He is a son of Onstad P and is available through Genetics Australia.
- ARBNORMAN from Genetics Australia is the number 1 Sustainability Index bull in the Aussie Reds at 793. His dam is the number 1 BPI and SI Aussie Red cow owned by R. & V. Clarke, Mt Gambier.
- ARBCYGNET bred by the Ron and Sam Graham, the owners of the number on BPI herd, leads the Australian proven contingent with 158 daughters and a BPI of 272. ABRCYGNET is available from Genetics Australia.
OTHER BREEDS
- The leading Ayrshire sire is NZGSUPASONIC - Iwa Super Sonic with a BPI of 308. He is available from LIC – Livestock Improvement Corporation.
- In the Illawarras, Riversleigh THOMPSON leads the way at 268 BPI. THOMPSON was bred by Michael Tuhan of Murchison, Victoria and is available from Genetics Australia. He is closely followed by QUEMPORER – Llandovery Queens Emperor from Agri-Gene.
- 93SBJ03 Hercules at 264 BPI narrowly edges out GGIVOLKER at 263 BPI in the Brown Swiss stakes. Both bulls are available from GGI.
- The top Guernsey bull is BLBULLET, Brookleigh Bullet bred by the Cleggett family of Glencoe, South Australia at 199 BPI.
For more information about the Balanced Performance Index (BPI), Health Weighted Index (HWI) and Sustainability Index, go to the ABV Pocket Guide at: https://www.datagene.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/ABVs-Pocket-Guide-2022-WEB-Version.pdf
Go to DataVat for the latest ABV tables at: https://www.datavat.com.au/abv-list-reports
Source: DataGene, an initiative of Dairy Australia and the herd improvement industry.