Tuesday, 25 November 2014 00:00

Top performer keeps at it

Written by 
CRV Ambreed’s top bull Aljo TEF Maelstrom. CRV Ambreed’s top bull Aljo TEF Maelstrom.

HERD IMPROVEMENT company CRV Ambreed says its top-performing bull Aljo TEF Maelstrom continues to show strong genetic value.  

 The bull has broken the 300 mark on the breeding worth (BW) and New Zealand merit (NZMI) indices, a first for any CRV Ambreed bull.  

Managing director Angus Haslett says the indices are nationally recognised – BW as an economic index and NZMI as a desired gains index. They are useful guides in developing a breeding programme, he says.

“NZMI was created by CRV Ambreed to help us breed what we believe to be more desirable traits for economic benefit, creating a long-lasting and productive herd for our customers.

“Only the top five bulls of any breed in the country are at or above the 300 mark – so this milestone means Maelstrom is part of an elite level of genetics. Maelstrom entered the market in 2013, and throughout 2014 he has been top of the CRV Ambreed list for both NZMI and BW indexes.

“We have sold every dose of semen this bull has produced… over 130,000 doses in his two years of being marketed,” in New Zealand, the US, South Africa, Australia, Ecuador and South America.

Maelstrom is the son of renowned bull Firenze, one of CRV Ambreed’s most productive Holstein-Friesian sires, who retired in 2014. By 12 years of age, Firenze, had produced 643,000 doses of semen sold in New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, Chile, Philippines, Mexico, USA, Malaysia, Fiji, Ecuador, Uruguay, Argentina, Coasta Rica and Thailand.

Haslett says in New Zealand alone Firenze is recorded as having 47,805 daughters in 3683 herds. 

“Of his sons, 67 have been enrolled on the animal evaluation database for herd improvement in New Zealand.”

Maelstrom’s breeder, Alistair Megaw, West Otago, says his strengths are protein, fertility, longevity and udders. “He ticks many boxes that dairy farmers in NZ can utilise to improve their herds.

“We have a number of Maelstrom’s daughters in the herd. They have great production, temperament, fertility and no mastitis. They’re also of good stature.”

 

More like this

Climate-friendly cows closer

Dairy farmers are one step closer to breeding cow with lower methane emissions, offering an innovative way to reduce the nation's agricultural carbon footprint without compromising farm productivity.

First polled bull to make prestigious ranking list

CRV has produced the first homozygous polled bull to make New Zealand’s prestigious Ranking of Active Sires (RAS) list, demonstrating the strides the company is making in breeding top-quality polled bulls.

More testing as M. bovis resurfaces

As Mycoplasma bovis (M. bovis) resurfaces in Canterbury, CRV is reassuring dairy farmers it has rigorous production processes and health testing programmes in place within its supply chain.

'Green bull' to help reduce urinary nitrogen emissions

A Canterbury Hereford stud specialising in providing beef genetics for the dairy industry is claiming a major breakthrough in breeding for more environmentally friendly animals, with reduced urinary nitrogen emissions.

Featured

Every vote will count - Alliance chair

An independent report, prepared for Alliance farmer shareholders is backing the proposed $250 million joint venture investment by Irish company Dawn Meats Group.

John Deere technician's record hat trick

Whangarei field service technician, Bryce Dickson has cemented his place in John Deere’s history, becoming the first ever person to win an award for the third time at the annual Australian and New Zealand Technician of the Year Awards, announced at a gala dinner in Brisbane last night.

Australia develops first local mRNA FMD vaccine

Foot and Mouth Disease outbreaks could have a detrimental impact on any country's rural sector, as seen in the United Kingdom's 2000 outbreak that saw the compulsory slaughter of over six million animals.

National

All eyes on NZ milk supply

All eyes are on milk production in New Zealand and its impact on global dairy prices in the coming months.

Machinery & Products

Amazone unveils flagship spreader

With the price of fertiliser still significantly higher than 2024, there is an increased onus on ensuring its spread accurately at…

Leader balers arrive in NZ

Officially launched at the National Fieldays event in June, the Leader in-line conventional PRO 1900 balers are imported and distributed…

» Latest Print Issues Online

Milking It

Full cabinet

OPINION: Legislation being drafted to bring back the controversial trade of live animal exports by sea is getting stuck in the…

» Connect with Dairy News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter