Agri-Views - Issue 3

Agri-Views Newsletter
Issue 3 - October 2009

HOLSTEIN
August ABV Highlights - Without a doubt the highlight from the latest August ABV proof run was the continued rise of Holstein Super Sire JOCKO BESNE. Now with well over 800 milking daughters in Australia to go with the 100,000+ he has sired worldwide JOCKO continues to climb up the APR rankings with each proof run. In August he added another 11 APR points to now sit at No.5 on the Australian rankings with an APR of +124 / 95%, he also increased for ASI, Milk, Fat and Protein where he is one of the best available at +40 Kgs. As well as being one of the elite production sires in the world he is also in the Top 10% of the breed for Overall Type +109 and Mammary +108 in Australia and one of the best available for Rear Udder Height and Width, Ligament Strength and Teat Placement.

Add to this, his excellent Workabilities better than average Cell Counts and unsurpassed track record as a Sire of Sons and it is easy to see why Australian farmers should not miss the opportunity to use this elite Super Sire while still available. Jocko’s ability to sire sons has been evident all over the world and Australia is no different with two sons in the Agri-Gene line-up continuing to shine – LIONHART continues to be one of Australia’s leading Type and Production sires and is starting to create an International stir with his dam Marion Dale Lucky EX90, a third generation EX being nominated as Global Cow of the Year 2008 by Holstein International. LIONHART again increased in the August proofs for Protein and Milk and maintained his excellent Type and Mammary of +113 and +109. LIONHART has also proved to be a terrific fertility sire with David Brinkman from Kerang puchasing 200 doses for an 80% conception rate. As a result there were 60 heifer calves with no calving problems.

The other Australian Jocko son in Agri-Gene’s team is JOCKSTAR who also had an impressive proof run increasing for APR, ASI, Milk and Protein. JOCKSTAR is showing the ability to sire daughters with Strength and Style and has over 900L of Milk with very good udders. Since receiving his first proof last year JOCKSTAR has seen heavy use as a Super Value Sire and this Spring should be no different with JOCKSTAR remaining one of the best value sires on the market.

French stalwarts IDEALAGS and GIBBON continue to remain fixtures amongst the top APR sires in Australia, both with thousands of Australian milking daughters. This along with Jocko’s success showcases the ability of the French sires to not only convert but thrive in our grazing environment.

Other highlights from the ABV proofs were the continued improvement of Type and Calving Ease Specialist KINDOR and the emergence of new sire for 2008 ALANDONOR. KINDOR now has 99 daughters milking in Australia and has over 840L milk with a combined Fat and Protein of 51Kgs. He is one of the best available for Calving Ease at +104 and on Type he is over +110 for Overall Type, Stature, Udder Depth, Fore Udders, Teat Placement and Teat Length.

2008 Graduate ALANDONOR added another 19 daughters since receiving his first proof in April and increased for ASI and Milk and is now positive for both Fat% and Protein%. He now has 51 daughters milking and is a Donor son from the same cow family that has produced Billionaire, Winluke, Calvin and Candyman. He is definitely one to watch as more daughters go into his type proof which has doubled since his initial proof.

Sexed Semen & USA Proof Highlights - Agri-Genes USA Sexed Semen Sires ERNESTO and CANDYMAN both had impressive proof runs in the latest USA proofs. ERNESTO added another 27 daughters to his production proof and 26 to his type. He now has 97 daughters in milk and increased his TPI to +1851 and is now +2.39 for overall Type and over +3 for Udder Composite. Udders are a definate strength of this Forbidden son – he is over +5 for Teat Placement and Ligament, over +4 for Rear Udder Width and over +3 for Rear Udder Height and Fore Udder Attachment.

Our latest Holstein sire available as Sexed Semen is Sandy-Valley CANDYMAN. He is a Dutch Boy son from a superb cow family that goes back to one of the worlds most successful brood cows Ricecrest Southwind Kaye. She is the dam of Ricecrest Marshall, Brett, Lantz and the grand dam of Bolton. SVCANDYMAN increased in the August USA proofs for all his production traits and also for Udder Composite, Feet and Legs & Body Composite and is now at +1567 TPI with a PTAT Type Score of +2.41. ERNESTO and SVCANDYMAN are both available as SEXED SEMEN for under $60 which makes them two of the best valued Sexed Semen Sires available.

Popular red Gold Label sire REDADVANTAGE’s stock has certainly risen in the Holstein World since his maternal sister KHW Regiment Apple-Red-ET EX92 sold at the Global Glamour Sale at Arethusa in 2008 for $1 Million US. His dam is a USA National Production Leader for her outstanding components.

French Proof Highlights - TITOS DRI is an exciting new sire to emerge from the latest French proofs. An outcross bull, he is a son of leading French sire for Fertility, Cell Count and Longevity MERDRIGNAC. TITOS offers positive components, good milk, very good Type and will improve Cell Counts, Fertility and Longvevity. He is from a proven cow family with 10 generations of VG or Excellent cow with an average of 87.8 points. His daughters are of good Stature with plenty of capacity, very good udders with wide perfectly sloped rumps. TITOS is the kind of all round bull we have been waiting for and is a new release sire available to Australian breeders for the Spring.

Other bulls to impress from France include SUBURN, a full brother to elite flush bull Roumare. SUBURN is currently No.3 in France for Type at +2.9 and offers well balanced production with positive components. STOL JOC is a Jocko son from a well known cow family that goes back to Ricecrest Southwind Kaye. STOL JOC is in high demand for his combination of high production, excellent Type and good functional traits and was recently voted the most used Sire of Sons in the world by Holstein International.

UK Highlights - TREGIBBY daughters are calving in all over the world at present and keeping up the high standard of his first daughters. Tregibby TG Linda VG88 has being nominated for an ALL Britain award, one of the only daughters of a young bull to be nominated. Also the first daughter has calved out the second time and went from VG85 to VG88; she tested over 10,000 litres 4.3%F and 3.15%P.

JERSEY
August ABV Highlights - SPIRITUAL has maintained his position amongst the Top 1% APR sires, yet to receive his first publishable proof, we are eagerly awaiting for him to add more daughters to achieve his proof and realise the potential this young sire has. Excellent reports on milking daughters of SPIRITUAL, an Avery son out of one of the best Berretta daughters in Australia, Riverside Berretta Sharna SUP92. Daughters continue to impress for their high P.I’s & consistent classification with one daughter recently classified at Miami Jerseys for 87 Pts. She has an excellent frame and deep rib as well as a high, wide rear udder attachment. At Riverside Jerseys their top P.I heifer in the herd is sired by SPIRITUAL at 117 & classified 86 Pts. Two other daughters in the herd are 86 Pts with a P.I of 108 and 87 Pts with a P.I of 104. Spiritual’s dam Riverside Berretta Sharna 742 ET SUP92 EX5 has a current P.I of 130. Video footage of SPIRITUAL daughters is available from Agri-Gene on request.

USA Proof Highlights - Agri-Gene is very excited by the release of Richies Jace TBONE A364, a Jace son out of a VG86 Lemvig daughter who has projected over 30,000 Lbs milk. TBONE is the No.1 JPI and No.2 Type Sire in the USA at +2.7. He offers superb Type, Production and positive components. TBONE is also ranked amongst the Top 10 sires for PTA Fat, PTA Protein, Cheese Merit Dollars, Net Merit Dollars, Fluid Merit Dollars, Stature, Dairy Form, Foot Angle, Fore Udder Attachment, Teat Placement and Jersey Udder Index. TBONE will be an elite flush sire for Spring with limited semen available. What more can you ask for, this sire truly offers you the complete breeding package.

Special Forces, Maximum, Apparition & Raymark continue to lead our charge on the US Jersey Top 100 rankings. With some exciting bulls in the fold for the August summaries, it was good to see these proven performers remain stable.

BW SPECIAL FORCES, sired by one of the most popular former Gold Label sires BW Country, out of an EX-93 BW Legion daughter is now available as a SEXED SEMEN Sire at great value $60 + GST. SPECIAL FORCES is a proven sire at Gold Label price that combines the best of both worlds, being a superb production bull with breed leading Type ratings. SPECIAL FORCES is ranked in the Top 10 JPI Sires for Type at +2.1 with tremendous reports on progeny calving in the USA; daughters are siring a combination of Stature, Strength and Dairyness.

Sunset Canyon MAXIMUM, son of the legendary Tenn. Haug E Maid EX93 once again maintained his high ranking amongst the Top 10 USA Sires for Fat, PTA Fat Percent, Cheese Merit Dollars, Net Merit Dollars, PTA Productive Life and Foot Angle. MAXIMUM is a sire that can be used to maximize Stature, Strength, Mammary Systems and Overall Dairy Form.

Sunset Canyon APPARITION is a Perimeter son, also descending from the “MAID” cow family. He is ranked amongst the Top 10 JPI rankings for PTA Fat & Protein Percents, Cheese Merit Dollars and Foot Angle. Both Apparition & Maximum have been very popular SEXED and will continue to be with many daughters now on the ground.

RAYMARK - All Lynns Hallmark RAY a Hallmark son from the USA has superb Type & Production. Excellent reports on daughters in the USA transmitting high component milk from exceptionally high wide rear udders. RAYMARK is an all round sire who will increase Components, Stature and Dairy Character. Udders are firmly attached with soft texture & correct Ligament. RAYMARK is ranked amongst the Top 10 USA Sires for Cell Count and Teat Placement.

Gold Label Highlights - The Agri-Gene Gold Label program continues to be extremely popular amongst breeders wanting to source bulls from the elite cow families in the breed and is this year headed by Bridon SC EXCAVATE, a Centurion son from one of Canada’s leading show and brood cows Jasper Renaissance Evening EX91 3E. For only the 2nd time in 27 years, the US Jersey Association has a new 97 point cow. The committee unanimously agreed that Huronia Centurion Veronica is EX97. She is the dam of Gold Label Sires EDVerdict, SDValiant & Goldvolt & was recently nominated for the All Breed Access Brood Cow Contest. Now with over 65 offspring in the US, 3 Supreme Championships, 8 Grand Championships and all daughters have classified VG as 2 year olds and 5 daughters have classified EX. Last month two maternal sisters sold at the prestigious Global Glamour Sale in the USA for $36,000US & $27,000US.

UK & Showring Highlights - RINGMASTER daughters are now calving in the USA and the UK, so far very good results. A daughter in the Norse Star herd in Wisconsin was their highest milking heifer last month – 96 pounds daily. The British heifers by him are really good – we are expecting a lot from the bull. To add to this achievement Ringmaster’s dam – Pleasant Nook F Prize Circus has been re-classified for 97 Points. Just recently at the All American Jersey Show in Harrisburg PA, Junior Champion went to Santana’s Ringmaster Surprise and Honorable Mention Junior Champion went to Tri-Line Ringmaster Breanne.

New and exciting to our Gold Label line-up this year is Australian sire Topshelf Ringmaster COCO, an early Ringmaster son from one of Australia’s leading Production and Show cows Topshelf B Charo VHC91. Coco combines the best of two world famous cow families CHARO and CIRCUS.

New Release Sire - TNESTORM is a new release Northern Exposure son out of an outstanding cow family. TNESTORM will improve component test, udders and leave you with cows that last for many lactations.

Sale Highlights - Rolma Jersey Sale – Four Paramount daughters sold well for an average of $3350, 6 x Fernleaf daughters sold for an average of $2041.66 and 2 x Connection daughters sold for an average of $1500.

Protein For Profit NSW Jersey Sale – Ingalala Connection Fancy sold a 2nd top price of $5400. Shirlinn Future Blossom, an 87 point 3 yr old due for her second lactation to Blair sold for $4000.

ILLAWARRA
New Release Sire - Glenbrook Tornado is a new release Monarch son which comes from the prolific Glenbrook herd in SA. His dam Glenbrook Duchess 10th EX3E was crowned Champion Cow at Adelaide Royal in 2002, 2003, & 2005 and was the winner of the Australian Illawarra Photographic Competition in 2004 & 2005. Tornado will be available through our popular Progeny Test Program.

AYRSHIRE
Richard & Heather Cole are milking Polly Paragon daughters which they are very impressed with. They are showing plenty of strength, stature, shallow udders with good teat length, outstanding heifers to work with.

NORMANDE
New Release Sire - REDONDO is a new release Normande bull sired by Holgura from France. He offers exceptional milk production, excellent udders and superb calving ease.

ANGUS
USA Tour Highlights - July this year saw another Agri-Gene/WWS Beef tour to the USA with a number of Angus breeders and resellers. The main purpose of these trips is to view progeny and inspect sires that are currently in use and to identify any new sires that will have an impact on the Australian market. Of the current bulls being marketed in Australia, the highlights included;

GAR PREDESTINED – One of the high use bulls currently in the US because of his high $B we inspected lots of progeny who all displayed plenty of muscle and softness with very good fat cover. He has being used heavily by almost every operation we visited including Gardiners and Wehrmanns. In fact Richard McClung from Wehrmanns made the statement that Predestined was the best sire he had ever used, a big call given that they are one of the biggest operations over there and this month will hold the 22nd Annual Female Sale.

KCF BENNETT PERFORMER – We inspected this bull again at North American Breeders and once again he is phenotypically one of the best bulls we have seen. A bull that is bucking the trend who will add frame and muscle with excellent feet. We also saw daughters at Knoll Crest and 2 ET maternal sisters to the bull to suggest that he will also be a very good maternal bull. An outcross to 036 and Precision and with his sire 338 no longer available we expect this 2006 EDGE Graduate to be one of the biggest sellers.

GAR SOLUTION – Another EDGE Graduate we inspected Solution at Select Sires where he showed plenty of length and muscle and has bodied down extremely well. We also saw lots of progeny by Solution at Gardiners where he has been used heavily for his excellent calving ease ability with high growth and extreme marbling. He will continue to be popular in Australia where he is the only bull on the EBV’s under 3 for BW and over +100 for 600 day growth with over +3 IMF.

TC TOTAL 410 – Another bull we saw at Select Sires, TC Total will be a bull that will add frame and length with exceptional growth and marbling. Progeny inspected at Whitestone displayed the extra length and growth of their sire.

THOMAS GRADE UP – 2008 EDGE sire, Grade Up is a Predestined son who was very cleaned topped with good rump and muscle and like his sire is very good footed. At +1.17 for marbling in the US he is one of the highest available. Limited semen available on EDGE.

BALDRIDGE NAVIGATOR – New Sire for 2008 Navigator was extremely impressive. Loads of volume, rib and chest width with plenty of stretch and very good muscling. Navigator will be one of our first chosen for those wanting to add body depth and thickness back into their cow herd.
Video footage of the 2008 Beef Tour is available on request.

Sale and Showring Highlights - LAWSONS DINKY DI Z191 continues to set the pace in Australia where he is currently the No.1 Jap B3 bull in the breed. His progeny are displaying loads of style with added frame and muscle and very easy calving. A Dinky Di son topped the recent Dunoon Sale in August selling for $10,000. Overall 19 Dinky Di sons sold at Dunoon for an average of $4710 which was almost $1200 above the overall average of $3546 for 70 head.

At the recent EKKA Brisbane Show B/R NEW FRONTIER 095 dominated the Angus show winning Grand Champion, Senior Champion, Reserve Senior Champion as well as Reserve Junior Champion. A remarkable result for this breed legend and farmer favourite who now has limited semen available.

CHAROLAIS
The first son of full French polled sire UT DE REVE in Australia sold for ANC Charolais in Queensland for $10,500.

Agri-Gene

Agri-Views - Issue 3

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