Agri-Gene

Agri-Views Newsletter
Issue 9 - April 2010

HOLSTEIN
Australian April ABV Highlights - Breed Legend JOCKO BESNE has once again enhanced his reputation as one of the greats of the Holstein Breed with the release of the April 2010 ABV’s. He remains permanent fixture in the Top 10 APR bulls in Australia where he has been since receiving his first Australian proof in 2007. Now with over 1,400 daughters milking in Australia he is the No.1 Protein Kgs bulls in the breed and is in the Top 1% for numerous other traits including APR, Milk Production, Survival and Farmer Likeability. He also maintained his very good Type and Udder proof where he is +110 or better for several Udder traits including Ligament Strength, Teat Placement and Rear Udders which is the key to his excellent Survival ranking and Longevity at the top of the bull rankings all over the World.

Other highlights from the April proofs included ALANDONOR who held his position amongst the top APR bulls, from a Proven Australian cow family Alandonor offers good Production with Positive Components. For Type he excels for Udders while he has excellent Workability and Survival traits.

New to Agri-Gene’s Holstein line-up from the April proofs are PT Graduate full-brothers IDEALPRIDE and IDEALPRIME. They are Ideal Ags sons from a Gibbon cow who is a full sister to highly proven Australian sire Princibul, next dam is the well known Fiorelin Park Lindy Princess. Both bulls show good Production traits and are positive for both Fat and Protein percentages with good Workabilities and are excellent SCC Improvers. On Type Idealpride leads the way of the two bulls and he is leaving a very consistent group of daughters that show plenty of Capacity and spring of rib with ample Dairy Strength, they have shallow Udders with strong Fore & Rear Udder attachments.

Proven Calving Ease sire LIONHART added another 300 second crop daughters and will remain one of Australia’s go-to sires for those looking for a reliable safe Calving Ease bull without sacrificing Type or Production.

Another bull to achieve second crop success was popular Jocko son RONLY. He now has 650 daughters milking in Australia and improved all Production traits he maintained his excellent Type ranking and would have to be one of the best Jocko sons for Udder Depth and Fore Udder attachments.

French Highlights - From the overseas proven bulls in the Agri-Gene line-up VOSAC MAN will be one of the most popular in 2010. Introduced to Australia in spring last year, Vosac is the leading O-Man son from France and represents much of what is required in the modern Holstein today. A complete package, Vosac offers high Production with positive Components and is one of the highest Type and Udder O-Man sons available while he excels for his Health and Fitness traits such as Fertility, Longevity and Cell Counts.

Other French bulls that will leave their mark on the Australian Dairy scene are leading Sire of Sons and high APR(i) sire STOL JOC and France’s highest second crop sire REXONDI whose first milking daughters in Australia are P.I.ing very high and showing plenty of Style with good Dairy Strength.

USA Highlights - The highlight from the April USA proofs was the continued performance of high TPI and Udder improver ERNESTO. Now with 220 daughters in the USA, Ernesto held his position amongst the Top TPI sires and is the No.3 Udder Composite bull from the Top 100 TPI sires with scores of over +4 for Rear Udder Width, Ligament and Teat Placement. With this elite Type along with his good production and calving ease traits he is sure to see good use in Australia where he represents great value as both a conventional and Sexed Semen Sire.

Genomic Highlights - Without a doubt one of the most popular Genomic bulls from the USA for 2010 will be Ronelee Toystory DOMAIN. An outcross bull to most other high TPI Genomic sires, Domain is a Toystory son from the well known Ronelee Dimple cow family with generations of EX dams and a sire stack of Toystory x Outside x Rudolph x Chief Mark. This is where he differs from all other high TPI Genomic sires whose pedigrees for the most part are made up of O-Man, Shottle, Goldwyn, Durham and Storm. Domain has already seen high use in the USA as a Sire of Sons and with his high Production and outstanding Type traits the trend is sure to continue in Australia.

Domain has maintained his Top 10 ranking in the US and is now recognized as one of the most sought after Flush Sires and Outcross mating sires in North America. Domain’s dam is currently the No.1 Productive Life cow in the US and embryo packages of Domain have topped two different elite sales in the USA.

Agri-Gene is also proud to release two new Red Carrier Genomic-Tested sires to their already popular Genomic line-up in Brunner MR. TOP and Joren RAPTOR. Both bulls are sired by Goldwyn out of VG Talent dams. Mr. Top is the No.1 Genomic Type sire for RDC* and Red in Canada and transmits high Type +3.67, Positive Components & has 12 generations of VG & EX dams. He also offers excellent Health traits. Raptor hails from a tremendous cow family which goes back to the famous WDE Champion - Renita Ranger-Red line and is the highest ranked GTPI bull from the famous Renita. Raptor offers outstanding Type +3.30 & Production +564 with Positive Components. Raptor will also improve Cell Counts and Calving Ease.

New Release Sires - Agri-Gene is proud to be part of Rose’s success, marketing her sons ROSESROYCE by Talent and ROSESRESET by Fortune as part of the popular Agri-Gene Gold Label Program.
Proclaimed ‘Champion of the World 2009’ by “Holstein International’s Popular Contest”, Thrulane James Rose EX-97 2E is adding to an unprecedented collection. Rose also received the same honor in 2008. Her achievements are numerous through her show career but most notable would be having reached the highest step of the podium at the RAWF (06, 08 & 09) and the WDE as well as being Supreme Champion at both shows.

Showring Highlights - Recent success at the Sydney Royal Show for a PVPOLICY daughter - Arrallik Policy Meg VG86 who was crowned Intermediate Champion as well as Supreme Intermediate Champion. In addition to this outstanding achievement she was Reserve Intermediate Champion 2009 NSW State Holstein Show, Junior Champion IDW 2009 and the NSW State Youth Show 2008 and was Reserve Intermediate Sydney Royal in 2009.

Other Highlights - NSW & QLD Agri-Gene Area Representative – Brad Gavenlock reports that he has viewed a number of IDEALPRIDE daughters milking in recent weeks. “They would have to be the most consistent group of Progeny Test daughters I have seen in a long time”. The most impressive attribute with his daughters are that they offer great Capacity with deep, open rib and great Dairy Strength with big, wide-open Muzzles and Chest Width.

Idealpride transmits excellent Udders on his daughter’s, Fore Udders are outstanding, Teat Placement, Ligaments and Rear Udder Width are all great. Phil & Craig Tate of Albion Park Holsteins are currently milking 6 daughters and are very happy with them. They said they are all early in to the dairy and all have great Temperament and are all improvement on there dams. Two of daughters scored VG85 and GP84.

Brad also reports that he has seen a large number of ERNESTO calves. He was very impressed with the consistency of all the heifers. “They all had excellent Rumps, really good Feet and Legs and Bone quality, are hand-made underneath and are 90% black in color. I have also viewed a large number of heifers as a result of Sexed Semen and a lot of those people who used him as Sexed Semen are going back to use more for his conception rate and particularly his Calving Ease.

JERSEY
Australian April ABV Highlights - Australia’s leading Type and Production Jersey Sire SPIRITUAL continues to lead the way amongst Australia’s Top APR Sires where he is the highest overall Type bull in the Top 10 APR Sires. Spiritual added another 11 daughters since the August proofs and maintained his excellent overall Type ranking of +115.

His daughters show plenty of Style and Dairy Strength with great Rump Structure and excellent Udders. He is a farmer favourite with great Workabilities highlighted by a Likeability of +105 to go along side his excellent ABV’s for Survival, Cell Count and Fertility.

Another highlight from the April Proofs was the performance of Progeny Test Graduate FERNJACE who received his first official Australian Proof and graduated as the equal No.1 Type bull in the breed at +120 for Overall Type. A Jace son from the famous “Fernleaf” cow family at Bushlea he is the bull to use for adding Size, Strength and Width of Muzzle, Chest and Rump into today’s Jerseys.

USA Highlights – From the USA TBONE, who now has almost 1,500 daughters in Milk continues to be one of the highest USA Interbull sires available and leads the way for Overall Type and Mammary which is not surprising considering he is a Top 10 PTA Type bull and the No.1 bull in the breed for Teat Placement.

Another bull to feature highly on the USA Type rankings is BW SUREFIRE who is a Top 5 bull in the breed for Jersey Udder Index, Fore Udders and Udder Depth while he is also in the Top 10 for Rump Width and Foot Angle.

New from the USA to Agri-Gene’s line-up for 2010 is high JPI Outcross sire Cave Creek KANOO – ET, an Impuls son from an EX90 Henery - P cow with two records of over 27,000 Ibs of Milk with 9.5% Fat test. Kanoo offers high Production with Positive Components and is an Outcross alternative with Udders that are Shallow and have Snug Fore attachments with well defined Ligament.

New Release Sires – New Release Genomic-Tested BW Legion son BW DESTINY hails from one of BW Country’s best daughter’s – BW Country Lelia L142 EX92. He has All-American Winners on both sides of his pedigree with breed leading Production.

Other Highlights - NSW & QLD Agri-Gene Area Representative – Brad Gavenlock reports that he has viewed a number of Fernjace daughters milking in recent weeks. They are great young dairy cows with excellent bone quality, and tremendous depth and spring of rib, and good muzzle and chest width. All of his daughters have good udders great udder depth outstanding teat placement and rear udder height. All of the people that are milking them have told me they are hassle free young cows and are big improvements on there dams particularly in type.

AYRSHIRE
New Release Sires – Brookview Spot On (SPOTLOT) is a new release Gold Label sire with a spot on pedigree. He hails from a leading cow family in New Zealand – Blue Silver with a combination of good Type and Production. This cow family is full of VHC and EX cows.

BROWN SWISS
New Release Sires – Agri-Gene is proud to introduce two new exciting additions to their Brown Swiss listing, SAGGITAIRE who is a Hussli son who is the No.1 ISU sire in France who will transmit high Milk Production as well as improve Udders, high and wide rear udders with good fore attachment and Udder Depth. He also offers over 1600 Kgs of Milk with a combined Fat and Protein of 110 Kgs. UNION is a Calving Ease Dominate son who hails from the famous “Nanou” cow family. Daughters have remarkable dairy potential in both Production and Components associated with great Type. Udders are high, well attached and transmit good Feet and Leg composition.

GUERNSEY
UK Import Guernsey sire Tiresford PEDRO has proven to be popular with his first shipment selling out after IDW this year, a new shipment is now available.

New Release Sires – New for 2010 to Agri-Gene’s Guernsey line-up is Australian PT bull Sunny Valley Levi BRADMAN, a Levi son from one of Australia’s best cow families the Bell’s of Brookleigh. His dam was Champion Cow at Brisbane Royal in 2008 while her full sister won the same Championship the following year.

ILLAWARRA
Australian April ABV Highlights - The success of the Agri-Gene / IDP Progeny Test program has been highlighted by having two of the Top 5 Illawarra bulls in the latest APR rankings.

STARTRUMP who graduated last year now has 89 daughters and is still one of the highest APR bulls in the breed. However without a doubt the shining light from the Illawarra proofs was the performance of new graduate SCARLET. He graduated as the No.1 Milk and Protein Kgs bull as well as Ligament Strength and Teat Placement in the breed and has an excellent Type ranking of +109 for both Overall Type and Mammary. His Workability rankings are also excellent where is +103 for Milking Speed and +104 for both Temperament and Likeability making him one of the most complete Type, Production and Functional bulls available.

ANGUS
Agri-Gene’s 2010 Angus Sire Directory is now out and includes some exciting new sires for 2010.

Sitz Dash 10277 – Outcross Calving Ease option who was selected by Australian breeders in the USA last year. Son of Performance and Carcase leader Sitz Upward from the famous Everelda Entense cow family who offers Thickness and Depth with great Structure.

Connealy Sullivan 83A – The all-time record high selling bull from Connealy Angus. One of the most sought after young sires in the USA for his combination of outstanding Phenotype and individual Performance. Huge wraps on this bull from Select Sires who have earmarked him to be one of the most influential sires in the breed over the next decade.

GAR Ultimate – Ultimate was the $100,000 selling sire from the 2008 GAR Sale and has experienced widespread use and popularity in the USA. His first calves in Australia at Lawsons and Reiland Angus are impressive and have seen him reach trait leader status for 200 Day Growth where he is in the Top 1% of the breed in Australia. His first daughter offered for auction in the USA sold for a one-half interest for $20,000.

Hyline Right Time 338 – Breed Legend 338 has been out of stock for the past 2 years. Now back in production we secured his first shipment in April 2010. Do not miss the opportunity to once again tap into this great sire’s genetic potential. Semen has sold to $380 per straw over the past 2 years. He is now available at $60 + GST Retail.

44 Stimulus 8523 – New USA EDGE sire, Stimulus has a great pedigree which blends breed leaders 338, Ambush 28 and New Frontier into an impressive package that is sure to be popular in this years EDGE team.

Sitz Bull Durham 10308 – Bull Durham is a new 458N son to this years EDGE line-up. From a strong maternal line out of the Sitz program, Bull Durham is a long bull with Muscle, Capacity and Thickness who offers superior Performance and Carcase Merit.

Ardrossan Equator D19 – Early Ardrossan A241 son who was the standout and $20,000 top priced bull from the 2009 Ardrossan Spring Bull Sale. Great set of EBV’s that are backed up by excellent Structure and faultless Disposition.

LIMOUSIN
New Release Sires – SUC AU MAY is a new French Limousin sire for 2010. An outcross to most recent French pedigree’s, he is a Calving Ease Sire with good Growth and Muscle that will appeal to breeders and can be priced for use in commercial programs as well as great vealer potential. French Polled bull CYAN PO continues to be popular with his second shipment almost sold-out. The first TASTEVIN calves born in Australia are hitting the ground now with very good reports. They are calving easy and showing good Growth and Muscle potential. French Calving Ease and Maternal Specialist NEOPHIN is impressing with his Australian daughters in Production. He has been sold-out for the majority of 2009 and we now have a new shipment scheduled for May this year.

SIMMENTAL
New Release Sires – SimAngus bull GLS FRONTIER N13 is the first SimAngus bull to enter the Agri-Gene Simmental line-up. Sired by Angus legend B/R New Frontier 095, he is out of a cow by Simmental performance leader Preferred Stock. A must use for all Black Simmental programs, he is an outstanding individual and was the Grand Champion Percentage Simmental bull at the 2005 North American International Livestock  Exposition. Low Birth Weight and Growth in the Top 10%, he is a leading sire for Marbling in the US where he is in the Top 1% of all bulls.  

BLONDE D’ AQUITANE
New Release Sires – Selected in France by prominent Australian breeder Ian Fox from Renard Blonde’s USUS is a new bull for the Australian Blonde market for 2010. Excellent Calving Ease index of +106 with good Muscle and Carcase traits in France, Usus is sure to be popular now that he is available on the open market.

BRAHMAN
Agri-Gene were thrilled this year to secure elite Brahman bulls from the USA. All bulls are available as both Conventional and Sexed Semen.

JDH Sir Shank Manso 51/7 – One of the best Lawford sons available.

MR KC Union Manso 54/0 – Deep, long bodied, full of red meat, wide based with excellent rib shape and depth.

MR Jackal Manso 600/3 – Out of the great Karu bull from a proven cow family. Top 5% for Growth and Top 10% for Milk.

JDH Sir Jerome Manso 224/4 – Great female producer combining Liberty with Sarasota and Remington. He is well balanced with a clean underline and strong top line.

MR J&M New York 825 – Power packed pedigree with some of the best bloodlines in the breed. Top 15% for Growth and Milk.