Genetics > Genetic Edge > Contract Mating and Bull Selection Criteria
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Contract Mating and Bull Selection Criteria
We are often asked “What is CRV AmBreed’s contract criteria?” or “What is your BW cut off for bulls”.
It is fair to say these are some of the more difficult questions asked of us. For CRV AmBreeds Genetic Development team an elite animal is not measured in BW units, but its ability to breed females with persistent performance that last and improve as they mature. Since 1969 CRV AmBreed has bred elite cows and bulls that produce at high levels, are easily managed in terms of calving ease, fertility and temperament, as well as having capacity and udder quality ensuring durability over multiple lactations. This enduring breeding objective hasn't changed over time and is now formally measured by New Zealand Merit Index (NZMI). Therefore offering your highest NZMI cows and bulls gives the best chance of selection into CRV AmBreeds genetic development program. Unfortunately NZMI is not always available to identify animals of interest. The next best option, BW can help to recognise a proportion of high merit animals. It however, can overlook elite animals with lower BW’s with ideal management and/or type traits and promote some high BW animals that have undesirable attributes. Indexes (NZMI and BW) only give us an initial indication of desirable cows and bull calves, there are many other important factors we consider, these include; • Sire line-up/Outcross • Progeny performance/Family Background • Contemporary group • Body and Udder Conformation • Long life attributes We want bulls from your best breeding cows. Breeding cows are defined as females from families who are likely or have passed on desirable traits to daughters or sons. We are looking for females who are; • Efficient producer of a high-value milk (ie; protein) • Females from long-lasting cow families • Good shed traits • Fertile • Strong udders • Different bloodline (outcross) As a guide we are targeting bulls and/or dams that are in the Top 1% for a combination of the following BV's/Indexes; Production Traits• Protein BV (kg)• Milk BV (lt) • Fat BV (kg) Management Traits• Liveweight BV (kg)• Fertility BV (%) • Somatic Cells BV • Total Longevity BV (days) • Calving Difficulty BV (%) • Overall Opinion (BV) Functional Type• Capacity (BV)• Rump Angle (BV) • Udder Overall (BV) While most bulls we purchase are in the Top 1% of the listed percentile groups, some animals with unique attributes, (eg; if they are an outcross or are extreme in very important traits) can still make the bull team. This also applies to the contract mating of elite females. Click here to view a table detailing the percentile groups we are looking for. What Sires are we looking forAs a general rule, if the sires of your bull calves from your best cows are on the ‘NZ Merit List’ it is likely we will be interested. click here to viewBulls of particular interest as sires of 2008-born bull calves are;
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