Reproof - CRV Proven Right!

REPROOF - CRV PROVEN RIGHT!
We’re as invested in the New Zealand dairy industry
as you are.

In Spring 2009, CRV AmBreed released a study into the performance of bulls on Re-Proof, finding CRV AmBreed bulls performed significantly better than those from other AB companies. This study was repeated by NZAEL on a larger dataset and they found the same numerical result*.
The analysis, taken from publicly-available data examined the first proofs and reproofs of the top six Holstein-Friesian and Jersey sires from each company over the years 2001 to 2006, totalling 144 bull-year combinations.
These top-ranking bulls sire around 50% of the national herd and tend to be sires of the next generation of bulls.
The outcome of the analysis was that initial proof BW’s for LIC bulls was overstated by $50 or 30% for Holstein-Friesians and $36 (20%) for Jerseys. CRV AmBreed Holstein-Friesian bulls were overestimated by $18 (11%) and Jerseys by $17 (9%).

Phil Beatson, Genetics Strategist for CRV AmBreed sees this as a vindication of his work into the ReProof issue. “The evidence is clear and can be seen in herd data. It is an issue that must be resolved.”
Mr Beatson goes on to say, “For a long time our aim has been to produce reliable genetics and we believe this data backs that up”.


Mr Beatson’s advice to farmers in selecting sires is to pay close attention to the reliability of the information. “CRV AmBreed has a history of producing reliable genetics – we don’t breed shooting stars.
Our aim is to market sires that produce profitable, long-lasting daughters because when a farmer chooses a sire, he should be milking that sires’ daughters for the next 10 years.”

THE RESULTS OF PHIL BEATSON’S 2009 STUDY ON REPROOF,
CONFIRMED IN 2010 BY NZAEL, SHOW THERE IS A CLEAR
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AI COMPANIES.

WHAT THE REPROOF EFFECT MEANS FOR YOUR BUSINESS
The analysis demonstrated that initial proof BW’s for LIC bulls were overstated
by $50 or 30% for Holstein-Friesians and $36 (20%) for Jerseys. CRV AmBreed
Holstein-Friesian bulls were overestimated by $18 (11%) and Jerseys by $17 (9%).
Our position on these results is that initial proof estimates of CRV AmBreed sires’
genetic merit are significantly closer to the real merit delivered to farmers. The
delivered result is what ends up in your herd.



SO WHAT IS THE “REPROOF EFFECT”?
When bulls are first released onto the market, it is on the back of the results from the progeny test programs run by the two companies. A bull’s data must have a reliability of 75% to make it onto the RAS List, and by the end of the first lactation, those reliabilities will be around 85%. This is what is known as the First Proof.
The First proof is based on data from around 80 daughters in a number of different herds. Following that first release, the highest ranking bulls will generate significantly more daughters – often in the tens of thousands. When those calves eventually come into production, there is flood of information which will give that bull a reliability of 99%.

WHY IS RELIABILITY SO IMPORTANT?
In genetics, 99% reliability is considered to be the closest we can get to seeing the true genetic merit. You will notice that 99% reliable bulls rarely move – especially compared to the movements commonly seen in their first season as proven bulls. With the much higher numbers of daughters, most of the variation in their genetics is being recorded.
The time it takes to go from a heifer being conceived to entering the herd in full production dictates the time it takes for a bull to receive a ReProof.

WHY IS THE REPROOF EFFECT IMPORTANT?
We believe it is vitally important to monitor the performance of bulls over time to check the accuracy of information farmers are getting and to check that initial proof information is accurately reflecting True Genetic Merit. A bull may fail over that period and be replaced by a younger bull on the RAS List, but you, the farmer, have to live with that daughter in your herd. If these bulls are failing, then the daughters will be failing also – meaning your ability to generate genetic gain is reduced.
As many farmers value stock on the index of that animal, young stock can be significantly over-rated, meaning farmers could be paying too much for the animal.

When you buy your genetics today, you are buying heifers that you will want to be milking in 8 years time. Lower stock turnover means lower costs – less calves to rear, fewer yearlings to feed and more grass for milking cows. Or, if you maintain a higher replacement rate, you can speed up your genetic gain – investing in future productivity that will deliver higher profits to your bottom line.
That’s why it is important to have confidence in the genetics you buy today
– it’s your choice, your profit.

WHY DOESN’T NZAEL ADJUST FOR THIS EFFECT IN THEIR CALCULATIONS OF INDEX?
We first reported this issue four years ago and have been trying to get the industry to deal with the problem since.

Initially we were told that there was no difference between companies and that even if there was, the introduction of the Test Day Model would take care of it.
We continued to monitor the performance of bulls in the interim, and found that the differential has continued at a consistent rate. When NZAEL reviewed our study, they recalculated the data over that entire period on Test Day Model.

At this stage they do not understand why there is a difference and do not believe the results mean there is a difference between companies. They have committed to investigating the effect to better understand why CRV AmBreed bulls perform so well over the long run.

OUR VIEW IS THIS – OUR GENETICS ARE MORE RELIABLE AND OUR BREEDING PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO IDENTIFY BULLS THAT BREED LONG-LASTING, PRODUCTIVE AND PROFITABLE COWS.

IT SHOWS IN THE RESULTS.