CRV New Zealand’s latest bull team offers more than just high index, responding to farmer demand for genetic solutions to tackle challenges around the environment, herd efficiency and animal welfare.
CRV has introduced a wide range of new sires to its portfolio for 2021, with 22 newly graduated sires and 15 new genomic InSires, in addition to 13 new sires in its global portfolio.
CRV is encouraging farmers to get orders in early for sexed semen, as availability is limited due to increased popularity. The bull team offers options for high indexing, high production, A2 sires, which CRV expects will sell out.
The company’s 2021 dairy beef FertaBull offer now includes Angus and Belgian Blue, in addition to Hereford.
“Sustainable dairy farming cannot be achieved by index alone,” says CRV Product Manager Peter van Elzakker. “Farmers need to look more broadly than production figures and select genetics that will help them achieve their breeding goals based on the needs of their farm business.
“This year’s bull team reflects the confidence farmers have in using genetic solutions, such as genomic (InSires) sires and sexed semen, when making breeding decisions.
“Improving a herd’s environmental efficiency continues to be a priority for many farmers. Breeding with CRV sires can also help farmers meet the requirements of dairy company payment programmes, like Fonterra’s new The Co-operative Difference initiative.
“LowN Sires is an option many farmers are considering, particularly given our ‘innovative trait’ sires are first and foremost excellent sires in their own right.”
NZAEL’s Ranking of Active Sires (RAS) list represents the top-ranking proven sires in New Zealand. The bulls are ranked according to the National Breeding Objective (BW). To qualify they need to have at least 70 per cent reliability.
CRV’s top ranking sire is Puketawa King Connacht JG (no.1 place all breeds and Jersey). Connacht is a member of the LowN team, offering fantastic longevity, low SCC and strong capacity.
Glen Leith Quigley ET S2J (no.4 place all breeds and Jersey) and Crescent Leo Dominator (no.8 Jersey and 9 all breeds) are new graduates offering excellent efficiency.
In the crossbreeds, Arkans Gurkha J9F7 is ranked number 7 on the RAS list. Gurkha offers exceptional efficiency and excellent health traits. Both traits are highly sought after by farmers.
In the Friesians, last year’s graduate Lennan continues to rank highly (6th) and is joined by new graduates Alias (2nd) and Baz (31st). Alias and Baz are in our LowN team, with Lennan in our Facial Eczema (FE) team, offering more than just high indexes.
CRV has a number of top ranking new InSires.
In the Crossbred team, Connolly Car Shark offers the full package – exceptional efficiency, excellent longevity (Plus 450 days) and strong capacity. Friesian Alcameno MG Roadster S1F is high on both the Efficiency and Health index, a winner for production as well as being suitable for farmers on a Once-a-Day milking system. A very efficient and healthy Jersey is Lynbrook Floyd Gibson ET, which will produce long lasting, very capacious and highly productive daughters.
CRV offers a wide team of its highest index sires, with semen available as sexed or conventional. Examples of the calibre of sires available as sexed are Arkans Gurhka J9F7 for Crossbreeds and Crescent Leo Dominator for Jerseys. Ambzed Grand Lennan S1F is an excellent Friesian option.
Facial Eczema Team (FE)
The 2021 team features 17 FE sires. Breeding animals with an increased tolerance for FE is a trait offered exclusively by CRV and is key to reducing the impact of sub-clinical FE on a dairy herd.
The line-up includes new graduate Glen Leith Quigley ET S2J - an exceptionally efficient Jersey. He is joined by Crossbred Paynes Phaser ET F12 J4, who also has excellent efficiency and a whopping 501 days longevity meaning his daughters will be in the herd for many seasons. Friesian Spring River Baz ET S2F joins the team with 519 days longevity and industry leading BW.
Polled
CRV offers a team of local and overseas Polled sires, meaning all progeny will not grow horns and therefore not require disbudding.
Breeding polled genetics into herds is quickly growing in popularity. Of the 15 sires in this team, Crossbreed Arkan EFD Parkway ET PP offers excellent efficiency and strong fertility. Friesian Costers Hypol ET PP offers excellent fat and protein along with great overall udder traits.
Sexed-sorted semen
New Zealand farmers are using more sexed semen to give them certainty around increasing the number of heifers entering the herd, calves for export, and to decrease the number of bobbie calves.
CRV has a wide team of its highest indexing sires, with semen available as sexed or conventional. The team offers options for high indexing, high production, A2 sires. Availability is limited, so CRV encourages farmers to get orders in early.
Examples of the calibre of sires available as sexed are Arkans Gurhka J9F7 for Crossbreeds and Crescent Leo Dominator for Jerseys. Ambzed Grand Lennan S1F is an excellent Friesian option.
Short Gestation
Farmers looking to condense their calving spread are considering Short Gestation Length sires for later matings. The resulting calves need to be a viable asset to a herd, so the CRV SG sires offer up to 11 days savings with good genetic values. This results in a shortening of 5 days for the resulting calves.
Friesian sires Meander SB Alias-ET S2F and Meander Shot Alibi ET S3F offer high indexing plus health-related breeding values. The leader of the Jersey team is Riverina Index Jetset, and for Crossbreed consider Cawdor SRB Pelorus F10J6.
Environmental Efficiency
CRV’s 2021 LowN team are excellent sires in their own right.
Glen Leith Quigley ET S2J is an example of a LowN Jersey sire, with superior efficiency, high BW and excellent farmer opinion.
LowN Sire Merrifields Showman is a high BW crossbred with excellent health and fertility traits.
Meander Shot Alibi ET S3F offers excellent health and udders in addition to short gestation and being a member of the Friesian LowN team.
Automate Team
Automate offers a team approach to breeding, whereby the specific bulls are selected by the CRV breeding team. The team is selected for more than just high BW. The Automate Crossbred team offers excellent production, good farmer traits, excellent capacity as well as all being A2A2.
The Automate Friesian team has high BW and offers moderate liveweight, good capacity, excellent udders, as well as all sires being A2A2.
The Automate Jersey team has high BW, excellent production, along with fertility, longevity A2A2 and strong Body Condition score breeding values.
View the full catalogue here or listen to CRV's latest Better Herd podcast to find out more.
