First proofs post NBO review

Kaarmona Markku

The December 2020 ABV release showcased the work of the National Breeding Objective (NBO) review carried out in 2020 resulting in significant changes with the inclusion of Survival and Mastitis Resistance and fine tuning of a number of traits reflecting changes from the 2015 review.

For breeders utilising Holstein genetics the December release further reinforced the genetic progress of the breed, the diversity of traits and the opportunities within the Holstein breed to make significant progress in health traits.

On first glance at the release what stands out are bulls and cows with a BPI of over 500, significantly up on the August release, but what has changed beyond the normal re-ranking of bulls based on additional data?

The two main changes impacting “scaling” of the numbers have been the inclusion of Survival and Mastitis Resistance.

Survival has always been measured but in recent years not included in BPI. Mastitis Resistance has been a trait recently developed and in conjunction with Cell Count has now been included in BPI.

An example on how this impacts is as follows:

Survival - a bull/cow with an ABV of 110 adds the following (110 – 100 (breed average) x 7.2 will increase BPI by 72 points).

Mastitis Resistance has a similar impact, though a multiplication of 6.75. Thus a bull/cow with an ABV of 110, will increase BPI by 67.5 points.

Bulls/cows who rank very highly for Survival and Mastitis Resistance have significantly lifted their BPI, thus the breaching of the 500 BPI mark.

For the majority of other traits there has mostly been fine tuning of the original BPI formula reflecting the success and acceptance of the original NBO work.

Looking at the Health Weighted Index (HWI) we also see another significant change in conjunction with the changes for Survival/Mastitis Resistance, which is the doubling of the weighting for Fertility. The HWI certainly reflects the needs of breeders wishing to focus on health traits above all other traits.

The last significant change is the discontinuing of the Type Weighted Index (TWI) and the highlighting of the Overall Type proofs already available. This was a result of feedback from many sources who felt that TWI did not highlight the extreme type bulls that are in demand.

Further information on the NBO changes implemented in the December release are available on the DataGene website.

BULLS - RELEASE HIGHLIGHTS

There are three main bull lists - Daughter Proven, including domestic and Interbull; Daughter proven, domestic proven only (though sourced from both Australia and globally); and Genomic, all ranked on BPI.

The range of bulls available in Australia is outstanding and based on genetic merit there is a bull to fit all dairy farmer needs within the Holstein breed. The most important decision is to determine the traits that will increase the value and profitability of your herd.

With the changes already highlighted it is very difficult to compare the December release with August other than to note a high degree of stability.

Daughter Proven (Domestic and Interbull)

Rank	Bull ID	Bull Name	BPI $	BPI Rel	HWI
1	0200HO10777	WESTCOAST PERSEUS	574	71	600
2	14H07748	KINGS-RANSOM 1ST DEWARS-ET	526	73	534
3	7HO13981	SANDY-VALLEY BD FREEBORN-ET	524	67	533
4	0200HO10779	PROGENESIS COSMIC	487	70	532
5	7HO13696	SSI SCENARIO LORD	479	71	490
6	7HO12671	WA-DEL YODER BANDARES	477	81	474
7	14HO13980	SANDY-VALLEY FEDORA-ET	463	66	447
8	STGB52	EDG DELTA B52	454	70	400
9	DELTALAMBDA	FARNEAR DELTA LAMBDA-ET	453	77	388
10	MURCIELAGO	CO-OP AARDEMA MURCIELAGO-ET	444	70	448

Within the top 10 bulls there are three bulls who have graduated from the August Genomic list to now being daughter proven, these are FREEBORN, FEDORA and DELTA B52.

The BPI for the bulls ranked in the top ten list are all Interbull though many now are adding Australian milking daughters which will further increase the reliability of information.

Australian Proven (meeting reliability criteria)

Rank	Bull ID	Bull Name	BPI $	BPI Rel	HWI
1	CBCONTENDER	MR SUPER CONTENDER	436	89	420
2	250HO12746	OCD KINGBOY RAMBO	418	89	405
3	DESTINATION	KAARMONA DESTINED-ET	386	82	438
4	GILES	WILARA JOSUPER JO-ET	357	83	269
5	MAEBULL	CALISTER MAEBULL	347	93	367
6	29HO17747	COOCKIECUTTER HARPER	338	88	277
7	JSPOWERBALL	VIEW-HOME POWERBALL P ET	335	90	311
8	29HO17607	BRYCEHOLME SS BOASTFUL	334	93	368
9	GEEMCEE	RENGAW MANOMAN HUMMER-ET	332	93	288
10	29HO17706	DE SU 12128 TAILOR	329	89	334

A very consistent group who are represented by second crop bulls, some new releases in 2020 and international bulls with Australian milking daughters.

Genomic

An exciting group of bulls providing a snapshot of the future yet available today to contribute to Australian breeding programs. Another highlight is where these bulls are sourced from, representing the best from Australia and globally ranked on BPI.

Bull ID	Bull Name	BPI $	BPI Rel	HWI
7HO15532	LADYS-MANOR BIG ORBITZ-ET	536	58	463
KARAT	KAARMONA DIAMOND-ET	521	62	569
0200HO11353	PROGENESIS DRACAENA	516	62	513
STGLON	PINE-TREE LAWSON LON-ET	512	59	473
AGEXPERIENCE	PEAK EXPERIENCE-ET	510	61	499
0200HO11386	WESTCOAST REVERSO	508	65	561
0200HO11922	PROGENESIS ROCKSOLID	503	61	479
STGTACOMA	ST GEN NOBLE TACOMA	503	65	550
29HO19442	WILRA KNOWHOW-ET	502	62	463
011HO15350	ALTAMAZDEAN	501	62	486

In many respects the listing of the top 10 bulls does not do justice to the strength and depth of the bulls on offer to Australian breeders.

The top 10 bulls include a number of new bulls just being released and bulls who have previously been highly ranked in August.

Through the support of the AI companies providing genetics into Australia and the increasing testing of bulls for BPI the quality of bulls on offer continues to improve substantially.

Type Listing / Conformation Traits

Rank	Bull ID	Bull Name	Over Type	Mam Syst	Dairy Strength	Feet & Legs	Rump	Type Rel
1	MARKKU	KAARMONA MARKKU	115	104	112	106	111	86
2	250HO12961	WOODCREST KING DOC	113#	113#	100	104	99	72
3	CRVHOTLINE	PEAK HOTLINE	112	113	100	106	103	74
4	DELTALAMBDA	FARNEAR DELTA LAMBDA-ET	112	111	95	103	97	77
5	29HO18285	PINE-TREE SPLENDID-P-ET	111#	110#	99	99	101	72
6	011HO11493	GLEN-D-HAVEN ALTAHOTROD	111#	109#	100	101	109	75
7	0200HO10641	WESTCOAST RANDALL	110	110	99	104	103	79
8	0200HO10610	WESTCOAST WINDMILL	110	109	100	100	99	77
9	GGISEMINO	SEMINO	110	109	100	105	95	75
10	14H07748	KINGS-RANSOM 1ST DEWARS-ET	110	108	91	97	107	78
11	0200HO03987	GLENN-ANN PROVIDENCE	110	108	96	99	101	75
12	0200HO10660	STANTONS ADORABLE	110	107	99	100	99	80
13	0200HO10845	MELARRY FUEL-ET	110	107	104	103	106	73

To make the best use of this list it is recommended to view the full Good Bulls Guide list including the BPI of the bull to help select your best option.

HEALTH

There have been a number of changes to the Health Weighted Index (HWI) beyond the addition of Survival and Mastitis Resistance. The most significant change has been the doubling of the weighting for fertility and a reduction of weighting for Production traits and Overall Type, resulting in a significant increase in the overall scaling of HWI numbers.

HWI

Rank	Bull ID	Bull Name	HWI	HWI Rel
1	0200HO10777	WESTCOAST PERSEUS	600	68
2	14H07748	KINGS-RANSOM 1ST DEWARS-ET	534	70
3	7HO13981	SANDY-VALLEY BD FREEBORN-ET	533	61
4	0200HO10779	PROGENESIS COSMIC	532	65
5	AIAPPLEPIE	APPLE PIE RED	513	65
6	7HO12858	OCD YODER CYCLONE-ET	494	67
7	7HO13696	SSI SCENARIO LORD	490	66
8	14HO07852	TIGER-LILY SSHOT OXFORD-ET	476	69
9	7HO12671	WA-DEL YODER BANDARES	474	76
10	NZGBBVECTR	BUSY BROOK WTP VECTOR S3F	460	61

To provide further context to the top HWI listing the top lists for Mastitis Resistance, Fertility and Survival are included below.

Mastitis Resistance

Rank	Bull ID	Bull Name	Mas Resist	Rel
1	0200HO10777	WESTCOAST PERSEUS	115	72
2	14H07748	KINGS-RANSOM 1ST DEWARS-ET	113	73
3	250HO13531	S-S-I MILLINGTON TOTEM-ET	112	64
4	0200HO10610	WESTCOAST WINDMILL	111	76
5	011HO11672	PEAK ALTAKERMIT	111	66
6	CBCOSUPREME	ENDCO SUPREME	111	66
7	250HO13449	S-S-I PENLEY ALL STAR	110	73
8	0200HO10641	WESTCOAST RANDALL	110	72
9	CBPOWERFUL	MR BLONDIN POWERFUL PP	110	91
10	CRVFINDER	BOUW FINDER	110	80
11	VIKHLEYTON	VH LOT LEYTON	110	69
12	0200HO07874	WILDER ERUPTION	110	70
13	VIKHOYVIND	VH OYVIND	110	98

Fertility

Rank	Bull ID	Bull Name	Dtr Fert	Rel
1	VIKHSPARKY	VH SUAREZ SPARKY	117	81
2	AVENGER	CO-OP AVENGER	117	84
3	0200HO10779	PROGENESIS COSMIC	116	56
4	29HO18236	LEANINGHOUSE BUCKLEY-P-ET	116	69
5	011HO11509	PEAK ALTABREEZE-ET	116	63
6	CRVWEBMAIL	DELTA WEBMAIL	116	68
7	CRVROSEBUD	DELTA ROSEBUD	116	74
8	CRVLEVATOR	DELTA LEVATOR	115	77
9	CRVWHATSAPP	FLEVO GENETICS WHATSAPP	115	82
10	0200HO10777	WESTCOAST PERSEUS	114	70
11	7HO13696	SSI SCENARIO LORD	114	62
12	7HO12858	OCD YODER CYCLONE-ET	114	67
13	7HO13607	S-S-I MODESTY MAGICTOUCH-ET	114	75
14	29HO0897	SPRUCE HAVEN PRO -RED-ET	114	70
15	7HO13866	OCD FRANCHISE RIO-ET	114	60
16	VIKHPROUD	VH PREDESTINE PROUD	114	79
17	29HO17607	BRYCEHOLME SS BOASTFUL	114	98
18	CRVCHUCK	PEAK CHUCK	114	79
19	0200HO02870	MR LOOKOUT P ENFORCER	114	93
20	NZGMECAPULSE	CARSONS MECCA PULSE S1F	114	74
21	ALTIVO	CO-OP JABIR ALTIVO - ET	114#	80

Survival

Rank	Bull ID	Bull Name	Survival	Rel
1	CRVCUPIDO	DELTA CUPIDO	114*	68
2	14H07748	KINGS-RANSOM 1ST DEWARS-ET	113*	70
3	DELTALAMBDA	FARNEAR DELTA LAMBDA-ET	113*	65
4	14HO07852	TIGER-LILY SSHOT OXFORD-ET	113*	65
5	29HO17762	MR AMERICA CHACAL	113	70
6	7HO12788	MELARRY JOSUPER FRAZZLED	113*	68
7	0200HO10779	PROGENESIS COSMIC	112*	62
8	CRVEASTON	PEAK EASTON	112*	62
9	0200HO10383	LADYS-MANOR LUXUS	112	63
10	CBCONTENDER	MR SUPER CONTENDER	112	75
11	250HO12746	OCD KINGBOY RAMBO	112	75
12	STGNITRO	MR SPRING NITRO-ET	112*	60
13	011HO11827	PEAK ALTAMIGHTY P-ET	112*	59
14	CBPOWERFUL	MR BLONDIN POWERFUL PP	112*	59
15	14HO07800	AOT SILVER HITEST 5945	112	66
16	STGRUBIFIRE	ST GEN RUBI-FIRE 61432-ET	112*	61
17	7HO13647	S-S-I FERDINAND BIGHIT P-ET	112*	57
18	0200HO10900	PROGENESIS FABULOUS	112*	58
19	STGBLUNDER	STANTONS BLUNDER 3520-ET	112*	66
20	JSARGO	ENDCO ARGO - ET	112*	68
21	0200HO10857	STANTONS GALORE-ET	112*	63
22	CRVWHATSAPP	FLEVO GENETICS WHATSAPP	112*	70
23	0200HO10549	SILVERRIDGE V EUGENIO	112*	69
24	JSMARDIGRAS	MR MOVIESTAR MARDI GRAS	112	83
25	STGMEGATIME	TJR MEGA-TIME 54351-ET	112*	59
26	MEGAPACKAGE	TJR MEGA-PACKAGE 54577-ET	112*	59
27	ALTAFIREUP	NO-FLA ALTAFIREUP	112*	68
28	0200HO10474	LACTOMONT CONCORD	112*	57
29	TLGSNOOZER	COOMBOONA COMMANDER SNOOZER	112	65

SUMMARY

The aim of this article is not to recommend individual bulls for use but to highlight the changes introduced in the December release and the tremendous offering of Holstein bulls available to Australian dairy farmers.

It is recommended to go beyond the top ten listings and discover the depth of bulls available and importantly the diversity of the bulls available. This information is available from the DataGene website or the Good Bulls Guide.

Using Holstein genetics will ensure you maximise genetic progress and future profitability.