Willtina Holsteins to the fore in September’s run

It was a clean sweep for Victorian Western Districts breeders on Holstein Australia’s list of the top new genomically tested heifers this month with Willtina, Heytesbury and Emu Banks Holsteins taking out the top five positions.

Willtina Perseus Renee 5551-CNF-DPF-BLF (410 BPI) topped the list, one of seven Willtina heifers to make the top 20, and went straight in at number 3 on the top young cows list. Overall Willtina had 47 new heifers at 250 BPI+ in the September run. Heytesbury Chairman 2738 (365 BPI) was next up followed by Emu Banks Chairman Andora 11850-CNF-DPF-BLF (353 BPI).

Willtina Holstein’s Wim Kampschoer says: “You know, I’ve been at this game a long time – almost 40 years – so after all that time I should have some pretty reasonable cows! Our cows that made the top twenty are all by Perseus, obviously a good bull and one that came up better than the initial proof. While I’m a believer in high BPI bulls, they also have to give good all round breeding – sound mammary system, good conformation and so on.

“We breed so we don’t have any hassles. We’re part of GINFO and bring in a lot of young stock and put a lot of effort into them. We’re always interested in the next generation, sourcing the better genetics, and we find that the cows perform. There’s a bit of good management involved, but I’ll admit there’s some good luck in there too.”

James Delaney, Heytesbury Holsteins, says: “We’ve always put a lot of effort into genetics, always believed we’ve bred good cows. I guess it was when other farmers and people coming in from outside started commenting on the quality of our herd, we decided to register and get our genomics visible on the proof runs.

“I’d describe myself as a hardcore dairy farmer. We’re excited to have gone down this road, excited by genomics, and believe it can make us more profitable.”

Having topped the August run with Winaview Nacash Perfector 1438-ET-CNF-DPF-BLF, the Winaview Holsteins saw Winaview Jeronimo Lola 144-PC-CNF-DPF-BLF (349 BPI) in at number six in the September run. Month-on-month, Winaview Nacash Perfector 1438 saw a 14 point BPI increase from 367 to 381, moving her up three places on the top young cows list.

While the BPI of the first three animals on the top cows list increased slightly this month, there was no change to the order with Illawambra River Sleepy 3950-CNF-DPF-BLF (434 BPI) at the top followed by Ivyhurst Wrangler Mystery 6194-OC (420 BPI) and Purnim Moneyman Shasnah CS4524-ET (418 BPI).

It was a similar story at the top of the top young cows list, with Illawambra River Sleepy 3950 and Wilara Jeronimo Lollie-CNF-DPF-XIF-BLF-PO (412 BPI) maintaining the top two positions ahead of newcomer Willtina Perseus Renee 5551.

September’s top young cows list saw the average BPI of the top 20 animals increase from 379 to just over 384 BPI, and sixteen different breeders represented.

Click on the highlighted text to download the September Top 20 New Genomic Females, Top 20 Genomic Females (all time) and Top Young Females (after 30 April 2018).