Front cover - Genus UK website

GENOMICS
What are genomic evaluations
Genomics is the science of evaluating DNA of an animal to give an indication of the potential that animal
could achieve. With enough information, it is possible to see clear associations emerge between the
animals genome and their actual performance. Through knowledge of these associations, genomic
evaluations have been developed. Genomic evaluations are, like traditional genetic evaluations, calculated
from a blend of information.
We at Genus ABS have been using genomic evaluations for some time to help select the next generation
of bulls for progeny testing, giving us extra confidence in our selections with a view to graduating more
high quality sires than ever before. In addition, we are marketing elite young bulls that possess superior
genomic values from reputable cow families and first-class sire stacks. For information on the genomic
young bulls we currently have available please speak to your Genus ABS representative or look at our
website www.genusbreeding.co.uk.
Using genomic evaluated bulls...
Farmers are advised to carefully consider the reliability of the index and establish whether a bull has
milking daughters. Genomic indexes have reliabilities somewhere between 55 to 65%. When more
information goes into the calculation of the genomic index and when the heritability of the trait is high, the
reliability will be higher. The lower the reliability of the index, the greater the chance the index will change.
What proportion of genomic bulls should be used in my herd
Any low reliability bull should be used with caution. It depends on how
much risk you like to take, you may prefer the security of using only
second crop, high reliability bulls (highlighted between pages 3 and 9
of this Directory). Genomics needs to be used as part of a considered
breeding programme. At Genus ABS we recommend you use a team
of bulls to spread the risk using genomic young sires.
The graph opposite from DairyCo gives a rough guide to the recommended
usage of semen from individual bulls at different levels of reliability.
In practice this means that no more than 12.5% should be bred to a
genomically evaluated young bull. It is best to use a mix of
daughter-proven and young genomically evaluated bulls to obtain
a balance between risk and reward.
Please speak to a Genus ABS Breeding advisors for more information
and advice.
Source:
Genomics
Genomics
1st Crop Sires
2nd Crop sires
Dairy Sire User Guide
Somatic Cell Count
An important trait for
breeding cows with
mastitis resistance for
future generations. The
range for sires marketed in
the UK is effectively +30%
(poor) to -30% (good).
Direct Calving Ease
and Maternal
Calving Ease
Direct calving ease
predicts the ease with
which a calf by that sire
will be born. Maternal
calving ease predicts the
Available
as
sexed
semen
dtrs: Glanmarton Bossman Betty, second lactation
HOMESTEAD
ease with which a daughter
of that sire will give birth
to her own calf.
Daughter Fertility
Index
FITNESS TRAITS
1st crop sires
TYPE ASSESSMENT PROOF
13
BOSSMAN
Direct Calving Ease+0.3%
Unsuitable
for heifers
Lifespan +0.3
Suitable
for heifers
Maternal Calving Ease +0.7
Below
Average
Somatic Cell Count -1%
Available
as
sexed
semen
A measure of female
fertility. The average of all
marketed bulls is 0. Each
point increase in fertility is
worth half a day in calving
• An exceptional milk bull with great cell count improvement.
interval. The majority of
bulls would fall between
(poor)-15 to +15(good).
Above
Average
HOLSTEIN
Bassingthorpe BOSSMAN EX95 TV BYF
HBN: 0100632428 Genus ABS Code: FH2740
The new British legend with record setting locomotion.
Goldwyn x VG87 Stormatic x VG89 Durham
Bomaz HOMESTEAD TV BYF
Locomotion +4.36
HBN: 65000132474096 Genus ABS Code: FH2661
Above
Hershel x Finale Average x Highlight
Below
Average
Temperament +0.87
Average
Production Figures
Body Condition -1.07
Daughter Fertility Index +0.2 Milking Speed +1.88
PTA2010 August 2012
Below Source: DairyCo breeding+
Above
dtr: Parkhead Bossman 82, second lactation
PLI2012 £38 PIN2012 £13
*N/A = Data Not Available
Milk kg +599
Fat +16.4 -0.09%
Linear Assessment August 2012
kg
Source:
Protein kg PTA2010 August 2012
74 Daughters 47 Herds Reliability 89% UK
99% Reliability
+9.2 -0.12%
Daughters 5466 Herds 886 Source: DairyCo breeding+
-3 -1 0 +3
-2 +1 +2
TYPE MERIT Poor
-0.1 2.90 Excellent SCC -22%
Lifespan
MAMMARY Poor
2.01 Excellent MCE -0.2% DCE -1.0%
PLI2012 £148 PIN2012 £26
DFI -8.4
LEGS/FEET Poor
3.59 Excellent
April Linear Assessment 2012
Stature
Short
69 2.81 Herds Tall
Source:
Milk MACE kg +567
134 Daughters Reliability 78%
Chest width Narrow
-3 -2
Poor -0.42 Wide
TYPE MERIT
1.86 Excellent
Body depth Shallow
Poor
Poor 1.39 Deep
MAMMARY
LEGS/FEET
Angularity Thick
Short
Narrow 1.59 Angular
Stature
Chest width
1.95 Excellent
0.56 Excellent
Fat 0.79 Tall kg
-0.08 Wide
+19.3 -0.04%
Rump width Narrow
Shallow
Thick
0.64 Wide
Body depth
0.00 Deep
Angularity
Rump angle High pins
Narrow
-0.53 Sloped
1.69 Angular
1.10 Wide
Protein
1.70 Sloped
kg +15.0 -0.04%
Rump width
Rump angle
Rear legs
Straight
High pins
Straight -0.98 Sickle
Rear legs
-0.70 Sickle
Foot angle
Foot angle Low
Low
Loose 1.78 Steep
Fore udder
Fore udder Loose
Low
Broken 1.59 Strong
Rear udder
Udder support
1.28 Steep
1.82 Strong
Reliability 1.78 High
2.66 Strong
95%
Rear udder Low
Deep
Wide 2.02 High
Udder depth
1.34 Shallow
Front teat pl
3.01 Close
Udder support Broken
Short
Apart
1.01 Strong
-1.08 Long
Beta 2.38 CloseCasein
A2/A2
Teat length
Rear teat pl
Udder depth Deep
1.32 Shallow
Dtr: Northstar Homestead 15303
Front teat pl Wide
1.37 Close
Teat length Short
-1.79 Long
Daughters 121 Herds 73
Rear teat pl Apart
0.99 Close
PRODUCTION FIGURES
ROCK SOLID
GENETICS
SEMEN
FERTILITY
HIGH
TYPE
UK
PROVEN
DAUGHTER
FERTILITY
Symbols
Helps to highlight a bulls
Global key strengths. No.1 Type A Bolton full son, expect stunnin
description of the symbols Bolton and the B
are available on page 2.
PTA2010
(Predicted
Transmitting Ability)
The PTA is the predicted
level of production, above
or below the base, which
the animal is capable of
passing on to its offspring.
PIN2012
(Profit Index)
PIN is a measure of
the efficiency of milk
production calculated from
genetic indices. Expressed
as a financial value, PIN
predicts additional margin
over feed, which a bull is
expected to pass onto it’s
progeny.
Dos and don’ts of genomic indexes
Do...
• Carefully study the bull’s index, just as though
he were a conventionally tested sire.
• Remember that the lower the reliability of the
index, the greater the chance the index will
change.
• Ask your AI company to show you how many
daughters the bull has and in how many herds.
• Use a mix of daughter-proven and young
genomically evaluated bulls to obtain a balance
between risk and reward.
Don’t...
• Over-estimate the reliability of genomic indexes
which will be lower than those of most progeny
tested bulls.
• Over-use any young, low reliability bull with or
without a genomic index.
And remember...
• There’s nothing mystical about genomic
evaluations in themselves. A young bull
marketed as a ‘genomic young sire’, may be not
better or worse than any other bull
Lifespan
A direct measure of how
long cows are lasting in
the herd. Each decimal
point reflects an extra
month of herd life.
Linear Assessment
Linear measures the difference in
biological extremes in different traits,
without saying which is the most
desirable score. The mid point (0)
represents the breed average for the
population.
Production daughters in herds
At Genus ABS our aim is to achieve 100
daughters in 60 herds early in a bulls
life (Rock Solid Status). This spread of
milking daughters gives us the confidence
that a bulls proof will accurately reflect
the results seen on farm, and not change
significantly over time.
PLI2012
Helps farmers select
the correct balance of
longevity fertility, somatic
cell count and production
improvement (PIN).
Recent research shows that
for every £1 increase in a
cows PLI, a £4.21 increase
in margin results.