Wide choices across the breeds for spring calving herds

As the season for spring calving approaches, producers running grazing-based systems will be pleased to see three dairy breeds feature in the top five in AHDB Dairy’s newly published Spring Calving Index (£SCI) ranking.

In number one position is the familiar Danish Jersey, VJ Tester, who offers producers big gains in milk quality, daughter fertility and lifespans, and has an SCI of £477.  

The Holstein beneath him, Progenesis Unicorn (SCI £439) will boost milk volume and weight of fat and protein while also reducing cell counts, ahead of the Jersey, VJ Hoeholt Jern James (SCI £426). 

Fourth ranking Glamour Boghill Casper (SCI £419) transmits a balance of weight and percentages fat and protein in his production proof, alongside thrifty calves. 

Level-pegging in fifth place are the British Friesian, Catlane Caleb, excelling for daughter fertility while the Danish Jersey, Danish VJ Tudvad, offers high milk quality and low cell counts. Both have SCIs of £415.

“Dairy producers favour a variety of different breeds for their spring block calving, grazing based systems, and this £SCI ranking shows numerous breeds could fulfil their requirements, offering a cross-section of traits with which to improve their herds,” says Marco Winters, head of animal genetics for AHDB Dairy.

£ACI

The Autumn Calving Index (£ACI) ranking, by contrast, sees more dominance by the Holstein, and little change at the top since the last index run.

Westcoast Guarantee (£ACI 619) remains in number one position, ahead of Progenesis Unicorn (£ACI 600) up from third place. Hoanster Zanzibar (£ACI 595) moves one place down to third while Westcoast Yamaska (£ACI 578) moves up to fourth position.

The only newcomer in the £ACI top five is Stowey Magician (£575), who graduates as a milk quality and daughter fertility improver, also improving lameness and lifespans. 

Tables of the top 20 available bulls with a daughter proof ranked on the latest £SCI and £ACI (December 2020)appear below.

 

Table 1: Top 20 bulls ranked on £SCI and £ACI - December 2020

			Spring Calving Index – Dec ’20						Autumn Calving Index – Dec ’20
	Rank	£SCI	Breed	Bull name	Supplier GB/NI		Rank	£ACI	Breed	Bull name	Supplier GB/NI
	1	477	JER	DANISH VJ TESTER	VIK		1	619	HOL	WESTCOAST GUARANTEE	SMX
	2	439	HOL	PROGENESIS UNICORN	SMX		2	600	HOL	PROGENESIS UNICORN	SMX
	3	426	JER	VJ HOEHOLT JERN JAMES	VIK/AIS		3	595	HOL	HOANSTER ZANZIBAR	SMX
	4	419	HOL	GLAMOUR BOGHILL CASPER	GEN		4	578	HOL	WESTCOAST YAMASKA	SMX
	5	415	FRI	CATLANE CALEB	GEN		5	575	HOL	STOWEY MAGICIAN	GSU/UKD
	5	415	JER	DANISH VJ TUDVAD	VIK		6	573	HOL	GLAMOUR BOGHILL CASPER	GEN
	7	411	HOL	HOANSTER ZANZIBAR	SMX		7	571	HOL	VIEW-HOME LITTLEROCK	SMX
	8	410	HOL	WESTCOAST GUARANTEE	SMX		8	561	HOL	WELCOME-TEL BROMLEY 3195	WWS
	9	406	JER	DANISH VJ RAASTRUP HIHL GISLEV	VIK		8	561	HOL	BOMAZ DAMIEN KANZO	UKD
	9	406	JER	DANISH VJ ZOLT	GEN		10	558	HOL	DE-SU 12272 APEX	GEN
	11	405	HOL	STOWEY MAGICIAN	GSU/UKD		10	558	HOL	WESTCOAST PENMAN PRASER	VIK/AIS
	12	403	FRI	CARRICKSHOCK GTW	GEN		12	557	HOL	TEEMAR SHAMROCK ALPHABET	GEN
	13	402	JER	DANISH VJ ZUMMIT	GEN		13	551	HOL	SEAGULL-BAY-MJ APPLEJAX	GEN
	13	402	JER	DANISH VJ BLANKE JASON JANKO	VIK		14	549	HOL	WELCOME SILVER GRIFF	WWS
	15	400	HOL	LARCREST COMMEND	GEN		15	548	JER	DANISH VJ TESTER	VIK
	15	400	HOL	Walton Inferno	LIC		16	545	HOL	LARCREST COMMEND	GEN
	17	399	HOL	WELCOME-TEL BROMLEY 3195	WWS		16	545	HOL	OCD YODER CINDER	GEN
	18	397	HOL	TEEMAR SHAMROCK ALPHABET	GEN		18	542	HOL	IHG MONTANA	CBL
	19	395	HOL	OCD YODER CINDER	GEN		18	542	HOL	SEAGULL-BAY TENDOY P	GEN
	19	395	HOL	WESTCOAST PENMAN PRASER	VIK/AIS		20	539	HOL	STANTONS CLOSE UP	WWS

ACI = Autumn Calving Index; £SCI = Spring Calving Index.