Breeding
Guernseys improve on all measures
By Digby Gribble
Feb 6, 2008 - 9:59:44 AM

Guernseys Increase all Production Measures.

Yeilds of Milk for Guernseys have risen in the last year as have those for Jerseys and Ayrshires but whilst levels of Butterfat and Protein for those Breeds has fallen the Guernseys have risen by 0.02% Butterfat and 0.02% protein, whilst the Somatic Cell Count is on average 178,000 which is 11% lower than for Holsteins and is the only breed to have seen a fall in the year.

The rise in Fat and Protein % is a result of the Breed Improvement Program introduced in 2001 which as a result of the introduction of a Specific Breed Index (GMI) was expected to improve all of these measures.

18 young bulls used in AI and selected for the GMI are now proven and as a Group have averaged 106% of the Parent Average Predictions after allowing for the 2005 Genetic Base Change.