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.
Comments
Philip Durbin
06 Feb 2008, 14:32
It's great news for the breed. I guess the introduction of the GMI has made
a great difference in the way of predicting breeding for extra milk, fat
and protein.
Digby Gribble
06 Feb 2008, 15:58
Hi Phil,
what is pleasing is that with the exception of the 4 Stingray
sons,Tempest,Nimrod,Wizard and Stingboy,the other bulls now proven are all
better than 80% of the parent average prediction.The Holstein experience
and they are testing many more bulls annually is that 80% is the normal
standard. With our bulls regularly achieving over 100% of PA this suggests
that the Bull mothers are not recieving preferential treatment and are
genuinely better than their contempories.The other bonus is that Fat
percentages of several of these bulls is better than 0.1% and they can
therefore continue to improve the butterfat upward trend.
Tredinney Sonics Helium who got his first proof in January is one of those
and his daughters are + 0.17% better than their contemporaries.
The irony of the Stingray sons is that he fell far below his predictions
and thus his sons were actually unable to deliver what was expected of
themm,and they were used because at that time it was felt that we were too
reliant on Royal Oak,when you look at the UK Oak sons + those now proven in
the US who were not tested in the UK, because they were Oaks that was a
mistake, but then with hindsight this breeding game is very much easier.
melanie dawes
12 Jun 2008, 19:57
Hi everyone.
I am an 18 year old female living in New Zealand and i have been interested
in breeding guernseys for several years now. I have been full time on dairy
farms for 2 and a half years now. By 2012 i wish to be share-milking here
and be breeding guernseys. Many people here think i am crazy. iI have
researched them for several years now too and the information i have read
has made me want to continue with my dream of owning and working with
guernsey cattle. So if any one has any information and comments as to why
to or to not choose guernseys i would love to hear from you my email is
D_RDAWES@tra.co.nz.
