BR E E D I N G
Lifetime production milestones are different across the world, but the genetics supporting these outstanding milk producers is very similar
Breeding an Iron Grandma A cow that stays in the herd, produces quality milk, gets pregnant and avoids the treatment list is in the running to become the next iron grandma, as well as being profitable. At how many pounds of milk does a cow garner this title? That differs from country to country and person to person. In Europe, 100,000 kg (220,462 lbs) is the commonly accepted standard, but varies in the US. For comparison purposes, 250,000 lbs will be the mark. text Danyel Hosto
N
orth America and Europe have two core populations of Holstein genetics in the world. These continents lead the charge with genetic advancement and achievement. Different bulls have sired success with the most lifetime milk producers, but commonalities can be drawn between them.
Top production sires worldwide Holstein Association USA has monitored production records in the states since 1964, with 5,606 cows attaining iron grandma status to present day. The popular Select Sires bull, To-Mar Blackstar-ET, sired the most lifetime milk daughters at 202 (table 1). Stud-mate Walkway Chief Mark is a close runner-up with 175 daughters above 250,000 lbs milk, but also sired Tacoma Mark My-Word VG-88, the lifetime milk production title holder at 471,900 lbs in just over 9 lactations. Our neighbors to the north, Holstein Canada, award lifetime production at three levels. The gold award certificate is given to cows completing 100,000 kg of milk. 74 animals have attained this status in the short time the award has
18
C OWM ANAGEMENT
CMUS01_CRV feature 18
FEBR UARY
count; clean bone to the leg; and a little slope to the rump.” All three were incredibly popular sires of their time, with Rudolph and Sunny Boy achieving millionaire sire status. Wim Fase, CRV inseminator in the Netherlands, reflected on the success of Sunny Boy. “In those years of Sunny Boy, I think around a 25% of inseminations a day were to him. He was an enormous producer.” Rudolph received his first proof in 1996 with Sunny Boy and Blackstar field proved in the late 1980’s. Comparing current December 2010 sire summaries all bulls excel at health and fitness traits; have moderate milk proofs and moderate type.
been given. Semex millionaire sire, Startmore Rudolph, leads the pack on the top side of 19 of those pedigrees. Moving across the pond, lifetime yield of 100,000 kg milk has been achieved by 12,484 cows in the Netherlands since 1959. With over 1,000 daughters, CRV’s Skalsumer Sunny Boy is the top sire. Sunny Boy’s influence has also reached other countries, as he sired Roelie, the current lifetime milk production holder in France at 401,190 lbs.
Being popular helps Daughters of Blackstar, Rudolph and Sunny Boy were well liked by breeders for the show ring and milk barn alike. Coming off of first crop daughter success, these three were more heavily used, and daughters began developing into the strong brood cows of the breed, staying in the milking herd for longer periods of time. Charlie Will, Select Sires sire analyst, described the favored Blackstar daughters as, “Black and silky, deep open-ribbed cows with thin thighs, extremely good texture and quality of udder with great support; low cell
20 1 1
14-02-2011 15:10:09