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Lucky Mike: Incredible Popularity
Alta’s flag-ship bull most heavily used bull in the Netherlands, March – May ‘05
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After 9 months in the 2004-2005 Dutch herd book year, with 29,534 1st inseminations Alta sire Lucky Mike is the second most heavily used sire in the Netherlands and Flanders (Belgium). Moreover, in the last three months he is easily the most heavily used sire. In fact, through March, April and May, Lucky Mike bested his nearest rival by 1,871 1st inseminations! These results only add further to the confidence Dutch and Flemish dairy producers have in this All-Round Type and Calving Ease specialist. |
Lucky Mike’s popularity can be credited to his well-rounded proof: Production, outstanding Type combined and extreme Calving Ease. With a US converted rating of +619 lbs milk, +0.07% Fat, +0.07% Protein in combination with his extreme NLD Type proof score of 113 (tied for #1 among Dutch proven sires with Alta’s Lemmer) Lucky Mike is clearly among the global leaders and his impact on the International Holstein breed will be substantial.
Lucky Mike is a cookie-cutter – at least that’s what can be concluded from the large calf crop on the ground. “You can pick them out immediately” and “they are all the same”, are comments heard regularly from breeders. The calves can be described as long and tall, and yet they are born without difficulty. Noteworthy as well: the gentle slope to their rumps and the flinty bone in their legs. “It’s as if they were coming out of a photocopy machine”, adds Alta Sire Analyst Adrion van Beek in jest. Their beautiful black coloring from Lucky Mike himself is inherited by nearly all his offspring. Most rewarding – producers with Lucky Mike calves already on the ground continue to use him in their breeding program with renewed confidence.
Alta’s decision to begin sampling bulls in the Netherlands a decade ago was central to the vision of Alta’s founding CEO, Doug Blair, and of Alta’s owner Wijnand Pon. A global approach to selection was deemed necessary to provide diversity and in order to access the best genetics for Alta’s customers.
The premise was that a selection approach differing from that of the monopolistic market leader in the Netherlands would provide an opportunity for success, tapping into mounting unrest over the local breeding strategy that largely ignored Type and Longevity. At the time, it was seen as a bold move requiring a minimum 5-year investment without return – a long-term venture full of risk and uncertain reward. While some had their doubts, today few would question the wisdom of Alta’s global product development approach. By creating a breeding goal defined as “DPST” that added Type to the Dutch DPS index – and with a little luck along the way - today, Alta is growing in the Dutch market by leaps and bounds. Good bulls are a key element and Lucky Mike is leading the way.
It is almost unfathomable that after participating as a domestic entity for such a short time - sampling bulls alongside a formidable competitor - that a proven Alta bull would be developed to lead the market. By any measure, it is a most gratifying result for the vision Pon and Blair dared to dream.
Posted Jun 24th
