Alta – Production, Type & Longevity

Dutch sampled bulls provide all three

It’s been over a decade since North American A.I. companies and dairy producers began incorporating European genetics into their breeding programs. Interbull proofs suggested that Holland, France, Italy and Germany had proven sires that could contribute to the local breeding goals - particularly the higher components were an attraction. More than any other country the Dutch aggressively pursued the opportunity, but with mixed results. High component yields were delivered, but to this day the belief that Type levels must be sacrificed persists. So when Alta set their sights on building a sampling initiative in the Netherlands, a concerted effort was placed on attacking the perceived weakness on Type. Graduating Alta sires in the Dutch home market show this focus has generated real differences.

It’s been about 5 years since bulls like AltaBINGO graduated to the Alta marketing list, and those first bulls are now enjoying more success as second crop daughters arrive on the scene. Since then, the lineup has been bolstered significantly with the addition of bulls like AltaLUCKY MIKE, AltaDYNASTY, AltaBREAKOUT, AltaLEMMER, AltaCOSMONAUT and most recently AltaDARWIN. These are versatile bulls that are already popular in their home country, and are capably contributing to Alta’s offering all around the world – including North America.

In the Netherlands, Holstein sires are ranked two ways: the DPS listing provides an economic assessment combining production and management traits that affect longevity while DPST, an Alta index, adds a weighting on overall Type level to the DPS score. When the top 100 sires are evaluated under both rankings, Alta sires take up prominent positions and when they are evaluated as a group against those of the market leader, a significant difference on overall Type is clearly evident. Alta’s 10 bulls standing among the top 100 DPS listing carry more than a full standard deviation advantage for Type! The top 100 list for DPST shows Alta’s representation nearly doubled – 19 sires – and as a group they too carry a half standard deviation advantage for Type, while at the same time delivering more milk.

The Longevity Difference

Contrary to popular belief, Dutch dairy farmers do care about the Type in their cows. It helps explain why the #1 DPST bull, AltaLUCKY MIKE, bred more cows this past year there than all but one bull. But nice Type must be supported by clear evidence that it translate into longer-living cows. In AltaLUCKY MIKE’s case that data is readily available.

With most daughters now nearing the completion of their second lactation, it is clear, AltaLUCKY MIKE daughters carry a significant advantage over the typical Dutch cow when it comes to survival. Where after 24 months of productive life it would be expected that 64% of a bull’s daughters remain, AltaLUCKY MIKE posts an impressive 74% survival rate.

What’s more, the AltaLUCKY MIKE daughters clearly get better with age, demonstrating an ideal maturation pattern. The Dutch Test Day Model evaluation system provides breeding values for each of the first three lactations. With 20 daughters already milking in their 3rd lactation, his progression on yield traits with each subsequent lactation will win many fans.

And among Alta’s European contingent, it isn’t just AltaLUCKY MIKE demonstrating an impressive survival pattern. Such luminaries as AltaDYNASTY, and AltaBREAKOUT with daughters now well into their 3rd lactation are surviving extremely well posting a 14 and 23% survival rate advantage after 36 months respectively - and AltaDARWIN, whose daughters are still in their 1st lactation, is also off to a great start, already 10% ahead of what would typically be expected.

Alta’s decision to sample bulls in Europe alongside its North American sampling initiatives was and still is deemed to be a key differentiator. It allows maximum usage of all top global bloodlines and a diversification of products dairy producers can access. It is an advantage that few can emulate. And it’s paying dividends. Top ranked European products take up their position in a seamless fashion on Alta marketing lists and they add immeasurably to Alta’s product strength. Many producers already have calves on the ground from sires like AltaLUCKY MIKE and AltaDYNASTY and the reports are encouraging. If you’re still sitting on the side-lines, go ahead and prove it to yourself in your next semen purchase.

Posted Nov 21st

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