"This year we're absolutely thrilled to have 18 new bulls graduate, who will be marketed in our catalogue as proven sires."
A visit to Ruanui Jerseys four years ago led to Diesel being nominated for CRV's progeny test programme as a calf.
Once mature, his semen was harvested at CRV's production and logistics centre and distributed to contracted progeny test herds around the country for mating. His daughters were then assessed on their performance in a range of environments, and measured for their production value and traits.
Today, he's one of 18 bulls to graduate, and his production and performance traits will make him key to the future success of New Zealand's dairy industry.
Looking at the wider team of bulls, which includes daughter-proven and young genomic InSire bulls, Parker says dairy farmers will have some great options for herd improvement this year.
"We're a future-focused company, always planning at least five years ahead to make sure we can meet the future needs of the industry," Parker says.
"We made a long-term commitment to breed sires that would produce healthy and efficient daughters. It's really exciting to see that focus realised – our efforts have truly paid off and dairy farmers will ultimately reap the benefits by having better genetics to breed better cows."
Parker says breeding for improved health and efficiency works.
"Analysis of herd records show that a sire with an excellence rating (5 per cent or more) on the Better Life Health index will have progeny with lower somatic cell count and higher conception rates. If they have an excellence rating on the Better Life Efficiency index, they will have progeny producing more milk solids and lasting longer in the herd," he says.
CRV product manager Peter van Elzakker stresses that sustainable dairy farming cannot be achieved by index alone, and says more farmers are looking for genetic solutions to meet the current and future demands they face around the environment, herd efficiency and animal welfare.
He recommends farmers look more broadly than production figures and choose the right genetics to achieve their overall breeding goals.
"Facial Eczema tolerance for instance is extremely important from an animal welfare perspective, and reducing Urinary Nitrogren levels via LowN Sires is a great option to use for increasing environmental sustainability," he says.
"I think the Better Life Health and Better Life Efficiency Indexes in particular provide a great tool to breed trouble-free, efficient cows. In the end, healthy, easy-to-manage and efficient cows that produce well and are a pleasure to have in the herd create happy and healthy farmers. It's a no-brainer really.
"There's a lot to be proud of this year looking at our breeding programme and the team of sires we have on offer for 2019. We will certainly add this to our many other achievements over the past 50 years."
More information about CRV's bull team can be found at www.crv4all.co.nz.
