Press release -
Top available Norwegian Red sires – April 2020 proof run
Official Norwegian Red (NR) genetic evaluations for April 2020 are now available from Geno.
No significant changes have been made to the Geno genetic evaluation procedures since the December 2019 proof run. Genomic selected (GS) sires continue to look excellent in the NR breeding program. Several of the top GS sires from the past are now daughter proven and their most recent breeding values (BV) line up very well with the past genomic based BVs.
Many GS sires and some daughter proven sires are now available in conventional and REDX semen so customers can fine tune their breeding programs.
Overall top GS sires based on TMI alive and available now
Geno now has 37 genomic selected (GS) sires that are alive and currently available to international markets with Total Merit Index (TMI) of 25 or higher.
The top two bulls for TMI that are alive and currently available are (252NR12027) Storflor and (252NR11997) Trannmel (both with TMI=40).
Fifteen of the top 37 sires based on TMI are polled and most of the top 37 are A2A2 for beta casein. The very top sires for TMI may not be the best choice for many herds so markets and herds are encouraged to look carefully at the full list of GS sires that are alive and available.
Geno also has several top sires based on TMI that are now dead and not included on this list but still have limited semen available. Markets and individual herds are encouraged to consider these dead sires with limited semen availability. Sire turnover in the genomic age is much quicker compared to when mostly daughter proven sires were used internationally so many GS sires are slaughtered to make room for new ones and some of these dead GS sires still have excellent trait profiles.
Herds that utilize grazing heavily and organic herds tend to have different needs compared to high production herds that are housed in confinement facilities. In addition, each of these herd types may have economic circumstances that are different from what is found in Norway. Norwegian Red sires are readily available that fit various herd circumstances and many NR sires will work well in most if not all herd circumstances and management schemes.
Top NR sires alive and available now for high production, confined herds
The following list includes some top NR sires that should be considered for high production herds that use intensive management strategies. Crossbred daughters of these bulls from Holstein mothers will have fat and protein yields that are similar to fat and protein yields in pure Holstein cows. However, daughter fertility and health will be better for the crosses when compared to pure Holsteins. In addition, crossbred daughters of these NR sires will be smaller than pure Holsteins and have lower feed consumption.
Boerset (252NR11813) (daughter proven)
Onstad-P (252NR11819) (partially daughter proven with early daughters)
Roen (252NR11690) (daughter proven)
Top NR sires that are alive and available now for grazing and organic herds
Here are some top NR sires that should be considered for grazing or organic herds. Daughters of these sires will excel at fat and protein (excellent yields and component percentages), daughter fertility and health in grazing and organic herds. In addition, all the sires listed here are A2A2 for beta casein.
Roen (252NR11690) (daughter proven)
Herds and markets should look carefully at the available sire list and choose those sires that best meets their needs. Other NR sires may be better for some markets than the ones listed here but these lists are likely a good place to start when considering bulls that will work well in the broad categories of herd types listed above. Also keep in mind that several sires have REDX available.
The next official genetic evaluations will be available August 11, 2020.
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Norwegian Red is the main dairy cattle breed in Norway, developed by Geno SA. Geno SA is a farmer-owned cooperative that has been breeding Norwegian Red dairy cattle since 1935. Geno sells over 1 million doses of semen from elite Norwegian Red bulls each year and distributes genetic material to more than 30 countries worldwide. Geno's vision: Breeding for better lives. Geno's head office is in Hamar, Norway.
