This proof run in April 2024 was the last time the base adjustment of the breeding values was made annually, which this time amounts to 5 RZG points (as well as -3.6 RZM, -2.1 RZE, -2.3 RZN, -1.8 RZhealth, -108.1 kg milk) for Black and White Holstein bulls. From August 2024 on, a consistent base adjustment will always take place on a rolling basis for each breeding value estimation. The breeding value sheet is now expanded by the new breeding value RZFeedEfficiency (gRZFE) – a breeding tool for efficient feed utilisation of the cow. This describes how much more or less feed a cow eats for her actual productive performance (milk production and body growth) compared to the expected productive performance. For more information click here
Genomic highlights – top bulls very stable
The old and new OHG No.1 is COMET, who only lost 3 points despite – 5 RZG points base adjustment and now ranks in the genomic top ten with 157 gRZG. COMET is a bull with enormous potential and has been used intensively as a bull sire in recent weeks. The highest and so far only available Concept son is an offspring of the well-known Snowflake Mabelle EX-90 family. After his dam HGH Michigan GP-84 (by GGA Palmer) and subsequently HGH Miracle VG-85 (by Hagar) is the successful brood cow Finder Madison VG-88 (dam of CALVIN). COMET offers a total carefree package and is exactly to the taste of many breeders. He offers a good milk production with clearly positive components (+0.28 % fat and 0.09 % protein) with suitable milkability. In combination with his high longevity (gRZN 125) and a good health breeding value profile with strengths in the claw area, he promises productive, long-lived daughters. He also shines with his impeccable conformation profile with gRZE 132, offering a medium rear leg angle (101) and outstanding udder quality with slightly longer teats (udder 132). Thanks to his robot suitability (RZRobot 125) and the positive calving traits, nothing stands in the way of widespread use.
SURFER
On rank 11 on the top list is SURFER, who only lost overall 2 RZG points and now also stands at gRZG 157. SURFER is not only the highest but also the most complete son of the OHG outcross bull sire SUNRISE. This promising young bull, who traces back via his dam History VG-85 (Copyright) to the extremely successful bull dam Snowman Heaven VG-87, is really a high performer. With an impressive gRZM of 158 and a plus of +2333 kg milk with +0.01 % fat and -0.04 protein, he is by far the number 1 in Germany. With his RZ€ of +2557, he leads the OHG top and is ranked 5th in Germany. In addition, he brings functional conformation, robust fitness and health (gRZhealth 118), a lot of persistency (117) and good feed efficiency (109) into play. SURFER thus offers good prospects for surfing the wave of success.
New to the OHG programme is the Rainow (AltaZazzle x Explosion) son RAMSES. Behind his CALVIN dam is a deep US cow family that goes back via Araxis x Rodgers x Observer x Man-O-Man to the well-known brood cow Clear Echo Ramo 1200 EX-94. With a gRZG of 151, he offers good milk production with high components (+0.49 % fat and +0.12 % protein). He offers functional conformation with an overall very complete linear profile with a medium rear leg angle (99). His strengths in the claw area are particularly noteworthy (gRZGhoof 115 and DDcontrol 117).
Also new to the OHG range is the homozygous polled RAMBO PP. With his Rastor P sire (Radar x Happening) and his dams’ family he offers an exceptional bloodline for PP: via Pikachu x Gywer RDC x Mission P x Racer x Bookem x Shot AL x O-Man, going back to a less common branch of the Rudy Missy cow family. He also offers a remarkable breeding value level, especially for production and conformation. He can pass on slightly more body and very good udders, which can be milked very well (gRZD 112) and are also suitable for automatic milking systems (RZRobot 117). All in all, RAMBO PP should be a very versatile bull from which you can expect 100 % polled progeny.
RAMBO PP
The Nexus son NEXO, who has long been at the top of the OHG range, remains very stable in 21st place with gRZG 155 (-4) and gRZE 129. NEXO is still an absolute OHG all-time favourite and continues to enjoy great popularity due to his faultless breeding value profile. In addition, he is now recognised as a specialist for feed efficiency, because with gRZFE 117 he has the highest breeding value of all German Top 100 bulls. MILO also remains completely stable at gRZG 152 (-3). The Globus son GLEO RDC with his gRZG 147 and his gRZE 127 clearly shows that the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, because his Best Benz dam Meghan VG-89 is a half-sister to GENIUS. His breeding value profile is absolutely faultless and he promises daughters that dairy, healthy and very fertile (gRZR 117). CASH-RED P now stands at gRZG 154 (-4) and ranks 14th on the top list. In addition to his top conformation, especially in the udder (125), he is an absolute health specialist (gRZhealth 128) with a special focus on Mortellaro resistance (DDcontrol 118).
Daughter-tested bulls – GENIUS fully approved
With 13 bulls in the Top 100 and 6 of them in the Top 50, OHG once again has a considerable share of the daughter-tested bulls. OHG’s new No. 1 is SUEZ in third place in the top list. With Subzero x Outlast x Octoberfest, he has an absolute outcross predigree and increased by an impressive 8 RZG points when taking the basic adjustment into account. With a total of 77 daughters in milk, he proves to be an absolute component sire with +0.61 % fat and +0.31 % protein. Furthermore, his very dairy and stylish daughters present themselves with high attached and firm udders with ideal teat placement. As another newcomer from the OHG programme, METRO ranks about the same as the evergreen SUPREM on No.19 of the top list with RZG 142. He is also the No.2 RZ€ bull with +2118 due to his enormous total production of fat & protein. Shortly behind is CALVIN, who this time lost a little in RZhealth and thus in RZG to now 139, but is very stable in production and conformation with now well over 1,000 daughters. Then GENIUS follows with a complete confirmation of his absolutely faultless breeding value profile with 179 daughters in milk and 123 classifications. The group of daughters at the Black & White Days already impressed with their stylishness, high production and outstanding feet & legs and udders. He has now fully met all the expectations placed on him as a genomic bull and is a true example of the Osnabrück breeding philosophy.
GENIUS-daughter group on the Intern. Black & White Days 2024
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