Five years into the genomic era, accuracy and reliability of genomic proofs is the best it’s ever been! You can certainly use top genomic sires with confidence to maximize genetic progress in the direction of your goals on your dairy.
Genetic progress with high genomic G-Stars
As genetics continue to make rapid progress, there are always superior sires joining the high genomic G-Star ranks. We added 19 new young bulls to the coveted G-Star list this spring proof round. That brings the total G-Star list up to 76 bulls. A whopping 34 of these sires have even earned the desirable high-fertility ConceptPlus designation based on recorded conception data from our partner herds.
The current G-Star list averages an outstanding 2300 GTPI, providing great genetic gain over the impressive list from December proofs! A variety of pedigrees and different trait specialists offer a diverse G-Star selection to meet your goals.
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FutureStars – for high genomic proofs with high fertility and low calving ease assured
If you place your confidence in the highest genomic sires to use on your cows and heifers, but still desire high fertility, and only feel at ease by using high reliability calving trait sires, Alta’s FutureStar sire line-up is just what you’re looking for. All FutureStars:
are genomic-proven with highly favorable proof numbers
maintain our high fertility ConceptPlus status based on conception data from our partner herds
have real observations for calving traits with proof of low calving ease and low sire stillbirths
With the addition of 18 new FutureStars this proof round, 46 sires now have enough observations for high fertility and low calving ease to claim FutureStar status. This entire group now averages 2194 TPI! Ease your mind by using these high genomic sires with proven fertility and calving ease assured.
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Genomic versus daughter-proven – what do you gain?
Alta’s top daughter-proven bulls like AltaGREATEST, AltaMETEOR and AltaCEASAR are tremendous sires in their own right, and have graced the top of previous G-Star and FutureStar lists themselves. Daughter proofs confirm that if you used these sires previously as genomic-proven bulls, you are years ahead of where you’d be if you waited to use them now as daughter-proven sires.
The extraordinary list of current, high genomic G-Star and FutureStar sires will certainly make genetic progress in your herd. However, if you’re still concerned about putting all your faith in genomics, Table 1 and Table 2 should help ease that fear. Table 1 shows our current top ten daughter-proven TPI sires, while Table 2 shows our top ten genomic-proven TPI sires.
You can see that even if this group of top genomic-proven sires in Table 2 would drop by the time they get their daughter proof, they are still going to be higher genetic sires than the current list of top daughter-proven bulls.
Set your own genetic plan to maximize progress toward your goals
But with so many options on those G-Star and FutureStar lists, how do you choose the right ones? Genetic improvement is happening at the speed of light, so it’s now more important than ever to create your own genetic plan and put emphasis only on the traits that matter to you to drive profitability in your herd. This way you not only maximize genetic progress, but you make sure it happens in the right direction.
The following tables show our highest available G-Star and FutureStar sires for production, health and conformation traits. It’s clear to see just how much you gain on any given genetic trait, just by selecting for it.
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| Production sires |
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| Health Sires |
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| Conformation sires |
If you select for production traits, you’ll see more pounds in the tank and components within that milk. When health is your focus, you’ll improve your pregnancy rate, have healthier cows and fewer calving problems. And if type is your goal, Alta’s top genomic sires for conformation will yield higher scores for udders, feet and legs and overall type.
As you can see, the TPI and NM$ averages for these different groups are similar, but the bulls get there in very different ways. The high production sires give up a bit on health and conformation, while the high health sires sacrifice pounds of milk and components, and are a bit lower for type composites.
In an ideal world, you’d be able to have the milk and components of the production group, the high health traits, and excellent conformation. While you won’t find a bull with the best of it all, you can certainly speed up genetic advancement on your farm by setting your own custom genetic plan. Place emphasis on the traits that matter to you to maximize your herd’s genetic progress and profit.
Use these ever-improving sires with confidence as part of your genetic plan, knowing their proofs will hold steady as they add milking daughters. This stability offers peace of mind knowing you are advancing your herd at the speed of genomics – creating healthier, more functional cows that will put more milk in the tank.
Source: Alta Genetics Marketing Editor Chrissy Meyer