Breeding bulls at top level

Drouner Potency Red | aAa 432 Conformation and udder improver at top level

A striking surprise in the August index run is the complete breeding value of Drouner Potency Red, entirely based on his daughters. This red-and-white milk and conformation sire, together with his relative Drouner Abraxas Red P, with a conformation index of 111, is the highest conformation bull in the Netherlands. The still relatively fresh heifers of Potency Red impress especially with their best udders (112). That makes him the best udder improver of K.I. Samen. This translates into very good, firmly attached fore udders, high and wide rear udders and, in practice, somewhat longer centrally placed rear teats. The frames also make an impression: Potency daughters are average in stature (103), with wide chests (105) and well-sprung ribs. Alongside this strong conformation, Potency Red combines positive milking speed (102) with a favourable somatic cell count (103). Moreover, he is valued in practice for his good daughter fertility (106).

SJK Helium | aAa 243 Complete production sire from a strong cow family

At the top of the bull chart is SJK Helium, a bull from our partner Cogent. Helium (A2A2 and BB) is a complete production sire, originating from the famous Snow-N Denises Dellia EX-95 family. A well-known cow from this line is Cookiecutter Halo, brood cow and bull dam of countless offspring. Helium combines over 1100 kg milk with +0.05% fat and +0.12% protein, resulting in more than 100 kg fat + protein. Alongside this production index, he scores strongly on health traits with somatic cell count (109) and fertility (108). In practice, heifers are seen that handle their high production with ease, as also shown in their above-average condition score. The daughters are well developed, somewhat heavier built, with flatter wide rumps. The udders have healthy tissue and somewhat longer teats.

Sinnige Dairy focuses on cows that can live long, with matings that improve cow structure. Triple A is the basis they work from. The Helium x Malki combination turned out very well: this heifer produces without problems.

Drouner Abraxas Red P | aAa 513 Polled, balance and strong conformation

Elsewhere in this edition the polled Drouner Abraxas Red P is discussed in more detail, but here is a short summary of his figures. As a milk sire Abraxas Red P produces well-balanced heifers that produce easily. With 1300 kg milk and a total conformation score of 111 he combines highly demanded qualities, also with a view to the future. His conformation results are based on strong frames, wide rumps, very good legs and best udders. The heifers show proportions that are perfectly in balance: stature (105), chest width (109) and capacity and spring of rib (108), resulting in spacious cows with well-sprung ribs. His legs are superior: rear leg rear view (113) and front leg position (115) make him a clear leg improver with parallel legs. The fine, shallow quality udders milk easily. In practice, daughters are praised for their high persistency and their ability to further develop during the first lactation.

Red Rocks Celebration | aAa 432 Valuable addition for red-and-white

The red-and-white calving ease bull (106) Red Rocks Celebration is judged very positively in practice. Every four months the breeding values confirm that he is a valuable addition to the red-and-white breeding programme. In the August index he scored +13 NVI and +14 INET, mainly thanks to progress in fertility, persistency and longevity. Remarkable secondary traits are calving ease (106), somatic cell count (109), fertility (102), late maturity (105) and persistency (107). On top of this he brings 452 days of longevity. His moderate stature is also considered positive. Together with sufficient capacity and well-sprung ribs this gives room to grow well during the first lactation. The daughters have well-shaped, balanced udders with somewhat longer teats, which completes the picture.