Bull proofs confirm strength in depth of Cogent’s Visions Young Sires
This week’s April bull proofs have confirmed the reliability and strength in depth of Cogent Breeding’s Visions Young Sires Programme as two exceptional bulls graduated from the UK breeding programme and a further two of the company’s high ranking proven bulls continued to dominate trait rankings.
This week’s bull proofs show that new bulls Woodmarsh Asterix EX94 and Denmire Mr Motivator EX93 transmit excellent traits to their daughters with both demonstrating exceptional type scores and the latter delivering breed leading strength and robustness.
Cogent’s proven bulls Cogent Twist EX92 and Hydaways Goldmine EX91 continued to build on their strong performance in previous proofs by making significant improvements in PLI, components and type. The proofs confirm that Cogent Twist is now the highest ranking UK PLI proven bull and the number one Shottle son in the world.
Early data also indicates that Cogent’s Ballycairn Tiergan EX91 is a top prospect for the future when his semen becomes available later this spring. The Goldwyn son is showing high type and very high components combined with good health traits.
• Woodmarsh Asterix EX94 makes his debut with his complete pedigree package transmitting high type (+2.19TM) and remarkable fitness traits – 11 for cell counts and +0.2 for lifespan and +1.9 fertility index. This Picston Shottle son is a grandson of Tri-Day Ashlyn EX96, the world-class show cow and winner of the World Dairy Expo & Royal Winter Fair in 2001. His distinctive jet black daughters are unique for a Shottle son and he breeds deep bodied, stylish heifers with snug well attached wide udders, with outstanding veination, texture and overall quality. The heifers move freely and easily on excellent legs and feet.
• Denmire Mr Motivator EX93 descends from the great Denmire Marie family which is famous for delivering excellent strength, robustness and longevity. With excellent scores for type (+2.14TM) Mr Motivator sires tremendous capacity and strength and has leading components including +0.11% fat and +0.01% protein. He breeds strong powerful cattle which will carry condition (+1.6 CS) throughout lactation. The daughters are wide and powerful with less extremes in angularity and will look after themselves with ease in any commercial herd environment.
• Cogent Twist EX92 continues his success as the highest ranking UK PLI proven bull after he increased a further £29 in PLI to £195 with a reliability of over 90% - reflecting exceptional all round production performance and type. Twist also boosted all areas of milk production to +557kgs milk, +0.15% fat and 0.05% protein continuing his appeal to profit-driven dairy farmers.
• Hydaways Goldmine EX91 continued to demonstrate that he is one of the world’s highest
production Goldwyn sons with an increase in his PLI from £115 to £128 together with an
increase in type from +1.88 to +1.92TM. He also continued to deliver excellent scores for all
health traits including – 14 cell counts, +2.6 for daughter fertility and +0.6 for calving ease.
• Ballycairn Tiergan EX91 is a Goldwyn son from the Tinnie family from Holland delivering high type +1.9, very high components +0.20% fat, +0.10% protein combined with good health traits +0.1 lifespan, +1.6 fertility, +0.9 calving ease, -7 SCC – resulting in £191 PLI.
Commenting on the new bull proofs, Hugh Pocock, UK sales and genetics manager at Cogent Breeding, said:
"The bull proofs provide independent evidence of the strength of our Visions UK-based testing programme and the importance of this initiative to meet the commercial needs of UK dairy farmers. With two new additions performing exceptionally well in the rankings and our proven bulls demonstrating even greater performance, the reliability and consistency of our Visions programme is clear to see. Crucially, these bulls are UK tested, ensuring that farmers can select reliable bulls which have genuine commercial relevance under UK conditions."
