How much do you use PLI in bull choice

[buffalo_soldier]

Use PLI to break ties if they occur.
HUK may well pick that bit up after the hanger on types are removed.

Dairy services at the front of a block need a little more consideration that just pli/sci scoring mind.

 

[jerseycowsman]

Do you heavily use PLI in your bull selection ? If not what do you look for and what would you use if the vote on AHBD's levy next spring is not to continue paying the levy ?

I don’t take any notice of PLi, I make up my own mind based on pedigrees, type and production figures. but we definitely need an independent body to do all these various evaluations and other research etc. I shall be voting to keep the levy

 

[westwards]

I don’t take any notice of PLi, I make up my own mind based on pedigrees, type and production figures. but we definitely need an independent body to do all these various evaluations and other research etc. I shall be voting to keep the levy

I would think if the vote goes against paying the levy they will not be disbanded, as you say @jerseycowsman someone needs to do the evaluations as nobody should trust the AI companies.

 

[cattow]

I would think if the vote goes against paying the levy they will not be disbanded, as you say @jerseycowsman someone needs to do the evaluations as nobody should trust the AI companies.

or the Genomics industry, why is last year’s top genomic bull not this years top proven bull ?

 

[jerseycowsman]

or the Genomics industry, why is last year’s top genomic bull not this years top proven bull ?

It’s ridiculous, the turnover on these so called “top” bulls. They disappear within 6 months sometimes

 

[Jdunn55]

or the Genomics industry, why is last year’s top genomic bull not this years top proven bull ?

It’s ridiculous, the turnover on these so called “top” bulls. They disappear within 6 months sometimes

Out of interest do either of you try and actively use proven bulls? In future I was thinking genomic bulls on my 2nd + cows since I know how they perform and look, and proven bulls on heifers and 1st lactation cows? In case the heifer doesn't turn out as good as you hope and if that's the case the last thing you want is for her to have a calf from a bull that turns out to be rubbish!

 

[More to life]

I think genomics only really works for holsteins it's a data game and that requires thousands ov cows. The fact that @jerseycowsman and @cattow rubbish genomics supports this view.

 

[cattow]

I think genomics only really works for holsteins it's a data game and that requires thousands ov cows. The fact that @jerseycowsman and @cattow rubbish genomics supports this view.

I agree, from a friesian point, I want to believe they are the future but we live in the present . They are like a revolutionary machine which has come to market before they’ve finished testing in it

 

[Spudley]

I would love to use more proven bulls, but we only use sexed semen now and once you move away from the Holsteins, there's not a lot available!

 

[cattow]

Out of interest do either of you try and actively use proven bulls? In future I was thinking genomic bulls on my 2nd + cows since I know how they perform and look, and proven bulls on heifers and 1st lactation cows? In case the heifer doesn't turn out as good as you hope and if that's the case the last thing you want is for her to have a calf from a bull that turns out to be rubbish!

This doesn’t answer your question but, my number one customer is my milk buyer and he wants protein, so I make a judgment based on this.

 

[som farmer]

Out of interest do either of you try and actively use proven bulls? In future I was thinking genomic bulls on my 2nd + cows since I know how they perform and look, and proven bulls on heifers and 1st lactation cows? In case the heifer doesn't turn out as good as you hope and if that's the case the last thing you want is for her to have a calf from a bull that turns out to be rubbish!

all the AI companies will use whatever 'system' that suits them best, why wouldn't they ? AHDB at least tried to get a comparison out, to help with choice, though the number of high pli hol bulls in SCI, is misleading.
number one point, milk contract, what does your buyer want, other than that, what do you want to look at ? yield is down to feeding, longevity is management. I look for strong width bulls, with + on capacity, or body, to increase intake volume.

 

[jerseycowsman]

Out of interest do either of you try and actively use proven bulls? In future I was thinking genomic bulls on my 2nd + cows since I know how they perform and look, and proven bulls on heifers and 1st lactation cows? In case the heifer doesn't turn out as good as you hope and if that's the case the last thing you want is for her to have a calf from a bull that turns out to be rubbish!

We genomic and proven bulls in equal number, if we like the look of the pedigree, if it has no pedigree, just a series of numbers like the danish genomic stuff, then we don’t use it. Painting by numbers is not an art form!

 

[Bennyhill]

My take on genomic is that the bean counters with in A I companies saw an opportunity to turn test bull use on its head, taking a low profit market in to a really high priced market.