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Breed: Saler.
AI code: SA4059.
AI Company: NCBC.
Replacement Index €uro-Star value (reliability): €247 (55%).
Calving difficulty (reliability): 2.10% (76%).
Daughter milk (reliability): 14.5kg (70%).
Daughter calving interval (reliability): -2.8 days (37%).
Carcase weight (reliability): 32kg (70%).
Comment
NCBC’s SA4059 is the top maternal AI bull in the country. Saler has become more and more popular in Ireland in recent years, with the breed now filling the top three positions on the ICBF replacement bull list. This bull has a low calving difficulty (2.10%). However, the most eye-catching figures are daughter milk, which lies at 14.5kg, and the progeny carcase weight, which is equally impressive at 32kg. An excellent all-round bull and a bull for any suckler system.
Breed: Saler.
AI code: SA2189.
AI Company: Dovea.
Replacement Index €uro-Star value (reliability): €203 (58%).
Calving difficulty (reliability): 1.20% (84%).
Daughter milk (reliability): 9.9kg (71%).
Daughter calving interval (reliability): -2.4 days (41%).
Carcase weight (reliability): 22kg (67%).
Comment
Dovea’s Saler bull SA2189 is the only other maternal AI bull to break the €200 €uro-Star replacement index mark. Ulsan has the lowest calving difficulty in the top 10 (1.20%), leaving him very suitable for heifers. Despite his easy calving ability, this bull also has a progeny carcase weight of 22kg, making him the ideal bull for farmers looking to get quality calves from their maiden heifers.
Breed: Salers.
AI code: VTA.
AI Company: Bova.
Replacement Index €uro-Star value (reliability): €178 (72%).
Calving difficulty (reliability): 2.30% (91%).
Daughter milk (reliability): 4.1kg (81%).
Daughter calving interval (reliability): -7.0 days (52%).
Carcase weight (reliability): 27kg (90%).
Comment
Bova’s Saler bull VTA completes the top three. This bull has the best fertility index out of the top 10 with a -7.0 day calving interval. Daughter milk is slightly low for a maternal bull at 4.1kg. However, this bull boasts a high progeny carcase weight of 27kg. With this in mind, farmers will be happy getting both bulls and heifers from this bull, but should look to keep his heifers out of milkier cows as replacements.
Breed: Belgian Blue.
AI code: SFL.
AI Company: Bova.
Replacement Index €uro-Star value (reliability): €176 (96%).
Calving difficulty (reliability): 5.20% (99%).
Daughter milk (reliability): 4.5kg (99%).
Daughter calving interval (reliability): -1.2 days (93%).
Carcase weight (reliability): 18kg (99%).
Comment
Belgian Blue SFL is the only Blue in the top 10 and just misses out on a place in the top three. SFL has an impressive €uro-Star replacement index (€176) and an even more impressive reliability figure (96%) to back it up. SFL has a slightly higher calving difficulty (5.2%) than the other bulls in the top 10, so farmers should exercise caution with heifers and poorer-calving cows.
Breed: Charolais.
AI code: VMO.
AI Company: NCBC.
Replacement Index €uro-Star value (reliability): €172 (59%).
Calving difficulty (reliability): 5.10% (81%).
Daughter milk (reliability): 9.0kg (71%).
Daughter calving interval (reliability): -0.9 days (38%).
Carcase weight (reliability): 36kg (82%).
Comment
NCBC bull VMO is the only Charolais bull in the top 10.
Farmers looking to breed-up the maternal traits of their herd, while still maintaining conformation and weight in their stock, can look towards VMO. This bull has the highest progeny carcase weight in the top 10 at 36kg, while also showing an impressive daughter milk figure of 9.0kg. The all-rounder for the classic commercial man.
Breed: Angus.
AI code: ZLL.
AI Company: Bova.
Replacement Index €uro-Star value (reliability): €172 (69%).
Calving difficulty (reliability): 1.80% (97%).
Daughter milk (reliability): 9.7kg (54%).
Daughter calving interval (reliability): -4.9 days (43%).
Carcase weight (reliability): 8kg (96%).
Comment
Angus bull ZLL could be described as an out-and-out maternal sire. With an exceptionally low calving difficulty (1.20%), farmers should consider using this sire for their maiden heifers to deliver a “handy” calf. Progeny carcase weight is somewhat compromised at 8kg, so this bull may be better to use on a farmer’s more terminal cows to deliver a good all-rounder.
Breed: Shorthorn.
AI code: IGL.
AI Company: Dovea.
Replacement Index €uro-Star value (reliability): €169 (65%).
Calving difficulty (reliability): 5.30% (81%).
Daughter milk (reliability): 12.0kg (70%).
Daughter calving interval (reliability): -2.6 days (44%).
Carcase weight (reliability): 26kg (83%).
Comment
IGL is the highest of three Shorthorns in the top 10. This bull has an exceptional daughter milk value (12.0kg). IGL comes with a calving difficulty of 5.30% and while that isn’t extremely high, it would be recommended to exercise caution with use on first-calvers.
Breed: Simmental.
AI code: ISL.
AI Company: Dovea.
Replacement Index €uro-Star value (reliability): €169 (66%).
Calving difficulty (reliability): 8.00% (96%).
Daughter milk (reliability): 11.7kg (67%).
Daughter calving interval (reliability): -1.7 days (42%).
Carcase weight (reliability): 25kg (95%).
Comment
The only Simmental in the top 10, ISL, comes with an impressive daughter milk value (11.7kg) and progeny carcase weight value (25kg), which leaves him an ideal bull for producing both exceptional breeding and finishing stock. However, this sire should be used with caution. ISL has the highest calving difficulty in the top 10 bulls (8.00%) and his use should be limited to only mature cows.
Breed: Shorthorn.
AI code: PZT.
AI Company: NCBC.
Replacement Index €uro-Star value (reliability): €164 (60%).
Calving difficulty (reliability): 3.80% (84%).
Daughter milk (reliability): 7.9kg (55%).
Daughter calving interval (reliability): -5.6 days (39%).
Carcase weight (reliability): 10kg (85%).
Comment
PZT is the most suitable Shorthorn for heifers on the list. At a low 3.80% calving difficulty, this bull can be used with confidence on heifers as well as providing confidence on his progeny’s milking ability with a solid value of 7.9kg on offer.
Breed: Shorthorn.
AI code: SH2202.
AI Company: NCBC.
Replacement Index €uro-Star value (reliability): €160 (53%).
Calving difficulty (reliability): 4.10% (86%).
Daughter milk (reliability): 9.7kg (39%).
Daughter calving interval (reliability): -3.1 days (38%).
Carcase weight (reliability): 13kg (79%).
Comment
Shorthorn bull SH2202 completes the top 10. This bull is seen as a solid all-round bull with a calving difficulty below 5%, daughter milk at 9.7kg and carcase weight at 13kg. Reliability figures could be higher but with a Eurostar replacement index of €160, this bull will be good enough for any suckler farmer.
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