Cow tomorrow’s milkers - CRV Avoncroft · high-tech sensors detect cow behaviour. So not only do...
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S tudying the latest proof-run ranking for hours? Or browsing the internet for suitable bulls? That time is long gone. Thanks to computerised mating programs, producers can select the most suitable sire for individual cows and heifers in no time. Matched to every producers own breeding goals, the program also ensures that there’s no inbreeding and this helps to maximise genetic progress. CRV Avoncroft’s SireMatch – developed almost 20 years ago – is such a program. It is in use in 35 countries, with more than 4,000 customers and 2.4 million matings each year. But SireMatch is more than just a mating program, explains SireMatch specialist Sanne van den Brink. “SireMatch offers objective and unbiased mating advice,” she says. “It slots together all the pieces in each herd’s breeding puzzle, guaranteeing producers maximum genetic progress and improvement of their herds with a minimum of effort.” Integration The integration of SireMatch within the heat detection and health monitoring system Ovalert is also an advantage, according to Miss van den Brink. “Ovalert’s high-tech sensors detect cow behaviour. So not only do producers receive health signals, but also heat alerts from the program. Via a link to SireMatch, producers have immediate access to the recommended bull choice.” The mating program, which is completely web-based, can be customised to suit a producer’s own requirements and breeding goals. “Producers can set lower limits for certain traits, weight the importance of other traits that need extra attention in their herd, and indicate the maximum acceptance level of inbreeding,” says Miss van den Brink. “They can also choose different breeding strategies for multiple groups of animals. The program supports all breeds and can also be used by producers who are cross breeding.” Breeding goals A producer’s breeding goal is the central factor advice in SireMatch. Four standard breeding goals are available, for components, efficiency, health and milk production. “But creating a customised breeding goal is also possible,” says Miss van den Brink. Producers who want to increase components can select for cows that achieve outstanding fat and protein production, in kilogrammes. They can realise this because of enough milk with high components. With the efficiency breeding goal, the aim is to breed cows that efficiently convert feed into milk. Cows can achieve this due to their high lifetime production, characterised by high production of protein, in kilogrammes, and excellent longevity. The health breeding goal is for producers who would like to breed extremely easy to manage cows. The cows’ excellent health and fertility means that they will be able to effortlessly produce milk with high component contents, in kilogrammes. Robot suitability Producers who opt for milk production will breed cows with excellent milk production in kilogrammes. Robot suitability is also taken into account for all of the four standard breeding goals. SireMatch can objectively select animals that make the best match with a producer’s own breeding strategy. “Producers can decide to apply a targeted strategy and mate the best animals using SiryX sexed semen, and maybe exclude lower ranked animals from the breeding program by inseminating them with semen from a beef bull,” adds Miss van den Brink. l Looking for the perfect match: a computerised breeding tool takes the guesswork and hassle out of matching cows and heifers to the best sires. And to make it even more easy: it can be integrated with a cow behaviour system. CowManagement finds out how. Investing in tomorrow’s milkers TEXT INGE VAN DRIE BREEDING SERIES SIREMATCH Part 1 History and background information Part 2 Unique features of CRV Part 3 Breeding programmes worldwide Part 4 Products and services: SireMatch Part 5 Products and services: Ovalert CRV Avoncroft, based in Kidderminster, is part of the global organisation CRV. This is the fourth in a series of articles about CRV. Here we take a look at the mating program SireMatch. How SireMatch works Personal breeding goal Your personal breeding goal is the central factor for advice provided by SireMatch. Various standard breeding goals are available. Creating a customised breeding goal is also possible. Cow SireMatch works based on pedigree, conformation and performance of the animals in the herd. Sires SireMatch helps producers to select the bulls that best fit with their breeding goal/goals. Based on these breeding goals, the program generates advice to recommend the most suitable sire to match to each cow or heifer. Future herd SireMatch predicts and shows the genetic progress using each herd’s animal data, breeding goals, and other parameters. Advice SireMatch offers easy-to-read overviews, such as a mating advice per animal (ranked as first, and second choice) and a list of recommended bulls. Ovalert (optional) Ovalert with activity measurement offers a complete detection package that monitors the health and fertility of the herd. Via a link to SireMatch, producers have immediate access to the recommended sire choice. Dutch dairy producer Frank Wilborts has been using SireMatch for many years. Based in Casteren, in the southern part of the Netherlands, he milks 140 cows and has 80 followers. Mr Wilborts describes SireMatch as a convenient mating program that selects sires that are best able to meet his breeding goal. And he is pleased with the results. “Since we started using SireMatch more intensively in our breeding strategy, production has increased significantly, from an average of 8,500kg to 11,000kg of milk per cow, with 4.55% fat and 3.55% protein. The program takes everything into account, from inbreeding to individual improvement traits for each cow.” He discusses the new bulls and the breeding strategy with his SireMatch advisor several times a year. With SireMatch, he can also check the genetic improvements. “Carefully fine-tuning the program helps me to breed replacements to milk my ideal herd. My view is that without SireMatch I’d find it much more difficult to make a good match between sires and individual cows and heifers.” Frank Wilborts: “Production has increased from 8,500kg to 11,000kg since we began using SireMatch” 43 42 cowmanagement NOVEMBER 2019 cowmanagement NOVEMBER 2019
Transcript of Cow tomorrow’s milkers - CRV Avoncroft · high-tech sensors detect cow behaviour. So not only do...
S tudying the latest proof-run ranking for hours? Or browsing the internet for suitable bulls? That time is long gone. Thanks to computerised mating
programs, producers can select the most suitable sire for individual cows and heifers in no time. Matched to every producers own breeding goals, the program also ensures that there’s no inbreeding and this helps to maximise genetic progress. CRV Avoncroft’s SireMatch – developed almost 20 years ago – is such a program. It is in use in 35 countries, with more than 4,000 customers and 2.4 million matings each year. But SireMatch is more than just a mating
program, explains SireMatch specialist Sanne van den Brink. “SireMatch offers objective and unbiased mating advice,” she says. “It slots together all the pieces in each herd’s breeding puzzle, guaranteeing producers maximum genetic progress and improvement of their herds with a minimum of effort.”
IntegrationThe integration of SireMatch within the heat detection and health monitoring system Ovalert is also an advantage, according to Miss van den Brink. “Ovalert’s high-tech sensors detect cow behaviour. So not only do
producers receive health signals, but also heat alerts from the program. Via a link to SireMatch, producers have immediate access to the recommended bull choice.”The mating program, which is completely web-based, can be customised to suit a producer’s own requirements and breeding goals. “Producers can set lower limits for certain traits, weight the importance of other traits that need extra attention in their herd, and indicate the maximum acceptance level of inbreeding,” says Miss van den Brink. “They can also choose different breeding strategies for multiple groups of animals. The program supports all breeds and can also be used by producers who are cross breeding.”
Breeding goalsA producer’s breeding goal is the central factor advice in SireMatch. Four standard breeding goals are available, for components, efficiency, health and milk production. “But creating a customised breeding goal is also possible,” says Miss van den Brink. Producers who want to increase components can select for cows that achieve outstanding fat and protein production, in kilogrammes. They can realise this because
of enough milk with high components. With the efficiency breeding goal, the aim is to breed cows that efficiently convert feed into milk. Cows can achieve this due to their high lifetime production, characterised by high production of protein, in kilogrammes, and excellent longevity.The health breeding goal is for producers who would like to breed extremely easy to manage cows. The cows’ excellent health and fertility means that they will be able to effortlessly produce milk with high component contents, in kilogrammes.
Robot suitabilityProducers who opt for milk production will breed cows with excellent milk production in kilogrammes. Robot suitability is also taken into account for all of the four standard breeding goals. SireMatch can objectively select animals that make the best match with a producer’s own breeding strategy. “Producers can decide to apply a targeted strategy and mate the best animals using SiryX sexed semen, and maybe exclude lower ranked animals from the breeding program by inseminating them with semen from a beef bull,” adds Miss van den Brink. l
Looking for the perfect match: a computerised breeding tool takes the guesswork and hassle out of matching cows and heifers to the best sires. And to make it even more easy: it can be integrated with a cow behaviour system. CowManagement finds out how.
Investing in tomorrow’s milkers
TEXT INGE VAN DRIE
BREEDING SERIES SIREMATCH
Part 1 History and background information Part 2 Unique features of CRV Part 3 Breeding programmes worldwide Part 4 Products and services: SireMatch Part 5 Products and services: Ovalert
CRV Avoncroft, based in Kidderminster, is part of the global organisation CRV. This is the fourth in a series of articles about CRV. Here we take a look at the mating program SireMatch.
How SireMatch works Personal breeding goal
Your personal breeding goal is the central factor for advice provided by SireMatch. Various standard breeding goals are available. Creating a customised breeding goal is also possible.
CowSireMatch works based on pedigree, conformation and performance of the animals in the herd.
SiresSireMatch helps producers to select the bulls that best fit with their breeding goal/goals. Based on these breeding goals, the program generates advice to recommend the most suitable sire to match to each cow or heifer.
Future herdSireMatch predicts and shows the genetic progress using each herd’s animal data, breeding goals, and other parameters.
AdviceSireMatch offers easy-to-read overviews, such as a mating advice per animal (ranked as first, and second choice) and a list of recommended bulls.
Ovalert (optional)Ovalert with activity measurement offers a complete detection package that monitors the health and fertility of the herd. Via a link to SireMatch, producers have immediate access to the recommended sire choice.
Dutch dairy producer Frank Wilborts has been using SireMatch for many years. Based in Casteren, in the southern part of the Netherlands, he milks 140 cows and has 80 followers. Mr Wilborts describes SireMatch as a convenient mating program that selects sires that are best able to meet his breeding goal. And he is pleased with the results.“Since we started using SireMatch more intensively in our breeding strategy, production has increased significantly, from an average of 8,500kg to 11,000kg of milk per cow, with 4.55% fat and 3.55% protein.
The program takes everything into account, from inbreeding to individual improvement traits for each cow.” He discusses the new bulls and the breeding strategy with his SireMatch advisor several times a year. With SireMatch, he can also check the genetic improvements. “Carefully fine-tuning the program helps me to breed replacements to milk my ideal herd. My view is that without SireMatch I’d find it much more difficult to make a good match between sires and individual cows and heifers.”
Frank Wilborts: “Production has increased from 8,500kg to 11,000kg since we began using SireMatch”
4342 cowmanagement NOVEMBER 2019cowmanagement NOVEMBER 2019
