CRV USA debuts the Diversity sire selection, due to launch with the April 2011 index run.
As the rate of inbreeding increases in the US Holstein population, CRV has recognized the need to diversify bloodlines while protecting future genetic selection. The Diversity program was created to aid farmers with sire selection, lower inbreeding in their herds and capture the savings associated with the process.
Increased inbreeding has shown to have negative effects on production, longevity, fertility and overall cow health. According to a study by Dr Bennet Cassell at Virginia Tech, there will be a loss of 13 productive days for every one percent inbred. Additional time and money losses are incurred by farmers due to treating sick animals and extra breedings. CRV can help farmers improve their herd health and reclaim that time and money lost on inbreeding related issues.
“We are cutting to the core of what our customer needs,” stated Gerwin Kerkdijk, managing director at CRV USA. “They need choices that add ease as they continue to develop their farms, and the Diversity sires play a role with that.”
Diversity contains a selection of bulls with an EFI at or below 4.5 percent to help lower the herd’s inbreeding rate. The EFI or expected future inbreeding rate indicates which sires are outcross compared to a random selection of the population. CRV will have a contant selection of low EFI bulls available for farmers to chose from at all times. CRV’s access to Holstein breeding programs in the US, Netherlands, Czech Republic, New Zealand and Australia drives the ability to offer the outcross pedigrees on the US population. The Diversity sire selection is a prime example of the benefits to local producers from a global organization.
Source: CRV