Unique: global overview of availabl
Polled, the international indication for genetically
hornless, is increasingly surfacing in Holstein bull
overviews. Especially in the Red Holstein category,
many talented young polled bulls achieve a compe-
asked AIs for this article for their available daughter-tested, polled RC
and Red Holstein bulls as well as the DNA-tested bulls with the same
description. From the information that was received, HI made a table
that is as diverse and high-quality as possible.
titive level. For the first time HI presents a complete
overview of the top available polled RC and Red
Holstein bulls.
JORDEN STEGINK & RIGTJE POST
B
reeding a genetically polled and also genetically attractive Holstein herd is no longer a matter of dedicated pioneering. Lately
the international offering of young polled bulls with promising pedigree
indexes has grown fast. With ET and now DNA tests, breeding programs
have had effective tools over the past few years. Via intensive combination and selection, AIs integrate polled potential with the very best
Holstein and Red Holstein bloodlines. There are two kinds of genetically
polled bulls. With a heterozygous polled bull, indicated as pP, the combination with conventional horned Holsteins produces 50% offspring
without horns (Pp) and an equal number with horns (pp). A small
portion of the available polled bulls is homozygote (PP). When used
on conventional Holsteins, all offspring are born polled. The HI editors
LAWN BOY
In 2007, Aggravation Lawn Boy P-Red made it clear as America’s Nr. 1
Red Holstein bull that the polled gene is no limitation for trendsetting
production, type and fitness qualities. Lawn Boy is not listed among the
5 daughter-proven polled bulls in our table because the bull is dead
and there is no semen left. His name does frequently surface in the
pedigrees of young polled RC and Red Holstein bulls. Thanks to Lawn
Boy, polled genetics has gained in impact; the market for polled bulls is
about to break away from its niche status. ‘We have a number of polled
bulls available. They are more popular than last year, even though the
number of sold units of semen in Hessen only rose from 1 to 2.2%.
Nevertheless, we are investing considerable energy into our breeding
program to get interesting polled bulls. Creating new families, preferably homozygous polled, offers the opportunity to introduce the polled
gene into the population at large. In the future the market will become
larger if we succeed in offering the right bulls. The Lawn Boy son Laron
P, for instance, was our top selling DNA-tested Red Holstein bull in
2011,’ says Dr. Jens Baltissen, director of the German breeding program
ZBH. In the list there are many young German polled RC and Red Hol-
christine massfeller
This polled Laron P calf of Stephan Siepermann
from Germany reflects today’s potential for
polled genetics. Her full brother has an gRZG
of 145.
6
H o l st e i n I n t e r n at i o n a l
e polled sires, Red and RC
stein bulls. ‘About 5 to 10% of the young Holstein
bulls we sell from now on, are polled,’ comments
Hartwig Meinikmann, sire analyst for RUW. With
Lyon P-Red, his breeding program has one of the
rare daughter-proven polled bulls. ‘At the moment
polled bulls make up 3% of total semen sales at
RUW. In the future we expect a bigger percentage
because of increased political pressure to ban dehorning of calves. In addition, polled is something
new for dairy farmers and has the potential to
create new markets.’
SPECIAL FOCUS
In the replies from AIs to the question of how
future demand for polled bulls will develop, there
are two important criteria: political decision-making, and genetic quality as compared to the top of
the Holstein population. ‘We think that the genetic
level will dictate the popularity of these bulls. If
strong genetic lines are developed, then polled
bulls certainly will become more prevalent in
the industry,’ says Semex staff member Joan Lau.
Peter Thurn of Genetics Australia states: ‘We do
not have any polled Holsteins at present. Polled
bulls are starting to attract some attention in the
market, but at this moment it is not that important. I think with more and more focus on animal
welfare issues, calf dehorning will eventually be
put in the spotlight. Having a battery of highquality polled sires will be an advantage. We are
currently searching for the right polled genetics to
work into our program. It is not a short-term project and might take 2 to 3 generations before we
breed bulls of sufficient genetic quality to market.
Genomics may certainly speed up the process.’
Long-term projects have the clear goal of generating polled bulls in the top echelons of the bull
rankings; there is considerable ambition in the
words of several sire analysts and spokespeople.
‘We are aggressively trying to pursue polled opportunities to expand our Genesis program,’ says
Jennifer DeMunck of Genex CRI. ‘Polled genetics
have a structural place in our breeding program.
Each year we want to introduce a number of
homozygous as well a heterozygous polled bulls
to the market,’ explains Bertil Muller of CRV. ‘The
polled factor is very important in our breeding program. Especially to prepare for the future, we are
looking forward to heterozygous bulls with a high
total index. On a regular basis we will also have a
homozygous bull with a high total index available.
We have to continue to work on this as much as
we can to quickly make a complete polled bull
available,’ says Pascal Milon of the French breeding program Créavia. From America, Devan Funk of
Accelerated Genetics states: ‘Our daughter-tested
Table – Overview of highest, available, genetically polled RC and Red Holstein bulls.
NAME
PEDIGREE
Available daughter-proven polled bulls
US
Golden-Oaks Rocco P Red
Redman x Perk
Hickorymea Topeka P Red
Paradox x Cliffhanger
CA
Arron Doon West Port Mitey P RC
Goldwyn x September
DE
Lypoll P Red
Lyon x Cliffhanger
NL
J & G Timeless P Red
Canvas x Domino
CZ
Ostretin Losthorn P Red
Ottawa x Sherman
Available young RC polled bulls
US
Pine-Tree Relief P4954 RC
Toubib x Leif
Vision-Gen Lawnboy Larry RC
Lawn Boy x Lou
Arron Doon West Port Magna P RC
Bolton x September
Sugar-Breeze Cinco-P RC
Mitey x Soul
Bomaz Liaison-P RC
Lawn Boy x Laudan
Dudoc Toubib P RC
Toystory x Oswald
Tom-Anna Dehorner PP RC
Signif x Lawn Boy
Hickorymea Trent-P RC
Lawn Boy x Shottle
Venture Motive P RC
Million x September
CA
Erbcrest Satchel P
Explode x Lawn Boy
Amities Mickey P
Mitey x FBI
CZ
Ostretin Magua PP RC
Lawn Boy x Ottawa
FR
Dassi P RC
Lawn Boy x O-Man
Gecko P RC
Magna x Mr Burns
NL
Delta Foxtrot P RC
Mitey x O-Man
De Vrendt Paulus PP RC
Mitey x Lawn Boy
DE
Southland Mitar RC PP
Mitey x Lawn Boy
Lawin P RC
Lawn Boy x Goldwyn
Duran P RC
Dusk x Lawn Boy
CH
HGG Santa Fe P RC
Shottle x Dieter
Available young Red Holstein polled bulls
US
Tiger-Lily Ladd P-Red
Destry x Lawn Boy
Sandy-Valley Colt-P-Red
Lawn Boy x Bolton
Rochter Ster Dancer P Red
Sterling x Lawn Boy
Sellcrest Midas P-Red
Lawn Boy x Advent
Sandy-Valley Seven P Red
Lawn Boy x Bolton
DG Zorro-Red P
Lawn Boy x September
Schultz LB Runner-P-Red
Lawn Boy x Goldwyn
Venture Proxy PP Red
Mitey x Durham
Sandy-Loam AltaB-P-Red
Lawn Boy x Marmax
CA
Estmer Melvin Red P
Mitey x Mr Burns
Clerinda Balti Red P
Mitey P x Salto
FR
Dipered Isy P Red
Lawn Boy x Manager
Ewan P Red
Lawn Boy x Classic
Elboyred P Red
Lawn Boy x September
NL
Veneriete 396 Twist P
Mitey x Twister
Fasna Asterix P
Lawn Boy x Canvas
Painter-Red P
Lawn Boy x Ramos
Eragon-Red P
Fidelity x Lawn Boy
DE
Laron P
Lawn Boy x Shottle
Mind P
Mitey x Lawn Boy
Asap P
Asterix x Manitas
Lawnclass P
Lawn Boy P x Classic
Deal P
Destry x Lawn Boy
Lasse P
Lawn Boy x Classic
Lasumo Red P
Lawn Boy P x Lichtblick
Stronger P
Fidelity x Lawn Boy
Golden-Oaks Parma PP Red
Mitey x Perk
Rematch P
Reality x Mr Sam
Shine P
Lawn Boy x Shottle
Toppoll P
Top Red x Lawn Boy
Tafton P
Cole x Lyon Red
Lunz P
Lypoll x Kasimir
Premium PP
Lawn Boy x Paradox
Lewitan PP
Lawn Boy x Perk
CH
Frankis Lawn Boy Merlyn P
Lawn Boy x Faber
CH
Leonardo PP Red
Lawn Boy x Dieter
DFS
DRH Leif P
Lawn Boy x Lightning
TI
PI
TYPE
HL
TPI
1517
1503
LPI
1380
RZG
110
NVI
84
SIH
105.4
NM
19
215
PI
760
RZM
105
INET
19
-
PTAT
1.90
0.26
FC
7
RZE
119
EXT
107
EXT
108
PL
0.9
3.6
HL
107
RZN
102
HL
329
HL
3
gTPI
2074
2067
1953
1917
1893
1796
1794
1766
1749
gLPI
1946
1567
gISEL
1188
gISU
159
154
gNVI
170
142
gRZG
133
131
125
gISEL
1269
gNM
552
518
434
412
530
325
291
379
362
gPI
786
661
gIPQ
gINEL
39
23
gINET
80
47
gRZM
122
113
113
gIPQ
122
gPTAT
2.10
2.16
2.09
2.33
0.42
1.71
2.17
0.98
1.25
gFC
11
11
gIML
gMO
1.3
2.7
gEXT
107
103
gRZE
114
117
125
gIML
112
gPL
4.2
4.3
3.2
4.1
4.9
2.8
2.2
4.3
3.3
gHL
112
106
gND
116
gLGF
1.2
0.7
gHL
294
363
gRZN
121
122
108
gND
114
gTPI
2132
2050
2031
1939
1866
1864
1855
1789
1721
gLPI
1970
1635
gISU
146
140
139
gNVI
191
177
163
151
gRZG
138
138
136
130
130
129
127
126
124
124
124
124
123
123
121
117
gGZW
112
gISEL
1170
gNTM
14
gNM
491
530
505
377
527
332
332
276
258
gPI
1048
1024
gINEL
8
3
21
gINET
94
106
39
102
gRZM
117
128
127
121
105
116
125
122
104
115
111
104
115
116
114
108
gILM
111
gIPQ
117
gYI
109
gPTAT
3.16
2.01
1.88
2.77
1.71
2.42
2.89
2.05
1.43
gFC
8
6
gMO
1.3
2.4
1.6
gEXT
107
106
110
105
gRZE
131
122
125
123
135
116
121
124
128
130
126
138
110
116
110
118
gIME
115
gIML
96
-
gPL
4.2
5.7
3.1
3.4
3.3
2.7
3.3
1.00
2.0
gHL
108
108
gLGF
1.8
1.2
-0.1
gHL
464
429
410
273
gRZN
128
120
113
119
129
119
104
106
121
112
116
125
118
109
112
104
gND
gND
114
gHL
120
R E D
OWNER
ABC Genetics
Accelerated Genetics
Semex
RUW
Samen
Natural Genetics
NBS/DairyBullsOnline
Select Sires
TWG
Accelerated Genetics
ABS Global
TAG
NBS/DairyBullsOnline
Accelerated Genetics
NBS/DairyBullsOnline
Semex
Semex
Natural Genetics
Creavia
Creavia
CRV
CRV
Masterrind
RBW
OHG
Göpel
Select Sires
Select Sires
Accelerated Genetics
TWG
ABC Genetics
Ascol
ABS Global
NBS/DairyBullsOnline
Alta
Semex
Semex
Amelis
Dynamis
Creavia
CRV
CRV
Samen
Samen
ZBH
RUW
RUW
RBW
RUW
ZBH
Masterrind
RUW
RS/RMV/Sex. T.
RUW
RUW
LTR/ZBH
ZBH
RSH
RUW
Masterrind
Swiss Genetics
Göpel
Viking Gentics
R E V O L U T I O N
7
Arron Doon WP Mitey (Goldwyn x September)
Tiger-Lily Ladd (Destry x Lawn Boy)
Painter (Lawn Boy x Ramos)
polled bull Dancer has always been very popular. Currently we are aggressively attempting to
create high genomic polled and homozygous
polled animals including those that do not
have Lawn Boy in the pedigree.’
genetics looks great. We expect that a fully
polled Holstein breed is only a question of
time. We are very sure about that,‘ says Josef
Slejtr, sire analyst for Natural Genetics in the
Czech Republic. The Canadian Roy McGregor
is breeder of Arron Doon West Port Mitey and
Magna, two influential bulls in today’s polled
breeding scene. Nowadays McGregor – his
company has the name DairyBullsOnline, in
cooperation with the American AI NBS – is
active in the field of selecting polled bulls and
semen sales. McGregor predicts that ‘In ten
years the Holstein breed will not be polled. It
will be very hard though to sell semen of bulls
that are not polled. The public opinion, thanks
to the unlimited influence of social media, will
play a decisive role in animal welfare legislation. This influence is already felt these days:
in California it is no longer allowed to dock
tails. The popularity of polled bulls is taking
off. American breeders with the top genetically
polled Holsteins will confirm that demand for
young polled bulls is tremendous.’ l
POLLED FUTURE
A number of AIs predict a golden future for
polled bulls. ‘Sales are still at the beginning.
The first of our daughter proven bulls are only
heterozygous polled. But farmers are looking
mainly for bulls with 100 percent polled progeny. This is a reason of popularity of our first
homozygous polled bull Magua. We expect
that homozygous bulls will accelerate demand
for polled genetics. The future for polled
Source:
www.holsteininternational.com
christine massfeller
This is Golden-Oaks Parma PP-Red. Every calf sired by this red bull from the Roxy family will be genetically polled.
R E D
R E V O L U T I O N
9