A new source of dairy cattle genetics offering outcross and cross-breeding options, an emphasis on milk from forage, and medium-sized cows with better than average longevity has been launched by Sterling Sires. The company has been appointed UK distributor by Genetics Australia (GA) whose breeding goals, according to Sterling Sires director Paul Westaway, are aligned closely to the priorities of many UK dairy farmers.
’There are close similarities between production systems here and in much of Australia, geared to producing as much milk as possible from grazing and conserved forages, in combination with good responses to concentrate supplementation,’ he says. ’Typically, the daughters of GA sires are medium-sized with good style and robust functional conformation.’
Holstein, Jersey and Aussie Red bulls are available immediately. Aussie Red is a combination of Scandinavian Red and Australian Shorthorn bloodlines. For pedigree breeders looking for new bloodlines while staying within their breed’s herdbook, Paul Westaway says all three breeds offer outcross choices from diverse ancestry. He suggests they also present new options to farmers pursuing cross-breeding strategies.
Among the Holstein sires, Cardinal is in the Australian top 1% for combined type and profit ratings, with a converted proof of +414kg milk and +22.7kg combined fat and protein (CFP). For CFP improvement specifically, Australia’s top rated sire Delsanto rates +34.8kg, based on +0.33% fat and +0.14% protein, and is also in his home country’s top 1% for combined type and profit. Some of the GA bulls are homozygous carriers of the a2 milk protein gene*, in which some UK milk processors are beginning to show interest.
All Genetics Australia sires will be priced for affordability, pledges GA export director Rob Derksen, with none expected to exceed ’20/straw. ’We are delighted to be working with Sterling Sires to make our best cattle genetics available to as many UK breeders as possible, who we hope and expect will find our cattle offering just the combination of production, productive efficiency and functional type they’re looking for.’
