When we think about what is important in a dairy cow we quickly identify traits that translate to profitability and a long career in the milking herd... Breeding back easily, producing well with good components and having udders built to last.
Semex's Health$mart™ sires are specifically identified for these traits, making it easier for dairymen to put these profitable sires to work. In January 2010, Semex added 0200HO02082 Bomaz Lancelot (98%-I), a Lancelot son proven through its USA Premier™ program to Semex's Health$mart™ line-up.
Lancelot's pedigree makes him very interesting, offering an outcross pedigree while still being one of the top bulls in the industry.
As a son of the German bull Lancelot, his pedigree is more than just an outcross due to his sire. On the maternal side his pedigree is filled with excellent production and high classification scores.
Not only was Lancelot's Rubytom dam scored EX-91-2E, but both she and his grandam produced over 16,329 kgs in 305 days in their second lactations. This unique pedigree has made him a stand out from contemporaries, but has also drawn worldwide attention from other AI centres that are looking to use him as a sire of sons.
Analyzing Lancelot on paper it's easy to see that he has many of the traits dairymen look to when looking for profitable sires. He posts excellent figures for milk production, components, mammary systems, with above average fertility in both the USA and Canadian systems, predicting his daughters' will to live and contribute. Proven through his first crop of daughters, Lancelot is an excellent transmitter of profitability traits.
Premier™ Consultant Cam Davis echoes Lancelot's profitability based on what he's seen in the field. "I've inspected four daughters in one herd in New York. All four bred back on their first breeding by 65 days and all four have an ME of over 13,100 kgs. These cows are good, young cows that dairymen love having in their herd."
In the field, Lancelot progeny show a very consistent and pleasing breeding pattern. Sampled in some very large and competitive herds, the Lancelots have had to work extra hard to prove themselves to be profitable.
Breeders that used Lancelot as a young sire have been very satisfied with their return on investment, with many Lancelots being among the most profitable animals in their two year old groups.
Constantly delivering high levels of milk production with outstanding levels for components have driven breeders to
go back and use Lancelot again as a proven sire.
Perhaps most impressive, however, are the Lancelots' mammary systems. These cows have an ideal rear udder shape and strength of attachment, while their fore udders have the strength that will help support and contribute to his longevity scores. Their udders are shallow, well-attached and have a very correct teat placement, enabling them to be very healthy and profitable.
Owners describe their Lancelots as trouble-free, low maintenance individuals with an aggressive will to contribute to the herds' success. No matter how you look at Lancelot, it's easy to see how he spells profitability. Whether evaluating him on paper, or in the barns, these cows are easily considered to be some of the most profitable in herds.
Lancelot combines many traits dairymen need to increase profitability, and his outcross pedigree adds to his popularity, making him an ideal candidate for all mating programs worldwide.
Reprinted from Semex Balance April 2010. To download the complete issue click here.
