ABS Australia News
Breeding better cows faster
When Adam Maidment breeds replacement Holsteins, he knows one thing for certain – they will be the best animals on the farm. This conviction comes from a strict heifer selection process – including genomics, sexed genetics and a significant dairy-beef program. He also knows breeding from the best is the fastest ticket to genetic gain….
St Jacobs breaks into the commercial market with a leading new line of sires
St Jacobs is entering the commercial market with a new category of sires for farmers under thename Linear Choice. This new line of St Jacobs sires prioritizing function, balance, and healthhas been available in Japan and France since May and will become available to more countriesover the coming months through the ABS Global channels. Linear…
Genetic solution to phase out bobby calves
Australian dairy farmers are embracing specialist dairy beef genetics to reduce bobby calves and diversify farm businesses. Nearly 14 per cent of all ABS semen sold to dairy farmers last year was ABS InFocus™ – a genetic product designed to breed a quality and consistent beef animal from a dairy cow. Increasing demand for a…
Ticking all the breeding boxes at Cooriemungle
Byron Smethurst has strict criteria for selecting bulls. The manager of two dairies, milking a total of 600 cows at Cooriemungle in southwest Victoria, he knows it’s possible to breed cows with a combination of form, function and profit – it just requires research. “I like good looking cows, but they have to make money,”…
Australian dairy values polled perfection
Two of the top five proven Holstein sires are ABS polled bulls Australia’s highest Heterozygous polled Jersey in demand Breeders embrace top Type Red Holstein ABS dominates top six Holstein proven sires Young Red bulls on the rise Polled ABS Holstein sires lead the dairy industry’s latest bull rankings, as more farmers choose genetics to…
Brent Mitchell shares his story
His story:Mitch Holsteins in Bamawm, Victoria is run by Brent and Kim Mitchell. They milk just short of 300 cows with split calving in autumn and spring and do all their own AI work. They have around 400ha of farm spread between three different locations. “We place a big emphasis on cows, we love our…
Genetics solutions for farm business decisions
Milking less cows, moving and changing their herd’s calving pattern. Guy and Leanne Gallatly have a few things on their plate in the next year. But what might seem like daunting changes for some, have been made much easier for this Maffra couple because they’ve embraced breeding tools and genetic solutions. Working with ABS Sales…
A milk management tool with a cash bonus
Flatter milk production, a shorter spring joining and a ‘second opportunity’ for quality cows, these are just some of the benefits one Gippsland family have obtained from using a specified dairy-beef insemination program. The fact they also get valuable ABS InFocus™ animals delivering a “cash cow” later in the season is just a bonus. The…
Environmental focus for Gippsland breeders
Genetics is helping one Gippsland dairy farming family reduce their business’ carbon footprint, while bolstering herd health and productivity. Stuart and Jacqui Tracy, with their son Angus, milk 700 cows at Waratah Bay in Victoria as part of a family business which also includes their daughters Carmen and Leila. Their Holstein herd is ranked number…
Australian first – celebrating ABS JERONIMO P’s female dominance
ABS JERONIMO P makes Australian dairy history with 16 of the top 17 cows. Holsteins CHARLEY and his son DURABLE are proof that health, production, and sustainability go together. Young genomic Jerseys rank well on the new Sustainability Index. ABS’ Norwegian Reds dominate polled and health indexes. Australia’s favourite Holstein bull is breeding the nation’s…