regolith
Well-known member
I found an article by a breeder just now that puts into very clear words what I think of breeding with the focus on overall index:
http://www.stormview.co.nz/119377/html/page.html
Probably only of interest to one or two who read here. The best bit about the owners of this herd - they are 50/50 sharemilkers with a vision. They're in the same situation I am, where their asset is the cows that they own rather than land or other investments.
This year I listed twelve heifer calves for sale. The stock agent found a buyer and good money for eight of them. The other four had indexes under that current 'magic' number of 100 and I still have them... he told me it was unlikely he'd be able to get their rearing cost back if he tried to sell them for me. This is the sort of thing I've heard over and over again - all twelve calves were selected for the same reason, my cows had been out on lease and they were the result of matings I would never have wanted heifers from. Sharemilkers are essentially tied in to the index system because otherwise their cattle are not marketable.
My herd is national average for BW and I select matings to ensure it stays there. Those Brown Swiss cross heifers are all minus rated for index, if I had to sell the herd there's a good chance some of my best would go to slaughter. But the herd index remains average, because I balance my bull selections with some of the top index bulls in the country, the ones that also carry reasonable type and management traits.
I'd love to be able to just let go of the pursuit of index altogether.
http://www.stormview.co.nz/119377/html/page.html
Probably only of interest to one or two who read here. The best bit about the owners of this herd - they are 50/50 sharemilkers with a vision. They're in the same situation I am, where their asset is the cows that they own rather than land or other investments.
This year I listed twelve heifer calves for sale. The stock agent found a buyer and good money for eight of them. The other four had indexes under that current 'magic' number of 100 and I still have them... he told me it was unlikely he'd be able to get their rearing cost back if he tried to sell them for me. This is the sort of thing I've heard over and over again - all twelve calves were selected for the same reason, my cows had been out on lease and they were the result of matings I would never have wanted heifers from. Sharemilkers are essentially tied in to the index system because otherwise their cattle are not marketable.
My herd is national average for BW and I select matings to ensure it stays there. Those Brown Swiss cross heifers are all minus rated for index, if I had to sell the herd there's a good chance some of my best would go to slaughter. But the herd index remains average, because I balance my bull selections with some of the top index bulls in the country, the ones that also carry reasonable type and management traits.
I'd love to be able to just let go of the pursuit of index altogether.