Genus ABS Beef Calving Survey Our selection programme allows us to identify top quality sires for use on dairy cows... Genus ABS can identify young beef bulls which have the potential to transmit the traits we are looking for in a beef sire, by using EBV data. However, EBV data only relates to data collected on beef cows and is often based on small data sets. To identify elite beef sires for use on dairy cows, we have gathered significant data sets on beef sires performance on dairy cows through the Genus ABS Beef Calving Survey to provide sires with a 'proven' status. Hundreds of beef sires have been tested through our survey for the past 40 years, with around 90% being rejected for failing to make the grade.
How we test our beef sires on dairy cows: Beef sires are sourced and entered into our Beef Calving Survey
Semen is collected and used across 2,000 UK farms
Sires are ‘proven’ at 120 calvings in 60 herds ‘Rock Solid Genetics’
Calving observations and information are collected at birth
50,000 progeny+ 'Sapphire Sire'
Bulls are tested for
Calving Ease Calf Quality Gestation Length Calf Coat Colour Calf Survivability
100,000 progeny+ 'Diamond Sire'
It allows us to test beef bulls from numerous breeds on dairy cows
The table below shows proven sires calving survey results on dairy cows... Data is shown on a BSI (Beef Sire Index) scale of 70 to 130 and all proven Genus ABS sires calving survey results are compared with Genus ABS breed averages, based on tens of years of calving survey information. Breed averages differ between beef breeds. Comparisons can only be made between beef bulls of the same breed. GENUS BEEF CALVING SURVEY ON DAIRY COWS ONLY 70 BSI
100 BSI
130 BSI 111
Calving Ease (cows)
116
Gestation Length
GENUS ABS BREED AV.
PROVEN STATISTIC
PROOF RELIABILITY
3.0%
2.3%
Herds 112
283 days
281 days
Calf Quality
130
NA
64%
Calf Survivability
130
4.3%
1.0%
Calvings 249 Reliability
BeefAdvantage™ £76.50 Sire reliability is displayed in a star rating format:
60 - 89 calvings
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90 - 119 calvings
120 - 149 calvings
150 - 179 calvings
180 calvings and over
Beef Cornerstone Breeding Club Beef Cornerstone facilitates the testing of Genus ABS beef sires through our Beef Calving Survey Programme in the UK. Annually we test in the region of 20 young beef sires, with over 800 customers actively involved in the testing. We are continuously recruiting customers to participate in Beef Cornerstone and it’s really easy to join our club.
Join Beef Cornerstone Breeding Club today and you could benefit from: Access to the latest in beef sire genetics, including bulls who are sons of leading proven Genus ABS beef sires. For each calving survey form completed on a dairy cow and returned to us, £7.50 will be credited to your account. You will receive a free Beef Cornerstone jacket on sign up.
Hear what our customers who actively test young Genus ABS Beef sires have to say...
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I’ve used young British Blue sires for the past two years, I have been very impressed with the quality of the calves and have had no problems calving them. The latest calves from Rosemount Iggy, Rosemount Hal, and Greystone Jupiter have been really good with Rosemount Hal being my pick of them all.
We currently use Genus ABS test British Blue sires on our non breeders, and use a selection of different sires at one time to spread the risk. The calves are thrifty and are easy to manage. The calving survey form is clear and easy to fill out. To date, we’ve had some great calves by Genus ABS test beef sires.
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Andrew Gilbert, Newcourt Barton Farm, Devon, milking 500 cows
We’ve been using Genus ABS test beef sires for the last two years with great success. We first started using them due to a shortage in proven Angus sires for the heifers, after calving these bulls with very little issues we moved on to trying other breeds like Blue, Limousin and Simmental on the cows. We like using test sires as they give first hand experience of future proven bulls. Genus test sires are priced very reasonably along with a £7.50 credit for every calving survey we return. Sally Fitzell, Moss House Farm, Preston, milking 370 cows
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John Faux, Oak Tree Farm, Warwickshire, milking 100 cows
Becoming a Beef Cornerstone Breeding Club member is simple... If you would like to sign up as a new member, or are already a Dairy Cornerstone member and would like to modify your Dairy Cornerstone account to include Beef then simply do so by either: 1) Downloading a membership form from the Genus ABS website 2) Contact our Cornerstone team on; 0870 162 2000 or email GB-Bovine-Cornerstone@genusplc.com 3) Speak to your local Genus ABS representative
For more information on Beef Cornerstone contact the Cornerstone team on 0870 162 2000.
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