Velsvik 252NR10432, new on the scene in 2009, moved to the number one position in the latest ranking at total merit (TMI) rating of 27. He transmits tremendous fat %, being over three standard deviations above the national average at 132, and is also high in protein % at 112 and is highest for Daughter fertility 122, particularly for Non-Return Rates on lactating cows (122), where many breeds need help! This sire is an easy calver (113) and leaves very desirable udders (117), needing slight protection on rear udder attachment (92). An ideal mate for milky cows needing improvement in %’s and fertility!
Raastad 252NR10115, the perennial leader, and Bosnes 252NR10402 (new in 2009), are tied for runner-up spot, with TMI’s of 24; both have real strengths. Bosnes delivers very high milk, fat and protein yields with easy calving, sound udders, and excellent calving ease, on a very fertile, medium-sized daughter. Raastad, in contrast is solid in all areas, except that he should be used on cows, as he is not at the NRF breed average for easy calving (82). He is exceptional for production (109), udders (121), fertility of his daughters (107) and milking speed (121). These two sires are having terrific impacts around the world!
Sormarka 252NR10462 (new in 2010) has moved up substantially with a TMI of 21, and solid credentials across the board. He is a definite improver of production (105) and %’s, an easy calver (104), leaving fertile daughters with short interval from calving to insemination (115). His daughters are resistant to mastitis (104) and to other diseases (111). He ranks high on udders (114) with excellent fore and rear udder attachments and wider rear teat placement, a trait desired by herd owners with robotic milkers.
The veteran sires such as Hjulstad 252NR10245, Haga 252NR10039, Oygarden 252NR05848, Haga II 252NR10278, as we call him, all follow closely in rankings, with little change in their proofs due to the large numbers of daughters in their first evaluations. Oygarden hops over some rivals on his second crop daughters’ tremendous production (134) which places him at the top of active sires and all NRF sires for production. His future impact will undoubtedly be through sons proven in Norway and Sweden. Hjulstad actually ties Sormarka’s TMI at 21 as his udder index remains at an outstanding 137, over 3 standard deviations above national average!
A new light is Nord-Braut 252NR10468 a single polled sire with good production, easy calving, fertility particularly on non- return rates of daughters in milk (112), and very desirable udders (112). He is our top rated polled sire at present with a TMI of 17. His daughters are resistant to mastitis (106) and to other diseases (115).
Two favourites, Sand 252NR10232, with a TMI of 17, and Braut 252NR10177 with a TMI of 16 maintain high rankings and are seeing extensive use globally with solid proofs, and a second polled sire Hojem 252NR10035, with a TMI also at 16, is also becoming a favourite, with solid production (113), good fertility (110), and sound udders and feet and legs (109).