Daughter after Norwegian Red bull Nordbø (10553) . All offspring after Nordbø will be polled. Photo: Elly Geverink
16.09.11 Author: Gary W. Rogers
Eggtroen, Eik and Velsvik are still the top Norwegian Red bulls
The top ranking NRF sires for Total Merit Index changed very little with the September proofs. 25 new bulls received their first official proofs and the new bull Naxbie 252NR10632 is the most interesting because he is homozygous polled and has a TMI of 5
Eggtroen (252NR10579), Eik (252NR10540) and Velsvik (252NR10432) are the top 3 sires for Total Merit Index (TMI) and all have a TMI of 27.
Temperament, udders and feet
Naxbie joins Nordbo (252NR10553) and Skjenaust (252NR10558) as 3 of the world’s leading dairy sires that are homozygous polled which means that all their progeny will be polled.
Norwegian Red Sire Naxbie (252NR10632). Photo: Klingwall
Naxbie (252NR10632) is a red son of Heigre (252NR5646) who was popular during his generation. Naxbie has 196 daughters with production data and 130 daughters with conformation data in this first official proof. Naxbie has a well balanced trait profile. His daughters have good temperament (116 for temperament), high udders and excellent feet. Naxbie may especially be interesting for grazing herds and other herds that are interested in low management input.
Fitness traits
Velsvik (252NR10432) has an extremely well balanced trait profile and is widely accepted to be historically one of the best NRF sires of all time for the fitness traits. Velsvik is remarkable for his combination of outstanding daughter fertility (126), paternal calving ease (119), mastitis resistance (114), resistance to disease other than mastitis (130), and for his daughters’ outstanding udders (117).
Production and udders
Eggtroen (252NR10579), who is polled, and Eik (252NR10540) daughters will be noted for their high production. Eik daughters will also have very nice udders (114 for mammary system).
Ruud (252NR10624) had his second official proof in September and is one of the highest production sires in Norway to date (130 for kg protein). Ruud added 24 daughters with production data (176 daughters with production data now) and 18 daughters with conformation data (120 daughters with conformation data now) since June and his production proofs changed very little.