Normande

Normande Genetics Catalog

Sires chart

Normande Genetics offers you two different ways to view our sire catalogue.

You can download it as an an Excel sheet here with links between most bulls and a pdf sheet with pictures of the bull and his daughters. Or you can view a pdf version of our listing with proofs and prices of all our bulls

Click here for April 2008 Proofs and Price list.
(Microsoft Excel spreadsheet)

Click here for April 2008 Proofs and Price list.
(PDF)

Which bulls to use?

This year’s line up includes lots of newcomers – exits some of the old guard and welcome to fresh blood! A great variety of bulls are available. Note that most offer excellent udders and almost all carry BB Kappa Casein genotype. While the former is key to most, we must admit that the later only matters to those making cheese themselves. Some bulls are tall and big, some are shorter. In any case, as you know, there is no perfect bull, and that’s a good thing, ensuring that a
variety of genetics is being used, preserving genetic diversity. In addition, there is not even just one type of bull to use, and your choice may eventually be quite specific to your personal goals. However, we would be glad to help you decide.

If you are working with medium-size cows, we would, of course, direct you to the low-stature bulls, such as Redondo, a top-notch bull who happens to be very high in milk and type as well, or Perthuis, a newcomer with great muscularity and a well balanced profile. But if you really want medium or maybe small, check our new addition Hollydays. He’s actually quite an old bull, whose semen was sold in the United States a few years ago. And he’s back, because of his very good calving ease, his great udder and high protein. You should also consider Mimosa, by far the smallest of all and yet very dairy, Jaborandi, the components bull, and Messager, an excellent bull all around that requires special consideration. Finally such old timers as Justin and Foix should also be considered, the former being our number one calving ease bull and the later a veteran with good and sound reliability. In the intermediate size category, a special mention of Iceton should be made: he is a well proven bull and an excellent value, with daughters that show exceptional legs and udder.

In regards to size, let’s reiterate that the Normande is shorter than the Holstein. So high stature bulls cannot be compared with their Holstein counterparts and you should seriously consider them. In the high components/high type category, note new kid on the block Telerama, stellar Singleton, a remarkable bull with shining profile, Royal Holl and his excellent calving ease and type, as well as more familiar Pompon, a well balanced bull, Joachim and Nivea. A special mention should be made about newcomer Studio, a very good compromise between milk, components and stunning type. In the high milk category, special mention goes to Tonactil, a new face, but also Ninas and Niratum, both well proven, combining high components with high milk for the later. Note also SaintYorre, another newcomer excelling in both milk and solids. Finally both Primate and Ricardo bring excellent type, the later being the show bull /par excellence/. Sortain, Rotin and Orgeres all present very interesting attributes in various categories and complete our line up while senior Girophare remains in a category of his own, still harboring the most impressive stature.

Please do not wait for the 2008 breeding season. And call us for spring specials.

How to Read French Proofs

Since all Normande proofs have been calculated in France, they are different than those used in the U.S. France uses the most modern and reliable indexing methods in order to provide exceptional genetics from planned matings between the best lines of Normande. Under the control of the Ministry of Agriculture (which imposes exacting criteria), bodies independent from the AI studs collect and process all data required for indexing dairy bulls.

production indexes reliability type
- rump angle rear leg set udder balance
- teat directio n
functional Indexes
- somatic cell count longevity fertility calving Ease
- calving Ability
inel index isu index
kappa casein

Production Indexes

The production indexes (Quantity of Milk, Protein and Fat, Percentage of Protein and Fat) are calculated three times a year according to the BLUP Animal Model method. The index reflects the bull's breeding value, calculated on his daughters' first three lactations. The lactations of ALL daughters are included. The index is expressed in terms of a standard deviation against the French Normande rolling base. This is changed each year in July (every 5 years in the U.S.), leaving the average index always at zero.

All figures are Breeding Values originally calculated in kilograms. They are expressed here in pounds (1 kilogram = 2.2 pounds). The protein and fat percentage indexes have also been adjusted to U.S. mode of calculation: the value have been divided by 10, so that a percentage is expressed, instead of a per thousand value, as is the case in France.

Reliability The reliability refers to the level of precision that can be attributed to a given index. A minimum of daughters in a minimum of herds is necessary for an index to be published. Indexes inferior than 70 are usually not published in the Normande breed.

Type Proofs

Type proofs are based on a descriptive linear scoring table, as are body measurements. All type indexes are expressed against a rolling base changed in July each year, so that 0 always means 0 (i.e. the average is 0). There are 15 type traits and 3 composites (frame, muscularity and udder). Type proofs are not as often calculated as production indexes. This explains why index dates differ between type, production and functional indexes.

Rump Angle

Note that for Rump Angle, "-" means high pins, "+" means sloped. A slightly positive index is desireable. Normandes tend to have more slope than most Holsteins. French farmers prefer more slope for better reproductive results (calving and cleaning).

Rear Leg Set
The Rear Leg Set index refers to the hocks quality: "+" means posty, "-" means sickle. An intermediate value is preferable.

Udder Balance "+" means high rear quarters

Teat Direction "+" means internal direction

Functional Indexes

Functional indexes (Fertility, Somatic Cell Count, and Longevity) are calculated once a year and are not immediately available for young bulls. Positive values are desirable for each index. Therefore, the higher the index, the better the bull for that particular trait. These first three indexes are expressed in units of standard deviation in relation to a mobile base averaging 0. Calving Ease and Ability indexes follow a different type of rating as explained below.

Somatic Cell Count: The somatic cell count index refers to the mastitis resistance that the daughters of a given bull show. A high index signals a low somatic cell count.

Longevity: The longevity index is based on the rate of non-voluntary cullings. The higher the index, the better the longevity is.

Fertility: The fertility index addresses the fertility of the daughters of a given bull after calving. It does not address the bull's own semen fertility. The higher the index, the better the daughters' fertility is. The genetic standard deviation equals 5 points of AI success and one index point corresponds to 2.5% more success on daughters in lactation.

Calving Ease: The calving ease index is a new index in France. It represents the capacity of a given bull to generate easy calvings. 89 is the breed average. 90-91 are considered easy. 87-89 normal. Less than 87 should be avoided on heifers. Numbers refer to the percentage of easy calvings expected on heifers calving in the winter.

Calving Ability: The calving ability of a given bull refers to the ability of his daughters to calve easily. 89 is the breed average. 90-91 qualify for an easy calving of the daughters.

INEL index

INEL is the French economic dairy index, which combines quantity and percentage protein (P%) according to the formula INEL = 1.15 [kg of protein + (3 x P%)]. The INEL is adapted to the French economic environment and that may not apply to another situation, such as in the U.S.. North American breeders should use this index with caution. This index is based on a market that strongly privileges protein and protein %. The focus is very high on Protein %.

ISU is the French total performance index, designed by the French Normande Association (UPRA Normande). It combines milk production with conformation and milking speed according to the formula
ISU = 100 + 31.45 x [ (0.59 x INEL/20) + (0.175 x Udder Composite) + (0.145 x Frame) + (0.06 Milking Speed) + (0.03 Muscularity)]. The rolling base average is 100 and the standard deviation is 20.

Kappa Caseine

The Kappa Caseine is the key protein for cheese making. There are different variant of this protein, A and B. Cattle can be homozygous or heterozygous (i.e. AA, AB or BB). Many studies have demonstrated the supperiority of the B variant when it comes to cheese yield. BB milk tends to clott faster and studies in France and Switzerland have shown overall higher yield and better taste with BB milk. A very high percentage of Normande bulls and cows are homozygous BB and the Normande has one of the highest incidence of the B gene over all dairy breeds. For now, no market ever pays for BB superior milk but unformal practices reflect the specific trait of that milk. Cheese plants in Western France where there are many Holsteins along with Normandes make sure they mix milks in order to secure good quality batches. More information on this can be found on the Dairy Pipeline web site at www.cdr.wisc.edu. As more information becomes available, this site will provide it to you.

The semen from all bulls in this catalogue complies with the stringent health and sanitary regulations for importation of semen into the U.S.