2010 Proofs now available
The current sire proofs have just received a major overhaul. There are three proofs per year in France, and for the first time in more than a year, the selection rolling base has been adjusted. Plus there’s another adjustment between the male and female bases, which are now being merged. To see the brand new proofs, check out the Normande Genetics catalog page and click on "download current Proofs and Price list". You’ll find the proofs presented under our usual format, i.e. as a PDF form you can print out. Beneath this link, another link will take you to the bulls’ individual proof sheets, featuring their pictures and their daughters’ pictures. Those sheets are still being updated in France for the various studs, but we expect fully accurate numbers by next week.
As a result of these adjustments, we are seeing fewer changes than usual. But a few bulls stand out with their second crop daughters coming in. Such are the bases of Royal Holl and Perthuis, who both gain significantly in milk production. Note also the remarkable stability of the younger bulls. as well as the continuous confirmation of our milk rock star Redondo. You’ll find more comments on the new proofs later, along with the possible addition of new young bulls. But since these indexes just came in, no decision has been made as yet on future imports. Please stay tuned. Additional comments on our bulls will be available shortly, and we’ll post them on the Normande Genetics website.
News flash to those interested in Royal Holl! We have very little left, and what’s available will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis.
If you have any questions about the proofs or you would like to make a purchase, please call Normande Genetics at 866-823-7212 or send an email to info@normandegenetics.com.
Visit the Catalog page to see and download the new March 2010 proofs.
The Normande Option for Sustainability and Added Value
Normande Genetics was created in 1997 to bring the top dairy genetics of the Normande breed to the American grassland. Because the U.S. dairy industry had long since cut its grass roots in favor of intensive, high-energy, grain-based systems, we believed that genetics here were no longer well suited to grass-based operations. That insight has been confirmed consistently in interactions with American dairy farmers, whose herds are suffering loss of functionality in fertility and longevity, owing to over-selection for productivity, and secondarily, “dairyness.”
While the U.S. dairy sire selection process has changed its position on these issues, it will take time to see results in the field. In-breeding and a narrowing gene pool for most dairy breeds worldwide contribute to the problem, so there is no easy answer to the loss of functionality.
That’s why crossbreeding or switching to another breed, better suited to low input operations, makes sense. After all, when dairy farmers switch to grazing, they want low-cost operations and low input, which means profits and margins replace production as the main benchmarks of success. In turn, genetic traits that contribute to the bottom line become essential, while selecting for milk production becomes less important.
The Normande’s traits serve the objectives of grass-based operations in two ways: lowering costs as much as possible, while adding value whenever possible. Does this mean the Normande is perfect? No, and there are some other viable options for graziers, but the Normande has outstanding attributes as a purebred or in a cross-breeding program. The breed has shown successful examples with all U.S. dairy breeds and is often included in three-way crossbreeding programs. The University of Minnesota’s new experimental organic herd will include such a cross.
Whether crossbred or purebred, Normandes in America are descendants of a well-adapted breed, developed for centuries on the permanent pastures of Normandy and bred for high-quality dairy products to serve the demanding, food-savvy Parisian market. Therefore, when evaluating the breed’s genetic traits, the Normande excels in terms of both sustainability and added value criteria. And those are the two categories most relevant to grass-based dairies.
high grain prices: no problem for normande users
Here’s something Normande breeders have long known: Normandes are incredible feed converters and need less grain than other specialized dairy breeds. In fact, most French herds require less than five lbs of grain per day. Because Normande genetics maintain a good body condition, there isn’t a “shut off “ of vital functions such as reproduction and overall health in the service of milk production. Instead, Normande cows’ physiology enables them to adapt well to lower inputs, making the breed all the more interesting during times of expensive grain. Anyone who is interested in efficient cows on grass or any low-input systems should take a serious look at what Normande genetics have to offer.
