sires catalog

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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. 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 soon.

normande genetics offers two ways to view our sire catalog.

1. Download March 2010 Proofs and Price list.
(PDF)

2. Individual bull sheets, including photos.

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about the catalog

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.

udderbalance

"+" 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

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.