The main IBOVAL indexation has just given its verdict. It confirms the first trends observed during the August indexation and reveals the first IFNAIS on progeny of Genomic sires thanks to the inclusion of birth data. This winter indexation is particularly interesting for breeders in late autumn/winter calving and is an opportunity to refine or finalize their choice of sires to be used as a priority on their farm.
What should we retain about the main IBOVAL indexation 2023_02?
The "P" confirm in IFNAIS (Ease of Birth)
All of the first calves born this summer/autumn have allowed the first indexing of "genomic" bulls on progeny. With more than 600 calves taken into account on average, the 11 bulls of the "P" series confirm their level and their segmentation rather well.
As for bulls that can be used on maiden heifers, the good surprise is REMIX and his IFNAIS at 120, up 6 points. The bulls PANDORE P (114), POKER (109) and the much coveted PICKUP PP (108) hold their place in this segment. Only PITBULL P (103), with slightly higher but regular birth weights, drops out for this trait and re-enters the segmentation of bulls that can be used on 1st Calvers or Cows with his Mixed, Polled and very dairy profile.
Other bulls with a stronger "Morphology" profile keep their good levels such as POMMARD P (97), POETIC P (98), PEDRO P (100) or PADECALAI (101). The bulls PETALE P (93), which loses a few points, and RICHELIEU (94) are more oriented towards an exclusive use on adult cows.
REMIX : confirmation on heifers
First calvings at 2 years of age make Avel (Calving abilities) reliable
The "N" generation bulls are recording their first 2-year old daughters calving. Of the 12 bulls that were introduced 3 years ago, 8 of them already have more than 15 daughters calved and all of them are confirming or improving their indexing. Of these, NENUFAR PP (115) is up 12 points with 55 daughters, NIRVANA P (109) and NETBOOK (116) are up 5 points with 71 and 51 daughters in production respectively while NIGER PP (103) is also up 8 points with his first 17 daughters calved. While the highest in index, NEOFAL P (125) increases by 3 points, the lowest of the series, NESTOR (92), also gains 7 points with 35 daughters. Finally NOLIMIT and NORTON stabilize at 112. All these index gains are the confirmation of the selection rules applied before distribution by Genes Diffusion.
On the AVel side, we can also note the progression of 3 points for MELOMAN (106) with 629 additional daughters. For this index, the first place goes to LEXOVY at 134 index with 243 daughters, followed closely by HIAGO (129) or MERLIN P (126) among the top sires.
NETBOOK : confirmation through the indexes
Good Satisfaction on the Milk Potential Side
While the first daughters of the "L" generation have all weaned their first calf, the new 210 day's calve's weight of these daughters confirm the expected milk potential. Among the confirmations are LATINO (119), LORD (118), LOSC (107), LUTTI (107) and LEXOVY (106) which have improved by an average of almost 3 points on Milk. The other bulls in this series remain at intermediate levels between 97 and 105.
On the maternal side, the unavoidable MELOMAN (106) also progresses by 3 points with his new small progeny controlled. Indexation after indexation, this exceptional sire plays his score without any false notes.
Finally, we can mention FIGUIER P at 125 index which is in the first place of the ranking for Milk.
Combining genetic level and depth of range
In terms of selection, the hardest thing is not to select and distribute the best bull, which is quite easy with the example of the crossbreeding oriented bull PRIMCROS P and its French number 1 positions in ISEVR (133) and IVMAT (130).
The hardest part is to offer a range rich in genetic and morphological diversity while guaranteeing a genetic level capable of generating significant added value whatever the production system is.
As far as Genes Diffusion is concerned, the years follow each other and are similar. Whether they can be used on heifers or reserved for cows, the bulls selected and distributed this year show incomparable and unequalled genetic levels.
| Genetic level of the sires of the Catalogue | Ease of Birth (IFNAIS) | Production of Weanlings (ISEVR) | Production of Stears (IABjbf) | Total Merit Maternal (IVMAT) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24 sires for "Heifers" | 113 | 111 | 109 | 112 |
| 46 sires for "Cows" | 99 | 113 | 114 | 114 |
All of the Genes Diffusion bulls held their rank during this winter indexation. Among the bulls confirmed in maternal value on progeny with at least 25 controlled grandsires GIONO and EPERNAY at 125 IVMAT are in first place. In this ranking, the bulls GUETTA, MIMOSA, HIAGO, CHABAL and FIRST continue to hold the places of honor in the national ranking. Among all the bulls born since 2003, the young generations, widely appreciated these last years, are not left out for their genetic level.
In fact, taking the example of weaning production, among the bulls distributed at 120 and more in ISEVR, there are 55% of bulls from our Selection Company. At Genes Diffusion, we also count 63% of the bulls distributed with a publishable IABjbf (Beef abilities) of 120 and more. Finally, no less than 68 % of the distributed bulls with a publishable IVMAT of 120 and more are bulls by GD, including : REMUS, RIMBAUD, RINGOSTAR, RUSTY P, PRIMCROS P, POETIC P, PEDRO P, OCTOPUS, ONEDREAM P, OUMIOU, NORDIC and NOLIMIT.
REMUS : n°2 French IVMAT of 128
Increased reliability for PSF (post-weaning) evaluation
Post-weaning weighing and scoring on the farm improves the reliability of indexing. True indicators of adult morphology, the 4 "PSF" indexes that are growth, muscular development, skeletal development and functional aptitudes are to be considered when making genetic choices to validate the orientation to be given to the herd.
For growth, it is the bull that can be used on heifers, MIMOSA (117) that takes the lead in the national ranking, followed closely by NEOFAL P (116), or MAXIMUS (115), to mention only the recent bulls. On the other hand, bulls such as NIRVANA P (90), MERLIN P (90) and NENUFAR PP (92) do not confirm their position. On the meat side, recent bulls such as MACAO (117), LUCIFER, MERLIN P (116) and NOLIMIT (114) are the ones that outperform the range.
MAXIMUS and MIMOSA (119) are the 2 bulls that dominate the DSpsf (Skeletal dev. Post weaning) young sire ranking. HIAGO and LOSC (112) also stand out among the most popular sires.
Aggregated with maternal indexes, such as AVel, ALait and EFCAR, these post-weaning indexes are used to calculate the RENOUV (Renewal) total merit index.
RENOUV: the value to control its renewal
Proposed and distributed by the OS Union Gènes Diffusion since 18 months, the RENOUV index translates the aptitude of an animal to produce quality and economic renewal females. By simply reading this index, one can appreciate the level of quality of the female line and the level of improvement of renewal allowed by the bull.
Among the top bulls in the 2022/2023 range, there is little variation in index. Sires that can be considered outstanding for female production are MIMOSA (124), GUETTA and RINGOSTAR (123), VIGNY and RIMBAUD (122), RAVEL, PITBULL P, HIAGO and CHABAL (121), or even MELOMAN, CHABLIS, PADECALAI, NEOFAL P and NORDIC (120). We could also add to this list of bulls at 120 and more some "old bulls" like CABREL, BALTRAP, CLUEDO and ESPAGNOL.
GUETTA : N° 2 for Renewal
Keeping the direction
Selection constantly requires making choices between animals and if possible the right ones! It is also based on the expectation of confirmation on the progeny of the breeding stock.
The strength of a selection program lies as much in the selection guidelines that are applied as in the fundamentals that must not be deviated from. It is this rigor of selection that allows us to maintain the direction and the levels in the national rankings and it is also this rigor that allows us to progress the share of the genetics of Genes Diffusion in the French and International Charolais landscape.