The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Cattle => Shetland Cattle => Topic started by: JEP on September 10, 2016, 03:34:17 pm
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we are going to order some semen from schbs
Wharncliffe Josephine
for are cows which are wharncliffe josephine & jura
which bull would you pick and why
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What strengths do your girls have? What weaknesses? Surely you need to find a bull to complement them (and not just their pedigrees) rather than just one of out of the hat?
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Genetics are very important for Shetlands because there are so few of them. You can do trial matings via the SCBA database and the new SCHBS one as well, I think
You would certainly want a bull that produces offspring with a lower Coefficient of Inbreeding than either of the parents.
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I might use either Collafirth Viking or Randolph Fergus for your cows- using the Whole Herd crossing feature on the SCBA website these 2 bulls produce calves with lower inbreeding co-efficients than their parents.
We had Viking here for 2 years when he was a young bull, his calves grow nicely and have good natures - so I would probably go for him - another plus for Viking is he was grey so he may introduce some colour variation into your herd if you are interested in that aspect.
Sue
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im asking because we like different bulls
we can bring inbreeding down
garths adonis brings it down to 5.73 progeny about 50
Collafirth Viking brings it down to 6.67 progeny about 21
[/size]Randolph Fergus brings it down to 6.73 progeny 16
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The usual advice is to pick a bull that produces the lowest inbreeding in the potential calves and has had the fewest progeny.
The number of progeny is more important for recently working bulls such as Viking and Fergus - as their direct progeny will be still living. Adonis was born in 1980 (I think), so although he's had more progeny, they've been spread over a much longer period and will have a less concentrated effect on the current national herd.
Does it have to be the same bull for each? - you could go for Adonis and his old genes and either Viking for his nature and colour or Fergus for his nature and his black feet. There's some theory that black feet are less trouble and less likely to need trimming - not sure about that one.
Sue
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thanks all for advice
we will take factotum advice and order viking
thanks John
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thanks all for advice
we will take factotum advice and order viking
I'm sure it's not statistically significant but our Annie is a Viking daughter and he's the nicest natured cow and a good milker and mum. :hugcow:
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Couldn't agree more - our Viking girls are very good - and we've kept a 'grandson' entire - he's a nice looking grey & white bull, very placid like Viking and about to come of age - he's going south continue the line...
Good luck with your AI adventure - hoping you have healthy, bouncy calves.
Sue