Help Interpretting sire scores

[cjb]

What are the main numbers to look for in choosing a sire? The local guy that does AI can use one of three sires, "Lexington, Myway or Leland". I'll attach a pic of our cow so you can what you think her faults are etc.

I would prefer a much smaller jersey, as ours is quite tall and large. The only one of the three that is rated as "short" and "frail" is Myway. How does he look otherwise? The Mom has pretty long teats so "short" teats don't scare me too much. Mom's temperament is outstanding, as well.

Please let me know what to look for. She is definitely in heat now and I want to have her bred next time (3 weeks or so away?).

Thanks for any input you might have.

Cliff

http://abs-bs.absglobal.com/dairy/protein_ss.asp

[cjb]

By the way - is it normal for a cow to have those bumps on the top of the root of her tail? I think they look funny.

[matt_man]

I am by no means an expert but here is my opinion:

I would go with a bull that would add some steepness to her foot angle. Her back legs are a bit sickle and her foot angle is low. She is 5 right? She still has good udder attachment for her age so those factors are maybe not as important than if she had a real low, drooping udder at this age.

I would not go with Lexington but between the other two, they both have their pros and cons.

Leland doesn't add much to height, which you were looking against; but, he does have a more posty rear leg set and steep foot angle. She has long teats so you don't care if he will shorten them, but all your bull choices shorten teats. If you are looking towards a heifer for your own replacement cow, you also need to look towards productive life. We want our family cows to be productive over a long lifetime. Myway does add 1.9 to productive life and throws smaller stature; but, he has sickle rear leg set and low foot angle, which I see as an issue with Violet.

I personally would go with Leland but maybe Dostthou will chime in. She is much more knowledgeable than I. I am just learning myself.

Rachel

[Up North]

Cliff - I commend you for venturing into some fairly complex waters and trying to make some sense of all those numbers, LOL. From your photo, my opinion is that the most glaring defect of your cow, and hence the trait that you would breed to correct for in the next generation, is the trait termed "rump angle".
In layman's terms, the line drawn between the cow's front shoulders and her tailbone should be straight, and the tailbone should curve downward rather than being higher than the spine is at the middle of the cow.
And so my choice would be Lexington, as he *moves* this structural trait in the direction of improvement in the category of "rump angle" moreso than the other two sires available to use.
As a general rule, one does not correct all faults of a cow in one generation of breeding, and so it is prudent to select a sire to correct one or two of the most obvious deficiencies and go forth. Slay the biggest dragons first, LOL.

[cjb]

You guys are awesome - thanks and please keep it coming.

[matt_man]

Originally Posted by Up North

Cliff - I commend you for venturing into some fairly complex waters and trying to make some sense of all those numbers, LOL. From your photo, my opinion is that the most glaring defect of your cow, and hence the trait that you would breed to correct for in the next generation, is the trait termed "rump angle".
In layman's terms, the line drawn between the cow's front shoulders and her tailbone should be straight, and the tailbone should curve downward rather than being higher than the spine is at the middle of the cow.
And so my choice would be Lexington, as he *moves* this structural trait in the direction of improvement in the category of "rump angle" moreso than the other two sires available to use.
As a general rule, one does not correct all faults of a cow in one generation of breeding, and so it is prudent to select a sire to correct one or two of the most obvious deficiencies and go forth. Slay the biggest dragons first, LOL.

Been doing a lot of reading and was not quite sure about that particular trait, what you should really be looking for. Thanks for teaching me something.

Rachel

[Madsaw]

I will post more on teh bulls later, just have a sec now to post. No one said anything about Myway being polled. From past experince this tresses jerseys alot when they are dehorned at age past burning tehm off.
Bob

[Wags]

Just for my own education, why only three choices? I was talking to the lady that does AI in my area on Friday and she said I could order and get shipped to her whatever I wanted and she would store it for me.

[JeffNY]

Am I correct in assuming myway is Pold?

[Madsaw]

Ok time for a little more info on my ideas behind Myway.
First off the P in the name shows he is either polled or cares the polled gene. Secondly you want a smaller frame/built cow in the end. He will do that.
Yes your cow is slightly sickled in teh legs and low on the hoof. Yhe other 2 bulls thier scores show they would not improve on this much. Plus they both will tend to increase the size of the cow in the end result.
Then there is the bloodlines you have 2 Berretta bulls to a Barber bull( Myway). Their is a bunch in each came that will tell you why one is better then the other. But, from experince if you are looking for a small frame jersey go with barber cattle. They seem to be more petite. I have seen both bloodlines used and the results. Both lines are great bulls. Its just your choice and you ideas that you want filled.
I mainly used Accelrated Gentics for my AI work in the past. Once I came up with a true beauty of a heifer only to have her die shortly after her first calf.
It took me 2 genrations to get just few traits to change in the good. She would have been huge when she matured out. 3 yrs old hit close to 1100lbs and was tall with a huge frame and a massive barrel chest made for milking. A stupid accindent took care of any ideas for her in the herd.
I know reading the bull charts can be flusterating to say the least. But if possible contact a long time jersey breeder and get real close to them and find out what they know.
I have had both lines in the herd.
Bob