THERE is continued stability in the April spring calving index (SCI) released by AHDB Dairy this month, offering some reassurance for dairy producers as they look to AI for the 2018 calving season. 

Designed specifically for producers block calving in the spring, operating grazing-based systems and targeting milk production of around 4500kg per head, the ranking sees a continued domination by the Jersey and British Friesian breeds.

Jerseys from the VJ stud head up the table as VJ Tester retains his existing lead ahead of VJ Zummit, which features low daughter maintenance costs (-69) and long lifespans (+0.8). High daughter fertility bulls, VJ Hilario and VJ Link, remain in the top five and are followed by two new entrants – VJ Juris and Sunset Canyon Dazzler – in fifth and sixth place. 

British Friesian bull, Catlane Caleb, takes seventh position and is another daughter fertility improver. He is the first of two Friesians in the top 10, the other being Catlane Chad which sits in 10th position. 

Fern Pearston, animal genetics manager for AHDB Dairy, said: “It’s very important for breeders to remember that the £SCI list is an across-breed ranking, which means the figures they see are very different from the same bulls’ figures on their own breed rankings.
“This means the figures are not comparable in any way to the individual breed rankings and they should only be used in the context of the spring calving index.”