The ‘Fifty Shades’ phenomenon has reached the dairy industry with the launch of a collection of Holstein sires “on spanking good terms,” according to Simon Gee, livestock manager for Sterling Sires.
“To whip up interest among farmers having a hard time due to low milk prices, the featured black and white sires can significantly reduce semen costs and present great value in these rough times. We are offering the selected bulls at up to 50% off list price.”
Including a mixture of daughter-proven and genomic sires, the ‘Fifty Shades of Black and White’ collection features six Holstein bulls available at special 30 or 50 straw prices. A combination of bulls can be used to make up 50 straws to get the best price, explains Mr Gee. Three of the bulls featured are Danillo, NH Indianstar PP RC, and Anderstrup Heavey.
Dominating the daughter-proven line up, Danillo delivers an ideal combination of type, production and management traits with Type Merit (TM) +2.81, legs and feet +3.38 and PLI of £426. “A Braedale Goldwyn son, with 93% Type Proof reliability, the bull already has close to 2,000 progeny worldwide and is a great all-round sire for commercial milk production,” comments Simon Gee.
Indianstar, a genomic bull by Golden Oaks Parma PP Red, is a homozygous polled out-cross sire and red carrier. A cell count reducer at -18% SCC, Indianstar transmits good lifts in fat and protein at +0.09% and +0.05%. His progeny will all be naturally polled.
The number one Massey son, Heavey combines high type and production. “Figures of +699kg milk, positive fat and protein and +3.14 genomic TM with a balanced modern linear makes using Heavey a sound choice,” says Simon Gee. Heavey’s dam is the newly classified VG87 Snowman daughter, Anderstrup Snow Heaven.
The ‘Fifty Shades’ collection is only available as special offers while stocks last, and farmers with empty tanks are urged to submit their interest to Sterling Sires.
