"The size and nature of the US dairy population has enabled us to make genetic gains that have not been seen in grazing markets before. As US technology and research continues to lead the world, this rate of genetic improvement will continue to increase. The ability to select and breed sires based on quantified and scientifically backed Health & Wellness traits adds value to our customer's herds. Sires that breed easily managed and efficient-sized cows, who convert grass into volumes of high component milk that don't need high amounts of supplement to be profitable produces from grass and get in-calf within the mating season, is what we're striving for and what GrazingPRO® gives us."

"Our goal is to breed "Warrior Cows" : low intervention profitable producers. Local grazing herds require the shorter, wider kind of cow that holds condition. She must have a quality mammary system with superior udder health and excellent mobility to get to and from the pasture. The seasonally calved cow must be fertile, she must also be an efficient converter of grass to high-solids milk and do this year after year after year. It is in longevity (dependent on fertility) that dairy profitability depends. GrazingPRO® helps achieve that goal 

"The ability to survive a block-calving low-input grass-based system requires many traits, but a key trait is fertility. High DPR WWS sires have continually demonstrated their ability to deliver high fertility in Irish grazing conditions. The ideal grazing cow for Ireland must survive in a 365-380-day calving block and maintain that each year for 5+ lactations and produce more kgs of milk solids than kgs of liveweight. Her milk solids production must be driven from high percents rather than high milkvolume. She must survive low levels of concentrate inputs, ideally with low stature and high body condition and outperform other grass-based genetics on genetic traits like mastitis and lameness. We get all this with GrazingPRO®."

"GrazingPRO® does a nice job of representing the entire grazing segment. Yet, we all know there are, and likely always will be, variations of interest within the GrazingPRO® designees. Utilising the Zoetis health traits, along with the CDCB traits, is the most ideal way to provide an answer to breeding for grazing systems. Mastitis resistance at 5% of the GrazingPRO® index may seem minor, yet so many other health and repro traits need to be incorporated, and most all have a positive correlation to mastitis, you will actually receive an indirect positive response to mastitis, even without directly selecting for it. Production is where some major differences in the use of the GrazingPRO® index will occur. Percent components as well as yield has varying acceptability levels, so there is no "one size fits all" answer. GrazingPRO® today does a nice job of finding the sweet spot of these various ideals. Any time we can show the genetic response by grouping bulls based on the index that makes them succeed, is the proof that the index is delivering as promised. 

"I have had the opportunity to have my boots on the ground with grazing herds in many countries around the world for the past 25 years like New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, Columbia and Costa Rico and in the US. These herds, no matter of location, are looking for high component, fertility, smaller stature and healthy cows; all of which are incorporated in the GrazingPRO® formula. As we bring Jersey bulls into the GrazingPRO® program we are looking for bulls that have plus component percent and pounds, with high DPR, CCR,  and HCR. We want bulls that are below average stature and have strength and have less dairy form. We also feel that udder depth and cleft, along with CDCB Mastits and Z_Mastitis, is very important to create trouble free cows. We utilise the calf traits Z_Calf Livability, Z_Calf Respiratory Disease, and Z_Cal Scours. This allows for the creation of animals that perform well in production and health and make calves that are easier to develop into the next profitable generation.