The US Department of Agriculture’s Meat Animal Research Centre ranks Gelbvieh first in combining fertility and growth – the two most important traits in beef production.
Gelbvieh females also rated number one for kilos of calf weaned per cow exposed to a bull, out of 14 other breeds tested since 1972.
A major milestone for the breed was the shift to PPB in Feilding two years ago and the change from the American performance recording system of EPDs to the Australian EBV system in common with most other NZ breed societies.
Gelbvieh will again be represented at this year’s Beef Expo with bulls coming forward from Hawke’s Bay, Wairarapa and Taranaki.
These bulls offer beef producers a complete package with important maternal traits for replacement females along with performance and carcase traits.
A major and successful initiative last year was the introduction of the New Breeders Starter Pack.
This opportunity to buy four of the breed’s top in-calf females attracted a lot of interest and led to an increase in society membership.
The Starter Pack promotion will be running again this year.
