Power Up on Panda

Clydevale Informer Panda VG88 (pictured right) is the ultimate in milking machines on four legs. She's on her third lactation and at 538 DIM has produced 17,397 litres Milk, 599kg Protein (3.4%) and 674kg Fat (3.9%). Herd PI sits at 116. If you're wondering whether she's been noticed by an AB yet, the answer's "yes", we're just waiting for her to produce a bull.

Canadian Queen

It was a high risk strategy based on our 50% ET strike rate so far and only a half chance that we get a female, but the purchase of two embryos from Canadian breeders, Erbcrest, has returned us a heifer calf with a pretty special pedigree. Semagen Pronto Regina was born 3 January 09. She's out of the mating of Erbcrest Jolt Redrose (pictured left) and Windy-Knoll-View Pronto. Here's the pedigree: Pronto x VG 88 Jolt x Ex 90 Shark x VG 87 Storm x Ex 90 Raider x Ex 90 Inspiration x Ex 90 Telstar Ace.

James Jolie - Swiss Sensation at Semagen

In January 09 at the Swiss Expo in Lausanne, Castel James Jolie Ex94 was unbeaten across the board and was crowned as the new 'Queen of Lausanne'. But wait, there's more, Jolie more recently went on to win Bulle with another clean sweep. The May edition of Holstein International declares the Swiss Sensation as 'one of Europe's all-time greats' and a 'truly special' individual. Jolie is pictured at right. Other recent photos, here. Jolie is in calf to SANCHEZ, with interest from Swissgenetics.

Semagen Hosts World's Top Holstein Families

The April 09 edition of Holstein International presented a list of 250 'talented' cow families from around the world. It includes three families currently being developed at Semagen: the Clydevale Ps, descendants of Strathaire Inspiration Charity, and a branch of Whittier Farms Lead-Mae's family. The sons from these families include Lord Presto, Winluke, Plumsair, Quidditch and Chicago. Lord Presto also gets a mention in another article in HI where he's named as a leading Australian sire for fitness traits.  It is certainly hoped that Semagen will be able to supply top class progeny from these families in the future.

More Gold from the Felicitys

The darling of our little herd, Bradence Igniter Corrina VG86, delivered the goods on 17 August 2009 when she produced a Goldwyn heifer: Semagen Goldwyn Coralina. Corrina is grand-daughter to the iconic Cretonne. So, it's Australian great meets Canadian great, Felicitys meet the Gypsy Grands. After her outstanding first lactation, I would have been happy with either sex; but she seems to favour the heifer variety and I'm not complaining.  At 241 DIM her current record sits at 7,335 litres Milk, 242kg Protein(3.3%), 301kg Fat(4.1%), and PI 100. Corrina's granddam, Rockwood Park Warden Cretonne, is pictured left.

Daughters of Mae Fly High

Among the 24 nominations for Holstein International's Cow of the Year are two daughters of the Whittier-Farms Lead Mae familiy. There's Crockett-Acres Durham Mae and Crockett-Acres Mtoto Elly.  Between them they have seven notable sons in four countries' index lists. Our own Semagen Fortune Madonna-IMP-ET hails from the same impressive line, as well as two yearling bulls which are available for purchase. Madonna was recently flushed and will be joined in November.  The Ex95 foundation cow Lead Mae is pictured right.