Learn about Maebull, Australia’s famous Holstein bull, as he retires after fathering over 4500 daughters. How did he impact dairy farming?
One of Australia’s best-known and most reliable Holstein bulls, Maebull, has retired from active service.
Genetics Australia’s Holstein, Calister Maebull, leaves a legacy with more than 4500 milking daughters and countless others in non-herd-tested herds. Maebull was recently retired just shy of his 12th birthday.
Maebull was the oldest bull at the center and one of the last to move from Parwan Park to Glenormiston quarantine property after TLG was purchased in 2021.
Selected for progeny testing in 2013, Maebull has built a stellar career both in Australia and internationally, known for siring daughters with impressive health and management traits. Genetics Australia CEO Anthony Shelly shared that Maebull was fortunate to be selected for progeny testing.
“When we picked teams in 2013, genomic testing was still new, and our bulls were mainly chosen based on genomics,” Mr. Shelly said. “Maebull was the lowest-ranked bull on our team, and we debated long and hard about proceeding with him. But his cow family stood out to us, and we felt he added a unique factor to our team, so we decided to move forward. We’re glad we did; he exceeded expectations and outlasted all his peers.”
Mr. Shelly noted that Genetics Australia was delighted with its decision, and many farmers in Australia and abroad also appreciated Maebull, who scored 99 percent reliability for most traits.
He has daughters milking in New Zealand, and his first daughters are now calving in Pakistan, where he has been used for heat stress resilience, given his 104 Australian Breeding Value for heat tolerance.
“He lays a solid foundation in herds. His medium-sized, black daughters with high fertility and low cell counts are why farmers repeatedly choose him,” Mr. Shelly said.
Maebull originally came from Calister Holsteins in Calivil, northern Victoria, as an embryo imported from the US by Craig Lister.
“I had great faith in the Lead Mae cow family he came from,” said Mr. Lister. “I’ve admired that family for a long time, so when importing embryos was cost-effective, I targeted them. In this business, you get used to bulls not always meeting expectations, but Maebull was a pleasant surprise.”
Calister Holsteins has many Maebull daughters in their herd. “I judge him by the performance of his daughters,” Mr. Lister said. “He produced robust, functional cows with all the necessary health traits for modern dairy. He exemplifies our breeding goals. I have many Maebull daughters who validate my trust in him. His oldest daughter is classified as Excellent and still thriving.”
Summary:
Calister Maebull, Australia’s most reliable Holstein bull, has retired just before his 12th birthday. With over 4500 milking daughters and numerous others in non-herd-tested herds, Maebull has a stellar career both in Australia and internationally. He was selected for progeny testing in 2013 and has been used for heat stress resilience due to his 104 Australian Breeding Value for heat tolerance. Maebull’s medium-sized, black daughters with high fertility and low cell counts are why farmers repeatedly choose him. Born to Calister Holsteins in Calivil, northern Victoria, Maebull produced robust, functional cows with all the necessary health traits for modern dairy. Calister Holsteins has many Maebull daughters in their herd, with the oldest daughter being classified Excellent and still thriving.
