With over 2 million visits to the Bullvine website so far, it has certainly been a busy year. The following are the 13 most read articles of 2013:
13. Fortune Favors the Bold – Four A.I. Companies that are Taking On the World
In an industry where a few major players dominate the world market it can be very intimidating for new participants to enter the marketplace. But that is exactly what AI Total, DairyBullsOnline, Jetstream and Trans America Genetics are doing. Read more – Fortune Favors the Bold – Four A.I. Companies that are Taking On the World
12. Top Sires North American Breeders Are Using
One question we are asked very often is “How much are genomic sires being used?” To help answer that question the Bullvine looked at daughter registrations to see what sires breeders are actually using. The following is what we found: Top Sires North American Breeders Are Using
11. No Cow Is Perfect – Not Even in Pictures
“If steroids are illegal for athletes, then shouldn’t Photoshop be illegal for models?” That is the question that inspired us to write our 11th most read article of 2013. Toplines that have had “hair” added, udder texture that has been enhanced and teat placement that has been corrected all seem to be more prevalent than ever. Check out just what is going on in the world of dairy cattle photography and photos – No Cow Is Perfect – Not Even in Pictures
10. 16 Sires Every Dairy Breeder Should Look At For Their Breeding Programs
If you are like most breeders, between the time spent sorting through the many different lists from around the world and listening to the propaganda the A.I. companies put out promoting their sires, the hype is enough to make a breeder’s head spin. In order to bring clarity to the confusion, the Bullvine filtered through the many lists, brought them into a common base and developed the following four categories of sires that you should take a look at for your specific breeding program. Check out the 16 Sires Every Dairy Breeder Should Look at for Their Breeding Programs
9. 30 Sires that will produce Feed Efficient Cows
Commercial milk producers want to breed cows that have high feed conversion efficiency, that avoid culling and that take the least extra care or staff time. The problem is where do you find a list of the bulls that will do all that? Well here at the Bullvine we developed that list for you. Check out – 30 Sires that will produce Feed Efficient Cows
8. The Winners of the 2012 Breeder’s Choice Awards Are…
In the age of American Idol, Dancing with the Stars and countless other franchises where the fans decide the outcome, it’s about time for Dairy Breeders to join the decision-making fun. That is why the Bullvine created the Breeder’s Choice Awards. The Breeder’s Choice Awards celebrates fan favorites in the show ring, index cows, sires and bovine celebrities. It stands alone as the only major award where real people – not industry insiders – determine the winners. With over 3000 dairy breeders casting almost 8000 votes in a one week period for their favorites in 21 different categories, the inaugural Breeder’s Choice Awards were certainly a big hit. Find out who won by reading The Winners of the 2012 Breeder’s Choice Awards Are…
7. August 2013 Holstein Sire Evaluation Highlights From Around the World
No one has the time to pour over all the different lists, from all the different countries….well no one but those of us here at The Bullvine. Maybe that’s why unbiased genetic evaluation reviews are so extremely popular. Check out August 2013 Holstein Sire Evaluation Highlights From Around the World, to see what everyone is reading.
6. 12 Sires to Use in Order to Reduce Inbreeding
When you look at the sires of the top 100 genomic young sires lists, you notice a variety of sires with 30 bulls siring the top 100 sires. However, a pedigree analysis on only the paternal side reveals that 90 percent of the bulls either have Oman, Planet or Shottle represented as the sire or grandsire. The remaining 10 bulls represent genetic diversity. However, the list needs further refining because 3 of the 10 remaining bulls have Oman’s sire or Shottle’s sire in their pedigree. That leaves seven bulls with unique sires among the Holstein breed’s elite. To help guide breeders in dealing with this inbreeding issue, we decided to look for outcross sires either proven or genomic tested sires that would offer breeders the near maximum genetic gain while providing the needed diversity. The following is what we found: 12 Sires to Use in Order to Reduce Inbreeding
5. Some Cows Just Want to Dance…
On an average day we get about 100-120 different comments on our website, Facebook page and other social media sites about how dairy cattle showing is inhumane and unethical. Now fortunately we do have filters and staff setup to handle this, but it still got me thinking about this issue. Is dairy cattle showing cruel and unusual treatment, or is it that the general public doesn’t understand that some cows just want to dance? Check out Some Cows Just Want to Dance… to find out.
4. I’m Sorry, But I’ve Had Just About Enough Of…
I like to believe that I am someone who sees the best in people. Even if someone might rub me the wrong way at first, I try my hardest to give that person the benefit of the doubt. That being said, if I’m being completely honest, there is one person out there that I’m really at my wits’ end with. I’d even go as far as to say this person sometimes has taken things too far. Read our 4th most read article of 2013 I’m Sorry, But I’ve Had Just About Enough Of…, to find out just who that person is.
3. RF Goldwyn Hailey Unbeatable?
Throughout her reign, Hailey has faced some stiff competition and still came out on top. From the likes of the living legend, Harvue Roy Frosty, to the fan favorite, Ebyholme Goldwyn Marcia, Hailey has faced the best. Each time Hailey rose to the challenge and came out victorious. Until this one time… Read more in RF Goldwyn Hailey Unbeatable?
2. Your Barn Is On Fire!
What would you do if you were awakened in the middle of the night to thumping and banging on your doors and windows, only to discover that 30 years of your hard work was burning to the ground? That is exactly what happened to two time Master Breeder Clarence Markus. Read more in our 2nd most read story of 2013 – Your Barn Is On Fire!
1. Fantasy Exhibitor – World Dairy Expo 2013
Everyone has heard of or participated in Fantasy Football, Baseball or Hockey games. Now the Bullvine is bringing that excitement to the dairy show ring. The competition that took the show scene by storm is now complete. With 5293 entries, the inaugural Fantasy Exhibitor© competition far surpassed our expectations. – See more in Fantasy Exhibitor – World Dairy Expo 2013 – The Results
The Bullvine Bottom Line
A lot has changed since 2012, (Read more: The Top 10 of 2012 – The most read articles of 2012) in both the dairy industry as well as here at the Bullvine. Looking ahead to 2014, I am sure things will continue to change. It certainly has been a very busy year and these 13 articles were among the most talked about in the industry. Thanks again for your continued readership and support.
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