Herd about the 110% milk solids/liveweight goal?
Methven farmers Earl and Melissa McSweeney are breeders of one of LIC’s best KiwiCross sires, 523092 Plateau Dembe, son of popular 21-code bull Baldricks Spectacular.
The premature end to the bull’s stint at LIC follows two incidents within 12 months, according to a farmer advisory posted on LIC’s website by chief executive Wayne McNee.
McNee says the decision to no longer collect from Checkpoint follows a recent incident which resulted in the bull being deemed too dangerous for staff to handle.
“This was the second incident with Checkpoint in the last 12 months, so in accordance with LIC policy, he will be culled. We have a responsibility to our staff and we take these matters seriously.
“Health and safety of all is paramount at LIC, above anything else and regardless of the bull’s ranking.”
Limited frozen supply will remain available through its genetics business Alpha Nominated.
Checkpoint has made his mark on the LIC Premier Sires team since his debut in the 2011-12 season with a record 318 BW. His 866,480 inseminations make him one of only eight bulls to exceed 800,000 lifetime inseminations in the history of AB, and the only KiwiCross.
In his first full season as a Premier Sire (2012-13), he achieved 309,392 inseminations, also a record for the breed.
By comparison, Scotts Northsea, the only KiwiCross on LIC’s bull Hall of Fame, achieved 787,000 lifetime inseminations.
Checkpoint has 93,000 daughters in the national herd; 5500 are milked on farms in New Zealand (RAS list 17/01/15).
His genetics have also been exported worldwide, says McNee.
“Checkpoint’s contribution to the industry will continue, with 23 sons in the pipeline as future sires for national herd and as more of his daughters start milking.”
