The objective of Discovery Project is to support the opportunity for breeders, through advanced breeding technologies, to develop top cow families and breed bulls for the AI industry.
Do you have a high BW heifer calf(ves) with the potential to provide Holstein Friesian bulls for the industry? If so, nominate her for the Discovery Project!
Do you have a high BW heifer calf(ves) with the potential to provide Holstein Friesian bulls for the industry? If so, nominate her for the Discovery Project!
- Sponsored by LIC.
- Genomic screening of up to 300 registered rising one year old heifers – with 50 ultimately selected to participate (of potential bull dam standard).
- Dependent on the service provider and option chosen, heifers will either travel to the provider or remain on the owner’s farm.
- Matings will be mutually agreed to by both Breeder and LIC.
- TVR/MOET will be available with service providers in New Zealand.
- Free genomic evaluation of heifers (and uploading to LIC database).
- Absolutely no breeding restrictions on heifers screened or resulting female progeny .
- Free parentage and defect testing.
- Negotiated pricing for TVR and MOET services with New Zealand service providers.
- Discount on classification of all two-year-olds classified in the year the Discovery Project heifer(s) is inspected as a two-year-old. Discounts: 10% for one Discovery heifer and a further 5% for any subsequent Discovery heifers classified at the same time (up to a maximum 30% discount). All two-year-olds must be inspected under the Conditions of Classification for the discount to be applicable.
- Free semen for TVR/MOET (and AI mating if agreed to by breeder).
- Preferential access to elite young sires (if of interest to the breeder).
- All resulting bull progeny are genomically screened through LIC:
- Bull progeny may be purchased by LIC – under the following options:
- Royalty option – $2,000 at the time of bull purchase plus $0.75/non sexed straw sold or $3.00/sexed straw sold royalty (per qualifying sale), if the bull is marketed by LIC
- Fixed Price option – $5,000 at the time of bull purchase plus $15,000 if the bull is utilised through any LIC team
- Both options include an additional payment of $1,000 per bull purchased should they result from an embryo transfer (ET)
- Any bulls not subsequently purchased by LIC are eligible for LIC’s rearing fee at $300 per bull
- Holstein Friesian NZ also receives a royalty per straw of semen sold if any bull generated through the Discovery Project is marketed by LIC
- Free LIC Customate Plus for the entire home herd.
| Holstein Innovation Female Programme | Discovery Project | |
|---|---|---|
| Objective | Identify elite Holstein Friesian genetics to breed from | Support breeders in developing top cow families and breeding bulls for the AI industry | Genomic Screening | Up to 200 nominated females annually, open age group | Genomic screening of up to 300 heifers, up to 50 selected heifers participate | Free Services | Parentage testing, genomic evaluation, AI mating | Parentage and defect testing, genomic evaluation, CustoMate Plus for home herd | Mating | Through an AI program with access to the most elite young sires | TVR programme with semen supplied by LIC with option of an LIC AI mating | Bull Progeny | Bull progeny may be purchased by LIC with royalty or fixed price options | Bull progeny may be purchased by LIC with royalty or fixed price options |
