Selection of Aubrac bulls for AI

30 November 2023

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A demanding approach to progress

The selection of young bulls for the AI genetic offer is carried out by a dedicated commission made up of several Aubrac breed experts, following inspection at the evaluation station.

In line with racial objectives, the final choice represents the best compromise between all available information. Among all this data, 4 points are key to selecting a future AI sire.

All these traits and steps enable us to maximize the quality of bulls entering the AI program, based on a thorough examination carried out by specialized technicians and breeders.

EVALUATION STATION RACE

After recruitment at weaning, the young males are monitored at the La Borie station for 5 months. Raised under homogeneous housing and feeding conditions, their growth performance is measured monthly and their morphology is assessed at the end of the period. Weighing, scoring and measuring are used to calculate station indexes, the summary of which is called IMOCR.

PELVIC OPENING

Internal pelvic measurements are carried out on all males inspected at the station. Positively correlated with calving ability, pelvic opening can be eliminatory when selecting a young male for AI.

THE HB SCORE

At the end of the controls, the Herd-Book commission awards the score. It supplements the information gathered during inspections. It takes racial specificities into account. This is a complementary element for ranking males. Functional skills, chest and stifle depths, pelvic positioning as well as color and harmony are all important aspects of the
key positions to climb to the top of the table.

THE ASCENDANCE

Once the favorites of the station series have been identified, the commission proceeds to the next step. The breeding farm is visited to learn about
the quality of the male’s maternal line and his sire’s production. While their indexes already provide us with valuable information, field examination enables us to take into account non-indexed phenotypic traits such as functional aptitudes or breed qualities, and to verify the line’s interest for breed selection.