Sunday 09 September 2012
United Kingdom
Cogent announces latest "futures" winner at livestock 2012
The latest recipient of Cogent’s commendable ‘Futures’ programme award, which provides a valuable introduction to cattle genetics to young enthusiasts, was announced at Livestock 2012 as Cornish dairy farmer’s son Ross Symons.
Ross will join current Cogent Group sire analyst Owain Harries – himself a ‘Futures’ winner in 2009 - on a week-long US tour to select cows as future bull mothers later this year, having come through a process over the last 12 months that has given him a comprehensive insight into the world of cattle breeding.
A worthy winner, Ross has had an interest in cattle breeding for as long as he can remember, growing up at Treburthes Farm near Truro, where his family run a 150-cow commercial Holstein Friesian milking herd.
“Our objective at home is to increase average herd yields from 6,500 litres/cow to 8,500 litres/cow by 2016, and to convert from all-year-round calving to a block autumn calving system,” he explains. “Genetics will play a big part in us achieving these goals, and in particular we shall be focused in health and fertility in order to calve the herd in a tight 10 week period. I’ve learned a great deal through the ‘Futures’ programme and cannot wait to visit the US – it’s a dream experience that will stand me in good stead.”
Ross, 24, has his own small pedigree herd running within the family herd operating under the aptly-named Kernow prefix, which he has developed through the use of embryos. It is something he describes as a hobby, but given his impressive showing within ‘Futures’ it may well be wise to keep an eye on that prefix!
Young cattle breeding enthusiasts wishing to follow in the footsteps of Ross, Henry Sanderson and Owain Harries should look out for the start of the fourth Cogent ‘Futures’ cycle which will be inviting applicants this coming autumn.
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Source: newsroom - farmingnewsdaily.co.uk
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