2024 marks the 150th anniversary of Coöperatieve Rundveeverbetering (CRV) in the Netherlands and Flanders, a milestone to be proud of. CRV therefore won’t let this anniversary year go unnoticed!
The efficiency with which cows convert feed into milk is largely responsible for the profitability of dairy farming around the world. With FeedExcel, CRV has developed a breeding strategy that helps farmers breed a herd that combines high milk production and feed efficiency with an above-average longevity and good health. Part of this strategy is the use of selected FeedExcel bulls. As from this index run, these bulls can be identified throughout the world by a FeedExcel logo on the CRV bull catalogs and websites.
After the index run of August 2023, CRV’s bull range has been further strengthened with several young bulls who prove that high feed efficiency is closely linked to high longevity, good health traits, and excellent functional type.
Following the index run in August 2023, CRV’s Fleckvieh portfolio has been further strengthened and broadened. Several, very good bulls, had to be withdrawn from the range because their breeding values are exceeded by those of the new generation of bulls. At the same time, the performance of the daughters of popular bulls confirms the breeding values of their sires. For farmers who want to breed for polledness, CRV has added a number of very interesting, young, heterozygous and homozygous polled bulls to the portfolio.
Dutch high-tech company Nedap and Dutch/Flemish herd improvement organisation CRV have intensified their collaboration by concluding a new cooperative agreement. This agreement builds on the existing successful collaboration between both companies over the past ten years. The agreement includes global sales of Ovalert, a system that uses sensor technology to support farmers in herd management. Thousands of farmers in countries including the Netherlands, Belgium, the Czech Republic, the UK, Italy, China and the United States already use this system to their complete satisfaction. In addition, Nedap and CRV will exchange data to facilitate further product development.
CRV’s facility for bulls in Harfsen has been extensively renovated. As Leo Schooltink, team leader of the bull facilities in Harfsen and Ambt Delden, explains ‘We have constructed a 5-star hotel for our bulls, and at the same time created a pleasant work environment for the team responsible for the animals’.
