Bringlee Volkawagon scores 10/10 for Belgian Blue's

At a time when consumers demand more lean meat, Norbreck Genetics sires score 10/10 for quality of carcases. This ringing endorsement comes from DNA results from IGENITY®, the new cattle-profiling service that uses DNA markers to identify favourable traits.

Bringlee Volkawagon is the latest bull from the Norbreck Genetics stud to undergo DNA profiling.  He scored top marks for lean meat yield, rib-eye size and carcase weight, it also showed him to have one of the best scores for tenderness and lean meat content – something that the Belgian Blue breed likes to reinforce to beef breeders and the beef buying public.

A Baron son, out of the respected brood cow Bringlee Sandy, he was bought for 11,500gns at auction in May 05 - Volkawagon is still the 4th highest price ever paid for a BB bull at UK auction.

Director Phil Halhead said, “We chose the bull because of his size, power and his show winning pedigree – that purchase has been endorsed by the quality of the calves that are now on the ground.”

“The IGENITY® profile has vindicated our decision to include Volkawagon in our breeding program!” Phil Halhead concluded by saying “As breeders, this form of profiling will give us even more confidence when selecting future bulls, dams and young sires.”

David Bonsall from Merial Animal Health confirmed, “That’s what we consider to be one of the key benefits of IGENITY - it enables farmers to choose the most valuable breeding traits at an early stage.  We are pleased that one of the leading beef breeding consultants has found value in this selection tool for his breeding programme.”

In 2006 Norbreck Newman – Cogent Breeding’s top selling Belgian Blue sire, was one of the first Belgian Blue bulls to be tested. Results showed a low score for fat content – indicating a high proportion of lean meat – and high scores for growth

potential and meat tenderness.