Taylormade is Tailor-Made for the Job
If ever a sire was tailor-made for breeding long-lasting dairy cows, Tahora Taylormade-ET makes the cut.
Born at the internationally recognised Tahora Holstein Friesian herd in the heart of the South Island of New Zealand, Taylormade, is a Braedale Goldwyn son from one of Tahora’s most compelling brood cows, Tahora Romeo Tonio EX.
The 2004 and 2006 New Zealand Royal Show Champion with more than 10,000 litres with a 3.3% protein and 4.4% fat is backed by a further two generations of EX and two more high profile herds in Australia and Canada.
Tonio’s dam was the EX Inspiration daughter, Murribrook Inspir Toni-ET EX, at Murray and Margaret Sowter’s Murribrook Holstein operation at Moss Vale, in New South Wales. The couple imported Inspir Toni’s dam as a live heifer from one of Canada’s hallmark herds – Walkerbrae Holsteins. The Triple Threat daughter [Walkerbrae Triple T Toni-ET] went on to classify EX and have a massive impact on the Australian dairy industry.
Given Taylormade’s pedigree it should not surprise anyone that he is swiftly ticking all the boxes for big and small operations because he is leaving functional, attractive, highly fertile daughters with high protein components. He has the additional advantage outstanding calving ease – making him a perfect consideration for maiden heifers.
Dean Geddes, of Tahora Holsteins, confirmed his family is milking 18 of Tonio’s daughters, including three of Taylormade’s full sisters. All 18 daughters (with the exception of two) are scored 85 points or better and none of them are scored under 83 points. Demand for Tonio’s embryos in Australia has also resulted in daughters establishing themselves across the Tasman.
The reason is simple – Tahora’s uncompromising focus on its maternal lines and proven ability to breed the great ones.
“We thought Goldwyn was the most ideal mating over Tonio,” Dean said. “And even now, I’d go the same way. We showed a Taylormade daughter last year, one of our most exciting rising two-year-olds is a Taylormade daughter and Taylormade’s full sister, Tahora B Goldwyn Toni-ET VG87, will most likely be our lead show cow this season.”
Dean said they milked nine Taylormade daughters last season and, with the exception of one, all were back in-calf. 
“They do have extremely good udders and lovely front ends,” Dean said. “Like Goldwyn daughters, they do need a bit of time to develop the spring of rib to go with their exceptional sweep of rib. They all have really nice rumps and high protein.”
Stewart & Julia Eden, of Fermoy Holstein Friesians, were familiar with Taylormade’s family when they used him as a young sire within their 1350 cow herd at Riversdale, in Southland.
Last season they had 14 two-year-old Taylormade daughters complete their first lactation, they have used another 200 doses of the bull since then and ordered a further 200 for the coming season.
The two-year-old group averaged [32kg MS ahead of their herd mates] 6,195 litres, 217kg protein, 239kg fat (456kg MS) in 268 days in a grass-fed operation that feeds minimal grain and straw at strategic times in the spring and autumn. The top two-year-old Taylormade daughter production was 8,000 litres, 273kg protein, 278kg fat in 290 days. A senior two-year-old achieved 8,850 litres with 304kg protein and 294kg fat in 304 days.
Most are classified 83 or 84 points [with one at VG85 on her first lactation] and all are back in-calf (with the exception of one, which slipped her calf late in lactation).
“We used him over lots of different types of cows the first time around because he was a young sire,” Stewart said. “They are definitely an improvement on their dams and in a big herd for them to get in and do what this group has done proves that they are cows we should be milking more of.
“They are no-nonsense cows that have gone from strength to strength. I’ll be honest when they were first born they were so small that I thought there’d be no way I’d use the bull again. But they grew like anything and they’ve developed into solid cows. They know how to milk and they just get on with the job. We love them.”
Taylormade’s credibility is cemented by three full sisters, including Tahora B Goldwyn Toni-ET VG87, who was the All Breeds Champion Cow at the 2009 Rangiora A&P Show. Her Shottle daughter sold for $23,000 to Stewart and Julia Eden.
Taylormade daughters are also starting to make waves. Tahora Taylormade Toni, sold for $13,250 in Tahora’s last Topshelf Sale in 2009 to Ken & Nancy Eade and Stewart & Julia Eden.
Without doubt, the writing is on the wall for a bull that was hand-made by Tahora Holsteins and proven through a joint initiative between Semex and Holstein Friesian New Zealand’s Advantage Plus Young Sire Programme.
Taylormade is available in New Zealand and Australia and daughters have now freshened in Australia
