But there is nothing coincidental about the position of John and Margaret Cockerell's Warrain Stud in the rankings of the nation's dairy genetics tables.
“We don't breed for the numbers, we look for good dairy cows,” John said modestly when asked about their Jersey cow, Irwin Love Lies 5, which is ranked at number one on DataGene's top Jersey female list, rated according to the Balanced Performance Index.
The Cockerells look for a well-built animal with good proportions and, of course, with good production.
They try to feed them well and take a close interest in their welfare.
The couple's Jersey herd also happens to be ranked number three on the national Balanced Performance Index .
They don't show, but they do participate in the Jersey on-farm challenges as they like to participate in a competition where judges see the cattle, "warts and all".
The Cockerells’ herd was ranked first in the national Health Weighted Index table and third under the Balanced Performance Index.
Animal welfare is high on the list and visitors to the Waaia farm will notice how calm the herd is.
Matt Treasure 3, another Cockerell cow, came in at number three on the national genotyped Jersey female list.
The Cockerells have a predominantly pasture-based system on about 130 ha, but also feed about 6 kg of grain/day supplemented by about 4 kg of largely silage dry matter on a feedpad.
Their herd of about 300 to 320 runs through a 28 swing-over shed and averages about 7000 to 7500 litres.
They use a professional nutritionist and their mating management program is heavily influenced by Amy Wright from World Wide Sires.
The favourite bulls over the past few years have included Tbone, Vanhalen, Valentino and Chrome.
DISTRICT STUDS PERFORM WELL
Northern Victorian studs have performed well in the latest Australian Breeding Value rankings released this month.
Vala Holsteins from Toolamba owns a heifer which came in at number eight on the national genotyped Holstein table.
Vala Holsteins also recorded the second highest ranked Holstein herd, according to the Balanced Performance Index.
The herd actually came in first on the relatively new Health Weighted Index ranking, which allows farmers to fast track genetic gain for traits such as fertility, mastitis resistance and feed saved. The HWI places greater weighting on these traits than the BPI.
The Jersey herd of R. and S. Bacon from Tennyson was placed first in both the BPI and HWI indexes.
R. Sprunt from Kaarimba was in the top 10 Holstein herds across the nation, along with Craig Lister from Calivil.
G. and R. Sprunt from Kaarimba achieved fifth place in both the HWI and BPI indexes for Jersey herds.
Restdown Pastoral at Rochester had the top Brown Swiss herd in the herd average ABVs, with number one ranking for both BPI and HWI indexes.
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