Jersey bull death

CRV Ambreed’s highest ranked Jersey bull, owned by Pukeroa couple Alan and Vivian Lockwood-Geck, died earlier this month while still in his prime.

Manzello’s premature demise due to a progressive illness was described by the Lockwood-Gecks as a huge loss to the New Zealand dairy industry.

‘‘The thought of how many cows will not be inseminated by him over the next four to five years is a huge shame to the industry,’’ Alan said.

‘‘He won’t be easy to replace in the short term.’’

Manzello was a defined favourite on New Zealand’s Ranking of Active Sires (RAS) list. He first showed his prominence in February 2013, when he hit the top of the RAS list and had maintained a top spot on the list ever since.

Jersey New Zealand general manager Warwick Dowse said he was a star result from Jersey New Zealand and CRV Amb- reed’s joint venture, JerseyGenes.

‘‘He will make a significant impact in New Zealand and abroad with sons coming into AI, and daughters becoming the next generation of brood cows.’’

Although young compared to other top sires like Firenze and Manhattan, Manzello has left a strong legacy in New Zealand and overseas with 267 daughters across 173 herds in New Zealand alone.

In his first three years as a proven bull, CRV Ambreed sold more than 250,000 doses, which CRV Global Grazing product manager Peter van Elzakker described as ‘‘extraordinary’’ for a Jersey sire.

He had also been sold in every major Jersey farming country worldwide, including Australia, the United States, South Africa, Britain, Ireland, France, Denmark, Chile, Columbia and Argentina.

‘‘Manzello was selected by farmers to improve the productivity, longevity and fertility of their herds,’’ van Elzakker said.