The naturally bred Slick Cross Breed line is a composite animal designed for high to extreme heat stressed forage/pasture based systems. The first Senepol semen was mated to Paul Bardoul’s Holstein herd, in Waikato, New Zealand, in 2008 and from then on has blended the milk volume of the US Holstein, with the fertility and forage efficiency of the NZ genetics.
A foundation bull from the Cross Breed line was named Slick Grazer. Born in 2012, he was 25% Senepol, 25% US Holstein, 25% NZ Holstein and 25% NZ Jersey, a great bull by dairy type. His daughters are milking well on the Waikato dairy farm.
In 2015 we were the first in the world to deliver naturally bred dairy type homozygous Slick bulls for the purpose of export. Named Eros, Himeros and Pathos, these initial bulls are designed with a high component of residual Senepol, delivering a resilient but milky animal with a reasonable opportunity for dairy beef for the bull calf progeny.
Further development of the Cross Breed line has utilized several more NZ herds to provide the genetic platform, and has created more options for farmers. Some of the bull team has reduced residual Senepol for more moderate climates, other options have increased US Holstein for the liquid milk markets, and increasing the NZ genetic influence for heat stressed free range pasture based systems.