CONTACT: Dawn Navis
(608) 846-6396

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ABS RELIABILITY YIELDS SECOND CROP SUCCESS

DEFOREST, WISCONSIN -February 13, 2003 - On Monday, February 10, 2003 ABS sires continued to exceed expectations.

ABS Reliability is designed to insure stable, accurate, and more consistent type proofs. Rock Solid Genetics ™(RSG™ ), sires with 100 daughter in 60 herds, are proven to be more resistant to change. Based upon a comparative study of 738 active bulls in November 2002, the Type values of the bulls that met the Rock Solid requirements changed by only .25 as compared to .49 of the bulls that did not meet the requirements. Producers are now using Rock Solid bulls to add value through longevity to their dairy operations..

As always 29 H8343 Wa-Del CONVINCER-ET*cv remains upon Holstein Associations Top 100 TPI List. CONVINCER gained in milk and fat production and earned a lower Calving Ease score of 7%, while continuing to produce stylish daughters with welded on udders

29 H8538 Regancrest RBK DIE-HARD-ET is on his way to global greatness with increases in Milk, Fat, Protein and Productive Life. As a 6% Calving Ease sire DIE-HARD is great for heifer pens, while his daughters are becoming critical additions dairy herds around the world..

Adding 391 daughters and gaining 400 pounds of milk moved 29 H8614 Starky Merr MARATHON to an elite Net Merit level. MARATHON is also a 6% Calving Ease sire
who goes the distance in improving udders, feet and legs
.

Another udder improver who gained nearly 500 daughters in his proof is 29 H8338 Wil-Hart ALVIN-ET. ALVIN insures maximum udder improvement with strong clefts and very shallow udder depth with a +2.47 UDC.

Striving to become a vital part of every operation 29 H8246 Fustead VITAL SIGN*cv increased his milk proof by nearly 400 pounds to +2263 PTAM and continues to significantly improve udders. VITAL SIGN is also a noted Calving Ease Sire at 8%.
29 H8357 Cedar-Creek BERGWILL-ET*cv gained additional daughters and increased his yield traits while improving his PTAT and Foot and Leg Composition to +1.97.

"Our Rock Solid™ Program continues to yield impressive results," states Dairy Product Manager, Scott Bentley. "The second crop bulls are consistently producing daughters that meet or exceed their first crop evaluations. ABS Reliability has become an important selection tool for dairy producers."

Headquartered in DeForest, Wisconsin, ABS Global is the world-leading provider of bovine genetics, reproduction services, technologies and uddercare products. Marketing in more than 70 countries around the globe, ABS has been at the forefront of animal genetics and technology since its founding in 1941. ABS Global is part of Genus Breeding, a division of Genus plc.

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To receive the contents of this release electronically, please contact Alice Langer at alanger@absglobal.com, or (608) 846-6203.

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