Itomoritaka

Itomoritaka, tag '002' (ETJ002, J2703, herdbook FB681), nicknamed 'Rocky,' is the second of Westholme's three patriarch bulls, imported from ET Japan Company (Hokkaido) to the USA in 1997 by Chris Walker and then used extensively in Australia. He represents the Fujiyoshi (Shimane) line, sired by Itohirashige (FB680) out of Dai 6 Oefujii (Kuro Koh, FB679). His defining legacy is maternal: Itomoritaka carries the highest milk EBV in the Australian BREEDPLAN (and ranks high in the USA), so his daughters become outstanding milking dams while his progeny pair strong growth with ideal frame. Like Hirashigetayasu he carries a rare positive grass-fed score, making him valuable for pasture systems. Breeders use him to add size, milk and maternal strength rather than extreme marble score. Initial foundation testing identified him as a carrier of a hereditary recessive condition, so matings are managed accordingly. He had roughly 1,551 Australian-registered progeny and remains the premier maternal foundation sire of the Westholme group.