March 2020
The POINT RETURN ON INVESTMENT
If you could turn $5 into $1,600 would you?
REPROSTAR AWARD WINNERS
Reed Dairy Farm, McClellan Farms Inc. and Loehmer Dairy, LLC, are recognized for reproductive efficiency.
COWMANAGER IDENTIFIES SICK COWS MORE QUICKLY
Using both the health and fertility features of CowManager has proven beneficial at Pride View Dairy.
The power of teamwork at Lucky 7 Dairy "
W
e feel it’s most efficient when people have specific jobs and the CentralStar team has experts we can rely on for different areas,” said Paul Windemuller, partner of Lucky 7 Dairy in McBain, Michigan. “We provide guidance and targets but leave a lot of the reproduction and genetic decisions to the team (CentralStar) to decide what’s best for the herd.” In January 2019, Paul and JP Koop became partners purchasing the McBain facility, and quickly made plans to add two free-stall barns to accommodate the 1,600-cow herd. “When we bought the dairy, Tony (Brunink, Farm Manager) had already been working with CentralStar and recommended we continue, so we did,” said Paul. “Communication can be a challenge in any business, but this team helps with that because everyone works together even though they have their own specialty.” The CentralStar team is involved in many areas of the farm including breeding, genetic consulting, inventory management, dairy records analysis and DHI. “We get a lot of
value from the DHI records,” said Paul. “Along with the CentralStar group, our nutritionist also reviews the data to help us make decisions.”
of what’s happening on the dairy,” said Paul. “They contain valuable information, pointing out where we need to improve and what’s going well,” agreed Tony.
“With routine DHI test-day information, we are able to provide more effective guidance in sire selection and inventory management,” said Jessica Jakubik, CentralStar Team Leader and Genetic Consultant. “With genetic selection we look at several factors including Net Merit (NM$), Energy Corrected Milk (ECM), as well as visual observation to identify the best animals to create the next generation. Raising more heifers than needed is an unnecessary expense, so we closely monitor the number of heifers generated, helping to create just the right number per month from the best possible dams in the herd.”
Heifers are housed off-site and PCDART Heifer Grower is utilized to streamline data entry and management practices. “PCDART gives us better records and information about shots and pen movements,” said Tony. “Robert (CentralStar A.I. Specialist) inputs the breeding information when it happens, allowing us to keep track of things in realtime.”
Along with the oversight of genetic selection to create the next generation, Julie Ainsworth, CentralStar’s Coordinator of Dairy Records Analysis, monitors the herd’s production and reproduction trends, providing analysis reports and conducting farm meetings every quarter. “The reports are a good barometer
“We work with CentralStar because of everything they bring to the table,” said Tony. “There’s a lot of knowledge in this group that you can’t get from others.” Above Photo: CentralStar and Lucky 7 Dairy team. Back Row: Moss McCauley, Lupe Vasquez - Herdsman, Julie AInsworth, Paul Windemuller - Partner, Lynnae Dick, Tony Brunink - Herd Manager, and Jessica Jakubik. Kneeling: Deanna Pleiman and Robert Youker. Missing from photo: JP Koop - Partner, Doug Moyer and Greg Ladd.
If you could turn $5 into $1,600 would you?
ROI Return on
Investment
Maintaining high reproductive performance is important to Luckwaldt Agriculture and as such, we intentionally select sires to improve Daughter Pregnancy Rate (DPR) and as a result see a dramatic difference in pregnancy rates in the herd. Evaluating second and greater lactation cows, the top quartile averages 18 fewer days open each lactation. At an average cost between $3-$5 per cow/day a cow is open, this type of improvement adds up to an additional $90 per cow/lactation. (Table 2) Milk production and pregnancy rates are just two of the many ways Luckwaldt’s benefit from investing in top-tier genetics. Of course, I could go on and on showing the contrasts in production, milk quality, health and fitness, but why? Time after time genetic investments pull through and provide massive returns. Work with your CentralStar team to ensure you are maximizing your genetic ROI.
H
ow are you investing your money? Are you getting the type of return that transforms $5 into over $1,600? Many of the tools you purchase to operate your dairy are expensive and depreciate the moment you bring them home. However there is one thing you can invest in where the cash outlay is relatively small, but the ROI significant... I’m talking about genetics for your herd. Investing in genetics can get overlooked during low price swings, as it’s a relatively easy area to trim without feeling the immediate burn. But I’d caution against doing so as the right genetic choices today can provide massive returns – perhaps some of the biggest on your dairy. Working with dairies across Wisconsin I see first-hand the difference investing in the right genetics can make. Luckwaldt Agriculture, Inc. owned by Dan and Mary Luckwaldt in Woodville, Wis. has always prioritized buying top genetics, because they have proof that genetics are a leading driver of profitability on their 1,300-cow dairy. Annually we evaluate numerous metrics through a Genetic Audit to see how genetics are expressed in their herd. Instead of overwhelming you with tons of data, let’s keep it simple and look at the impact genetics have on milk production.
2
In a Genetic Audit, every animal is assigned a Parent Average for milk (PTAM) and ranked top to bottom. In the Luckwaldt herd, we see a staggering difference between quartiles, with the best group putting an additional 12 pounds of milk/cow/day in the bulk tank during their first lactation. (Table 1) What’s the ROI for this added milk? Considering the herd's reproductive performance, accounting for variables like conception rates, abortions, and death loss, we know it takes 4.4 units of semen to create one milking cow. If the additional cost to acquire semen from top-tier sires is $5 more per unit, the total added cost in creating elite offspring is $22 per cow. If that additional 12 pounds of milk is worth $18/cwt, the genetic investment is paid for by the 11th day of a cow’s first lactation. Along with the extra 12 pounds of milk per day for the balance of the first lactation, these cows also produce an additional nine pounds of milk a day for second and greater lactations. All in all, adding up to 9,015 more pounds of milk, or $1,622.70 in revenue over the lifetime of a cow. That return alone is impressive, but not the end of how genetics can impact profitability. Through intense reproductive management this herd has exceptional conception rates. To be profitable, dairies must efficiently produce pregnancies, which keeps the days in milk (DIM) low and age of the herd high.
www.mycentralstar.com • 800.631.3510
Table 1 Quartile
1st Lact. Animals
Avg. PTAM
Lbs/Day
Top
111
1,105
83
Bottom
109
343
71
Quartile
2nd+ Lact. Animals
Avg. PTAM
Lbs/Day
Top
230
1,001
101
Bottom
230
2
92
The difference genetics make in milk production adds up to over 9,000 more pounds per cow in her lifetime.
Table 2 Quartile
1st Lact. Animals
Avg. DPR
Preg. Rate
Top
113
2.7
40%
Bottom
109
0.2
31%
Quartile
2nd+ Lact. Animals
Avg. DPR
Preg. Rate
Top
230
3.4
41%
Bottom
214
-0.2
25%
The genetic difference between the top and bottom animals is 3.6 DPR, which translates to 18 fewer days open or $90/ cow/lactation.
About the author: Cole Mark Cole provides records analysis and genetic consulting for dairy farms across Wisconsin. A graduate of the University of Wisconsin River Falls with a Bachelor of Science in Dairy Science and an associate degree in Agribusiness Management, Cole joined the CentralStar team in 2017.
SIRE
Next Level L el
Genetic Gains
Ask your CentralStar team how to enroll in the NxGEN program to begin capturing next-level genetic gains!
NM$
% REL
DWP$®
GTPI®
7HO14250 LEGACY
+1,089
77
+1,237
+2894
7HO14364 EISAKU
+956
77
+1,007
+2822
7HO14792 MAGNITUDE
+987
74
+1,275
+2900
+1,058
74
+1,264
+2825
+1,012
73
+1,237
+2826
+1,025
73
+1,160
+2886
+954
76
+1,067
+2848
7HO14859 MAXIMUS
New 14HO14906 CHAS New 7HO14904 LON
250HO14134 RENEGADE
12/19 CDCB/HA/Zoetis Genomic Evaluations. ®TPI is a registered trademark of Holstein Association USA. DWP$ is a registered trademark of Zoetis Inc., its affiliates and/or its licensors. RENEGADE photo by Jordan, all other bull photos by Thomas.
Thirteen producers elected to CentralStar Board M ember-stockowners of CentralStar Cooperative confirmed the election of 13 dairy and beef producers to the board of directors at the cooperative’s annual meeting conducted at the Farm Wisconsin Discovery Center in Manitowoc, Wis. “We are fortunate to have such a talented and dedicated group of member-owners that are passionate about the direction of CentralStar,” said Jerome Meyer, Chief Executive Officer, CentralStar Cooperative. “This group ensures the Cooperative provides industry leading genetics, DHI, artificial insemination (A.I.) services, and animal health products that will enhance profitability for dairy and beef producers across our market area.” The CentralStar board of directors includes 13 elected member-owners, each representing a specific geographic area, as well as one director appointed by the board of directors. Elected members include: Paul
Trierweiler, Westphalia, Mich.; Steve Abel, Fond du Lac, Wis.; Lyle Ott, Hilbert, Wis.; Dan Mielke, Colby, Wis.; Dorothy Harms, Reedsburg, Wis.; Larry Voigts, Platteville, Wis.; Rick Adams, Elkhorn, Wis.; Roger Weiland,
Columbus, Wis.; Lee Jensen, Elk Mound, Wis.; Andy Wolf, Oconto Falls, Wis.; Mark Ziel, Port Austin, Mich.; Jeff Horning, Manchester, Mich. and Ken Carnahan, Butler, Ind. Steve Maier, Jim Falls, Wis. fills the appointed position.
Enhancing producer profitability through integrated services.
3
ReproStar Award Winners
Dairy LLC Center: Ashley Risner and Maurice Loehmer surrounded by CentralStar team Rex Reinholt, Mike McCay, Mark Affolder, Tim Schmidt, Scott McLaughlin
In 2019, CentralStar created the ReproStar Award to recognize dairy producers for their accomplishments with reproductive efficiency. Dairies throughout Wisconsin, Indiana and Michigan were nominated by CentralStar team members. Dairies were grouped by herd size, with one winner selected for each category. A panel of judges reviewed each dairy’s data, considering multiple factors that affect pregnancy rates. Herd turnover rates were also considered because of the widely acknowledged payback with effective heifer reproduction programs. The award winners may have different approaches to achieving high reproductive efficiency, but a message that remained consistent across the group was, “details make the difference.” Here’s a recap of a few of the little things that have had a big impact on reproductive results in these herds. • Compliance. Follow protocols every time. • Gun Warmers are used year-round to ensure semen is kept at an optimal temperature, particularly in the winter months. • Double sheaths keep inseminations as clean as possible and reduce potential contamination of breeding equipment. • Thaw baths, scissors, breeding guns and other tools are maintained and cleaned regularly. While their numbers reflect success, it’s the process each farm takes to get there that proves most interesting. Read what our award winners and their CentralStar team members have to share about their journeys.
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Loehmer Monterey, Indiana
Consistency and compliance are key to the Loehmer Dairy program. To have those, you must have a great team, and owner Maurice Loehmer and daughter Ashley Risner have built just that. “You must have people who enjoy their work and are committed to the process and the end goal,” shared Maurice. “Having solid protocols, along with people who understand them and are committed to doing what is needed makes all the difference in achieving goals,” added Ashley. The breeding program at Loehmer Dairy starts with Double Ovsynch and tail chalk. Shots are administered by in-house staff, Lazaro Torres and Rigo Torres, while CentralStar A.I. Specialist Scott McLaughlin, and Ashley work together to breed cows. Pregnancy check is done by ultrasound between 28-30 days. Open cows with a CL are enrolled in G2, while the rest are enrolled in L3. Cows are bred until about 250 days in milk (DIM) and added to the do not breed (DNB) list in PCDART. The farm uses a variety of metrics to monitor reproductive performance, including a weekly review of palpation pregnancy rates. The CentralStar team sites several reasons why Loehmer Dairy is seeing reproductive success including the switch to Double Ovsynch two years ago, commitment to compliance, and attention to details. “They do a lot of little things right,” shared Scott, “and it makes a huge difference in the herd’s reproduction. Not all farms are committed to taking care of the details, but this dairy is proof that it pays.” Loehmer Dairy is a perfect example of what can happen when a reproductive strategy is chosen and all involved are on-board to ensure success. Recognition that a complex synchronization protocol like Double Ovsynch requires excellent compliance > 1,500 Cow Category has yielded phenomenal results, 28% driving up first service conception Pregnancy Rate and 21-day pregnancy rates, Days Open 103 ultimately ensuring the dairy’s Voluntary Waiting Period 60 success.
www.mycentralstar.com • 800.631.3510
Conception - 1st Lactation
48%
Conception - 2nd Lactation
46%
Conception - 3rd+ Lactation
39%
Submission Rates
62%
McClellan
Reed
Farms Inc.
Bill Mansfield and Hector Mendoza
Delavan, Wisconsin
“Having healthy cows is the most important factor to our improved pregnancy rate,” said Bill Mansfield, Herd Manager at McClellan Farms.. “Another contributor is using an activity system. You can tail chalk all you want, but unless you are watching for heats 24 hours a day you won’t catch every cow – and that’s where having a system is valuable.”
Steve, Elizabeth and Malissa Reed, with Kelly Raterink, CentralStar Area Sales Manager
Owosso, Michigan
A combination approach, including timed A.I. and the CowManager® activity monitoring system, is key to the high reproductive performance at Reed Dairy Farm. A family operation, Elizabeth Reed is responsible for daily operations, including the reproduction program; while her dad, Steve assists with oversight of the farm and helps on breeding days, and sister Malissa, provides mating recommendations for the herd.
At McClellan Farms, cows are bred twice daily, based on a combination of timed A.I. and activity monitoring. The activity system identifies cycling and non-cycling cows to selectively enroll cows in timed A.I. Cows with regular heats before 45-50 DIM are bred from the activity alerts. Cows with irregular cycles or those not showing heats, are enrolled in a G2 Presynch/ Ovsynch program at 80 DIM. Pregnancy verification is done by ultrasound at 25-32 days. Open cows are enrolled again in Ovsynch, with second lactation and greater cows receiving two shots of Lutalyse® 24 hours apart.
The breeding program starts with Presynch and Ovsynch, with all cows bred between 73-80 DIM. Cows that come back in heat after the Ovsynch breeding are identified with CowManager and are quickly re-inseminated. Eighty percent of the breeding occurs in the morning, with a few afternoon services when identified by CowManager. Pregnancy checks are performed by ultrasound every two weeks and open cows are enrolled again in Ovsynch. “It’s unusual to have a cow called open, because if they aren’t pregnant to the Ovsynch breeding, we are catching them with CowManager,” said Elizabeth. “We routinely see 80 percent pregnant on herd health day.”
While there is no hard and fast rule, the McClellan team stops breeding cows at about 240 DIM, taking into consideration production, health status and number of services. Bill watches several metrics, but 21-day pregnancy rate is the primary number to monitor herd performance.
The dairy stops breeding cows at about 250 DIM, at which time they are entered on a cull list in PCDART and marked DNB. Of all the metrics monitored, Reed Dairy puts palpation rate at the top of the list. “We monitor palpation rate the closest because it tells us if we’re watching for repeat breedings,” said Elizabeth. “When palpation rate is good, everything else falls into place. It really boils down to getting cows rebred.”
Owners Tom McClellan and Wes Hopkins rely on their team to ensure the program is on track. “Hector (Mendoza) does 90 percent of the breeding and he does a really good job with the details,” says Bill. “We stick to our SOPs (standard operating procedures). Shots are given on time, every time. These things may seem little, but they make a difference in generating pregnancies.” “The farm has strict protocols for cow management. Whether it is milking procedures, calf and heifer management or reproductive protocols, everyone follows the guidelines ensuring optimal health, and reaching the farm’s goals,” said Dave Sattler, CentralStar Area Sales Manager.
Dairy Farm
500 - 1,500 Cow Category
“The Reed family does a lot of the little things right that add up to make a big difference,” noted Kelly Raterink, CentralStar Area Sales Manager. “They have a breeding program protocol that they follow consistently, and the results are seen in their numbers.”
< 500 Cow Category
Pregnancy Rate
34%
Pregnancy Rate
37%
Days Open
105
Days Open
108
Voluntary Waiting Period
80
Voluntary Waiting Period
73
Conception - 1st Lactation
54%
Conception - 1st Lactation
43%
Conception - 2nd Lactation
51%
Conception - 2nd Lactation
49%
Conception - 3rd+ Lactation
54%
Conception - 3rd+ Lactation
46%
Submission Rates
68%
Submission Rates
73%
Enhancing producer profitability through integrated services.
5
Pride View Dairy:
CowManager identifies sick cows more quickly
R
easons are many why a dairy farm would want to install a cow-monitoring system: improve pregnancy rate to save money, expansion, replace an employee, etc. For the Boelter brothers at Pride View Dairy, LLC, it was time for a change. “We looked at a few different systems, because we were at a fork in the road where we had to expand the current system or try something new,” said Luke, the youngest of the three brothers. Twenty-four full-time employees and a team of dedicated consultants help Chad, Heath, and Luke Boelter milk 1,300 cows and farm 2,000 acres outside of Randolph, Wis. About five years ago, they had just built another barn when they realized there was more to cow-monitoring systems than catching heats. “The old system was just activity; we liked the rumination feature about CowManager®," said Chad. “In addition, Eric (Gudex, CentralStar A.I. Specialist) was familiar with it.” Using both the health and fertility modules on the cows and fertility on the heifers, the team at Pride View Dairy has enjoyed taking ownership of CowManager and finding ways to incorporate it on the dairy. “After CowManager was installed, I stopped walking and chalking everything after a 2-3-month period, once we were all adapted to it a little,” said Eric. “Eric uses the CowManager system the most, and David (Shrock), our herd manager, uses it day to day,” added Heath. “At first David was skeptical; the system had to earn his trust. Now he’s confident in it.” Taking a hard look at overall management when installing CowManager is a good idea. Some farms discontinue all use of synchronization with CowManager, but the Boelters decided to incorporate a firstservice timed-A.I. “The cows are bred at 75 days with G-6-G and watched for a return at 21 days,” said Eric. “CowManager is used to pick up returns. Everyone open is then enrolled in the Ovsynch program. We want to be as aggressive as possible when getting cows pregnant, so we use a combination of CowManager and shot protocols to make that happen.” In the five years since Pride View installed CowManager, their cow pregnancy rate increased from 22% with a 60% submission 6
Back Row: Luke Boelter, Eric Gudex, Brian Kelroy, Scott Hecker, Heath Boelter; Front Row: Victor Lopez, Andrea Gruetzmacher, Chad Boelter.
rate to 34% with a 75% submission rate. “The numbers tell a lot by themselves,” said Chad. “It has definitely improved our breeding, there’s no doubt about that.” The health module farms can get with CowManager has proven beneficial on many dairies, and Pride View is no exception. “We definitely catch sick cows quicker,” said Heath. “When we move them out of the postfresh pen into larger groups, you can watch their rumination to see how they’re doing. So, we’re a little faster at early identification.” “A health issue it really helps with is HBS (Hemorrhagic Bowel Syndrome),” added Chad. “With that, the cows are really knocked out fast, so CowManager helps catch that.” By using CowManager to get cows pregnant at the appropriate time and monitoring their health in a more efficient fashion, Pride View Dairy has been able to freshen in 319 more cows per year without even increasing herd size. They’ve also seen significant decreases in cow death, ketosis, metritis, and retained placenta. In turn, all this has made it possible for the farm to obtain income from selling more cows. The big question when installing a new management practice on a farm is, “Was it worth it?” The Boelters think so. “It’s hard www.mycentralstar.com • 800.631.3510
to put an actual value on the system,” said Heath. “There are so many variables involved.” “We definitely see an advantage of having it, though,” added Chad. “There’s no doubt about that.” “It has been extremely helpful to Eric compared to the tail chalking and the amount of time he stuck into that. That’s probably one of the biggest paybacks,” noted Heath, and, “We’re catching that (sick) cow quicker that we probably wouldn’t have caught right away.”
Pride View Dairy Health Events Event
2015
2019
Change
Fresh
1,254
1,673
+319
Sold
361 29%
496 32%
+135 3%
Died
71 6%
52 3%
-19 -3%
Ketosis
256 20%
51 3%
-231 -17%
Metritis
122 9.70%
20 1.27%
-102 -8.34%
By: Dori Lichty, Communication Specialist
? ? ? Don't Guess!
Raising too many heifers is costly, but so is keeping the wrong ones. Using DHI data takes the guesswork out of important decisions on your dairy, including which heifers to keep. A recent case study of a CentralStar dairy confirmed the importance of using DHI data to select replacements. Making decisions based on DHI information netted over 1,500 pounds more milk per heifer in their first lactation, versus selection based solely on a dam’s milk production as determined by on-farm meters. Improving your herd relies on good decision making, good decision makers rely on CentralStar DHI.
Ask your CentralStar team about leveraging DHI to make profitable decisions or call 800.631.3510.
SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE • Seven, $1,000 agricultural scholarships • Download application: www.mycentralstar.com • Deadline: June 1, 2020
Enhancing producer profitability through integrated services.
7
SELECT
Presorted Standard Class U.S. Postage PAID Lansing, MI Permit #505
P.O. Box 23157, Lansing, MI 48909-3157 800.631.3510 • mycentralstar.com Return Service Requested
Turns up the HEAT! SELECT DTX is designed specifically for feed challenges caused by molds and their metabolites. Ask your CentralStar team to test your feed to know which mycotoxins are affecting your herd.
SPECIAL SAVINGS GOING ON NOW! BUY 5, GET 1 FREE CentralStar its agents or employees cannot and do not guarantee the conception rate, gender, quality or productivity to be obtained in connection with the use of its products or recommended techniques. It makes no warranties of any kind whatsoever, expressed or implied, which extend beyond the description of its products and hereby disclaims all warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose. In the unlikely event that any of our products shall be proven to be defective, damages resulting from their use shall exclude consequential damages and be limited to the purchase price of the product. Find complete trademark and warranty statement at mycentralstar.com/production-information. All gender SELECTed semen is processed using SexedULTRA technology. ™SexedULTRA and SexedULTRA 4M are trademarks of Inguran LLC.™gender SELECTed semen is a trademark of Select Sires Inc. ™NxGEN is a trademark of Select Sires. ®CowManager is a registered trademark of Agis Automatisering. Select DTX® is a trademark of Select Sires and manufactured by Agrarian Solutions, Middlebury, Indiana.
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Identify health conditions early Earn a great Return On Investment Many tools purchased to operate your dairy are expensive and depreciate the moment you bring them home. But there is one purchase which the cash outlay is relatively small, and the ROI significant. Learn how selecting top-tier genetics can turn $5 into $1,600. (Page 2)
The advantage of identifying sick cows 1-2 days sooner than visual detection significantly reduces labor and treatment costs, while adding revenue to the bottom line. Read about Pride View Dairy's experience since installing the CowManager herd monitoring system five years ago. (Page 6)
Improve reproductive efficiency Discover the different strategies and consistent keys CentralStar's ReproStar Award Winners use to achieve reproductive efficiency. (Pages 4 - 5)
Earn cash for college Scholarship applications due June 1, 2020. Details and application available at mycentralstar.com/scholarship.
Understand which decisions can be most profitable
?
??
Raising too many heifers is costly, but so is keeping the wrong ones. Making decisions based on DHI information nets significantly more milk per heifer in their first lactation, versus selection based solely on a dam’s milk production as determined by on-farm meters. (Page 7)