News January - February 2021
Sire Selection Checklist For breeding healthy, productive and fertile cows
Feed lists, cow lists, to-do lists and more. We’re never short on lists these days. We use lists to stay organized, to remember tasks and items and ultimately, to achieve success. When it comes to genetics and reproduction, there’s another stack of lists that come to mind. Let’s choose one of those lists and give it a refreshsire selection. Your basic goals in sire selection should include productive, healthy and fertile cows. These goals are especially important as we consider common genetic and reproductive strategies. Today, we’re using genetic data to rank cows in the herd before they even show their first signs of heat. While these culling strategies equip your herd with the best genetics for a successful future, they also lead to low heifer inventories and fewer replacements. With tighter heifer inventories, it’s a matter of fact that cows will have to stay in the herd longer. You will need to secure the best return on your genetic investments. Focusing your selection attention on the key traits that help cows remain in the herd will ease you through this transition. To achieve these genetic goals in your herd, Select Sires has identified five critical points to include on your sire selection checklist.
Authors: Chuck Sattler, vice president of genetic programs and Jeff Ziegler, vice president of dairy cattle breeding, Select Sires, Inc.
Diagnostic Test Options
Buy 4, get 1 FREEhi!le
Diagnostic Test
Sample Type
Turnaround
PCR
Milk, Whole Blood, Tissue
10 days
PCR
Whole Blood
10 days
ELISA
Serum, Milk
5 days
ELISA
Milk, Serum, Tissue
5 days
PCR
Milk, Tissue, Whole Blood
10 days
Pooled PCR (Min 10/Max 20)
Tissue, Whole Blood
10 days
Pooled PCR (Min 20/Max 250)
Milk
10 days
ELISA
Milk, Serum
5 days
PCR
Fecal
10 days
Pooled PCR (Min 3/Max 5)
Fecal
10 days
PCR
Milk
10 days
Complete 16
Milk
2 days
Pooled Complete 16 (Min 3/Max 5)
Milk
2 days
Contagious 4
Milk
2 days
Pooled Contagious 4 (Min 3/Max 5)
Milk
2 days
Single Mastitis (Staph aureus OR M. bovis)
Milk
2 days
Pooled Single Mastitis (Min 3/Max 5)
Milk
2 days
ELISA
Serum
3 days
ELISA
Serum, Milk
5 days
ELISA
Serum
1 day
ELISA
Milk
1 day
w Offer available supplies last.
A1/A2 BLV
BVD
Johne’s
Mastitis PCR
NEFA Neospora
Keep calves warm, dry and healthy! Woolover® calf coats are a unique blend of 70% wool and 30% polyester. Closed front protects the chest, keeping vital organs warm. University research shows performance gains and reduced sickness in calves wearing a Woolover.
Original Woolover
• Belly strap, rear leg straps. Available in small, medium, large.
Original Woolover with rear leg buckles • Available in medium, large.
Ultra Woolover
• Waterproof Emphatax™ shell with original Woolover underneath. Available in small, medium, large.
Ultra Lite Woolover with rear leg buckles
• Lighter weight wool/polyester inside with nylon ripstop cover and rear leg buckle straps. Available in medium. Don’t wait, order today. Additional savings on orders of 50 or more. Lamb and kid goat styles available too!
Pregnancy
www.mycentralstar.com 800.631.3510 Woolover® is a registered trademark and manufactured by Woolover LTD, Temuka, New Zealand.
Ask your CentralStar DHI Specialist for more information.
CONVERT DAY-ONE GEL
Protect your genetic investment... ensuring a brighter future. Producers using CONVERT report Reduced Scours Increased Growth Rates
Increased Appetites Reduced Mortality
MULTI-DOSE TUBES BUY 5 • GET 1
SINGLE-DOSE TUBES BUY 16 • GET 2
January 1 to February 28, 2021
January 1 to February 28, 2021
FREE
FREE
Convert™ is a trademark of Select Sires Inc. and manufactured by Agrarian Solutions® All claims, representation and warranties, expressed or implied, are made by Agrarian Solutions.
800.631.3510 • mycentralstar.com