Progress in 2022 and Beyond

PROGRESS IN 2022 & Beyond

Kennedy LIddle HAUSA Representative

World Dairy Expo has come and gone, harvest is well underway, and winter is just around the corner. As we wrap up 2022 and look towards 2023, it’s appropriate to reflect upon the progress and successes of 2022, and gain momentum for what’s to come in the year ahead.

From data supporting the value of classification, to new bulls in the Holstein Marketplace Sires program, Holstein Association USA has had an exciting year. The successes shared in this column have been fun to watch unfold over the past few months, and they give us hope and inspiration for the future of Holstein Association USA.

A million reasons why conformation matters

What should a dairy cow look like? How does physical conformation in today's dairy industry relate to economically important traits? A recent study completed by Holstein Association USA staff aimed to answer these questions using a large dataset with matching data from official linear classification evaluations and DHIA production records. The dataset covered almost 20 years of data and included over 1 million cows.

The results? The study shows a clear relationship between desirable functional conformation and economically important traits. This is something many Registered Holstein breeders have believed in and practiced all along. If you are interested in seeing more information about the study, complete results and details about individual traits can be found at www.holsteinusa.com/typematters. Keep an eye out for additional details of the study in upcoming issues of The Pulse as well.

New Holstein Marketplace Sires

Over the past several months, we’ve added some exciting new bulls to the Holstein Marketplace Sires program. GOLDEN-OAKS TANGO-RED is the breed leading genomic type bull at +4.25 PTAT, +3.18 UDC, +0.15% Fat, and +0.05% Protein. He is a Red Altitude grandson of one of the most famous red cows in the world, Tang, who’s maternal line includes Tobi EX-96 3E and Tina EX-95 2E. Tango is bred and owned by Golden Oaks Farm in Wauconda, Illinois.

Most recently, SYNERGY KUDOS-ET, bred and owned by Synergy Dairy in Pulaski, Wisconsin, has been added to the program. Synergy is a bull for everyone at +3.06 PTAT, +2.88 UDC, and +2821 GTPI. He’s one of the most balanced bulls available and has 10 generations of Very Good and Excellent dams tracing back to the Ronelee Outside Dabble family.

Other new bulls in the Marketplace Sires lineup include BLUMENFELD NAVIGATOR-ET, an elite net merit and GTPI bull with high components. Navigator is bred and owned by Blumenfeld Holsteins LLC in Hawley, Minnesota and is free of restrictive contracts. SUGAR-C CAPTIVATING FABIO is an extreme production and component bull from a tremendous family line at Sugar Creek Dairy in Elkhorn, Wisconsin. For the first time ever, Holstein Marketplace Sires also added a HOLSim bull to the program. IR PRIMETIME is a homozygous black, homozygous polled SimAngus™ bull, and ranks among the highest HOLSim bulls available. HOLSim bulls like PRIMETIME are elite SimAngus sires with traits that will complement Holstein females for a more profitable terminal calf. SimAngus bulls combine the strengths of two breeds (Simmental and Angus), giving them an economic advantage and making them the sought-after breed for beef on Holstein breeding programs. If you’re interested in learning more about these bulls or purchasing semen, visit www. holsteinusa.com/marketplacesires. You can also contact your regional rep or Holstein Marketplace Sires Manager Tim Ziemba at tziemba@ holstein.com.

Success on the colored shavings

Congratulations to all breeders and exhibitors who paraded their animals around the colored shavings in October! You were part of a record-breaking World Dairy Expo, as Hoard’s Dairyman reported in an October 13, 2022, Intel article on their website titled Three records set at 2022 World Dairy Expo.

It pointed to a record breaking 2,663 head of cattle who called World Dairy Expo home the first week of October. In the Holstein ring, an impressive 508 head took their turn earning their placing in the ring. In the Junior Holstein show, 258 animals were entered, some of which showed again in the Open Holstein show later in the week. The breadth of participation in this year’s show points towards promising involvement and future relevance of National Holstein Shows.

Another record was broken when Oakfield Solom Footloose-ET took the Supreme Champion title during the finale of World Dairy Expo. Footloose and her granddam Harvue Roy Frosty became the first granddaughter and granddam pair to earn this title.

As 2022 comes to a close, take a little time to reflect on the accomplishments you’ve made on the farm or the personal goals you’ve achieved over the past year. Sometimes it can be difficult to see the progress being made in the moment, and taking a step back can provide important perspective, and a source of inspiration for the year ahead.

Have a wonderful holiday season, and don’t hesitate to reach out to me with any questions or help I can provide on Holstein Association USA products and services. Kennedy Liddle 315-459-3321 kcrothers@holstein.com