HORIZONS Dairy Edition
Vol. 25/No. 1
Proven concept, improved delivery! UdderLife™ OptiShield™ teat sealant is a sterile, antibiotic‑free, off-white smooth paste that aids in the prevention of new intramammary infections throughout the dry period by providing a malleable barrier in the teat canal.
Learn more on page 14!
HORIZONS Dairy
January 2019
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Vol. 25/No. 1 Published three times a year for GENEX members and customers ADDRESS CORRESPONDENCE
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GENEX P.O. Box 469, Shawano, WI 54166 info@genex.coop 888.333.1783 www.genex.coop
BOARD OF DIRECTORS John Ruedinger, President Van Dyne, WI, 920.922.9899 Bobby Robertson, 1st Vice President Tahlequah, OK, 918.822.0020 Harold House, 2nd Vice President Nokesville, VA, 571.722.3356
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Ronald Totten, Secretary Stafford, NY, 585.344.0758
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Jon Wayne Danielson Cadott, WI, 715.289.3860 Casey Dugan Casa Grande, AZ, 520.251.3492 Terry Frost Roundup, MT, 406.323.3415 Israel Handy St. Johnsville, NY, 518.568.5476 Lamar Gockley Mohnton, PA, 717.283.5586 Kay Olson-Martz Friendship, WI, 608.564.7359 Jody Schaap Woodstock, MN, 507.215.2257 Daniel Tetreault Champlain, NY, 518.298.8690 Bill Zimmerman Foley, MN, 320.355.2191
CONTENTS 04 We are GENEX 06 What is GENEX?
The Annual Meeting Version 08 In the News Dugan Elected to GENEX Council, Koepon and CRI combine to form URUS, GENEX Announces Senior Leadership Team
10 ICC$™ Index for Holsteins Flexes
20 The Key to Tracking and
Predicting Herd Inventory 24 Understanding Vapor Shipper Tanks 26 Beef x Dairy Sires With the Numbers for Bottomline Profit
27 Dairy Animal Welfare From a Producer, Consumer & Industry Perspective
to Meet Producers’ Needs HORIZONS STAFF Jenny L. Hanson, Editor, jlhanson@crinet.com
14 To Seal or Not to Seal? Introducing UdderLife™ OptiShield™ teat sealant
Andy Graf, Graphic Designer
REPRINTS Material may not be reproduced in any fashion without permission from GENEX. Genex Cooperative, its agents or employees, cannot and do not guarantee the conception rate, quality or productivity to be obtained in connection with the use of their products or recommended techniques. THEY MAKE NO WA R R A N T I E S O F A N Y K I N D W H AT S O E V E R E X P R E S S E D O R IMPLIED WHICH E X TENDS BE YOND THE DESCRIP TION OF THE PRODUC TS A ND HEREBY DISCL A IM A L L WA RR A NTIES OF MERCHANTABILIT Y AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICUL AR PURPOSE. In the unlikely event that any of the products shall be proven to be defective, damages resulting from their use shall be limited to their purchase price.
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE GENEX is the trusted provider of world-class animal genetics, progressive reproductive solutions, value-added products and innovative services to members and customers.
We are GENEX By Huub te Plate, COO
Member representation at GENEX is achieved by dairy and beef producer members across the USA electing delegates and alternates for their respective membership region. In addition to electing the GENEX council members (also dairy and beef producers from across the USA), these delegates and alternates represent members' interests at two important events during the year: fall input meetings and the annual meeting. During both events, delegates and alternates hear from and provide input to the cooperative’s council and management. The fall delegate input meetings are always interactive. The typical agenda for the event includes a director’s report with financials, governance and strategic information as well as a management report focused on GENEX and industry happenings. For many delegates, the highlight is what comes next: input sessions where we ask delegates and alternates for feedback on particular topics. This year, we asked delegates what sets GENEX apart, how do we want to differentiate GENEX and how should GENEX be identified as a brand? In essence, besides delivering world-class products and services, what do you want GENEX to be? Your delegates’ top answers are listed below.
What is GENEX? Here's how your member-elected delegates describe GENEX.
Cooperative
Maintain our status as the top bovine genetics cooperative.
Quality
Continue to provide quality products and services to members and customers.
Reliable
This speaks to our knowledgeable and friendly staff and the dependability of our products.
Innovation
Research-based technologies should continue to serve us well into the future.
Service
Carry on the tradition of providing timely, resourceful and problem-solving service.
Affordable
Continue to offer competitive, cost-effective prices.
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These six cornerstones were not surprising. Delegates (and members) value our status as a cooperative. Grassroot input is essential to any farmergoverned cooperative. Quality speaks for itself; outstanding genetics as well fertile semen create pregnancies. Reliable, knowledgeable, friendly, dependable staff – this is where we excel. While in a commoditized world product can be copied to some degree but having first-class staff cannot. Like a professional sports team, outstanding individuals can be drafted or bought, but it’s the team that brings home the championship. Innovation is another area we take pride in. GENEX and our predecessors have established many industry firsts: Calving ease summary, herd life evaluation & total economic sire index Dairy mating system (MAP program)
Count on the GENEX team of professionals for their quality work, dependability and reliability, and their dedication to delivering solutions as a service.
SM
Pocket Thaw™ semen thawing method Chute-side beef reproductive service Dairy and beef sire fertility rankings (PregCheck™ rankings) Nucleus herd (GENESIS) Ideal Commercial Cow™ (ICC$™) index Service. It was great to hear delegates comment over and over that GENEX is “more than arm service.” We deliver solutions as a service. Well-educated and knowledgeable staff provide answers to many issues. If answers were not provided on the spot, delegates reported excellent follow-up. Affordable. We have a challenging dairy and beef economy, and being cost effective is a must. Just a couple months ago, GENEX became a cooperative within URUS. The URUS group drives cost effectiveness in the breeding program, semen production and back-office functions. Just as you look at where you can become more efficient in your operation, so do we. We have found our definition of “We are GENEX.” Directors and delegates have given us the guide to follow. I trust you will see the top six GENEX traits come through in our daily actions and communications with members and customers.
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What is GENEX? The Annual Meeting Version By Terri Dallas, Vice President of Member Relations
The 2019 GENEX annual meeting held Jan. 22-23 in Bloomington, Minnesota, was a perfect example of what GENEX is and what GENEX stands for. The annual meeting is about dairy and beef producers. It’s about cooperative members, delegates and alternates. It’s about sharing the results of the previous year and plans for the future. It’s about providing input and making a difference. It’s also about talking to farmers from all over the USA with the same challenges. It’s about making new friends and visiting with old friends. It’s about sitting back, relaxing, laughing and having fun. And yet, it’s more. It’s about being a cooperative. It’s what GENEX is. It’s hard to talk about the annual meeting and not reflect on the quality of the breakout sessions and speakers. In a presentation by Paul Hunt, Chief Operating Officer of URUS Operations, delegates and alternates got a glimpse of the strategies, structures and plans to
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The annual meeting provided delegates the opportunity to learn from Herd Care Line Manager Kurt Jochimsen about the array of new herd care line products from GENEX.
ensure URUS generates the genetic products GENEX needs to be an industry leader. Luncheon speaker Amberley Snyder brought the crowd to their feet at the conclusion of her very timely and touching talk, “There is No Future in Giving Up.” Delegates and alternates also had the chance to visit with GENEX product experts about some of the reliable Herd Care Line products such as
the renowned RumiLife® CAL24™ nutritional supplement and new products UdderLife™ OptiShield™ teat sealant and ReMOOV™ horn paste. Your cooperative is proud to be known for innovation through the development of many industry firsts. Annual meeting attendees got an in-depth look at some of the newest GENEX ideas, including the GENEX Dairy Bull Search app (the talk of
the industry), updates to the Ideal Commercial Cow™ (ICC$™) index and how this cooperative is assisting producers in strategic breeding through the Beef x Dairy program. Thank you to the GENEX delegates and alternates for their service to the cooperative. As member-elected delegates, one of their duties at the annual meeting was to caucus
Joe Binversie, GENEX Value Added Programs Manager, shared with delegates the current features of the GENEX Dairy Bull Search app and future capabilities as the app continues to evolve.
with others from their membership region and elect their GENEX council member. There was ample time to provide input on GENEX membership appreciation meetings and fall delegate meetings as well.
Delegates attending the annual meeting showed high interest in the Beef x Dairy program, as Dairy Marketing Manager Leah James shared the traits and characteristics beef bulls must possess to create the most profitable terminal cross calves.
For many, the highlight of the GENEX annual meeting was the presentation by Michael Sleeper, GENEX Associate Vice President of International Beef Marketing. The presentation took attendees through his 40-year journey in global A.I. Michael’s talk captured the attention of many who had relied on GENEX and its predecessors for semen and services because it was high quality and affordable – just as you’d expect from a cooperative.
Quality. Reliable. Innovation. Service. Affordable. Cooperative. In his address to the delegate body during the annual meeting, GENEX council President John Ruedinger expressed his optimism for the future of GENEX. “If we hold fast to what GENEX is, then GENEX will be here for the next generation of producers. We will remain relevant to members by asking for their feedback and responding to their needs, and we will ensure the next generation of producers is involved in and driving their cooperative’s future.” What is GENEX? GENEX is your cooperative.
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Apply Today!
GENEX Collegiate Scholarship Youth attending a four-year university or two-year technical college in fall 2019 and pursuing a degree in an agricultural field are encouraged to apply for the GENEX Collegiate Scholarship. Applicants must also be affiliated with a GENEX member by having an active role on the member’s dairy or ranch. GENEX members are producers within the contiguous U.S. who have purchased $500 of semen, products and/or services in a 12-month period and submitted a membership agreement form. GENEX will provide a minimum of four $750 scholarships. For more information on the scholarship and to complete the application, visit the GENEX Journal at www.genex.coop. Applications, including applicant photo and two letters of recommendation, must be postmarked by March 30, 2019.
Dugan Elected to GENEX Council
Four Council Members Re-elected
At the GENEX annual meeting, dairy producer Casey Dugan of Casa Grande, Arizona, was elected to his first term on the cooperative’s governing council after serving as a delegate since 2014.
Casey Dugan
In this council position, he represents dairy and beef producers in the GENEX membership region which includes Washington, Oregon, California, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas.
Casey is owner of Desperado Dairy in Casa Grande, where he is a thirdgeneration dairy farmer running the 1,000-cow operation. He’s also co-owner of Dugan Brothers LLC, a custom harvesting company, and Dugan Feeds LLC, which distributes feed rations to local farms. He attended Northern Arizona University earning a bachelor’s degree in business and is a graduate of Arizona’s rural leadership program, Project CENTRL. Other industry involvement extends to the United Dairymen of Arizona cooperative and Arizona DHIA. Four incumbents were also re-elected to the GENEX council. Those re-elected to new three-year terms include Dan Tetreault of Champlain, New York; Lamar Gockley of Mohnton, Pennsylvania; Kay Olson-Martz of Friendship, Wisconsin; and Jody Schaap of Woodstock, Minnesota.
Dan Tetreault
Lamar Gockley
Kay Olson-Martz
Jody Schaap
Koepon and CRI combine to form URUS Two strong organizations – one cooperative and one privately-owned company – have combined to form a new global leader in cattle artificial insemination genetics and farm management information. Koepon Holding BV and Cooperative Resources International (CRI) announced their intent to merge in December 2017. Following due diligence and votes by each organization’s board of directors as well as the member delegates of CRI, the business combination was completed in October 2018. The new organization is known as URUS.
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“While URUS is a new name in the “The companies of URUS will be global agriculture industry, its roots leaders in new developments for the run deep,” states Cees Hartmans, cattle industry,” states Hartmans. CEO. “The companies within the “Dairy and beef cattle producers are URUS family – AgSource, Alta the heart of this organization, and Genetics, GENEX, Jetstream so we want to ensure our members Genetics, PEAK/GENESIS, SCCL and clients have access to the and VAS – have a history of serving best products and services at a dairy and beef producers across competitive price. We want to be your the world. Now, as part of this new partner of choice for cattle genetics, organization, these companies are reproduction and farm management even better positioned to meet the information for years to come. future needs of members and clients.” “Together, we can focus on producing The formation of URUS, with its high-quality and healthy food size and scale, makes possible a while contributing to a sustainable, significant increase in investment productive and profitable global dairy towards products and services that and beef industry.” will benefit producers across the globe.
GENEX Announces Senior Leadership Team “Change is inevitable,” states Huub te Plate, GENEX Chief Operating Officer. “2018 went into the books as the year GENEX became part of a new organization, URUS. While we continue to market cattle genetics, herd care products and reproductive service, as part of this new organization we can realize significant savings.” Areas such as the genetics program and semen production operations have been centralized under URUS. Centralizing these activities enables the creation of efficient production facilities to maximize the quantity and quality of semen produced. The formation of URUS and centralization of operations, along with the desire to position GENEX for the future, also led to a restructuring of the GENEX senior leadership team. “The new leadership team is an experienced multicultural team that, with the help of all employees, will move GENEX to the next level and enable this cooperative to serve dairy and beef producers around the globe long into the future,” states Huub.
Huub te Plate, Chief Operating Officer
The senior leadership team consists of Dean Gilge, Vice President of Wholesale Markets; Dave Goedken, Vice President of U.S. Dairy Sales and Service; Judd Hanson, Vice President of U.S. Dairy Strategic Sales; Nick Hemauer, Vice President of Global Sales Support; Dave Mellinger, Chief Financial Officer; Humberto Sánchez DVM, General Manager of GENEX México; Sergio Saud, General Manager of GENEX Brazil; Jeff Swenson, Vice President of Beef Sales, Service and Product Development; and Terri Dallas, Vice President of Member Relations.
Dean Gilge, Vice President, Wholesale Markets
Nick Hemauer, Vice President, Global Sales Support
Sergio Saud, General Manager GENEX Brazil
Dave Goedken, Vice President, U.S. Dairy Sales and Service
Judd Hanson, Vice President, U.S. Dairy Strategic Sales
Dave Mellinger, Chief Financial Officer
Humberto Sánchez DVM, General Manager GENEX México
Jeff Swenson, Vice President, Beef Sales Service and Product Development
Terri Dallas, Vice President, Member Relations
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5% CABL$
ICC$ Index for Holsteins ™
Flexes to Meet Producers’ Needs
10% MABL$
14% FYFT$
47% PREF$
By Leah James, Dairy Marketing Manager
Sub-Indexes Included in the ICC$™ Index
Balanced production. Healthy cows that stay out of the sick pen. Cows that breed back quickly, and cows that are the right size for facilities. This is what GENEX members and customers asked for, and this is what GENEX strives to provide. Feedback from members and customers formed the foundation of the Ideal Commercial Cow™ (ICC$™) index. Originally launched in August 2014, the ICC$™ index has been proven the go-to index for creating problem-free, high-profit animals for commercial operations. It’s comprised of five easy-to-use sub-indexes driven by sciencebased data and directly tied to dairy economics. “The ICC$™ index is probably the largest step forward we have seen in meeting the needs of commercial producers,” comments Don Bennink
of North Florida Holsteins. “The index really looks at the characteristics commercial producers – those making a living from their dairy herd – need from their cattle for maximum profit.”
Index Updates With the December 2018 proofs, the ICC$™ index for Holsteins was updated to meet producers’ needs. Changes included a renewed focus on healthy cows through the transition period, a re-balancing of Fat and Protein weightings, and an updated focus on fertility and functional commercial conformation. The sub-index weightings shifted slightly with the Production Efficiency (PREF$) sub-index now at 47% (previously 46%) and the Fertility & Fitness (FYFT$) sub-index now at 14% (previously at 15%).
What You Need to Know About the Recent Updates to the ICC$™ Index for Holsteins Balanced production for maximized profit Fat and Protein weightings rebalanced in PREF$ sub-index Health cows that stay out of the sick pen Transition Health component added to HLTH$ sub-index Transition Health includes Metritis, Ketosis, Retained Placenta & Displace Abomasum Livability trait added to HLTH$ sub-index Fertility and functional udder focused More emphasis placed DPR and HCR Updated functional udder traits within MABL$ sub-index
24% HLTH$
Down to the Details One benefit of the ICC$™ index is its ability to flex to meet the evolving needs of commercial dairies. Based on current milk markets and customer feedback, the PREF$ sub-index underwent a significant shift in weightings, namely increasing the importance of Fat. Fat is now weighted at 29% (an increase of 10%) and Protein at 26%. The other big change was to the HLTH$ sub-index where a Transition Health component was added, emphasizing the importance of breeding healthy cows. Transition Health encompasses four critically important health traits: Metritis, Ketosis, Displaced Abomasum and Retained Placenta. These four traits come from the Council on Dairy Cattle Breeding (CDCB) and are proven to be economically important to a dairy operation. Livability, also from CDCB, was added to the HLTH$ sub-index too. Rounding out the changes are slight re-weights within the FYFT$ subindex and a refocusing on functional udder traits within the MABL$ subindex. The Calving Ability (CABL$) sub-index did not change. The updates made to this proprietary index are an exciting reflection of its ability to evolve to meet producers’ ever-changing genetic needs. This commercially driven index and economically driven sub-indexes are the ideal combination for any operation.
PREF$
Sub-Indexes Target Specific Management Areas
10% Milk Yield
Production Efficiency (PREF$)
29% Fat Yield 35% Marginal Feed Costs 26%
HLTH$Protein Yield 7% Livability 6% Body Condition Score
25% Locomotion
Health (HLTH$)
33% Ketosis 15% Transition Health
17% Somatic Cell Score 24% Productive Life
6% Hoof Health
FYFT$
33% Metritis
17% Retained Placenta
5% Polled Genotype
2% Fertility Haplotypes
Fertility & Fitness (FYFT$)
17% Displaced Abomasum
38% Heifer Conception Rate
55% Daughter Pregnancy Rate
MABL$ 4% Milking Temperament
12% Milking Speed
Milking Ability (MABL$)
14% Mastitis Resistance 70% Udder Traits
CABL$ 10% Sire Stillbirth
Calving Ability (CABL$)
16% Daughter Calving Ease
45% Sire Calving Ease
Understanding the CDCB Health Traits The Council on Dairy Cattle Breeding (CDCB) published new Holstein health traits in April 2018. Among them were Metritis, Ketosis, Displaced Abomasum and Retained Placenta, which have been added to the Health (HLTH$) sub-index of the ICC$™ index for Holsteins. These traits are defined as disease resistance, with trait values presented as percentage points of event resistance above or below the breed average. A positive value indicates favorable resistance to the health event.
29% Daughter Stillbirth
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Commercial Cows …
1HO11376 TABASCO daughters at Darlington Ridge
ICC$™ Index Allstars
ICC$™
LNM$
1HO12996 KANZO
+1300
+933
1HO13814 WHISKER
+1289
+940
1HO11955 BEYOND
+1241
+912
NEW
1HO13813 BUZZARD
+1228
+921
NEW
1HO13836 WORLD CLASS
+1216
+830
1HO13805 AVALINO
+1201
+952
1HO13483 LOKI
+1181
+857
1HO13471 HYFLOW
+1175
+870
1HO12990 NET
+1174
+850
1HO13442 SLAM DUNK
+1153
+924
NEW
1HO12996 BOMAZ DAMIEN KANZO-ET
1HO13814 T-Spruce Frazzle WHISKER-ET
GENEX/12-18, CDCB/12-18
It’s What We Do!
1JE00922 RONALDO {3} daughters at Faria Brothers
NEW
GENEX/12-18, CDCB/12-18
ICC$™ Index Allstars
ICC$™
CM$
1JE01077 MARCELO-UR
+1095
+821
1JE01085 PACINO-UR
+852
+644
1JE01081 DOX {3}
+828
+645
1JE01088 FRANCESA {5}
+825
+641
1JE01073 HALL {4}
+805
+642
1JE00984 USAIN BOLT {3}
+791
+581
1JE00935 WORLD CUP {5}
+784
+637
1JE00922 RONALDO {3}
+784
+595
1JE01088 JX Faria Brothers Francesa {5}-ET
To seal or not to seal? Introducing UdderLife™ OptiShield™ Teat Sealant By Suzanne Lois, Herd Care Line Advisor
It is well understood that mastitis has a large economic impact on a dairy producer’s bottom line. Research indicates the direct and indirect costs, which include veterinary, discarded milk, extra labor, cow mortality, repeat cases and milk losses, amount to $1.7 - $2 billion per year.1 Preventive protocols are the best option to curb 50-60% of all new cases that occur during the dry period.2 Dry cow antibiotic therapy has been the most widely used method until recently. With the movement to reduce antibiotic use and regulations preventing organic dairy farms to use dry cow antibiotic therapy, teat sealants have been added to protocols or even used exclusively.
Why add a teat sealant to a dry cow antibiotic therapy? Understanding the three physical barriers of a cow’s mammary system along with the three stages of the dry period can help producers make a fact-based decision on whether to add a teat sealant to a dry cow protocol. The streak canal, teat sphincter and keratin plug (shown at right) make up the three physical barriers that block or absorb bacteria that may penetrate a cow’s mammary system. The streak canal is the primary line of defense. The streak canal has its own built-in defense mechanisms, such as physical closing of the 14
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Streak Canal Teat Sphincter
Keratin Plug
Studies have shown the efficacy of a teat sealant used in conjunction with antibiotic dry cow therapy can reduce new dry cow infections at calving by 25%. entryway into the gland and the formation of a keratin plug to prevent entry of bacteria. The teat sphincter, located in the teat wall, extends 2mm into the canal. It has no antibacterial activity, but rather contracts and shuts off the streak canal to create a physical obstruction to bacteria. Genetics can play a role in how quickly and tightly this smooth muscle closes off after milking. Clinical and subclinical milk fever can also impact time of closure, as low calcium and magnesium levels affect all smooth muscle contraction. The keratin plug has two functions. It is a mesh-like substance formed by desquamated epithelial cells, fatty acids and cationic proteins. It functions as a physical obstruction and can also absorb bacteria. However, certain bacteria can survive and grow in the keratin plug. Secondly, it is bactericidal and bacteriostatic. It contains proteins that bind to and cause disintegration of gram-positive bacterial cell walls as well as compounds that inhibit the growth of bacteria.3 It is interesting to note that the fatty acid composition of the keratin plug is heritable.
Understanding the stages of the dry period Involution starts when daily milking stops. The udder reduces activity and gets smaller, and the keratin plug forms. The rate of delayed or never-formed keratin plugs are as follows: 50% of quarters fail to form a keratin plug 7-10 days after dry off, and 10‑23% of quarters fail to form a keratin plug 42-50 days after dry off. 4
During the steady state there are no secretions of any kind. This allows the mammary system to recover and allow for maximum production. Shortening the dry period two weeks reduces future production. This is a lower-risk stage when it comes to new infections. The final stage of the dry period, colostrogenesis, is when colostrum production and the start of lactation occurs. This period lasts around two weeks. New infections are likely to occur during this stage for three
there is no way of knowing if she formed a keratin plug. It is known, however, that the keratin plug plays a vital role in killing bacteria already present in the streak canal at dry off and blocking any new bacteria from entering the streak canal.
Will a teat sealant make the difference? When a teat sealant is deposited in the lower portion of the steak canal, it instantly mimics the keratin plug and seals off the teat for the entire
The manufacturing process, type of tube used to administer the product and where it is manufactured sets UdderLife™ OptiShield™ teat sealant apart from the competition.
main reasons: 1) dry cow therapy is at a level below minimum inhibitory concentration; 2) the cow has a suppressed immune system; and 3) the keratin plug may break down or was never formed during involution. The real question is did she or didn’t she form a keratin plug? Unless every udder is x-rayed at dry off,
dry period, blocking bacteria from entering the mammary system via the teat canal. It remains in the streak canal until it is manually stripped from the teat or a calf suckles the teat. Studies have shown the efficacy of a teat sealant used in conjunction with antibiotic dry cow therapy can reduce new dry cow infections at calving by 25%.5 Continued on next page.
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What to look for in a teat sealant Most internal teat sealants have the same key ingredients: bismuth subnitrate (a heavy metal used in the pharmaceutical industry) and a mineral oil base (viscous paste). The manufacturing process, type of tube used to administer the product and where it is manufactured sets UdderLife™ OptiShield™ teat sealant apart from the competition.
The type of tube and the manufacturing process make all the difference when it comes to keeping the teat sealant in the lower part of streak canal. Excess amounts of air in the tube can push the teat sealant further up into the streak canal and lower mammary system, requiring extra time for the teat sealant to completely clear. Teat
The partial insertion tip of UdderLife™ OptiShield™ teat sealant allows for consistent application and less error of placing the tip too far inside the teat.
sealants can clog milk filters and interfere with electronic switches in milking equipment. Tubes with a tip that allow for a choice of full or partial insertion can push teat sealants up too far in the teat canal and require additional training for compliance and 100% consistency. Udder edema can also push the teat sealant above the streak canal and take longer to strip out. Furthermore, most products on the market are made overseas, which can present the challenge of waiting on a backordered product or the product not being available at all. UdderLife™ OptiShield™ teat sealant is the product of choice because it addresses all these issues (see box below). Teat sealants are another tool to help cows block new dry cow mastitis cases and can increase profit to bottom lines. When considering any new dry cow therapy, it is best to consult with a team of professionals. If adding a teat sealant to dry cow therapy, UdderLife™ OptiShield™ teat sealant from GENEX can help seal off those profit-robbing new cases of mastitis. References available upon request.
Why choose UdderLife™ OptiShield™ teat sealant over others? Its unique manufacturing process prevents large amounts of air in each tube. The tube design allows for escape of any additional air during administration, so the teat sealant stays in the lower portion of the streak canal.
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The tubes are partial insertion only, so there is no confusion when it comes to administration and provides a more consistent delivery.
It’s manufactured in the USA, so concerns over backordered or unavailable product are minimal.
Quality products
Quality genetics
Quality services
Quality programs
When it comes to
QUALITY,
GENEX has it. Quality people
Keep her happy and healthy from birth to dry off.
UdderLife™ Mint-eez™ udder edema lotion and spray works to increase blood flow in the udder to better fight infections. Use these products to help reduce udder edema that can damage mammary supportive ligaments and shorten milking longevity.
UdderLife™ OptiShield™ teat sealant helps prevent new intramammary infections throughout the dry period. With a unique design – a tube containing minimal air – you can rest assured the product forms a solid plug seal in the teat’s streak canal.
RumiLife® CAL24™ nutritional supplement promotes calcium levels important for the first 24 hours after calving. One package (two boluses) can be given consecutively, so you don’t have to catch the cow twice.
ReMOOV™ horn paste inhibits horn growth on calves before it starts. Its unique syringe features a dial that measures out the amount for each horn button, making application simple and precise.
The Key to Tracking and Predicting
Herd Inventory By Sam Minor, Dairy Account Manager & Consultant
There is an old saying that goes, “You can never have too much of a good thing.” That saying, however, may not be true in all cases. Take this example for instance: Some dairy producers have been creating nearly double the amount of calves needed for future herd replacement animals. The reasons for this include the use of sexed semen which delivers approximately 90% female offspring, the adoption of successful reproduction protocols that have allowed annual pregnancy rates to rise above 40%, and a decrease in cull rates due to better management and genetics for healthier animals with longer productive lives.
You can never have too much of a good thing …
or can you? 20
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This excess of offspring gives dairy producers many options including the ability to 1) choose and raise only the best animals; 2) sell excess females and males to cattle buyers for extra cash; 3) increase the dairy’s size rapidly; or 4) to have a cushion in case of a spike in calf mortality. Excess replacements can also be viewed as a negative. The dairy industry is struggling with prices for milk and cull cows. Some producers who have depended on calf sales are finding they have an excessive heifer inventory with fewer buyers. The feed cost and labor to manage these extra animals can be a struggle too.
Ten years ago, GENEX developed a tool to help producers “right-size” their replacement herd through strategic breeding. That tool – still used by dairies across the world – is known as the Calf Math program. SM
Whether producing adequate or excess replacements, managing that inventory and understanding how and when it will impact the operation is important. For example, producers want to know when changes to the reproductive program will result in fewer breeding age heifers or what month the parlor will reach maximum capacity. Previouslyavailable programs did not answer these questions as specifically or
accurately as many would have liked. That’s why GENEX has introduced the HerdVentory program so dairy owners and their teams have a way to easily track and predict inventory.
Image 1. The HerdVentorySM program provides graphic illustration of a herd's projected heifer and cow inventory.
SM
Projected Inventory 8,000 7,000
Preparing for Future Inventory Distribution
6,000 5,000
Dairies are everchanging and hard to predict, but the HerdVentory program enables producers to be more prepared for future herd inventory distribution. For accurate prediction, the program requires important farm data figures. These include: freshening age distribution, % of the herd coded “do not breed,” past or future predictions of % female calves from heifers and cows, % stillbirth, % abortions and culling information. With these figures and the calculations built into the program, herd inventory numbers can be predicted 12 months into the future.
4,000
SM
3,000 2,000 1,000
1/ 1/ 20 19 2/ 1/ 20 19 3/ 1/ 20 19 4/ 1/ 20 19 5/ 1/ 20 19 6/ 1/ 20 19 7/ 1/ 20 19 8/ 1/ 20 19 9/ 1/ 20 19 10 /1 /2 01 9 11 /1 /2 01 9 12 /1 /2 01 9
0
Total Heifers
Total Cows
The spreadsheet viewing option provides more detail (Image 2). In the spreadsheet, herd inventories are grouped according to age. For instance, the heifer section includes several age groups enabling producers to quickly see how many head to expect to be on milk, of pre-breeding age, breeding age or prefresh during a given month.
Multiple Display Options The HerdVentory program shows future inventory levels via both graph and spreadsheet. The graph (Image 1) simply shows the predicted number of total heifers and total cows over the next 12 months. SM
dry categories. This is useful to help predict first lactation inventory so the dairy knows when more room is needed for incoming animals or when the milking parlor will reach capacity. The HerdVentory program is one solution to better predicting herd inventory and aligning herd management to animal inventory. For more information or to utilize this program, contact your local GENEX representative. SM
Similarly, cows are grouped into first lactation and second lactation or greater and then into milking or
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Image 2. The HerdVentorySM program provides detailed projections of heifer and cow inventory for the next 12 months. Knowing the numbers makes producers aware of potential changes in cow management needs, feed, facilities, etc. Current Date: 1/25/2019
INVENTORY
Fill in only yellow values
Heifers
< 2 months old 3-11 months old 12-18 months old 19-21 months old 22-24 months old >25 months old Total Heifers
1/25/2019
2/24/2019
3/27/2019
4/26/2019
5/27/2019
6/26/2019
7/27/2019
8/26/2019
9/26/2019
10/26/2019
11/26/2019
765 2120 1639 573 233 59 5389
816 2141 1624 583 215 67 5446
861 2174 1613 587 215 73 5523
901 2217 1607 587 216 77 5605
934 2265 1607 587 217 81 5690
961 2317 1612 587 217 83 5777
983 2370 1623 588 217 86 5866
1002 2423 1637 589 217 88 5957
1020 2476 1655 593 217 89 6050
1035 2528 1677 597 219 90 6145
1051 2578 1700 603 220 91 6243
1690 300 1990
1736 297 1981
1767 301 2018
1795 305 2050
1823 310 2082
1848 315 2112
1871 319 2139
1892 324 2165
1911 328 2188
1930 331 2210
1948 335 2231
3270 421 3691 5681
3283 501 3653 5634
3335 538 3727 5745
3402 558 3807 5858
3474 574 3891 5973
3550 588 3976 6088
3626 601 4063 6202
3703 615 4150 6314
3781 628 4238 6426
3860 641 4326 6536
3938 655 4415 6646
1st Lactation milking dry Total Lact=1 w/culls removed 2nd & Greater Lactation milking dry Total Lact>1 w/culls removed Total Adult Herd
PERFORMANCE
% lact=1 fresh at 19-21 mo old/100 % lact=1 fresh at 22-24 mo old/100 % lact=1 fresh at 25+ mo old/100 % of dnb in lact>0/100 % F calves born to heifer breeding/100 % F calves born to 1st Lact breeding/100
0.073 0.739 0.188 0.040 0.680 0.470
HORIZONS
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12/2
MOVING GENETICS FORWARD
TOGETHER
Celebrating a 1-Year Anniversary As the exclusive distributor of Jetstream Genetics in the USA, GENEX is proud to have brought you the most advanced genomics and world‑class sires throughout the past year.
Providing value and service to producers across the nation.
WORLD‑CLASS SIRES MASTERMIND
MONSTER
LEXELL
HEALER
734HO00083 | MONTANA X SUPERSIRE X BOOKEM +817 LNM$ I +2654 TPI® I +1737 Milk I +144 CFP
734HO00088 | SUPERHERO X MONTEREY X MOGUL +779 LNM$ I +2722 TPI® I +1413 Milk I +120 CFP
734HO00082 | JEDI X BOMBERO X PREDESTINE +775 LNM$ I +2703 TPI® I +2479 Milk I +149 CFP
734HO00093 | DOC X MONTEREY X MOGUL +703 LNM$ I +2686 TPI® I +1546 Milk I +135 CFP
Dam: Peak Hailey-ET
For the full Jetstream Genetics lineup, contact your local GENEX representative.
HORIZONS CDCB/12-18, HA-USA/12-18
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Semen Handling Checkup GENEX semen is now being distributed with straws in both the top and bottom goblets. With more straws in top goblets, it is a good time to check your semen handling technique to ensure maximum fertility at the time of insemination.
Keep it low!
“There was No Liquid Nitrogen
in the Shipper Tank” Understanding Vapor Shipper Tanks When semen is shipped direct to the dairy from GENEX, it is shipped in vapor tanks. When opening the tank, one may think, “There wasn’t liquid nitrogen in the shipper tank I received” or “I am not sure if the shipper tank was cold enough, and I am concerned about the quality of the semen.” The reason these thoughts arise is the tank does not use liquid nitrogen. Instead, the tank contains a special material that absorbs the nitrogen and releases vapor to keep the tank cold. This makes the tank lighter to ship and not considered hazardous. How it works: The vapor tank is used for all U.S. orders and some international orders. Before the tank is shipped from GENEX, it is filled 24
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HORIZONS
with liquid nitrogen and then sits for 24 hours as the inner vessel cools and the tank charges. After the 24 hours, the liquid nitrogen is poured out, the semen order is packed and the tank is shipped out the same day. Once the shipment arrives at the dairy, open the tank right away and make sure the canisters are extremely cold to the touch; they might also be frosted up. Transfer all the semen to the on-farm storage tank immediately. Do not leave the semen in the vapor shipper for any length of time. If the canisters in the shipper tank are warm enough to touch or cold vapor is not visible in the shipper, contact the GENEX Distribution Center at shawano.distribution@crinet.com or 715.526.7576.
First, keep it low! Keep canes as low as possible in the neck of the tank when choosing semen for insemination or checking for inventory. Tweezers allow you to maintain a deeper working depth than using your fingers, in addition to reducing heat transfer to the straws.
Make it fast! Second, make it fast! Exposure to warm temperatures can rapidly impact semen viability. Plus, each exposure adds up, so many short exposures can cause problems too. If a straw is warmed enough to collect frost, it may be accumulating damage.
Fill it up! Lastly, fill it up! Minimum recommended volumes of liquid nitrogen ensure the bottom goblet contains liquid when a cane is lifted, increasing the safe working time. However, top goblets will often be dry, increasing the risk of warming. Filling your tank more often can provide an additional layer of protection during semen handling.
10 YEARS
For the past decade, GENEX has helped you sort through your semen usage strategies with the Calf Math program.
Developed in 2008 …
… And even more relevant today.
That’s innovation. That’s quality. That’s GENEX. The Calf Math program enables producers to see the impact breeding strategies (or strategy changes) can have on animal inventories, herd genetic improvement and farm financials. This information helps producers decide which semen products to use and how much of each are needed to achieve herd goals and maximize farm profits. SM
A simple version of the Calf Math program is available online at www.genex.coop. For a more detailed analysis, including the genetic value and financial impact projections, contact a local GENEX representative, email info@genex.coop or call 888.333.1783. SM
SM
Beef x Dairy Sires With the Numbers for Bottomline Profit In today’s industry, producers need to maximize profitability from all parts of the operation. That's why GENEX offers value-added programs to help identify where and how to best utilize beef semen in a herd. The Beef x Dairy (BxD) program identifies beef sire options that are ideal for use on dairy animals to create profitable terminal crosses. At the heart of the program are semen blends. A blend is a straw that contains semen from multiple sires. The sires in each blend possess the traits necessary to create profitable terminal cross calves, and the blends have proven fertility rankings! In fact, for the past three years the blend product has consistently matched or outperformed the PregCheck™ ranking of the highest fertility bull in the blend. Often, conception rate of the blend product is 1-5% higher than the individual bulls in the blend.
3 Blends Now Available! 78LM18001
LIMOUSIN BLEND 104 PregCheck™ 98%Rel.
78AN18001
ANGUS BLEND 78GV17001
GELBVIEH BLEND 102 PregCheck™ 97%Rel.
Use of Limousin, Simmental, SimAngus™ or Angus semen is recommended to create the most profitable terminal crosses. Sires are chosen for their ability to produce feeder calves that are homozygous polled and homozygous black for coat color. BxD program sires also possess the elite genetics endprocessors require, as well as calving ease which is a must for commercial dairies. Ask your GENEX representative for a BxD sire catalog. 26
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Pregnancies for Profit Beef x Dairy Sires
Ask your GENEX rep for a Beef x Dairy sire catalog today. January 2019
Dairy Animal Welfare from a Producer, Consumer & Industry Perspective By Jenny Hanson, Communications Manager
How do consumers and non-farming citizens think about animal welfare? What do companies expect from producers who supply their milk? How can farmers address these expectations? GENEX delegates and alternates attending the cooperative’s annual meeting learned about the science of animal welfare from Jennifer Van Os, Assistant Professor & Extension Specialist-Animal Welfare, Department of Dairy Science, University of Wisconsin-Madison. She made great points worth sharing with all GENEX members and customers.
Animal Welfare – What is it? Animal welfare describes the state of the animal ranging from poor welfare to good welfare. It’s based on outcomes and is facility-type and farm-size neutral. There are two main disciplines in the study of animal welfare. As Jennifer Van Os shares, “One is the biological science, which I’m trained in. This means understanding what’s important from the animal’s perspective using techniques such as looking at the animal’s physiology, behavior, etc. The other approach is to use social science, which is about understanding people and what motivates their attitudes, values and how they think.” Jennifer divides the biological science of animal welfare (understanding the cow) into three categories.
1. Body. This category looks at an animal’s bodily health or biological function. It’s about health and performance and includes many measurable points like growth, productivity, body condition, reproduction, lameness, hygiene, etc. 2. Mind. This category focuses on the animal’s psychological wellbeing. It’s not about the complex human emotions; it’s about if the animal is in a negative state of well-being (experiencing pain, fear, stress, hunger, thirst) or a positive state (experiencing contentment, pleasure). 3. Nature. This means meeting the animal’s behavioral needs or having a lack of abnormal behavior. For instance, for dairy cows a behavioral characteristic is lying time. Spending time lying down is normal behavior.
Body
Mind
Nature
These categories are not mutually exclusive. Instead, there is overlap. Jennifer also explains the purpose of the three-category framework is to help “better understand how different stakeholders prioritize these aspects of animal welfare. It also illustrates that each aspect has ways to scientifically evaluate what’s important to the animal.” Continued on next page.
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Transparency … Critical, Yet Insufficient In recent years, it seems more producers have strived to tell their farm story and educate others about how they care for their animals. However, Jennifer shares that while telling the story and educating people does accomplish something, it’s not necessarily enough. Why? First, transparency, being open and having the conversation is critical. She remarks, “Some research has shown that when people think producers have something to hide, it reduces their trust. This is regardless of the demographics.”
Fertility
(FERT$) 32% 23%
became more critical
24%
Sustainability (SUST$) 35% improved
perceptions of welfare
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HORIZONS
44%
Cheese Maximizer no(ChMAX$) change 43%
She goes on to say that being open, however, is just the first step, and the facts aren’t the only thing that matter.
study focused on the social science (understanding people) discipline of animal welfare.
She explained this concept further by sharing the results of a study conducted in British Columbia.1 The study analyzed the knowledge level and attitudes, concerns and values of 1,000 people visiting a working dairy farm. Before the dairy tour, the visitors took a quiz to assess how much they knew about dairy production and a survey to gauge their attitudes and values concerning dairy production. After the tour, they took a post-quiz to see how their knowledge level changed and also a survey to determine if their attitude or values had changed and why. This
The results showed improved quiz scores; the visitors became more knowledgeable about dairy production practices. However, even though their knowledge level improved, not everyone’s perception improved (see Chart 1). This shows education does not always improve attitudes. “This difference didn’t have anything to do with demographics,” explains Jennifer. “It had to do with how these visitors prioritized their values around animal welfare.”
Chart 1. Educational farm visit had variable effects on people’s perceptions of animal welfare
Try to “understand people’s concerns, which don’t just come from an explanation of why you do things but by recognizing their emotion and values behind those concerns.”
Understanding Cows and People Applying both disciplines of animal welfare to this study (biological and social) provides valuable insight to producers. Consider the Body category of biological science. The 24% of visitors to the dairy whose perceptions improved after learning more about dairy production found their values related to a cow’s biological function were supported. They, like the producers, value things like animal care, nutrition and hygiene. While producers and some consumers share similar views on biological function, it’s important for producers to continue looking for ways to improve. Jennifer suggests future goals should look to decrease rates of lameness, transition cow disease and calf morbidity. On topics such as pain experienced by the animal – a part of the Mind category – different stakeholder groups share some values. Jennifer explained how different stakeholder groups in general view pain
management: corporate buyers in the dairy chain value minimizing pain (think about lameness, injuries, dehorning, etc.); producers prioritize reducing chronically painful conditions like lameness, and some producers use pain control for dehorning calves; and non-ag citizens feel farm animals should be protected from feeling pain, even during brief routine procedures. Her suggestion to cattle producers in attendance at the annual meeting was pain control is an area that producers can make small changes in their routine to help improve public perception and mitigate the value differences between stakeholder groups. Considering the Nature category, which focuses on animals’ freedom to express normal behaviors, Jennifer explains that research shows producers don’t always place this area (daylight, outdoor access, social interaction, etc.) as their highest priority. In contrast, she notes consumers often do prioritize these concerns. For the 32% of farm visitors whose perceptions became
more critical after the tour, their existing concerns were confirmed, or they discovered new concerns because they place high priority on the animals’ freedom to express normal behaviors. Yet, she says there is opportunity to find common ground. “The goal would be to try to help close this gap by providing opportunity for more space per animal, movement, a wider range of behavior or for more social contact, particularly for calves.” In her conclusion, Jennifer’s takeaway for annual meeting attendees was there is opportunity for producers on the topic of animal welfare. Consider reframing conversations by thinking about consumers’ values. Try to “understand people’s concerns, which don’t just come from an explanation of why you do things but by recognizing their emotion and values behind those concerns.” (1) Ventura BA, von Keyserlingk MAG, Wittman H, Weary DM (2016) What Difference Does a Visit Make? Changes in Animal Welfare Perceptions after Interested Citizens Tour a Dairy Farm. PLoS ONE 11(5): e0154733. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0154733
HORIZONS
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