HERD PROFILE
HARD WORK + DREAMS + DEDICATION = SUCCESS By Julie Ashton There’s no better formula to describe the Siemers family of Newton, WI, than that. Over the past 125 years and with the sixth generation now on the farm, Siemers Holsteins has grown to be one of the premier herds in the country. As a family, they work together, play together and have achieved great success together. Siemers Holsteins is owned and operated by the four children of Wally and Marlene Siemers - Sherry, David, Dan and Paul. In the early 90s, the operation needed to grow and expand in order to accommodate all four children staying on the farm going from 700 cows to 2700 head total. Today, the herd boasts an impressive RHA on 2724 cows and 3x milking of 35,400 3.92 1389 3.05 1079 (true protein). They also carry an SCC around 100 with a cull rate below 30%. Because of these numbers, they are able to sell about 800 head annually for dairy purposes, an added bonus for the farm. While milk production is obviously key for any farm, one area they have specifically focused on is SCC. “While we think it can be debated how accurate and reliable some health traits are, a health trait with tons of good data is SCC,” commented the family. They focus on both great management and genetic progress in order to make positive gains in their commercial herd. This is evident from nearly a 4,000 lb. jump in herd average while adding over 400 cows in the past five years. With four siblings working side-by-side on a daily basis, communication is key when it comes to the management of the farm. Most decisions made on the farm lie within a family member or manager’s area of responsibility and usually don’t involve team meetings. “Family businesses aren’t always a bowl of cherries,” they commented. “Every family has their own dynamic and ours is no exception.” The family admits that sometimes disagreements may arise, but it’s because everyone involved is so passionate about what they do, they each
believe their own area is most important. Yet, at the day’s end, the family comes together and has achieved huge successes because of their hard work and dedication. They also attribute much of their success to the hard work put forth by their incredible staff on the farm, and Team Siemers while at the shows. Siemers Holsteins wouldn’t be who they are though, without the up-and-coming generation on the farm. If you’ve ever seen their show string at an event or read the pages of the Junior All-American section, you should know how important youth involvement is to the family. Jordan,
“Family businesses aren’t always a bowl of cherries. Every family has their own dynamic and ours is no exception.” Crystal, Josh, Jake, Connor and Lauren Siemers are the sixth generation active on the farm today. In just the past five years, the Siemers family has an impressive 35 Junior All-American nominations among the kids. The kids are involved in the care of their show heifers, and are involved on the farm as much as their schedules allow. “It is so valuable to really learn how to take care of one’s animal before assuming larger responsibilities,” they said. Even though they admit that it can be difficult to find jobs for the kids on a large dairy while they are learning, they do most of the halter breaking and washing of cows at the farm and are very involved when at the shows. The kids’ interest on the farm has evolved over the years with the older kids now involved with some of the newer or more challenging areas while the younger ones have taken over their vacated roles, especially since both Jordan and Crystal are
away at college. The family thinks there is some interest from the next generation to return to the farm, but that determination will be on an individual basis after schooling is completed as well as some off-farm employment experience. “We feel it is necessary to have experience working for someone else, both to see the world through the eyes of an employee as well as determining where a person’s true passion lies,” according to the family. Passion and dedication are just two of the qualities that the entire Siemers family shares for the dairy industry. In every decision they make – whether it’s for the big dairy, their show string or genomic individuals – they stay focused on the end results. This thinking is useful when determining matings, marketing or purchasing decisions or management practices. With the management of the larger dairy, the family has experimented with several different ideas, including crossbreeding and upgrading their facilities. Having some troubles with longevity, a decade ago they Continued on page 16
Saying goodbye to a legend Tri-Day Ashlyn (EX-96) “It is with heavy hearts that we announce the recent passing of Ashlyn. She was almost like family, and was always happy to show herself off to whoever wanted to see her. She will be greatly missed by our family.” The Siemers family purchased Ashlyn in 2011 and she produced 75 daughters for the farm. They also have many granddaughters and great-granddaughters in the herd that will carry on her legacy.
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mented the siblings. “We only flush cows and heifers that we like, and always have more type in mind than some would constarted incorporating the best Montbeliard sider necessary.” and Swedish Red bulls into the commercial In order to keep up with the current trend herd. Seven years ago, they installed an en- of the industry, the Siemers also started to tire sand system, which included sand lanes purchase some genomic females. “It’s not to recapture sand and now most of the year, a big secret that it’s easier to make money cows lie on that recycled sand. During this with genomics than show type and we like time, they also enlarged the stalls, which are being on both sides of the business,” combedded frequently, keeping them very com- mented the family. “With that being said, fortable for the cows. With these changes about the only way to earn a return with an in place for some time, the family analyzed individual show animal is if she can make the herd looking specifically at their 400 outstanding daughters.” Sire stack and the crossbred females. While the crossbred had maternal line are two that are key when a slight advantage in components and sermaking purchasing decisions. They also vices for conception, they were, on average, like to do business with other breeders who 5,000 lbs. milk less per lactation than the are active in the industry and that they have purebred Holsteins. “Our take home mesrelationships with. sage from this, at least in our management Around the time of World Dairy Expo system, was that the crossbreds were easy this past fall, the family was looking for keepers, but economically they couldn’t some interesting “game changers” for their keep up.” But, it’s these practices and new IVF program. As they researched fall sale techniques that have kept Siemers Holsteins consignments, they found Cookiecutter at the head of the game. Mog Hanker-ET (VG-87 EX-MS). “She is In order to be competitive in today’s a beautiful individual, with perhaps, the best Holstein industry, they also know that mating decisions are crucial for either breeding “She is a beautiful the next All-American or contracting the next bull mother. Type is and always has individual, with perhaps, been one of the driving forces behind all of their mating decisions and is evident from the best breeding in the the 1000 cows classified as Excellent and Very Good at the large dairy. If you analyze business behind her.” the pedigrees of their show winners or the females in their genetic program, you’ll find breeding in the business behind her,” they individuals backed by generations of Very said. Hanker is an eight generation ExcelGood and Excellent dams. “Our best looklent uddered cow, with many of her dams ing, highest scoring cows produce the most scoring that way as 2-year-olds. Siemers milk,” commented the family. Breeding purchased her at the Planet Holstein Sale for production is important to the farm, but and she went on to be ranked as the #1 “we feel the magic is in breeding cow with GTPI cow after the December 2014 run, acenough strength, a dairy, open rib, while not cording to Holstein Association USA. She abandoning health traits.” They continued carries a +2571 GTPI +638NM +3.14T. So on, “Breeders can argue about the ideal size, far, they have had great success in flushing or how much condition a cow should carry, her and look forward to the next generation but everyone knows what a good udder looks like!” Classification is something that has always been important to the family and because the family is working with so many high index animals and type families, there are numerous high GTPI and classified cows at the large dairy. Mating decisions are also made to build upon the strengths of an animal, while addressing any weaknesses, whether show or genomic. “Maybe what makes our farm different on the genomic front is our comCOOKIECUTTER MOG HANKER-ET mitment to type and cow families,” com(VG-87 EX-MS) Herd Profile continued from page 12
Dan, Paul and Sherry with Siemers Gsun Haya-Dream-ET, winning Yearling in Milk at the 2014 International Holstein Show.
on the farm. “We also feel that owning great Mogul daughters are a wise investment,” the family commented. With this thought in mind, they also purchased De-Su 1912-ET (VG-87) at the 2014 World Classic and she is ranked tenth for GTPI after the December run with a +2497 GTPI. Another genomic family they are developing is Cherry Crest Manoman Roz-ET (EX-90). Purchased as a calf in the World Classic Sale, she is “without a doubt, the best cattle investment we’ve ever made,” they noted. “She’s never let us down!” Roz is +2236 GTPI +1355M and has several high GTPI daughters and sons in A.I. When it comes to mating their cows for potential A.I. interest, Siemers partner with the studs they share similar beliefs with to make outstanding bulls and it’s a win-win relationship. One of those relationships that they have fostered over the past five years is with Trans-Ova Genetics. In order to keep up with changing technology and the demand for IVF calves, they became a satellite location. Today, depending on pregnancy status, they can have as many as 12 show and/or 12 genomic animals in their IVF program. They run 6-12 animals every two weeks and use heifers from the commercial dairy as recipients, with the majority of them carrying IVF calves. The culmination of the Siemers’ family hard word, dedication and passion was at the 2014 World Dairy Expo. Hitting the ring after an unbeaten summer was Siemers Defnt Great-Red-ET, a fancy, dairy winter calf sired by Scientific B Defiant-ET *RC backed by an EX-93 Royce then five more VG or EX dams. “It wasn’t an accident that she got the name she did,” they commented. “She is just one of those rare heifers that puts it all together and has been outstanding Continued on page 50
16 February 2015 HOLSTEINWORLD www.holsteinworld.com
Sharing the Thrills!
MENDELSSOHN ADD ROXY JR ALL-AMERICAN SPRING CALF
1st spring heifer calf & Junior Champion at PA 4-H District Show; 1st & Res. Junior Champion at PA Fall Championship Show Jr. division; 1st at International Jr. Holstein Show, Northeast PA Championship Show Jr. division & PA State 4-H Show; and 2nd at Premier National Jr. Holstein Show.
Congratulations to Dakota & Landree !
Your shared effort of presenting Roxy at the 2014 shows was a big factor in these awards. Adam, Gina, Landree & Dakota Fraley Muncy, PA Phone: 570-437-3215 Email: ginafraley@verizon.net www.facebook.com/twincountyfarms
Herd Profile continued from page 16
since the day she was born.” Already that summer, Great was tapped as Junior Champion of the Wisconsin B&W Championship Show and Junior Champion of the B&W Wisconsin Junior State Fair where more than 400 calves were exhibited. With Kathleen O’Keefe at the halter in Madison, she graced the show ring and was “an exceptional heifer” to win the class for judge Callum McKinven. She would later be tapped as Junior Champion, a true honor and SIEMERS DEFNT GREAT-RED dream come true for the entire Siemers’ crew. Great entered the IVF program and has already been done to Lotus and will also be done to Awesome. Whether it’s the genomic individuals topping the charts, or their six Junior All-American nominations and four All-American nominations, 2014 was truly a memorable year for Siemers Holsteins. This family continues to lead the way and their hard work and passion have resulted in successes that can only be dreamed off. One thing is for sure, the Siemers have been and will continue to be a family that works hard together to achieve their biggest dreams. ❐
An “Extra”ceptional Year!!
Laitxpert Extra Goldwyn-ET (VG-87) 2nd Sr. 3-Yr-Old & Res. Intermediate Champion, International Jr. Holstein Show, 2014 Res. Jr. All-American Sr. 3-Yr-Old, 2014
Congratulations to the new owners, West Coast Holsteins!! Photo by Cybil Fisher
(Purchased at the Sale of Stars, Toronto, Canada)
Dolla-Bilz Holsteins
Noah Bilz Dolla-Bilz Holsteins 715-223-9681 noahbilz@outlook.com
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DeJong Family Dairy, LLC 3398 Draper Rd. Dorchester, WI 54425 715-654-5344
www.holsteinworld.com