Revista Horizons by Melina Paixão

DECEMBER 2013

YOUR HER

YEARS E O F

THE

A Subsidiary of Cooperative Resources International

THE

Cooperative, Inc.

F YOUR HERD EO A OU

Genex

DECEMBER PROOF REPORT | GENESIS 25-YE AR CELEBR ATION | NAVIGATING DAIRY PERFORMANCE FIGURES

YEARS

ADDRESS CORRESPONDENCE

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F YOUR HERD EO A

With the new year comes a new celebration – 2014 marks the silver anniversary of the GENESIS Cooperative Herd. Read pages 18-21 for more information.

E O F

YOUR HER

k On the Cover:

Published three times a year for dairy producers around the globe. |

C O N T E N T S

THE

HORIZONS

December 2013 Vol. 19/No. 3

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TA B L E

Cooperative Resources International P.O. Box 469, Shawano, WI 54166 info@crinet.com 888.333.1783 www.crinet.com

CANADA - Genex Cooperative, Inc.

291 Woodlawn Rd W Unit 4C, Guelph, Ontario N1H 7L6 genexcanada@crinet.com 888.354.4622

BOARD OF DIRECTORS Paul Greene, President Berlin, N.Y., 518.658.2419

Duane Nelson, 1st Vice President Winthrop, Minn., 507.647.2540

John Ruedinger, 2nd Vice President Van Dyne, Wis., 920.922.9899

Ronald Totten, Secretary Stafford, N.Y., 585.344.0758

Jim Crocker Valley City, Ohio, 330.483.3709

Jon Wayne Danielson Cadott, Wis., 715.289.3860

Patrick Dugan Casa Grande, Ariz., 520.251.6455

Ted Foster Middlebury, Vt., 802.388.6515

Harlin Hecht Paynesville, Minn., 320.243.4386

Harold House Nokesville, Va., 703.754.9534

Kay Olson-Martz Friendship, Wis., 608.564.7359

Bobby Robertson Tahlequah, Okla., 918.822.0020

Richard Vold Glenwood, Minn., 320.634.4665

Alfred Wanner, Jr. Narvon, Pa., 717.768.8118

HORIZONS STAFF

Jenny L. Hanson, Editor, jlhanson@crinet.com Andy Graf, Graphic Designer

REPRINTS

Material may not be reproduced in any fashion without Cooperative Resources International’s permission. Cooperative Resources International, their member cooperatives, 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 WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND WHATSOEVER EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED WHICH EXTENDS BEYOND THE DESCRIPTION OF THE PRODUCTS AND HEREBY DISCLAIM ALL WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR 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.

CONTENTS Membership Matters 4 | Membership Meeting Dates & Locations 5 | Genex Listens to Delegate Input

In The News 6 | CRI Hosts 130 Dairy Producers From Around the Globe

8 10 13

| 100,000 What?

14 15 23

| No Matter Herd Size, Focus or Goals …

| Employees Earn Mission Awards

| Wanner Provides Cooperative Insight in South Africa; Pay Ahead for 2014 | Announcing a Change in Liquid Nitrogen Delivery

| Introducing a Sire Fertility Ranking for GenChoice™ Bulls

PROOF HIGHLIGHTS

Get The Inside Scoop!

Genetically Speaking 19 | A Silver Anniversary Celebration

Herd Story 20 | GENESIS: River-Bridge Holsteins 30 | Competitive Dairy Cattle in Brazil Herd Management 24 | Monitor, Motivate and Manage with

Dairy Performance Navigator

28 | Rapid Growth Adding Value to Dairy with Beef Facebook.com/GenexCRI

GenexCooperativeInc

Mission Statement: Provide products and services as effectively as possible to maximize

the profitability of members and customers worldwide while maintaining a strong cooperative. H O R I Z O N S

H E R D

S TO R Y

COMPETITIVE DAIRY CATTLE IN BRAZIL

THE SANTOS’ HERD SHOWS BRAZILIAN POTENTIAL TO PRODUCE GOOD MILK IN THE TROPICS By: Melina Paixão // Public Relations, CRI Brazil

r. Carlos Raimundo dos Santos used to think milking cows would be a great way to enjoy his retirement. The activities at Santo Antonio dos Dois Córregos Farm started in 2001, as a hobby. In the beginning, 20 cows were milked, producing around 240 liters per day. The job has grown, and nowadays the dairy is a progressive example within the region south of Minas Gerais, Paraíba Valley region, with a focus on environmentally friendly production and management. Lucas dos Santos, Carlos’ son, joined his father in this initiative. They work hard to see their Holstein cattle always improving. The Santos’ farm is located in Jesuânia, South of Minas Gerais – Brazil. It has 200 hectares (494 acres) and 820 cows have been raised there. They milk 410 cows, three times daily and a total of 12,500 liters are sent to the processors each day. The herd average is 30 liters per day, and it is milked in a double-8 herringbone parlor. With a focus on milk quality, the final product showcases high quality levels of fat, protein and SCC compared to the large herds in the world. Fat and protein percentages are high, around 3.0% fat and 3.12% protein. Because of these characteristics, processors pay well for the Santo Antonio’s milk, making milking cows an economically sustainable activity.

Well Done Management

The Santos’ herd operates in a freestall system. The more productive cows are fed six times a day and the others twice a day. The cattle have a diet based on corn, soy beans, corn meal, citrus pulp, cottonseed, hay, baled hay and mineral. At Santo Antonio Farm, corn, oat and Tifton grass are cultivated, all used to produce feed. This is a positive as it helps to reduce feed costs. The sand bedding, within the freestall barn where the herd is housed, is handled constantly so cows are comfortable at all the times. Temperature inside the freestall is another priority; therefore, ventilators and sprinklers are used to make the environment pleasant for the animals.

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J Carlos Raimundo dos Santos and his son, Lucas dos Santos, utilize CRI genetics to produce cattle that deliver good milk quantity and quality.

Besides Carlos and Lucas, 23 other employees help at Santo Antonio dos Dois Córregos Farm. These individuals milk cows or work as managers.

Genetics as an Ally

Since the herd was formed, semen from CRI Holstein bulls has been used in the Santos’ business. “Today, almost all the herd is CRI,” said Lucas. In the past, they have utilized genetics from 1HO07235 TOYSTORY, 1HO08784 FREDDIE, 1HO08778 SUPER and 1HO10220 PAX-RED. Their last purchase included genetics from 1HO09527 MASSEY, 1HO10490 GALAXY, 1HO10219 JUNIOR, 1HO10369 LOYAL and 1HO10860 HURK-RED. Presently, first lactation daughters of TOYSTORY, SUPER and PAX-RED are producing an average of 38 liters daily while in varied stages of lactation, explained Lucas. The responses to the investments in genetics from CRI can be noticed in the high rates of fertility. “We have 86% of the cows in lactation,” Lucas said. Besides this, the satisfactory rate of conception is 30%. GenChoice™ sexed semen is used in heifers for the first insemination. Conventional semen is used for other inseminations. The Santos execute fixed time artificial insemination protocols. If a cow does not get pregnant by this technique, bulls are used. The voluntary waiting period is 45 days. If a cow has some reproductive problems, they induce estrus and if not pregnant, she is culled. This procedure helps in the selection of the dairy cattle.

What can be Expected from a Milking Cow?

Production, health and “True Type” are the most important characteristics the Santos expect in their dairy cattle. Mr. Santos and Lucas rely on the CRI Holstein bulls’ ability to transmit these characteristics to their calves. The results achieved in the Santo Antonio dos Dois Córregos Farm are: cattle with solid genetics, good production and high milk quality. And these attributes are recognized when they sell their product.  ©2013 CRI