Selections Fall 2014

FALL 2014 Mainstream Commitment earns NAAB Honors 8 Base Change and Formula Revisions Coming in December 10 De-Su 7012 Hits Three Times with SPUR, FORK and AVERY

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Selections YOUR SUCCESS Our Passion.

Turn to page 6 to learn more about our partnership with River Valley Farm and the 7JE5000 series of sires!

CowManager: 3-in-1 Technology to Monitor Cows 24/7

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ast month, Select Sires unveiled CowManager 速, a revolutionary herd management tool that monitors activity, eating time, rumination and temperature all with an ear tag. This easy-to-use system saves you valuable time and money. To learn more about CowManager turn to page 4.

Precision Dairy Management: The Next Generation is Here!

by David C. Thorbahn, president and C.E.O. How would you like to hire someone to provide highly accurate 24hour evaluation of heat detection, rumination activity and take hourly temperature readings on each cow for your entire herd? In addition, this person would find the cows that you are searching for when you need them. What if this person needed no time off, vacation, benefits or sick days? Is that even possible?

I am proud to announce this is a reality. The next generation of precision dairy management is here and in the form of a 22-gram (less than an ounce) ear tag that is part of CowManager®, provided exclusively by Select Sires.

Farming techniques have improved over the last 25 years in amazing ways and the concept of precision farming is the new frontier of today.

Crop farming is now using precision techniques like satellite imaging that can plan fertilizer, seed and pesticide applications by the acre and yard. It

has improved harvests and profitability by strategically applying resources.

Dairy and beef industries are moving to these types of approaches by providing data to manage every cow individually.

With the ever-tighter profit margins and scrutiny of antibiotics and use of hormone treatments in production of milk and beef, finding new ways to better manage your operations can be difficult. It was with these purposes that the Select Sires board of directors tasked us with investigating and developing new tools in heat detection

and animal management. It started with Select Detect™, and then Heatime® with combined heat detection and rumination, which Select Sires still distributes. However, if you want all this technology, plus temperature, feeding time and a cow locator in an ear tag, then CowManager may be just what you are looking for.

Research was conducted over several years under the leadership of one of the industry’s most respected reproductive physiologists, Dr. Ray Nebel, vice president of technical service programs.

Dr. Nebel is confident that this product can change dairy management in herds of all sizes. As you learn more about this revolutionary new herd management product, in this issue of Selections, you will understand that it will not only allow you to manage your herd better, but it will also save labor with the Find My Cow feature.

Your cooperative continues to pioneer advancements in dairy management that will enhance your productivity and profitability through investments in research and technology. The leadership of your board of directors

has been aggressively investing in new forward-looking research to improve herd reproduction. This is why we are confident that CowManager lives up to our standards! Extensively field-testing it on cows in actual trials in herds from across the United States has convinced us of its quality, and has allowed Dr. Nebel to enhance and improve this product for even greater performance.

We commend and congratulate Agis on the development of CowManager and for allowing Select Sires the opportunity to research it thoroughly and having confidence in Select Sires to be its partner.

Talk to your Select Sires representative about how Select Sires can provide precision farming principles that will allow you to achieve herd pregnancy rates and herd management goals that you thought were unattainable. You can count on Select Sires for solutions to tough problems, and to provide you the finest service to help you implement those solutions. Contact your local Select Sires representative today and find out why “Your Success is Our Passion!”

HOORAY and HUSKY are among the top Combined Fat and Protein sires in the breed, meaning more components in your tank.

Contact your sales representative to order these outstanding CFP sires!

7HO10725 De-Su 538 HOORAY-ET (EX-90-GM) PLANET x (VG-88-DOM) Shottle +134CFP +60P +1,827M +2.45PTAT +2179GTPISM 7HO10709 Springhill-OH Iron HUSKY-ET PLANET x (EX-93-2E-EX-MS) Boss Iron +133CFP +84F +0.16%F +671CM$ +2104GTPI Photos: Star Dairy Hooray 1214-Grade, Star Dairy, Paris, Texas, Erbsen photo and Preston Husky 3756 (GP-82), The Preston Farms, Quincy, Mich., Robinson photo. SMTotal Performance Index and TPI are servicemarks of Holstein Association USA. 08/14 USDA/CDCB Genomic Evaluation. %Rel.: HOORAY Yield 94, Type 92; HUSKY Yield 94.

Maximizing the Profit from Each Pregnancy

by Lyle Kruse, vice president U.S. market development It is Select Sires’ mission to enhance the productivity and profitability of dairy and beef producers. To help fulfill that mission, Select Sires recently introduced the Breeding to FeedingSM program which offers abundant potential to maximize profits for dairy producers.

Breeding to Feeding provides the option of choosing which genetic outcome will be most profitable with each pregnancy generated in a dairy operation and the opportunity to receive consistent premiums for dairybeef crossbred calves.

Currently there is a worldwide shortage of quality beef, which has fueled record beef prices. With the beef cow herd at the lowest level in more than 60 years, the dairy industry can generate high-value beef carcasses with strategic beef crosses on dairy cows. Dairies can capture more revenue by providing a consistent supply of dairy-beef calves bred for uniformity, carcass quality and efficient feedlot performance.

The Breeding to Feeding program is a partnership with Wulf Cattle that focuses on the use of qualified Limousin and Lim-Flex® sires that are bred for growth and carcass merit to

create valuable terminal dairy-beef crossbred calves.

Wulf Cattle, based in west-central Minnesota, offers a buy-back contract on calves resulting from the Breeding to Feeding program. The buy-back premium provides dairy producers with an opportunity for lucrative premiums over straight-bred Holstein and Jersey bull calves. The buy-back calf premiums are available now in major dairy population areas and will continue to expand to more areas of the country.

Wulf Cattle has been raising Limousin and buying back Limousininfluenced feeder calves for more than 30 years. The value of muscle and feed efficiency that Limousin brings to a terminal cross with dairy cattle is unmatched. During their long history in the beef business, Wulf Cattle has developed direct supplier relationships with major beef

By using Wulf Cattle's Limousin and Lim-Flex sires on a portion of your herd you can create valuable dairy-cross calves bred for efficient feedlot performance.

processors to connect premiums for feeder cattle to the market and assure their suppliers of carcass quality and consistency.

With the improvement in reproductive efficiency and the adoption of new technologies, dairy producers have the opportunity to generate sufficient dairy replacements and utilize a planned beef-cross system on their less productive cows to create added-value calves for the beef industry.

How does the Breeding to Feeding program work?

Together with a Select Sires sales consultant, producers develop a breeding strategy that includes Wulf Limousin semen produced and processed in Select Sires’ facilities and held to the highest quality standards. Select Sires then delivers the Wulf Cattle Limousin semen and the designated dairy cows are inseminated. The Wulf Cattle sires used in the Breeding to Feeding program are homozygous black and homozygous polled with superior genetics to produce efficient feeder calves, yielding a valuable carcass.

Calves are born on the dairy where newborn care is key. The calf care protocol is pretty simple; treat them like your replacement heifers.

The resulting crossbred calves are purchased by Wulf Cattle. The dairy receives a premium based on current Holstein bull calf market prices.

Through a convenient, routine system, Wulf-sired calves are transported to participating calf ranches in the region. To qualify for the buy-back portion of the Breeding to Feeding program, your farm must be located in a buy-back region.

Dairy owners that participate in the Breeding to Feeding program will receive the login information needed to access pricing information, which is posted by region and updated monthly.

What is the difference between Limousin and Lim-Flex?

Lim-Flex sires are at least 25 percent Limousin and are from Angus or Red Angus parentage. In the case of Wulf Cattle genetics, all Lim-Flex sires in their program are Limousin-Angus hybrids. Through years of experience, Wulf Cattle recommends that Jersey operations use Limousin sires on their Jersey cows and for Holstein operations to use Lim-Flex sires.

Select Sires is here to help Many of today’s successful dairy producers have superior reproductive performance and calf livability. This creates new opportunities, but it can also yield too many animals or pregnancies that are not needed to maintain herd size. The correct inventory plan coupled with a solid genetic development strategy can maximize the profit potential of each and every pregnancy on your dairy.

Your Select Sires representative can help develop a strategy.

Through an Inventory Profit Potential Audit, Select Sires experts will analyze all factors leading to the best breeding solutions for your operation. This is not a onesize-fits-all program. We start with understanding what each producer has in mind: herd size now and in the future, replacement strategy, genetic development optimization and marketing or raising excess bull or heifer calves. A key consideration includes each animal’s genetic ranking within the herd. Once genetic merit has been determined, a genetic development plan will be established and may include: gender SELECTed™ semen use on top animals, use of superior genetic sires on the top females within the herd for faster genetic gain and potential use of beef semen on lower merit cows to produce a more valuable calf for market.

Deciding how to manage your herd’s inventory can be difficult, but Select Sires has the tools and people to help you maximize each pregnancy.

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CowManager: A Unique, Comprehensive Herd Monitoring System The CowManager® system has it all: heat detection capabilities, the ability to monitor health, rumination and eating and a cow locator. Not only does it provide you with a comprehensive overview, the program is easy to install and can provide vast labor savings. Take a closer look at this ear tagbased system.

It’s all in the ear One of the unique features of CowManager is the SensOor ear tag that takes all health, rumination and activity measurements.

This 22-gram ear tag (less than one ounce) can be installed

by attaching it to an existing electronic, button RFID ear tag or a blank button tag. This allows for parlor and sort gates to utilize the RFID ear tag’s identification technology without adding another tag or collar to a cow.

The CowManager system app makes mobile viewing of data and receiving health and heat detection alerts easy.

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There is no moving of collars or transponders between cows or replacing batteries. The entire herd is continuously monitored whether they are milking or dry, pregnant or open.

The ear tag communicates with a router mounted in the barn which relays the information to the coordinator attached to the farm’s computer every hour. The farm’s computer must have an Internet connection. Data is also available to view on mobile devices using the free app or on any device with a web browser. Alerts for sick cows or cows in heat are reported through your computer or the app.

All equipment has a five-year warranty.

24/7 monitoring CowManager provides a wealth of information about your herd. There are three available modules: fertility (heat detection), health (sickness alerts) and nutrition (rumination and eating).

These modules provide reliable management tools.

The fertility module accurately identifies cows that are in heat and an optimal time for insemination.

This means lower costs associated with breeding cows, higher pregnancy rates and improved reproductive efficiency. The vet checklist is smaller because open cows are caught early by the system and rebred.

Cows with mastitis, uterine infections, milk fever, ketosis, hardware disease, displaced abomasum and other ailments are found early through the heath module by monitoring cow behavior and ear temperature. Finding these sick cows promptly leads to less health issues, reduced use of antibiotics and other drugs, less production loss and lower labor needs. Treatment can be evaluated by observing the hourly health and rumination reports for the cow.

Monitoring rumination has emerged in recent years as a

key indicator of cow health.

CowManager’s nutrition module measures the number of minutes spent eating, grazing and ruminating to provide insight into the eating behavior of individual cows, groups of cows and the entire herd. Not only can it help with individual cow health, this module can assist with making ration and feeding adjustments.

These modules can be ordered separately or combined for a powerful herd monitoring system.

The system integrates with most herd management software for easy analysis. Additionally, herd reproductive goals can be set and results monitored through an analysis tool developed by Select Sires and the Select Reproductive Solutions™ (SRS™) team.

The multiview option allows all consultants to review data, with permission, to help troubleshoot issues and monitor results.

Saving time and money It can be a time consuming activity to find that one cow that needs to be inseminated or examined for a health issue and bring her to the proper area. Find My Cow, CowManager’s newest feature, uses the CowManager app on an Android smartphone to identify cows on the alert list as someone walks behind them. This revolutionary development can save the time and labor it would take to search a pen or corral for one cow.

Find My Cow is one more way CowManager can improve efficiencies and lower labor needs on any operation. Whether it eliminates the need to thoroughly examine all recently fresh cows, identifies sick cows earlier or provides accurate heat detection this system is a revolutionary way to precisely and effectively manage dairy herds.

CowManager Features

Fertility—Heat Detection Reliable heat detection and insight into a cow's reproductive cycle. Provides the optimal time for insemination.

Health—Sickness Alerts Identify cows with ailments like milk fever, ketosis, uterine infections, E. coli, hardware disease and displaced abomasum earlier. Measures ear temperature and provides feedback on treatment methods.

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Hans Griesen (left), and his father, Henk, of Prairie du Sac, Wis., installed the CowManager system a year ago on his 650-cow farm.

We initially wanted a system that monitors fresh cows and with this system you will find cows that need extra attention sooner.

The installation was very easy; put the ear tags in, plug routers in an outlet, install the program and that's it.

The other benefit is that it measures the ear temperature which helps finding cows with milk fever before they go down.

CowManager also monitors activity for cows coming in heat. It tells you exactly when she started her heat and where she is in her cycle and how long she is in heat.

With the CowManager system, it’s like someone is watching the cows 24 hours a day.

“

Find My Cow Makes finding cows as easy as walking near them. The CowManager app on an Android smartphone identifies cows on the alert lists as you walk behind them.

CowManager in Practice

Nutrition—Rumination and Eating Measures the number of minutes spent eating, grazing and ruminating and provides insight into the eating behavior of individual cows, management groups and the entire herd. Gives insight and feedback about ration changes.

Analysis—Monitor Your Results Developed by Select Sires, this analysis tool tracks herd goals and makes monitoring fertility, treatment and ration change results easy.

The configuration of the CowManager system makes for easy installation and maintenance.

Data from the ear tag is communicated through the router to the coordinator and computer hourly.

Information can be viewed on your computer or mobile devices through a web browser or the app.

Mobile Devices

SensOor

Router

Coordinator

Farm Computer 5

Jersey Revolution™ Strengthened with River Valley Farm Partnership Select Sires and River Valley Farm have partnered to bring customers the 7JE5000 series of sires. This group of elite young sires provides customers with exclusive access to River Valley Farm genetics and even more options when making mating decisions. Through an online ordering system, the best of River Valley can be delivered direct from Select Sires.

River Valley Farm of Tremont, Ill., has spent several years developing a herd of Jerseys from some of the best herds in North America. Their 300-cow herd includes more than 125 of the breed’s highest GJPI™ females as well as three U.S. National Champions, a Canadian National Champion and many All-American and All-Canadian nominees and winners.

At this year’s World Dairy Expo they added to that impressive total by exhibiting the supreme champion of the open show and reserve supreme champion of the junior show. These elite GJPI and show-winning females form the basis of the River Valley Farm program and the 7JE5000 sires.

“River Valley Farm has heavily invested in top genetics,” explains David Thorbahn, Select Sires president and C.E.O. “This partnership allows our customers access to these deeppedigreed young sires and, down the road, exciting proven sires.”

Each year, about 20 7JE5000 sires will be available to meet the growing Jersey demand. The addition of these sires will expand Select Sires’ sampling program, making it the largest in the world. By sampling more sires, Select Sires will have more highly proven sires in the years to come.

All 7JE5000 sires are housed at Select Sires’ facilities and semen is processed using Select Sires’ proprietary methods. These methods are one of the reasons that Select Sires leads the industry for semen fertility. Several sires are already available in sex-sorted semen, with more to come.

The Best of River Valley to Your Door River Valley Farm believes in the potential of genomics used in combination with the power of common sense. They invest in and breed great cows from great cow

7JE5004 River Valley Cece CHROME-ET is the popular son of Lyon Celebrity Cece-ET (E-90%), pictured above.

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families that produce exceptional offspring generation after generation.

The available 7JE5000 sires reflect this philosophy and consist of Combined Fat and Protein (CFP) and Jersey Udder Index™ (JUI™) leaders, a polled sire, sons of show winners, outcross pedigrees and generations of Excellent cows. Sires like 7JE5007 SC/RV TRANSFORMER-ET, the breed’s leader for CFP at +165 and 7JE5008 River Valley Sal MEGASHOT-P, the only polled Megatron son available lead off the program. 7JE5003 River Valley Marmie MY-O-MY-ET is a son

of showring favorite, Pine Haven SSM Marmie (E-95%) while 7JE5001 River Valley Judges VERDICT-ET descends from Huronia Centurion Veronica (E97%).

The 7JE5000 series of sires is available online at www. rivervalleyfarm.com. Ordering can be completed on your computer or using your phone or tablet. Semen is shipped directly to your door. Orders can also be placed with your Select Sires sales representative. Volume discounts are available from 20 units to 500 units.

7JE5001 River Valley Judges VERDICT-ET is a 7JE1124 Avonlea CF Gt Balls of FIRE-ET son of Avonlea Iatola Victoria (E-93%) (pictured), the 2012 All-American junior two-year-old.

BW Blackstone Nancy ET586-ET (E-92%) is the dam of 7JE5006 BW&RV Nancy NEGOTIATOR-ET and 7JE5014 BW&RV Nancy NAVIGATOR-ET.

Looking for the best Jersey young sires from outstanding cow families? Turn to Select Sires, home to seven young sires +225 GJPI and higher. When you want breed-leading genetics for your herd's future, trust Select Sires to deliver. Call to place your order for these elite Super Samplers™ today!

Select Sires' Elite Super Samplers - August 2014 Milk CFP NM$ JUITM GJPITM Pedigree 7JE1376 CHARLEMAGNE +2,131 +142 +572 +5.27 +272 Layne x Plus 7JE1274 AXIS +1,925 +106 +594 +4.24 +240 Valentino x Restore 7JE1350 CALYPSO +1,728 +103 +597 +5.33 +239 Prescott x Headline 7JE1354 TEXAS +1,315 +96 +569 +6.96 +236 Irwin x Nathan 7JE1292 GIDEON +1,620 +127 +543 +2.95 +233 Dimension x Academy 7JE1294 BARNABAS +1,550 +127 +540 +5.78 +232 Topeka x Valentino 7JE1385 MOORE +792 +130 +643 +3.84 +229 Rene x Merchant

All bulls listed are eligible for semen export to Canada. USDA-CDCB/AJCA Genomic Evaluation 08-14. %Rel. Yield, NM$ and Type Rel. %: CHARLEMAGNE 68, 63, 67; AXIS 72, 67, 71; CALYPSO 66, 61, 66; TEXAS 68, 63, 67; GIDEON 67, 62, 64; BARNABAS 66, 62, 66; IRWIN 71, 67, 71; RECOGNIZE 69, 63, 65. Large photo: Jars Of Clay Valentino Bridget (E-90%), McCullough photo. Small photos (left to right): Berrys Academy Esperanza-ET (E-90%), Heartland Nathan Texas-ET (E-95%) and Dutch Hollow Plus Charmaine-ET (VG-86%).

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Mainstream Commitment earns NAAB Honors

by Karen Knutsen, communications manager, All West/Select Sires Spend just half an hour with Randy Kortus of Mainstream Holsteins and Jerseys and you’ll hear the word commitment mentioned several times. In fact, you’ll quickly realize the commitment he has for Select Sires and you’ll understand the commitments he’s made to his farm and his family. The industry has recognized Kortus’ dedication and achievements as well and he was honored this fall at the National Association of Animal Breeders (NAAB) Annual Convention in Green Bay, Wis., with the NAAB Member Association Director Award.

“It’s very humbling to be nominated for such an honor,” said Kortus. “I owe a big amount of thanks to my peers and the Select Sires staff for that. But I think this award is a good example of the wonderful mentors I’ve had in my life. People like Dave Timm, Fred Polinder and past and current board members were men who believed in me and gave me such great direction. Their trust and support helped me become who I am, and enabled me to follow through on my commitments to Select Sires, to my family and to myself.”

There’s that commitment word again. Just what makes Kortus tick and how does his commitment spill over into other areas of his life? Kortus was raised on a commercial dairy in northwest Washington. Through his involvement in 4-H and his love

for showing cattle, he convinced his dad to let him purchase a purebred Holstein in 1968. In an unprecedented move at the time, Kortus’ growing herd was allowed to be tested on DHIA, while his father’s commercial herd was on another program. When he graduated college, he already owned 30 purebred Holsteins and had his second homebred cow score Excellent.

He decided to purchase a small herd from the Terpstras and started dairying in Lynden in 1981, just one week after he married his wife, Jana.

Today’s herd looks a bit different than the one started 33 years ago.

There are 40 Jerseys in the barn with a rolling herd average of 27,094 Milk, 5.1% Fat, 1,376 Fat, 3.7% Protein and 1,002 Protein, while averaging 87 points. There are 43 Holsteins in the

Randy and Jana Kortus at the 2014 All West/Select Sires Annual Meeting in Portland, Ore.

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herd that average 33,800 Milk, 4.2% Fat, 1,430 Fat, 3.0% Protein and 1,021 Protein and have an average CTPI of +1827 (breed average is +1533).

Recently, eight Ayrshires were added to the herd that have an average score of 89.7 points and produce 29,280 Milk, 4.4% Fat, 1,300 Fat, 3.1% Protein and 904 Protein.

The workload for the farm falls on the shoulders of Randy, Jana and their son, Mike, who is also juggling a college career (working to be a Certified Public Accountant) and coaching basketball. The Kortus’ have three other children who help out, but are not employed full-time.

Mainstream is a supplemental grazing farm.

“We have an intensified pasture program here,” explained Randy. “We don’t have a lot of land because we are so close to town. Most of our ration is purchased, although we do raise some of our own corn silage.”

Genomics have it “We’ve always followed the TPISM system when it comes to selecting bulls. We want high-scoring, highproducing cows, but we never want to lose sight of production,” Randy noted. “In the past five years though, our selection of bulls has shifted dramatically. We went from using very few young sires before to now using a majority of young sires in our program. I think the biggest factor in Kortus (right) receives the 2014 NAAB Member Director Award from Keith Heikes, chair of the NAAB board of directors.

that change is our belief that genomics are real. We’ve put quite a few bulls into A.I. in the past, but with IVF work intensifying, we won’t be able to keep up with that game, so we moved to using the greatest results of it! We’ll use four to five young sires per breed every six months or so, but we still maintain our core breeding philosophy.

And we’ve been fortunate with this as we have some great, early daughters of 7JE1149 Sunset Canyon DIMENSIONET and 7JE1169 Heartland Merchant TOPEKA-ET as well as 7HO10606 De-Su OBSERVER-ET (EX-90-GM), 7HO10524 Roylane Socra ROBUST-ET (VG-88-GM) and 7HO10721 De-Su 521 BOOKEM-ET (VG-86-GM).”

A steady breeding program emphasizing type and production has resulted in tremendous herd longevity and lifetime milk. Currently, Mainstream is tied for the No. 1 herd in the nation in number of cows over 300,000 pounds of lifetime milk at 16.

There are three at Mainstream today including an Excellent (91%) 7JE535 Windy Willow Montana JACE daughter and an Excellent (93-4E) 7HO5708 Fustead Emory BLITZ-ET (EX-95-GM) daughter.

“By having cows last longer, we can sell about 25 to 30 replacement animals every year and not miss a beat.” Kortus said. “We’re fortunate to have a consistent group which gives us flexibility on who to keep and who to let go. We make a strong effort to take

good care of our cows here, but they’re certainly not going to develop any rust; they’re going to work!”

Of all his herd’s accomplishments, Randy is most proud of the fact that they bred the No. 7 GJPI™ Jersey sire in the breed and the current No. 13 Holstein sire.

Kortus’ commitment to being part of the leadership teams for both All West and Select Sires has been a big part of his life for years. He served as president of the All West board from 1999 to 2000 and then again from 2012 to 2013. At Select Sires, he was second vice president for two years, first vice president for three years and then served as president from 2007 through 2010. He’s also been on the sire committee for 15 years and the Aggressive Reproductive Technologies™ (ART™) committee since its inception. He helped form the international committee as well.

“We are the owners of the greatest A.I. company in the world,” explained Kortus. “And, we have a big part in its success. Yes, there are times when it’s inconvenient to attend a meeting or it means more time away from your family, but the dedication and sacrifice are worth it. By serving on a Select Sires board you have the ability to digest an unbelievable amount of information. Board members share their experiences. You learn about Select’s unparalleled research and development projects. We are introduced to new technology. Yes, I can contribute to Select by being a bull provider and a board member who represents multiple breeds and brings a small-herd, international perspective

to the group, but I learn so much from the company and from others. It’s amazing.”

From Lynden, Wash. to 27 countries on 55 different trips, Kortus has brought his experience, his enthusiasm and his belief in registered cattle and Select Sires to the far corners of the globe.

“You can change lives by traveling,” he remarked. “In the ‘90s when I traveled quite a bit, I judged a number of shows and had numerous chances to experience life as people in various countries experience it. I got to go beyond the showring to see how they farm, how they live. I started a 4-H and FFA program in Ecuador and even took my son with me on a trip there.

To see how they developed from that starting point and to know how many kids took hold of that education and went on to bigger and better things is so rewarding. We have so much to share. We just need commitment and dedication to helping others become better, and a strong and supportive family at home to carry on when we can’t be there. Jana has been amazing over the 600 days I’ve been traveling for board work with All-West. You work like crazy to go on the trip and you work like crazy when you get back. But you’re part of this worldwide fraternity of people who love genetics and you simply can’t put a value on that.

“It’s been a fun journey so far. I’m anxious to keep guiding and inspiring and directing the next generation, whether that’s at home in Lynden, on a Select Sires board or beyond. My life has changed for the better because of it all.”

Maternal sisters, Mainstream Legion Summer (E-90%) and Mainstream Award Spencer (E-92%).

“We are the owners of the greatest A.I. company in the world. And, we have a big part in its success.

Yes, there are times when it’s inconvenient to attend a meeting or it means more time away from your family, but the dedication and sacrifice are worth it.”

Randy Kortus, Mainstream Holsteins and Jerseys

Today’s Mainstream Herd Jersey two-year-olds: 7JE590 ACTION 7JE1169 TOPEKA 7JE1149 DIMENSION

Ayrshire two-year-olds: 7AY84 BURDETTE

Holstein two-year-olds: 7HO10524 ROBUST 7HO10920 GOLD CHIP 7HO11313 MIXER 7HO9420 GUTHRIE 7HO9165 BRAXTON

In the tank: 7JE5004 CHROME 7JE1376 CHARLEMAGNE 7HO12165 MONTROSS 7HO12266 YODER 7HO12008 HALOGEN

Mainstream Sanchez Caree (VG-88), sired by 7HO8190 SANCHEZ was grand champion at the Washington State Show. Now owned by Aaron Lancaster.

Mainstream Bookem Crissy-ET (VG-87), a daughter of 7HO10721 BOOKEM. Her full brother and son are at Select Sires.

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Base Change and Formula Revisions Coming in December December sire summaries will see many changes this year. A scheduled base change will occur, which will adjust Predicted Transmitting Abilities (PTAs) of all animals to account for genetic change that has been made over the past years. This prevents PTAs from becoming extreme by setting the average PTAs of animals born in 2010 at zero. Because genetic progress is typically made over time most PTAs will drop by the amount indicated in the table. Traits with negative signs will increase by the value in the table.

The lifetime Net Merit (NM$) indexes will receive adjustments. After considering input from academic and industry personnel, the Council on Dairy Cattle Breeding (CDCB) will add the two newest fertility measurements, Heifer Conception Rate (HCR) and Cow Conception Rate (CCR) to the NM$, Cheese Merit (CM$) and Fluid Merit (FM$) indexes. There will also be more emphasis placed on Fat and Protein yield and less emphasis on Somatic Cell

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Score (SCS), body size and Productive Life (PL) in the formulas. A new merit index, Grazing Merit (GM$), is being introduced for herds on pasture-based systems and herds that require high fertility for seasonal breeding.

Both Holstein Association USA and the American Jersey Cattle Association will be updating their breed indexes, Total Performance IndexSM (TPISM) and Jersey Performance Index™ (JPI™).

Feed Efficiency and a Fertility index will be added to TPI and the weight on stature will be less and emphasis on udders and feet and legs more. In the revised JPI formula, CCR and HCR are now included and Daughter Pregnancy Rate (DPR) and PL receive slightly less weight and Protein slightly more. Brown Swiss' Progressive Performance Ranking (PPR) will now emphasize DPR more and PL and SCS less.

For more information on these changes and the CDCB, visit https:// www.cdcb.us/.

Expected PTA Changes for December Trait Net Merit (NM$) Protein Fat Milk Productive Life (PL) Somatic Cell Score (SCS) Daughter Pregnancy Rate (DPR) Service Sire Calving Difficulty Udder Composite (UDC) Feet and Legs Composite (FLC) Final Score

Holstein Jersey Brown Guernsey Ayrshire Milking Swiss Shorthorn 184 12 17 382 1.0

124 12 19 327 0.8

58 6 6 157 0.3

55 3 6 66 0.5

75 7 9 222 0.5

54 6 7 214 0.5

-0.07

0.04

-0.02

0.01

-0.01

0.02

0.2

0.0

0.0

-0.2

-0.1

-0.3

-0.4

N/A

0.1

N/A

N/A

N/A

0.92

-

-

-

-

-

0.78

-

-

-

-

-

0.99

0.53

0.28

0.56

0.24

0.25

De-Su 7012 Hits Three Times with SPUR, FORK and AVERY The De-Su prefix has become synonymous with breedleading sires and influential brood cows. The latest of those brood cows is De-Su 7012-ET (EX-92-EX-MS-GMDDOM), a Shottle granddaughter of De-Su BW Marshal Georgia-ET (EX-90-2E-GMD-DOM). She currently has three proven sons in the Select Sires lineup that transmit strength, durability, the will to milk and outstanding udders and feet and legs.

“7012 is one of the most impressive Shottle daughters I have ever seen as both a two-year-old and a mature cow,” explained Scott Culbertson, sire analyst. “I fell in love with her dairy strength and width of chest. She was a wide-muzzled cow that competed in a 1,400-cow dairy.

She milked extremely well, had the capacity to compete at the feed bunk and to me was an overachieving genomic cow.”

7012 produced three proven sons that graduated into the active lineup: 7HO10272 De-Su FORK-ET (EX-92) by Bolton, 7HO10723 De-Su 527 SPURET (EX-92-GM) sired by 7HO8081 Ensenada Taboo PLANET-ET (EX-90GM) and 7HO10884 De-Su AVERY 643-ET (VG-87) sired by 7HO8221 Golden-Oaks St ALEXANDER (EX-94).

Each offer something a bit different.

SPUR is one of the top GTPISM sires in the breed at +2163 with excellent production (+1,864 Milk) and Type (+2.85 PTAT). He also improves udders (+3.00 Udder Composite), Somatic Cell Score (SCS) (2.73) and Productive Life (+4.4). Available in gender SELECTed™ semen, SPUR is also a Calving Ease sire (6.5%DBH).

FORK is another balanced sire whose daughters produce high volumes of Milk (+1,471) and Fat (+70) and look good doing it (+2.95 PTAT, +3.26 UDC). This FeedPRO® sire also transmits low SCS (2.56).

AVERY is the newest addition to the lineup. He also sires highproducing cows (+1,495 Milk) that have exceptional feet and legs (+2.56 Feet and Leg Composite). AVERY is a Calving Ease sire (5.5%DBH) with gender SELECTed semen available.

“Customers should use these sires based on the fact that this family just delivers,” said Culbertson. “For four generations, they have produced breed-leading males and females.

They are made to produce efficient, trouble-free cows with great udders and feet and legs. They will make very profitable cattle that work well in any environment or operation.”

Powerhouse family 7012 comes from one of the most prolific cow families at De-Su that has produced sires like 7HO10228 De-Su GULF-ET*BY (EX-90), 7HO10725 De-Su 538 HOORAY-ET (EX-90-GM) and 7HO10606 De-Su OBSERVER-ET (EX-90-GM).

“7012’s dam was Oman 6125, a full sister to the well-known 6121,” said Culbertson. “She wasn’t as flashy or stylish as her sister, but she did breed extremely well. Her grandam, BW Marshal Georgia, was a stylish BW MARSHALL and behind her was Patron Gold. Gold had all silk in her mammary and was so long from end to end. I think 7012 represented the best of her maternal sires and phenotypically was one of the best classified cows at De-Su.” 08/14 USDA-CDCB genomic evaluation % Rel.: SPUR Yield 96, Type 93, SCS 92, PL 83, CE 98; FORK Yield 98, Type 95, SCS 96; AVERY Yield 96, Type 93, CE 99.

7HO10272 FORK

Benner Fork Janardan (VG-87) Ken Horn, Loyal, Wis. 7HO10723 SPUR

Catalpadale Spur 4897-Grade Second Lactation Catalpadale Farms, Marshallville, Ohio 7HO10884 AVERY

S-S-I Avery Emma 7671-ET (VG-87) Evan Brey, Sturgeon Bay, Wis.

The Pedigree

De-Su 7012-ET (EX-92-EX-MS-GMD-DOM) hails from one of the most influential families at De-Su Holsteins and is the dam of three proven, active sons at Select Sires.

De-Su 7012-ET (EX-92-EX-MS-GMD-DOM) sired by Shottle Dam: De-Su Oman 6125-ET (GP-82-GMD-DOM) sired by 7HO6417 O-Bee MANfred Justice-ET (EX-94-GM) 2nd Dam: De-Su BW Marshal Georgia-ET (EX-90-2EGMD-DOM) sired by 7HO5375 Mara-Thon BW MARSHALLET (VG-86-GM) 3rd Dam: De-Su Patron Gold-ET (EX-90-2E-GMD-DOM) sired by 9HO1729 Brabant Star PATRON-ET (EX-92-GM) 4th Dam: Kerndtway Lead Gretchen-ET (VG-87-GMDDOM) sired by Leadman

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Customer Success Drives Nancy Holmes As an area sales manager in New York, Select Sire Power’s Nancy Holmes uses her years of experience as a dairy producer and passion for genetics to serve her customers.

Holmes’ roots in the dairy industry run deep. She grew up on her family’s dairy farm in Hamilton, N.Y. and attended The Ohio State University where she was active in dairy judging. After graduation, she returned to the farm, Nowerland Holsteins, and operated it with her father for 20 years. They owned registered Holsteins with a focus on high-end genetics and merchandising animals around the world.

“We used pretty much all Select Sires semen,” explained Holmes.

“I’ve always respected the bulls and cow families Select Sires has offered its customers.”

Holmes’ time as a farm owner and manager has given her the skills and knowledge to be successful.

“Nancy's passion for helping her dairies be more profitable drives her and over the last number of years the dairy producers in her area have come to appreciate and respect her valuable consultation,” said Norm Vincel, Select Sire Power manager.

“She personally walks each herd regularly and discusses with the herd managers and owners her assessment and recommendations for improvement based on her years of experience as a herd manager and owner of a successful dairy.”

At the grassroots level “I’ve always wanted to work at the grassroots level,” said Holmes.

“I want to be out in the barns with the farm manager or the calf feeder, looking at cows and discussing ways to make things better.”

Her interest in genetics has led her to develop strategies with each of her customers to make genetic progress.

“Over time I’ve become more passionate about my customers by developing a genetic plan with each

of them,” explained Holmes. “By building a relationship I now know more about their goals and what can make them more profitable.

I spend a lot of my time in management team meetings, sitting down and discussing protocols and plans. I want to be an indispensable asset to my customers.”

Her plans not only include using the best sires for each situation, but using Select Sires’ programs and services.

“Early on, Nancy embraced the concept of genomics and the potential value it can bring to dairies and has utilized Select Sires' dominance to her advantage,” said Vincel. “She has embraced the Program for Genetic Advancement™ (PGA™), allowing her customers to combine the value of genomics and proven bulls for the future.”

Nancy Holmes: Area Sales Manager Family: Holmes resides in Groton, N.Y. with her

husband, Steven, a nutritionist for Cargill. She has three grown children: Amanda, Gregory and Paul.

Agricultural Background: Holmes grew up on her family’s dairy farm in Hamilton, N.Y. and attended The Ohio State University where she was active in dairy judging. After graduation, she returned to the farm, Nowerland Holsteins, and operated it with her father for 20 years.

Daily Responsibilities: Holmes spends most of her time calling on customers, walking pens, planning with customers and being a part of their management teams.

Award Spotlight: Select Sires’ President’s Club and Super Achiever Although her position hasn’t changed much in the seven years since she joined Select Sire Power, she has enjoyed building relationships with her customers.

“I always work with my customers to breed better cattle—cows that will last longer, have more capacity and width and have great udders,” explained Holmes. “One of my

favorite things to do is walk pens with my customers and see the progress we’ve made and the cows they’ve bred in my time working with them.”

Holmes resides in Groton, N.Y. with her husband, Steven, a nutritionist for Cargill. She has three grown children: Amanda, Gregory and Paul. 

Nancy Holmes works with each of her customers, like Chad Butts of Willow Breeze Dairy (right), to develop plans and strategies to make genetic progress.

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BULLetin Board A banner day for Select-sired daughters at World Dairy Expo At this year’s World Dairy Expo, Select-sired daughters captured several championships. The supreme and reserve supreme champion of the junior show were sired by 7HO7004 DAMION and 7JE867 GOVERNOR, respectively.

Other champions were sired by 7HO9769 DIRECTOR-RED, 7GU445 LIGHTNING, 7MS355 PRESTO, 7HO7872 ADVENT-RED, 7HO5157 DURHAM, 7BS796 SUPREME, 7AY84 BURDETTE and 7HO8221 ALEXANDER. ADVENT-RED and BURDETTE captured the Premier Sire banners in their respective breed shows.

7HO10506 G W ATWOOD daughters stood out in the Internaional Holstein Show. Jacobs Atwood Vedette (VG-89-EX-MS) was named the reserve intermediate champion while Ashview-TG Atwood Lilly-ET was reserve junior champion. Lilly was exhibited by Ted, Molly and Tom Norling and Tony Galgowski, South Dakota.

Siemers Defnt Great-Red-ET, sired by 7HO11596 DEFIANT, was named junior champion of the International Red and White show for her owners C., J., J., J., C. and L. Siemers of Newton, Wis.

Siemers Defiant Great-Red Junior champion, World Dairy Expo, 2014 Crystal, Jordan, Josh, Jake, Connor, Lauren Siemers, Newton, Wis.

7BS900 BRAIDEN daughter, Arethusa Braiden Nadia was reserve junior champion of the Brown Swiss show for her owners, Arethusa Farm, Litchfield, Conn.

Arethusa Braiden Nadia Reserve junior champion, World Dairy Expo, 2014 Arethusa Farm, Litchfield, Conn.

Ashview-TG Atwood Lilly-ET Reserve junior champion, World Dairy Expo, 2014 Ted, Molly and Tom Norling and Tony Galgowski, S.D.

Dams of Super Samplers™ Shine at World Dairy Expo During the International Guernsey Show at World Dairy Expo, Coulee Crest Nick Lorilyn (EX-91-EX-90MS) was honored as the Cow of the Year by the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection. Lorilyn is the dam of Super Sampler 7GU451 LEGEND.

Coulee Crest Nick Lorilyn (EX-91-EX-90-MS)

Butz-Butler Gold Barbara-ET (EX-92-EX-MS) is undefeated in milking form at World Dairy Expo.

After winning the senior two-year and senior three-year-old classes in 2012 and 2013, she came out on top again, winning the four-year-old class at the International Holstein Show this year. Barbara is the dam of 7HO12310 BANKROLL and a full sister to the dam of 7HO12353 BEEMER.

Don Haven Cordell Vesta Junior champion, Canadian National Show, 2014 Don Haven Guernseys, Rockwood, Ontario

New scores for Select-sired daughters Ms Gold Chip Bright-ET, sired by 7HO10920 GOLD CHIP, is now Very Good (89) in her first lactation.

Earlier this summer she was named intermediate champion at the Illinois Championship Show for her owners Jeffrey Butler and Craig and Penny Shedd of Chebanse, Ill.

Ms Gold Chip Bright-ET (VG-89) Jeff Butler and Craig and Penny Shedd, Chebanse, IL

523JE927 MAGNUM daughter, OA Jer-Z-Boyz Magnum 34178 was recently raised to Excellent (90%).

Daughters of 7HO11703 ARMANI stood out in the Holstein and Red and White shows earning high placings.

Butz-Butler Gold Barbara-ET (EX-92-EX-MS)

Jacobs Atwood Vedette (VG-89-EX-MS) Res. intermediate champion, World Dairy Expo, 2014 Ferme Jacobs Inc, Cap Sante, QC

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Miss Hot Mama-Red-ET (7HO11703 ARMANI) 2nd Red and White fall calf, World Dairy Expo 2014 Majestic View, M. and T. Smith, E. Kueffner and P. Vail, Watertown, Wis.

Winner North of the Border 7GU440 CORDELL daughter, Don Haven Cordell Vesta was named junior champion at the Canadian National Show for Don Haven Guernseys, Rockwood, Ontario.

OA Jer-Z-Boyz Magnum 34178 (E-90%) Jer-Z-Boyz, Pixley, Calif.

GARY daughter completes record 7GU428 GARY daughter, Rozelyn Gary Tana recently completed a record of 4-5 305d 28,580M 5.5% 1,585F 3.1% 897P.

Rozelyn Gary Tana (VG-88-VG-88-MS) Second Lactation Rozelyn Farm, Lynden, Wash.

Success at the Big E G W ATWOOD daughter, Ms TriDee RM Atwood Tara (VG-88) was intermediate champion for Arethusa Farm of Litchfield, Conn. while FourHills GC Rhyme 3846-ET (VG-87) (GOLD CHIP) was reserve grand of the junior show for Elizabeth Hill of Bristol, Vt. The grand champion of the show was Arethusa Farm's Roquet Jasmine Sanchez, sired by 7HO8190 SANCHEZ. In the Guernsey show 7GU438 LEVI daughter, Huckins Levi Kaily (VG-86-VG-88-MS), was named reserve grand champion of the junior show.

Several BURDETTE daughters placed well in the Ayrshire show.

7AY90 LOCHINVAR daughter, Hardy Farm Lochinvar Varnish, exhibited

by Ashlie Hardy, was named grand champion of the junior show.

GenerVations-sired daughters around the world 250HO1043 AIKMAN daughter, Wyndford Aikman August 31, was the first junior calf at the AllBritain, All-Breeds calf show.

In the International Junior Holstein Show at World Dairy Expo, 250HO914 WINDHAMMER daughter, Mapel Wood Windhammer Elegance continued her winning ways placing first in the spring yearling class for Jordan and Whitney Ebert.

Wyndford Aikman August 31 First junior calf, All-Britain, All-Breeds Show, 2014 Wilfred Maddocks Ltd., Isle of Man

Hardy Farm Lochinvar Varnish Grand champion, Big E Junior Ayrshire Show, 2014 Ashlie Hardy, Farmington, Maine

Mapel Wood Windhammer Elegance First spring yearling, World Dairy Expo Jr. Show, 2014 Jordan and Whitney Ebert, Algoma, Wis.

Roquet Jasmine Sanchez-ET (EX-93-EX-MS) Grand champion, Big E Holstein Show, 2014 Arethusa Farm LLC, Litchfield, Conn.

Huckins Levi Kaily (VG-86-VG-88-MS) Reserve grand champion, Big E Junior Guernsey Show, 2014 Kylie Ells, Orange, N.H.

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To enhance the productivity and profitability of dairy and beef producers, Select Sires is committed to be the premier provider of highly fertile, superior genetics accompanied by effective reproductive- and herdmanagement products and services.

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