IT’S TIME TO CHECK IN ON THOSE RESOLUTIONS
David C. Thorbahn, President and CEO, Select Sires Inc.
We’re more than halfway through the year and it’s a great time to look back on those resolutions you made in January. Throughout history, New Year’s resolutions have been a timed tradition to set goals and establish new routines. At the start of 2024, there was a new trend in the New Year’s resolution space. Younger generations were putting their own spin on the tradition by creating simple lists of ‘ins’ and ‘outs’ for the coming year.
The ‘in’ list included things that you want to welcome into your life, such as aspirations and goals. The ‘out’ list included what you want to leave behind in 2023, maybe bad habits or mindsets. It can be fun to take these trends and apply them to the dairy industry. What’s on your list of ‘ins and outs’ for 2024? Check out my top five and learn how Select Sires can help you achieve these goals.
IN
More pounds of fat and protein per cow and total quantity shipped
Improved feed efficiency
Healthy, trouble-free cattle
Team meetings with highly skilled genetic and reproductive consultants that use data to drive performance and profit
Strategies tailormade for your herd
OUT
Costly mastitis cases
Open cows and poor heifer reproductive performance
An “anything goes” or “cheaper is better” mindset when it comes to a beef on dairy strategy
Selection indexes that don’t align with your dairy’s profit strategy
Equating longevity with old cows
It’s safe to say that at least a few of the points on my list resonate with your dairy. We are always proud to talk about the traditions of dairy farming and the generational legacies, but we also recognize that it is a business that must create operational efficiencies and continually drive genetic and reproductive progress. Throughout this edition of Selections, you’ll find articles and resources to help you add more solids to your bulk tank, boost the health and wellness in your next generation of replacements, and secure profits in the beef on dairy marketplace. Learn more about the push for longevity below and create a plan to improve heifer reproductive performance with the tips on the next page. These pages are packed with information to help your herd soar past industry benchmarks and assure you achieve those New Year’s resolutions! u
3
TIPS TO BOOST REPRODUCTIVE PERFORMANCE OF HEIFERS
King Smith, Manager of Select Dairy Solutions, Select Sires Inc.
Dairy heifer inventories continue to decline as producers use beef semen in their lactating herds, and to a limited extent in heifer breeding programs, to create beef on dairy calves. With less replacements available, reproductive efficiency is more important than ever and yet heifer pregnancy rates nationwide are less than desirable. An analysis of 400 heifer breeding programs revealed an average pregnancy rate of 30%. Keep in mind that the target for this age group is 40%. Dairy herds across the country achieve excellent pregnancy rates with their lactating herd, often well above 30%, however heifer reproductive rates often fall greatly behind.
Breeding heifers is one of the most manageable programs on a dairy farm, but it demands well-established protocols. Here are three tips to help your herd achieve a much-needed boost in heifer reproductive performance:
1. Consistent and timely movement of heifers.
Focus on consistent and timely movement of heifers into the breeding pen. Regular, preferably weekly, movement ensures a steady flow of heifers ready for breeding. Monitor heifer growth for breeding eligibility and move heifers into the breeding pen based on weight and height. By monitoring heifer growth throughout development, you can avoid gaps in eligible animals entering the breeding pen, maintaining a constant flow of dairy replacements and helping sustain herd size.
2. Perform regular pregnancy checks.
Regular pregnancy checks and the appropriate relocation of pregnant heifers is crucial. Moving pregnant heifers out of the breeding pen and replacing them with new breeding-eligible groups prevents overcrowding and ensures efficient use of the breeding pen. Effective handling of heifers that have not been inseminated within a set time frame is essential. Heifers in the breeding pen for more than 28 days without insemination should be identified and managed using specific protocols to address potential delays in reproduction.
3. Implement a simple prostaglandin program.
To optimize the reproductive performance of dairy heifers, consider implementing a simple prostaglandin program. A prostaglandin program can help ensure that heifers are in heat shortly after arriving in the breeding pen, improving the timing and efficiency of insemination.
There’s room for improvement, so make it happen!
Schedule a meeting with your management teams today and review your heifer reproductive protocols. Update your strategy by incorporating these three tips and benefit from a boost in performance. This proactive approach is paramount to maintain the necessary number of replacements to sustain or grow the lactating herd and secure the future productivity of the dairy operation. u
NOT DONE AS A DAY-OLD
LEVERAGING GENETICS TO CREATE LONG TERM PROFIT
Lauren Kimble, Manager of ProfitSOURCE® Supply Chains, Select Sires Inc.
Drought and input costs have left many native beef producers unable to maintain their operations, creating a shortage of beef calves. Dairy producers have been able to deliver crossbred cattle to the beef supply chain, while also benefiting from the high prices. In some areas, day-old beef on dairy calves are garnering more than $1,000. To maintain these favorable markets long term, dairy producers can apply the same discernment to breeding crossbreds as they do when selecting genetics to create dairy replacements. Beef breed association Expected Progeny Differences (EPDs) offer a solid starting point. With fertility and calving ease in mind, the ProfitSOURCE sire lineup has been hand-selected based on critical EPDs to create cattle desirable to the beef market. Even for producers selling day-old beef on dairy calves, selecting the right genetics builds valuable relationships that strengthen long term profit potential.
Traits that directly influence the future of your dairy: Traits that are essential for long term beef on dairy profits:
Dairy-centric traits
When running a tight reproductive ship, what’s important?
Confirmed pregnant
Trouble-free calving
Quickly return the dam to production
Fertility
Sire fertility is not easily collected in the beef production system and is not available in any beef breed association EPDs. Fortunately, ProfitSOURCE has it covered. ProfitSOURCE lineup sires quickly become fertility-verified thanks to an internal evaluation system based on real records from dairies.
Still have fertility fears? Using ProfitSOURCE Packs, a heterospermic conventional mix of ProfitSOURCE-qualified sires, is a great risk management tool. The best strategy for beef on dairy programs is to use a combination of mixed-sire packs and individual sires to protect against the variation in conception.
Calving Ease
While days open can be costly, difficult calvings can be even more costly, from reduced milk production in the next lactation to potential loss of the calf or dam. Calving Ease EPDs are based on recorded calving ease scores and birth weights of a sire’s progeny when used on beef heifers.
Calving ease for beef sires is expressed opposite of dairy. A high score means more calving difficulty in dairy and is therefore unfavorable. In beef, the score is expressed as percentage of unassisted births, meaning a high EPD results in an easier birth. The Birth Weight EPD, if available for the breed you have selected, may also be used with a lower weight tending to manifest as an easier calving, but note the Calving Ease EPD already includes Birth Weight in its formulation.
Growth
Many breeds offer traits that can be used as indicators of growth. In the Angus breed, Weaning Weight and Yearling Weight both predict differences in calf weight in pounds among a sires’ progeny, at 205 days and 365 days respectively. Higher values for each trait should translate to greater growth performance. Similarly, a higher Residual Average Daily Gain (RADG) value should translate to more efficient growth. RADG compares gain variation per the same amount of feed consumed – a starting point for efficiency. For a dairy producer raising their beef on dairy calves to a higher weight, selecting sires with higher EPD values for these production traits translates to more pounds at sale. Even if producers aren’t retaining their calves, producing consistent, growthy calves can keep them in good favor with their buyer, who likely appreciates the predictability of calves from certain sources. This practice will contribute to a longstanding market for the dairy producer, even if the market changes.
Terminal
Carcass, or terminal, traits may seem distant when looking at a newborn calf – but supply chains demand cattle that can produce a quality carcass. Many feedlots sell their fat cattle to packing plants on a pricing structure called a grid. Grid pricing rewards or discounts based on individual carcass quality and yield. So, knowing they are procuring cattle which have the genetic potential to meet their expectations is advantageous.
Carcass Weight (CW) predicts the difference in weight of the carcass in pounds, with a higher value being beneficial. On grids, premiums and discounts are paid or deducted per hundredweight of carcass. A heavier carcass that attains a quality grade of Prime will make more than a lighter counterpart that also hits Prime.
The highly heritable trait of Marbling is directly linked to a carcass’ USDA Quality Grade (QG). Prime is the highest grade, with only the most highly marbled carcasses attaining this mark. Currently, many grids are heavily rewarding QG, with some featuring a premium of up to $25 or more per cwt – meaning a 900 lb. carcass would make an additional $225 for grading Prime!
Ribeye Area (RE or REA) indicates difference in the ribeye in square inches, with a larger ribeye sometimes indicative of more muscling – too large, though, can prevent a carcass from acceptance to certain branded programs.
Some breeds also offer a Terminal Index, which can be used to select for carcass traits as a whole. ProfitSOURCE has been designed to meet the ultimate supply chain need for quality, meaning terminal traits are a hallmark of our lineup. Among publicly available beef on dairy lineups, ProfitSOURCE has the highest proportion of Angus sires ranking in the top 20% of the breed for the terminal index of $B, and its components!
Determining what traits are best for your strategy
There are a lot of beef traits available for selection. How do we know which matters most? It comes down to knowing your buyer and communicating the value of your crosses’ genetics.
While beef on dairy cattle have been critical to the beef supply, talk among feeders is that when the native population rebounds, they will become far choosier about the beef on dairy calves they procure. Feeders want to develop relationships that allow them to acquire the best, most consistent, most predictable crossbreds. For this reason, tag-based programs like ProfitSOURCE are in demand by growers and feeders because they deliver!
The visual tag has become a signal in their procurement process, and tailored sub-lineups of ProfitSOURCE like the TD Beef and Power Genetics programs, have already been defined to meet their needs. Not marketing through a formal program but want to work more closely with your existing buyer? Let’s run through a few scenarios to see where certain traits could be prioritized.
SCENARIO 1
This dairy uses beef sires on mature cows and some younger females, which tend to have a harder time calving. They want a guaranteed market and do not want the risk of raising calves to a higher weight, so they sell through the regional TD Beef supply chain program that buys day-olds and values Quality Grade at the end of the line. The producer may choose to focus on Calving Ease, as well as terminal traits including Marbling to impart high quality.
SCENARIO 2
Envision a small dairy that is not serviced by a program pickup route but finds value in marketing elite beef on dairy through a local sale barn. They like to use elite genetics and corresponding visual tags to indicate value. In this case, it is nearly impossible to know where the calves may end up, therefore making trait selection specific to a certain downstream buyer difficult. This producer can focus on fertility. They may also avoid calves that are too small with the Birth Weight EPD. Many sale barns highly differentiate calf prices by weight.
SCENARIO 3
This dairy raises their crossbred calves to 500 lbs. They then market directly to a feedlot whose grid favors heavier carcasses. The dairy producer can focus on growth traits such as Weaning Weight and RADG for efficiency in the feedlot and terminal traits like Carcass Weight that their partner feedlot prefers to optimize performance on their grid.
• 2AN712 QUANTIFY *
• 2AN763 DAYTON *
• Explosive Growth Packs
• 714AN804 TRUMAN
• 714SM131 RILEY ^
• Muscling/Ribeye Packs
• 2CH105 SILVERSMITH *
• 714SM132 BLUEMONT * ^
• 714AN694 TEDDY
While factors like fertility and calving ease are directly felt by the dairy, it is beneficial to address the buyers’ needs too through genetic selection for growth and carcass. With ProfitSOURCE’s downstream-driven lineup, you can produce calves that meet the beef supply chain’s needs, thereby building valuable relationships and setting your beef on dairy program up for longer-term success. u *
THE PEOPLE OF SELECT MATING SERVICE
For 50 years, Select Mating Service® (SMS®) consultants have used research, computerized analysis and cow knowledge to build better herds around the world. Read how four SMS genetic consultants grew in their roles to become trusted advisors and how they’ve incorporated new technologies into their process to create profitable cows for the dairies they serve.
MALISSA REED, SMS Genetic Consultant, CentralStar Cooperative
For Malissa Reed, evaluating cows is a skill that comes naturally and has been a lifelong passion. Reed grew up on a 300-cow dairy in Michigan and was active in dairy judging on the 4-H, post-secondary and intercollegiate levels. A graduate of Michigan State University, Reed completed an internship with NorthStar Cooperative, now CentralStar Cooperative, and joined the organization as a full-time SMS genetic consultant upon graduating in the spring of 2014.
“A lot of what I do is relating to my customers and trying to bring different perspectives to the operation. Every day, producers are faced with difficult decisions and if I can provide accurate information in a simplified way that helps my customers grow their business and become more profitable, then I’ve done my job,” says Reed.
The ever-growing desire for data and farm-specific information has changed the way Reed approaches mating cows after a decade in her role. “I’m spending a lot more time creating customized reports. There’s a real emphasis on data and producers appreciate seeing the progress they’ve made from year to year when we sit down for team meetings.”
2024 TRUSTED ADVISORS CONFERENCE
While there is still a desire for functional type, Reed finds that many of her customers are leaning into herd metrics to help support their on-farm mating decisions. “They need to see on paper that we’re making improvements. It’s easy to become barn blind,” says Reed.
Most of Reed’s producers prioritize different metrics, which requires a tailored approach for each customer. “Management styles play a big role as well. For herds with automated milking systems, I prioritize RobotPRO® sires. For customers trying to reduce labor costs and improve consumer relations we prioritize polled sires,” says Reed.
Of the customers Reed has worked with over the past decade, one in particular stands out when asked to share a personal success story. “Homestead Dairy in Indiana has prioritized the use of genomics and evaluating their animals to utilize the best genetics possible. It’s been a rewarding experience to see the herd improve over time. They are now putting young bulls into stud, became a Cooperator Herd Aggressive Reproductive Technologies™ (CHART™) participant and have some of the breed’s highest-ranking females for Dairy Wellness Profit Dollars® (DWP$®).” Reed says, “It feels good to work with producers who believe in the product we’re putting on the table and that we’re getting results.”
Involved in the dairy industry from day one, Lars Sivesind grew up on his family’s Prairie Moon Guernsey dairy in northeast Iowa. Active in dairy judging and showing cattle at the county, state, and national levels, Sivesind attended Iowa State University, earning a degree in dairy science in 2016. He began his career with Prairie State/Select Sires, now Select Sires Member Cooperative, immediately after college. Sivesind started out in what he calls a utility role, relief breeding and filling in as needed, and then transitioned into full-time SMS work the fall of 2016.
Sivesind sees his role as a piece of the total package that Select Sires provides producers. “When we cold-call on new customers and they ask us, ‘why should we switch to you?,’ I tell them there are three or four of us that work as a team. We want to do more than just drop off semen. I honestly think that no other company has what we can offer. We have the total package.”
As the needs and goals of dairy producers change, Sivesind has seen a significant shift from the usage of conventional Holstein semen to the usage of female sexed and beef semen based on genomic ranking of females. “When I first started, I didn’t have any farms doing that. Within my first year or two, there were a couple herds, and now I don’t think I have a herd that is over 200
cows that isn’t evaluating herd inventories and utilizing mostly sexed and beef semen.”
Utilizing the genomic information and herd inventory calculator tools has allowed Sivesind’s customers to breed a more efficient and profitable cow while maintaining heifer inventories. “Cows are making more genetic gains. They’re having fewer health events, lasting longer and making more milk,” says Sivesind. “The price of milk hasn’t significantly changed in a while, so we are helping farmers improve genetics to get more out of each cow while managing replacement costs.”
Foresight Farms of Decorah, Iowa is one of Sivesind’s customers who have prioritized herd metrics for management decisions. “When I started, Foresight Farms was buying a small percentage of their semen from Select Sires. We had a chance to sit down with them, explain what we could provide, and they made the decision to go all in on Select Sires,” recalls Sivesind. “Seeing the gains they have made in production and the improvement in pregnancy rates is rewarding.”
Sivesind takes pride in the relationships he has built with his customers. “A lot of the herds I work with now, when I ask the criteria for the sires we’re selecting for new matings, they say ‘that’s up to you; we trust you.’ We’ve built those relationships. They’ve put their trust in me, and it’s a rewarding feeling.”
JERRY EMERICH, SMS Genetic Consultant, Premier Select Sires
Jerry Emerich began his Select Sires career as an intern in the fall of 1981 and was hired full-time upon the completion of his internship to work in sales in north-central Minnesota. In the spring of 1984, Emerich returned to Ohio where he worked in international marketing and began his tenure as an SMS consultant. Trained under the tutelage of the founding father of SMS, Ron Long, it wasn’t long before Emerich
started evaluating cattle abroad. From the mid-1980s until 2000, Emerich’s territory included Latin America, Canada and part of the northeastern United States. He now primarily evaluates animals within the Northeast.
Emerich’s role as an SMS evaluator has changed and grown greatly over his 43-year career. “When I started as an SMS consultant, it was all pencil and paper,” recalls Emerich. “We would go out to the farm, evaluate cows and then go to the hotel at night and utilize a sire grouping chart to individually mate each cow.” Now with the technological efficiencies, Emerich notes not only are genetic consultants able to evaluate more cows, but they are able to do so with more accuracy. “If some of us mated 5,000 cows a year, it was about all we could handle. Now, at my peak, I did about 120,000 cows in a year.”
Genomics has helped incorporate beef genetics into many of his herds as well. “We can pull information from management programs allowing us to group animals based on different genetic qualifications, which empowers producers to make informed genetic decisions while capitalizing on an opportunity for added value from beef on dairy animals.”
Having a hand in the evolution and improvement of the herds with which he works is important to Emerich. “My customers are milking better cows with more genetic value, all with less health issues. I’m a big believer of incorporating health and management traits and years ago we didn’t have the tools to work those into our matings - now we do.”
A specific example Emerich shares is working with Ideal Dairy Farm and Cookiecutter Holsteins in New York. When he began working with the farm in 1997 they were milking 250 cows and participating in the Program for Genetic Advancement™ (PGA™). In the past 27 years, the herd has grown to 3,500-head, is utilizing more elite genetics, and has gone from sampling young sires to breeding the next generation of young sires at Select Sires. “That’s what I call coming full circle. It’s certainly one of the more rewarding stories of my career,” says Emerich.
, SMS Genetic
Henry Zapalac grew up on a dairy in Texas, where they milked 100 Holsteins and Brown Swiss and worked with SMS consultant Wildon Petty for mating decisions. The family showed at local fairs and Zapalac enjoyed participating in dairy judging events. Fast forward to May 1994, Zapalac was a newly graduated Texas A&M Aggie and Petty was preparing to retire. Zapalac applied to be Petty’s successor upon urging from his college professor. And, as they say, the rest is history.
Consultant, Select Sires Member Cooperative
and indexes we have to look at are a huge change. We’ve grown from just focusing on milk and type to now utilizing health traits and the Herd Health Profit Dollars® (HHP$®) index to breed fertile, longlasting, productive cows.”
For more than 30 years, Zapalac has been evaluating cows and helping dairy producers achieve their genetic goals. In his role, Zapalac stresses the importance of listening to the customer and addressing their needs. “Whether it’s the first time or the hundredth time meeting with them, always listen to understand their goals. Develop a plan to give them what they want and remember that everyone is different and goals change.”
Zapalac recalls a producer who has been a client for more than 25 years, “When I first started working with him, it was all about milk and good udders, today it’s health traits and cows that last. He never came right out and said, ‘we’re not doing this anymore,’ but through listening and watching the farm evolve we came up with a plan that checked the boxes.”
The numerous genetic advancements over the years created a need for Zapalac to evolve the way he mates cows. “Looking at where we came from to where we are today, the number of traits
In a career spanning three decades, Zapalac’s accomplishments are many. One particular moment stands out as a high note though. “A couple years ago one of my clients decided to downsize. He sold 600 cows to a dairy in the area that was exclusively using competitor semen. After getting those 600 cows, the buyer noted they looked better and were more productive than his original herd. Within three months of him finding out those cows were all Selectsired animals, he started using Select Sires genetics and asked me to start mating his cows. I took that as a big win for us, for the SMS program and for the genetics Select Sires offers.”
Looking back on his career, Zapalac recalls being the “young guy” in the room and now embraces his role as a senior SMS evaluator, continuing to lean into his passion for dairy cattle and helping dairy producers reach their genetic goals. “I enjoyed working with and looking at cows on a daily basis as a young man and I was just lucky enough that it has turned into a rewarding career.” u
HENRY ZAPALAC
INDEX B
Each of the formulas listed above represent actual indexes used by dairies around the world. If you selected Index D, you selected Select Sires’ Herd Health Profit Dollars (HHP$ ) index. This index puts you on a fast track to boost mastitis resistance, lower incidence of other health challenges and create long-lasting, healthy cows. Producers around the world are using HHP$ because it most closely aligns with their dairy’s goals. If you didn’t choose Index D, what attracted you to your index of choice? Your herd’s selection index is the foundation of your genetic strategy and therefore, it should complement the dairy’s goals. Consider these three questions to deliver the most profit to your dairy:
QUESTION NO. 1:
What does each case of mastitis cost your dairy?
Consider treatments, lost milk production, effects on milk quality and fertility in your calculation.
HHP$ places 3-5 times more emphasis on mastitis resistance and milk quality than the three industry indexes listed above.
QUESTION NO. 3:
Does your turnover rate align with your heifer inventory numbers?
Involuntary culls and death loss are the most costly aspects of turnover rate. The leading reasons for involuntary culls are mastitis, fertility and general cow health. Use an index that prioritizes these traits and lower your net herd replacement costs.
Select Sires’ HHP$ index is the most comprehensive and measurable economic index in the industry. Created for farmers, by farmers, HHP$ prioritizes the traits that make the greatest impact to your bottom line.
QUESTION NO. 2:
In regard to conformation, what traits are most important to make cows that are easy-keepers?
Conformation represents 11% of HHP$ and these traits were specially selected to create balanced and robust cows that are easy to milk, easy to manage and built to last. Udder conformation is the target, with the goal of creating shallow udders with penalties for teats that are too short and rear teats that are too close.
Index D (HHP$) places the most emphasis on mastitis, fertility and other cow health at 39%.
THE POWER OF POLLED GENETICS
Are you ready for change? Although it’s not a new concept, Polled genetics may have a greater role of importance as we embrace new animal welfare standards. As of July 1, 2024, all dairy farmers enrolled in the National Farmers Assuring Responsible Management (FARM) Program will be required to use pain management aids when disbudding and dehorning calves. In turn, this addition will increase total costs for disbudding and require additional employee training. Leveraging Polled genetics offers opportunity to reduce costs, time spent training employees and stress on calves that results in lulls in their growth.
A Global Perspective on Disbudding and Dehorning
Polled genetics are being encouraged globally with the implementation of updated animal welfare practices. While new to the United States, requirement of anesthesia has already been mandatory for five years in Germany for animals over six weeks of age. Veterinarians are required to carry out the procedure and provide pain management aids. Learn more about how German dairy farmers are leveraging Polled genetics in their herds from Hubertus Wasmer on page 11.
Leveraging Polled Genetics as a Management Tool
Calves are known to experience periods of stress following disbudding and dehorning followed by reduced feed intake and sluggish behavior. Leveraging Polled genetics provides an opportunity to avoid this period of stress and allow developing calves to maximize their growth potential.
The average cost of disbudding ranges from $12 to $13. Labor and employee training are additional costs. Polled genetics reduces the number of tasks on your to-do list and cuts additional costs.
Avoid Standstill in your Genetic Advancement
With Select Sires’ current Polled genetic offering you can add the Polled gene to your herd without losing sight of other genetic targets. The available Polled sires have been developed with herd improvement in mind and many rank well in comparison to non-Polled options for indexes such as Herd Health Profit Dollars® (HHP$®).
Select Sires’ genetic development team has honed in on creating genetically diverse lines within the Polled population. The current genetic offering provides 52 Polled Holstein sires with 33 different sire fathers. The Polled sire options for other breeds continues to grow. Select Sires offers 21 Polled Jersey sires, three Polled Brown Swiss sires, one Polled Ayrshire sire and one Polled Guernsey sire.
If a heterozygous Polled sire is used on a horned female, 50% of the resulting calves will be Polled.
If a heterozygous Polled sire is used on a heterozygous Polled female, 75% of the resulting calves will be Polled.
If a homozygous Polled sire is used on a horned female, 100% of the resulting calves will be Polled.
Why is developing a Polled lineup a priority for Select Sires?
As genetic developments evolve, incorporating efficiencies is a win-win for the animal and producers. Now that Polled genetics are much closer in genetic value to the horned population, it only makes sense to take advantage of these bloodlines.
What criteria is the sire team focusing on when creating matings and selecting for new Polled sires?
Our goal is to maximize the combination of production, fertility, health and the proper conformation in each mating. Select Sires’ Herd Health Profit Dollars (HHP$®) index is an easy way for us to identify whether or not a sire meets our selection criteria. Breeding for Polled alone is simply not enough. Select Sires believes in breeding programs that incorporate the complete package of profitable genetics. Polled is no exception, and is growing in desires from a niche market to a characteristic that the most selective breeders are requesting.
Are you seeing industry trends that may be signaling breeders to increase the use of Polled genetics?
The use of Polled genetics means one less stress event in high-quality calf rearing programs. Breeders are no longer sacrificing large scale genetic loss just to incorporate Polled genes. The Polled population also adds another level of genetic diversity in bloodlines, which is always a welcomed addition.
What has influenced the increased use of Polled genetics in your country?
Since the implementation of the 2019 Animal Welfare Act there has been heavy pressure to incorporate Polled genes into German dairy breeding programs. Many breeders leverage Polled genetics to reduce veterinarian costs and additional tasks associated with disbudding as documentation and animal husbandry records are required when these procedures are carried out.
How have Polled genetics changed in Germany over the past decade?
Genetic quality of Polled sires has improved in recent years in Germany. The wide range of options and confidence in Polled genetics has led to a significant increase in the Polled population of animals in Germany. Of the female Holstein population genomically tested in 2023, 21% are Polled with 2.7% being homozygous Polled (PP). In the Red and White Holstein population 48% are Polled with 9% being homozygous Polled.
What does the future look like for Germany’s Polled Holstein population?
Further growth of Germany’s Polled Holstein population is expected. By 2025, we anticipate that 40% of Holstein breedings will be to heterozygous Polled (Pp) sires and 32% to homozygous Polled (PP).
What are the costs associated with disbudding in the United States? Disbudding costs vary across farms due to several factors, including the method used, pain relief options, labor costs and experience, equipment and facilities, and potential veterinary treatments. In 2017, the estimated cost of disbudding ranged from $6 to $25 per head, with an average cost of $12 to $13 (Thompson et al., 2017).
According to Thompson et al. (2017), producers could spend an additional $5.95 per head for heterozygous Polled sires and $11.90 per head for homozygous Polled sires when compared to horned genetics. This translates to an extra $2.08 and $4.17 per straw of semen, assuming an average conception rate of 35%.
What are the economic benefits to adding Polled genetics to herds?
Beyond cost considerations, recent consumer studies have shown a willingness to pay a premium for dairy products from Polled animals or farms that provide pain relief during disbudding (Bir et al., 2020; Bir et al., 2021b). As disbudding is a primary animal welfare concern (Widmar et al., 2017), public pressure to eliminate these practices is likely to increase, potentially raising market premiums for products from Polled genetics.
References
Jeff Ziegler, Vice President of Dairy Cattle Breeding, Select Sires Inc.
Hubertus Wasmer, Managing Director, World Wide Sires Deutschland GmbH
Dr. Maci Mueller, Assistant Professor, Kansas State University
S ELECTIONS
OUR MISSION
With the highest integrity, maximize the productivity, profitability, and sustainability of livestock producers who feed the world.
For more information, visit www.selectsires.com or call (614) 873-4683. Product of the USA.
Productive life information referenced on page 2 sourced from Council on Dairy Cattle Breeding based on average productive life of 25.6 months in Holstein cows born in 2015. ™Program for Genetic Advancement, PGA, CHART and Cooperator Herd Aggressive Reproductive Technologies are trademarks of Select Sires Inc. Buyer assumes all responsibility for use, storage and handling of products. Select Sires Inc. makes no claims or warranties, expressed or implied. Manufactured for Select Sires Inc., 11740 U.S. 42 N, Plain City, OH 43064. The Select Sires logo, Herd Health Profit Dollars, HHP$, ProfitSOURCE, Build A Better Calf, RobotPRO, Select Mating Service, SMS and Your Success Our Passion. are registered trademarks of Select Sires Inc., Plain City, Ohio. Dairy Wellness Profit Index and DWP$ are registered trademarks of Zoetis Inc., its affiliates and/or its licensors. Polled article Q&A references provided by Dr. Mueller: Bir C., Delgado M.S., Widmar N.O. (2021) Agricultural and Resource Economics Review. 50(1):99-126. https://doi.org/10.1017/age.2020.12.; Bir C., Widmar N.O., Thompson N.M., Townsend J., Wolf C.A. (2020) J Dairy Sci. 103(4):3234-49. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2019-17031.; Thompson N.M., Widmar N.O., Schutz M.M., Cole J.B., Wolf C.A. (2017) J Dairy Sci. 100(6):4941-52. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2016-12099. Widmar N.O., Morgan C.J., Wolf C.A., Yeager E.A., Dominick S., et al. (2017) Agricultural Sciences. 8(07):645. https://doi. org/10.4236/as.2017.87049.
7 = Select Sires, 14 = Accelerated Genetics, 250 = GenerVations
