Selections Summer 2012

SUMMER 2012 Summer Heat Stress in Bulls

4

May and Shauna: Young Brood Cows Making Their Mark 6 Summertime Somatic Cell Count Strategies 13

selections YOUR SUCCESS Our Passion.

Effective mastitis control involves managing every aspect of the cow, the environment and the people.

Learn how Select Sires can help on page 13.

Keep Your Cows Healthy and Productive This Summer

H

eat stress caused by extreme temperatures and humidity can affect everything from production to reproduction in your herd. And, the effects can be seen on your herd’s performance long after peak temperatures have returned to normal.

This issue is full of management tips to help you keep your cows healthy and working as the mercury in the thermometer rises.

Select Sires − Your Business Tool Box for Success!

by David C. Thorbahn, president and C.E.O. As a business manager, you probably don’t think about it, but it is your responsibility to structure your business and how work is going to be performed on your operation. Some of what you do is a conscious decision, and some of what you do is tradition. It is up to you to decide which functions or jobs your business will outsource versus which you will in-source.

Examples of common aspects that cattle operations outsource are veterinary, legal and accounting.

Traditionally, management, milking, cattle handling labor, heifer management, and crop production are generally in-sourced, or handled by the farm. However, times are changing.

Today some dairies are outsourcing heifer raising, crop production, and other functions that have traditionally been in-sourced.

The advantages of working with your internal staff are pretty obvious.

Assuming quality of service levels are equivalent, internal service providers typically have some price advantages, although not always. And even when prices are comparable, there are two key reasons why insiders have the advantage over outsourcing vendors − continuity and vested interests. But just as the use of internal staff has advantages, Select Sires can offer unique benefits when utilized and managed properly, such as saving money, advanced skills, sharing risks, accommodating peak loads, and developing internal staff. As you know, every situation is different, and that is why managers have to manage. Let me share some advantages of how Select Sires and its member cooperatives have structured their service portfolio to give you the best of both worlds.

2

Advantage No. 1 - Outsourcing to Select Sires can save you money.

Economies of scale save money; unit costs go down as volumes increase.

External service providers can achieve economies of scale unavailable to individual farms when they combine the volumes of multiple companies.

Many farm functions such as technician and reproduction labor, incur expense for recruitment, training, retraining, benefits, and relief help, all of which are necessary to manage your reproductive program. By outsourcing this job to a professional technician from Select Sires, you allow Select Sires to provide all of those functions with the highest level of quality. The fact that those technicians work to spread the costs over many dairies allows Select to be cost-competitive for that service.

The Select Sires federation employs and has provided advanced training to over 60 Select Reproductive Solutions™ (SRS™) specialists. With the industry’s largest and most highly trained inseminators, we provide you industryleading reproductive consultation and technician service. I am confident that you will struggle to find higher quality and higher performing technicians and reproductive specialists. These specialists are under the tutelage of Dr. Ray Nebel, vice president of technical service programs. He leads this group as they participate in

educational programs to assure they are on the cutting edge of reproduction technology.

A second cost savings is tank inventory. Select Sires technicians take the entire risk of maintaining your tank of semen, including inventory costs and the handling costs of having the inventory your herd needs, and only bill you when product is used.

A third example of outsourcing is genetic selection and inbreeding control. The valuable investment you make in your herd is for the long-term success of your dairy. Inbreeding is the silent thief that does not allow your herd to reach its genetic potential.

Doing this effectively takes a great deal of time. The time savings from Select Sires’ Select Mating Service™ (SMS™) program can clearly be a cost advantage. If you do not care to use individual cow matings, Select Sires offers a new, revolutionary program that we have been developing for four years called StrataGEN™. StrataGEN offers you a simple, effective solution to this issue. Either way, you are working with the recognized industry leader in providing genetic consulting.

Outside suppliers also have lower switching costs than employee-based systems. Thus, changing contractors is not as legally risky as changing employees.

As you make your choice, some executives and business materials

suggest that at least a 20 percent savings (after vendor profit margins) is necessary to outsource the task. This assumes that the job can be completed equally well by both parties.

Advantage No. 2 – Advanced Skills Training, monitoring, and cuttingedge research allow a person to become advanced in his or her chosen field. Veterinary services, accounting and legal are examples of advanced skill sets. Select Sires’ reproductive research, continuous training, and employee monitoring allows our staff to provide on-farm reproductive and herd consulting, records analysis and employee training for those herds that perform their own insemination.

Dr. Nebel has conducted extensive research in the reproductive aids and service area. He and a research assistant developed the Select RePRO Analysis™ program to investigate and troubleshoot the reproductive level of your herd. Dr. Nebel has also traveled throughout North America training federation SRS specialists to assure that they develop advanced skills in reproduction and herd management evaluation. SRS specialists are also trained to properly install and manage Select Detect™, a technologically advanced 24-hour activity monitoring system for heat detection. Select Sires holds classes, online webinars and training programs to further develop their skill sets to serve you better.

No A.I. company has invested more in advancing on-farm reproduction than Select Sires. Respect for our SRS specialists has been shown from dairy producers and veterinarians across the country as this program continues to grow. Select Sires technicians are not just anyone willing to breed a cow. They are quality people who have been recruited, highly trained

and closely monitored. They receive continuous advanced training through SelectCheck™ advanced training schools. These professionals can recommend the right tools and work with you to get the job done right - the first time! As a team, they are the best the industry has to offer, and they work hard training to become even better.

Select Sires offers flexibility for those who choose not to outsource. We offer training materials (available in English and Spanish), programs and staff to assist your dairy in the training of your employees. This service is available for using Select Sires products and/or services.

Advantage No. 3 - Outsourcing can help you share risk.

Another type of synergy that suppliers can provide is sharing of risk. There are several examples of risk sharing with Select Sires. Herd performance can be measured easily; reproductive efficiency is tied closely to cash flow, making this area important and a huge risk area on a dairy or beef enterprise. Pregnancies determine which cows will be milking in three, six, nine, or even 12 months from now.

The greater the reproductive efficiency of your herd, the greater the amount of peak milk performance you can expect from them. Open cows represent a risk that hurts your herd’s performance, not just the day she is open, but for nine to 12 months in lost peak milk production.

Our young sire development system, the Program for Genetic Advancement™ (PGA™), and our research arm, the Program for Fertility Advancement™ (PFA™), offer another opportunity to reduce costs and share risk. These improvement programs lower your cost by providing service and data in return, thus reducing your short-term financial risk. These programs also reward participants for outstanding record keeping.

Using Select Sires professional A.I. service not only reduces the legal risk of making staffing changes,

but by using professionally trained technicians, it also reduces the chance of failure.

Another way to share risk is with the installation of a Select Detect system. Select Sires representatives recognize that future business with you is dependent on that system working effectively for you. To reduce your risk and ours, we have thoroughly tested the product and are committed to working with you through any and all implementation issues that go along with a new product. Based on our results and current Select Detect user satisfaction surveys, this attitude is working. You may not see the addition of a Select Detect system as outsourcing, but you are turning your program over to a machine and the company who is supporting it.

Advantage No. 4 - Outsourcing can help accommodate peak loads.

Outsourcing can be used to minimize the staffing stress associated with peaks and valleys of work demands. Herds on Ovsynch or beef breeding projects, with major peak loads on certain days for breeding is a perfect example.

Select Sires has the largest group of technicians in the U.S. We can organize our groups to provide the highest quality technician service to help during those peak stress times. Taking away the time needed and the stress of sire selection is another example.

Evaluating cows on a regular basis in large herds to make sure that all cows get up-to-date matings takes time, and Select Sires provides that service as well. All of these are peak-time support that would cost the dairy many hours of technically trained staff time.

No organization has more resources to help you during these peak times than Select Sires due to its local member cooperative structure.

employees. One way to further develop the skills of your on-farm employees is to provide them training from Select Sires. Select Sires has skilled staff, written material (available in English and Spanish), and video materials to provide training for managers, technicians and staff on a large variety of management, genetic and reproductive areas. Our research and seminars can keep you on the cutting edge of new technology and techniques in reproduction and genetics.

Select Sires’ specialized programs bring in new ideas to improve internal staff and the operations they manage.

One example is using our SRS staff to consult with your dairy. This allows SRS specialists to share key performance indicators with herd managers.

Secondly, our SMS program allows your technicians and managers to better understand inbreeding and corrective mating. And, finally, our Select Detect program allows technicians and managers to learn more about timing of insemination, mobility and low

activity in herds. It allows managers to identify if heat detection is improving, or if something more serious is going on in your herd’s nutrition or overall health so that your herd can reach maximum reproductive efficiency.

These programs make your employees more efficient.

Whether it is outsourcing or in-sourcing, as your cooperative, Select Sires provides you with a full complement of services to improve cash flow, outsource labor, train labor and improve your herd’s health.

These measures will help improve the success of your operation. For more information on these services, please contact your local Select Sires representative or member organization.

Our staff is passionate about your success and stands ready to provide assistance! 

Advantage No. 5 - Outsourcing can help develop your internal staff.

Well-managed outsourcing can enhance the development of

3

Summer Heat Stress in Bulls

by Mel DeJarnette, director of technical research It’s no surprise to most dairymen that herd reproductive efficiency takes a nosedive during the summer months. Some breeders give up on A.I. all together and turn the job over to the herd bull. While the effect of summer heat stress on cows is often quite obvious, most have probably never stopped to think about what heat stress does to the herd bull. to finish, it takes approximately 63 days. Thus, when spermatogenesis is disrupted (as with heat stress), it takes time for all of the affected cells to pass through the system.

The results presented in the graph below illustrate that semen quality was not really affected for the first nine days Effect of Heat Stress on Semen Quality after insult.

These were sperm that Percentage were already produced at the time of insult and simply warehoused in the plumbing of the storage vessel called The first two weeks of the project were the epididymis. At about nine days used to establish a baseline of semen after the thermal insult, semen quality began to decline, and the maximum production for each bull, respectively. effect was not observed until about 18 To mimic the effects of heat days after the insult. Semen quality stress, the scrotum of each bull was covered with a sock made of insulated then began to rebound, but did not batting material. This device elevated return to normal levels of semen quality until approximately 45-60 days scrotal temperatures to slightly less post-insult. than body temperature. The sock was left in place for 48 hours and Herd Bulls and Heat Stress then removed. To understand the What does this mean for your herd results of this study, you must first bull running with the cows during understand that making a sperm cell is not an overnight process. From start heat stress? From this experiment, In a project specifically designed to evaluate the effects of a mild summer heat stress on semen production, six Holstein bulls were collected at three day intervals for a period of approximately ten weeks. Each collection was evaluated for semen viability and sperm cell morphology.

4

we can safely say that even mild heat stress for a short period of time (48 hours) may affect the quality of semen the herd bull produces for as much as a month and a half. Did you hear that? Only 48 hours of 95° temperatures in early August may negatively affect semen production until mid-September or early October.

Now just think about your herds that are exposed to weeks and months of high temperatures and humidity.

If this in itself were not enough, herds by definition will usually be consuming high energy cow rations.

This makes controlling weight and body condition in these bulls exceptionally problematic. Overweight bulls will have increased layers of fat in the scrotum, which acts as an insulator and further exacerbates the heat issue by diminishing the bull’s ability to thermo-regulate the testis.

In the end, extended periods of heat stress may have negative effects on the quantity of sperm a bull produces, extend the interval to recovery, and reduce the bull’s libido. The bottom line is, herd bulls cannot be trusted to do a better job than A.I. during the summer months.

A.I. Bulls and Heat Stress Although A.I. bulls are also susceptible to the effects of heat stress, many precautionary procedures ensure that effects of heat stress on the bulls here in Ohio are not passed on as breeding problems to your herd.

To begin with, the bulls at Select Sires are housed in state-of-the-art facilities with outstanding ventilation systems. This helps maintain a cool environment for the bulls. Additionally, many barns are equipped with air conditioning units. These units are reserved for bulls in high demand or bulls that are somewhat susceptible to summer stress. Nutrition programs ensure all bulls are kept “lean and

mean” to better handle the high heat with minimal stress.

Next, every collection from each bull must pass stringent quality control standards that do not vary just because of the season. Three hundred sixty-five days a year, samples must possess acceptable levels of sperm motility, viability and morphology (sperm shape), or the entire ejaculate is discarded. Further, when signs of heat stress appear, management responds immediately with veterinary attention and/or changes in housing and management.

As a final resort, bulls are simply taken off collection until the weather (and semen quality) improves. Thus, regardless of the season, the end result is the same: only high quality, highly fertile semen makes it into our inventory or the canisters of your semen tank.

What is a Superior Settler™?

In addition to the semen quality traits we evaluate, most sires on the lineup have fertility data as well.

Superior Settlers are established from the group of bulls that not only have superior semen quality, but superior field fertility to back it up. A sire with one but not the other are not bestowed this elite honor. Not only do these bulls settle cows well, but they also carry some of the best genetics available in their respective breeds. Combining superior genetics with superior conception allows you to get optimum returns from your semen dollars. Use of A.I. and Superior Settlers during summer heat stress is a much better alternative than the herd bull. At least you know the cows are getting semen that has been evaluated for quality and was collected from bulls known to be highly fertile. Your herd bull cannot be trusted to provide the same. 

Select Sires SUPERIOR SETTLERS™ - April 2012

Milk Rel. Type Rel. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

7HO7466 7HO7536 7HO7560 7HO7615 7HO8165 7HO8351 7HO8806 7HO9064 7HO9107 7HO9222 7HO9229 7HO9346 7HO9356 7HO9384 7HO9443 7HO9501 7HO9535 • 7HO9600 • 7HO9676 • 7HO9679 • 7HO9703 • 7HO9722 • 7HO9754 • 7HO9879 • 7HO9893 • 7HO9989

MOSCOW COLDSPRING BLITZ JINTX COLBY MILLION LUCIUS BROOK PAXTON-RED DURABLE SHOT FARSANO AUTOPILOT LIFT-OFF MILLOW ENERGY OLEGANT LUCKY MANAGER DELRAY APPRENTICE MAINSTREAM JERMIAH New DAYTON SPEARMINT New ATLANTIC New MOSEBY New

+1,171 +769 +2,144 +515 +420 +679 +1,486 +443 +818 +1,158 +1,684 +878 +1,485 +1,542 +1,337 +1,239 +938 +557 +588 +189 +1,896 +424 +1,302 +400 +493 +604

99 99 99 99 99 98 96 93 94 94 93 97 92 91 92 88 92 92 89 94 91 92 92 98 94 89

+1.18 +1.47 +0.48 +1.95 +1.83 +1.00 +0.89 +0.88 +2.29 +2.62 +2.31 +2.56 +0.94 +2.08 +1.99 +2.28 +2.18 +1.43 +2.60 +2.52 +1.57 +1.79 +1.95 +2.43 +3.17 +1.21

99 99 96 99 99 93 90 90 91 91 92 94 90 89 90 82 90 90 88 91 89 91 90 96 88 85

W

hile the greatest variables affecting pregnancy rates are accuracy of heat detection, inseminator technique and other management factors, looking at all available fertility values of individual sires can help. Through evaluation of the Composite Fertility Index™ (CFI™) and Sire Conception Rate (SCR), along with intense semen quality evaluations, these 26 elite sires earn the designation of Superior Settler. Turn to Select Sires this summer for fertility without compromise - because you deserve more than just a pregnancy.

Eligible for semen export to Canada. 04-12 USDA/HA Genomic Evaluation. ™ Superior Settler and Composite Fertility Index (CFI) are trademarks of Select Sires Inc. Large photo: Roorda Shot 12150, Roorda Dairy, Paullina, Iowa, Erbsen; Small photos (top-bottom): Vandyk-S Altantic Surf-TW, Vandyk-S Holsteins, Lynden, Wash; Go-Farm Trilly-ET, Go Farm, Casalmorano, Italy; Green-Meadow Drbl Brittani (GP-82), Green Meadow Farms Inc., Elsie, Mich. ●

5

May and Shauna: Young Brood Cows Making Their Mark

by Scott Culbertson, sire analyst No doubt about it, there has been much change in the way we look at sire summaries since the addition of genomic data. The excitement of the quick changing environment and rapid addition of data aside, one thing remains the same, and that is the importance of sound, genetically superior cow families to form the foundation for the next generation. Select Sires takes this opportunity to salute two hardworking females who are currently making their mark on the Holstein breed.

Sully Shottle May-TW Sully Shottle May-TW (VG-85-DOM) is a prolific, genomic machine! Born in Minnesota to Mike Sullivan and Bob Eustice, May was purchased by Darin Meyer, De-Su Holsteins LLC. Located in Northeast Iowa, De-Su Holsteins is the family operation of Dean and Sue Meyer with their sons, Darin and Dustin. Efficiency, hard work and honesty are their trademarks. No herd in North America has procured as many high GTPISM males and females as De-Su. Select is honored to offer many of their best genetics as Super Samplers™.

May is out of an Excellent (90) 7HO6417 O-Bee MANfred Justice-ET daughter with lifetime production of 126,860M, 4,722F, 4,096P. This family is known for silky udders, high milk

production and great dairy frames that set them apart, and May is no different. With a big, dairy rib and great width all the way through her rear end, she has a best record to date of 2-2, 365d, 34,110M, 3.2%, 1,095F, 3.1%, 1,066P, and has produced numerous high genomictested offspring, both male and female, around the world. May’s two highest sons reside at Select Sires.

They are 7HO11477 De-Su BKM MCCUTCHEN 1174-ET (+2547 GTPI) and 7HO11283 De-Su D MAYFIELD 893-ET (+2439 GTPI). Both are breedleading GTPI sires with exceptional Type (MCCUTCHEN, at +4.00 and MAYFIELD, at +3.91)!

MCCUTCHEN is sired by 7HO10721 De-Su 521 BOOKEM-ET, another De-Su sire with fancy calves

scattered across the country. He is an international sire father and is currently in high demand. MAYFIELD is sired by Domain and sets his type pattern with show-ring appeal. His calves are due to be born this fall.

MAYFIELD daughters are destined to have great frames, open rib structure and tremendous rear udders. Breeders around the world are excited for his offspring to hit their barns and the tanbark trail!

Two more sons making their home at Select Sires are high GTPI genomic young sires, 7HO11279 De-Su Dorcy MOONBOY 954-ET with a GTPI of +2379 and 7HO11294 De-Su O MACON 1000-ET with a GTPI of +2370.

Sully Shottle May-TW now has over 100 registered offspring and is the

Pictured left to right: Ammon-Peachey Shauna-ET (VG-87) and Sully Shottle May-TW (VG-85-DOM). Photos by Herges.

6

Coming...

OCTOBER 2012

7HO11477 De-Su BKM MCCUTCHEN 1174-ET

7HO11351 Seagull-Bay SUPERSIRE-ET

dam to 11 sons at Select Sires, and she is not done yet! She has four outstanding 7HO8081 Ensenada Taboo PLANET-ET daughters under contract with Select Sires as well.

Pine-Tree Martha Sheen-ET, a Very Good (86) Shottle daughter with 1-11 365d, 31,210M, 4.2%, 1,305F, 3.1%, 968P. Select Sires is very happy to offer Shauna’s best sons to improve the next generation on your farm! She has the highest genomic-tested GTPI average for her combined males and females of any cow in the breed with 10 or more offspring born.

Select has cornered the market on her breed-leading sons, including 7HO11419 Seagull-Bay HEADLINERET with a GTPI of +2496, 7HO11351 Seagull-Bay SUPERSIRE-ET with a GTPI of +2581 and 7HO11418 Seagull-Bay SHAW-ET with a GTPI of +2336. SHAW is the number one GLPI bull with April proofs in Canada. Two Snowman sons, 7HO11618 SeagullBay PLATINUM-ETS and 7HO11617 Seagull-Bay DIAMOND-ETS, both at +2496 GTPI, will be released later this winter. 

Ammon-Peachey Shauna-ET Ammon-Peachey Shauna-ET (VG87) is considered by many to be one of the finest 7HO8081 PLANET daughters in North America! Shauna is a very stylish cow. She is ultra silky, with a great dairy rib and a flawless rear udder that produced 39,520M, 4.1%, 1,196F, 3.0%, 889P in 305 days at 2-1. Owned by the Anderson family, Shauna calls Seagull Bay Dairy, American Falls, Idaho, home. Allen Anderson and his son Greg oversee the management of Seagull Bay, where great attention is given to every detail on the farm. The Andersons have made it their business to make every generation better with great planned matings. Shauna is out of

Celebrate the global success of Select Sires in the October 2012 issue of .

• FREE color to all advertisers who feature a Select-sired animal AND semen credits ($250 for full page advertisers; $150 for ½ page; $100 for ¼ page) • An international buying audience – copies will be released during WORLD DAIRY EXPO! • A keepsake issue – complete with customer stories on their Select Sires success, the future of the company and their star-studded lineup.

• Every breeding program has been influenced by Select Sires – past, present and future – be part of THE Expo issue of the industry and tell your own story.

ATTENTION JUNIORS: Special Contest Just for You!

Available Sons of MAY at a Glance

7HO11477 MCCUTCHEN

+1,492 +4.00 +800 +6.2 +2547

7HO11283 MAYFIELD

+1,894 +3.91 +735 +5.6 +2439

7HO11279 MOONBOY

+1,182 +3.64 +695 +6.8 +2379

7HO11294 MACON

+1,518 +3.30 +699 +5.3 +2370

Milk

Type NM$ PL GTPISM

Available Sons of SHAUNA at a Glance

7HO11419 HEADLINER 7HO11351 SUPERSIRE 7HO11418 SHAW

Milk

Type NM$ PL GTPISM

+1,877 +3.21 +862 +6.2 +2496 +2,499 +2.78 +991 +7.7 +2581 +2,423 +2.56 +728 +5.6 +2336

Submit an essay about your favorite Holstein Select-sired daughter telling us about the animal and why she is your favorite. Please limit the essay to 500 words and include the sire in your essay. Also, a picture (300 dpi or 4 x 6) of the animal is required. Youth ages 9-21 (as of January 1, 2012) are eligible.

Three winners will be selected, and their story will be published in the October/Select Sires issue of the . The three winners will receive an iPod touch along with a one-year subscription to the .

Entries must be submitted by August 27, 2012, either by email (lmaurice@ selectsires.com) or can be mailed to Select Sires Inc. Attn: Leslie Maurice, 11740 U.S. Hwy. 42, Plain City, Ohio 43064.

SPACE RESERVATIONS for ths special issue are due 9/1/12!

Contact Carol Moyer cmoyer@dairybusiness.com (800) 334-1904, Ext. 223

04-12 USDA/HA Genomic Evaluations. %Rel: MCCUTCHEN Yield 74, Type 74, NM 71, PL 71; MAYFIELD Yield 74, Type 74, NM 72, PL 72; MOONBOY Yield 75, Type 74, NM 72, PL 72; MACON Yield 73, Type 73, NM 70, PL 70; HEADLINER Yield 72, Type 72, NM 69, PL 69; SUPERSIRE Yield 73, Type 73, NM 70, PL 70; SHAW Yield 75, Type 74, NM 71, PL 71

7

The SMS Army Stands Ready to Protect Your Herd The role of the Select Mating Service™ (SMS™) genetic consultant is ever changing, as are the needs of their customers. SMS allows consultants to help dairy producers control genetic recessives, haplotypes and inbreeding levels and provides a means to create custom selection indexes based on your specific goals. SMS genetic consultants are also trained to help their customers identify the highest ranking genetics in their herds for future development.

The most widely accepted mating program in the world, SMS, continues to have persistent growth that is unmatched in the industry.

SMS genetic consultants took the program to record-breaking heights in customer service during 2011. More than 5.48 million corrective matings were generated with more than one

million cow-side evaluations, over 875,000 pedigree matings and more than 1.9 million new animals mated.

For more than 35 years, SMS has been building better cows throughout the country with 80 committed genetic consultants whose dedication and passion are to improve the herds of Select Sires’ customer-owners.

The Silent Thief The industry is making faster genetic progress than ever with the advantages that genomic testing allows, but one of the potential unintended consequences is that the genetic base of the population is narrowing faster as well. This makes inbreeding a potential economic thief on your farm. Dr. Bennet Cassell of Virginia Tech has studied the costs associated with inbreeding depression, and for every one percent increase in inbreeding, you lose 790 pounds of lifetime milk production, 25 pounds of lifetime protein production, 24 lifetime Net Merit Dollars and 13 days of Productive Life. Days to age

at first calving increase by +.36 and +.26 months first calving interval.1 It is estimated that the cost of each additional day a dairy cow is open, beyond the herd’s voluntary waiting period, can range from $3.19 to $5.41 per cow per year.2 The SMS program is designed to control inbreeding while still improving the conformation and profitability of your herd. Additionally, it screens the pedigree information for recessives and the new haplotypes that have been discovered, and will not allow carriers to be mated to other carrier sires.

If individual cow-side matings or pedigree matings do not fit your herd’s management scheme, consider StrataGEN™. StrataGEN can help dairy producers use progressive genetics and still control inbreeding with a simple, easy-toimplement, program approach to breeding. StrataGEN utilizes genomic evaluations to further pinpoint the exact genes an individual possesses, indicating the proportion inherited

from each parent, grandparent and other ancestors.

Using this tool helps categorize sires based on common genetic traits, regardless of sire or dam sequence, allowing grouping of individuals based on actual genetic make-up rather than just anticipated pedigree similarities.

When this insight is used to influence herd sire sequence choices, it can actually reduce inbreeding within a herd.

Consultants Advance Knowledge at 37th Annual Conference More than 90 professional Select Mating Service™ (SMS™) genetic consultants and marketing staff from Select Sires’ member organizations across the country met at the 37th annual SMS Consultant Conference, hosted by Select Sires MidAmerica, Inc., and Prairie State/Select Sires in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, May 6-9, for advanced training.

To kick off the conference, genetic consultants participated in a day of

More than 90 professional SMS consultants from Select Sires’ member organizations gathered for the 37th annual SMS Conference in May.

8

“

During our 2012 daughter tour in South Dakota and Northwest Iowa, I was really pleased with the 15 or so daughters of 7HO9222 Lincoln-Hill SHOT Laser-ET. This group fit the proof to a ‘T’. They are medium to above average for stature and have incredible udders and feet and legs. The veinage and udder quality was tremendous along with the high and wide rear udders. His near perfect leg set, both from the side and rear views, along with his 5% Calving Ease, make him an easy sire to use in any herd.

“

Norman Carson, Area Manager and SMS Genetic Consultant, Select Sires Canada Inc.

Brian (left) and John Roorda of Roorda Dairy, Paullina, Iowa are pleased with their daughters of 7HO9222 SHOT.

Elkton, S.D.; KC Dairy, LLP, Elkton, S.D; Harringa Dairy, Brandt, S.D.; Watertown Holsteins and Schweer Dairy, Watertown, S.D; Dean and Jean Bos Family, Maurice, Iowa; RSC-CH Holsteins and Stoutjesdyk Dairy, Maurice, Iowa; Maassen Dairy, Maurice, Iowa; Roorda Dairy, Paullina, Iowa; Nyhof-Meyer Dairy, Sioux Center, Iowa; Dyk-Vue Holsteins, Orange City, Iowa; Trans Ova Genetics, Sioux Center, Iowa; Multi-Rose Jerseys, Inc., Rock Rapids, Iowa; and Summit Farm Jerseys, Lester, Iowa.

What Consultants Say about the Cattle They Viewed Following the tour, we asked many of the consultants to comment on the daughters they viewed during the trip. The responses we received were extremely positive. You can view a few of the responses below. 

1 Cassell, B.G.; Effect of inbreeding on cow performance and mate selection in dairy cows; Proceedings of the Western Dairy Management Conference; 1999.

2 De Vries, A.; Determinants of the cost of days open in dairy cattle; Proceedings of the 11th International Symposium on Veterinary Epidemiology and Economics; 2006.

“

I was able to see many daughters of sires in the Select lineup that really impressed me at the conference. Sires such as 7HO10176 AL, 7HO9281 Bigshot, 7HO8559 Bogart, 7HO8165 Million, and 7HO8081 Planet continue to impress us with the quality of daughters they are producing in a variety of environments. The 7HO9222 Shot daughters at Roorda Dairy would impress anyone and show why he is one of our best selling sires. As for Jerseys, there is no question that 7JE1000 Tbone will be one of the next great sires in the Jersey breed with their awesome udders!

Jerry Emerich, Dairy Coordinator, Select Sire Power, Inc.

“

We viewed about a dozen daughters of 7HO8444 ChanLee Marshal GRAYBIL-ET. They are very consistent with good substance and stature, especially considering that he is a 5% Calving Ease sire. Their udders are very correct and they have great feet and legs. The eight 7HO8477 WillowMarsh-CC GABOR-ET daughters that we saw were exactly as his linear shows. He is certainly going to sire open, deepribbed cows with nice dairy strength. The udders are also nice with average height to the rear udder.

“

Sires’ current lineup and potential graduates in South Dakota and Iowa. “This year’s conference was an outstanding display of Select Sires genetics on each and every dairy farm we visited,” stated Lon Peters, vice president of dairy sire product services and international for Select Sires. “The herds were perfect testimonials to the value of SMS and Select Sires’ genetics.”

Select Sires thanks the following herds for opening their doors and welcoming Select Sires’ staff and genetic consultants: Howe Dairy, Sherman, S.D.; Prairie Gold Dairy,

“

continuing education to ensure that they remain a valuable resource for their customers. The group discussed the latest developments in the Program for Genetic Advancement™ (PGA™) and the many strengths of Select Sires’ current sire lineup, as well as exciting genomic young sires that are waiting in the wings. They learned about enhancements to the SMS program, innovative technologies and recent trends and were introduced to the StrataGEN program mentioned earlier in this article.

During the next three days, consultants viewed progeny of Select

John Erbsen, SMS Genetic Consultant, Prairie State/Select Sires

9

Good Relationships with Customers – The Key to Success All West/ Select Sires District Sales Manager, Bill Van de Graaf, does everything he can to see that his customers succeed. Van de Graaf grew up on a beef farm in Sunnyside, Wash. At 17, his family moved and his dad began to manage a large commercial dairy.

Van de Graaf started working at the dairy after he finished high school and later became the assistant herdsman and then the herdsman.

Van de Graaf began working for All West/ Select Sires in 1991 as a Select Mating Service™ (SMS™) genetic consultant. He later became a reproductive specialist while also managing technicians. This led him to his current role as the district sales manager. Van de Graaf supervises technicians, SMS genetic consultants and sales representatives. He helps with sire selection and pricing, and does a lot of record analysis which helps him to monitor technician performance.

On top of that, he still does quite a bit of genetic consulting.

Jim Wells, All West/Select Sires general manager, said, “Bill

understands the importance of creating a good customer experience every time our organization has contact with a customer. He goes to great lengths to exceed customer expectations, understanding that it is that kind of attention that builds customer loyalty. He supports the technician team he leads even to the extent that he will spend his weekends breeding cows. Bill’s obvious passion for our business and our cooperative is evident in everything he does, and his dedication is an example for all of us to follow.”

Customers are Number One Van de Graaf has been serving Select Sires’ customers for 21 years.

When asked what aspect of his job he values the most, he replied simply, “the relationships I have developed with my customers.”

Van de Graaf goes the extra mile to ensure that all of his customers get high quality service. Dr. Ray Nebel, vice president of technical services programs, said, “Bill was extremely instrumental in

Bill Van de Graaf: District Sales Manager Agricultural Background: Van de Graaf grew up on a beef farm in Sunnyside, Wash. At 17, his family moved, and his dad began to manage a large commercial dairy. Van de Graaf started working there right out of high school and later became the assistant herdsman and then the herdsman.

Career with Select Sires: He began working for All West/ Select Sires in 1991 as an SMS Genetic Consultant. He later became a reproductive specialist while also managing technicians. This led him to his current role as the district sales manager.

Responsibilities with Select Sires: Van de Graaf supervises

technicians, genetic consultants and sales representatives. He helps with sire selection and pricing and does a lot of record analysis, which helps him monitor technician performance. On top of that, he still does quite a bit of evaluating.

Award Spotlight: Select Sires’ 2008 SRS Specialist of the Year and Select Sires’ 2003 Genetic Consultant of the Year. starting SelectCheck™ schools in Washington. He is a man of many talents with a wonderful personality which makes him a great face of Select Sires.”

Van de Graaf is extremely passionate about his job and gladly accepts any challenge with which he is faced. His main goal is to make the customers happy each and every day he is serving them. Customers are the number one priority to Van de Graaf, and their success is what drives him.

The Little Things Sometimes, the little things are the most integral part of the bigger picture. Van de Graaf said, “Creating pregnancies means you need to do all the little things; everything you do adds up to something greater. I firmly believe that this is what separates Select Sires from its competitors.” He added, “Our end goal is to prove to our customers that they can’t get this kind of high quality service and product anywhere else.” 

Van de Graaf, far left, works with technician trainees at a SelectCheck school.

10

The Heat Is On - Keep Your Cows from Taking a Vacation This Summer

by Ray Nebel, Ph. D., vice president of technical service programs Keeping lactating cows cool this summer can provide a good return on your investment as it makes them more productive. The severity of heat stress is correlated to both environmental temperature and humidity level. The cow thermal comfort zone is 10 to 77 degrees Fahrenheit.

Within this temperature range, the cow’s comfort is optimal, with a body temperature between 101 and 102.4 degrees Fahrenheit. At temperatures above 77 degrees Fahrenheit, and even 68 degrees Fahrenheit for some researchers, the cow suffers from heat stress; health status and performance are affected. The temperature-humidity index (THI) threshold for reproduction is 65 degrees Fahrenheit, which is lower than the THI of 68 degrees Fahrenheit for milk production. Cows have two main ways of maintaining their thermal balance and regulating their body temperature under heat stress conditions. They rely essentially on both of the following: • Favoring heat dispersion, in particular through evaporation, by increasing subcutaneous blood flow, panting, drooling etc. These activities increase the maintenance energy needs of the cow by an estimated 20 percent at 95 degrees Fahrenheit.

This means that part of the energy required for milk production will be redirected to thermal regulation.

• Limiting heat production, by reducing all activity and changing its feeding pattern. Indeed, heat production in dairy cows is essentially due to rumen fermentation. The cow’s dry matter intake can be reduced by 10 to 30 percent. Also, rumination, which produces heat, decreases

dramatically. Cows will tend to eat less during the day, but will eat more often and in small quantities.

They will usually consume more feed at night when it is cooler, slug feeding, feed sorting, and they have a tendency to choose feeds that produce less heat during digestion, choosing grains and proteins over forages.

Following are some tips for keeping cows as comfortable as possible when the mercury starts to rise.

Drinking Water Water is the most critical nutrient, and the need for water is magnified during periods of heat stress. Intake will double in the summer months during the times of increased body temperatures with total daily water intake up to 40 to 50 gallons per cow.

Experts recommend three feet of linear perimeter water tank space for every ten cows. Can you provide water in the parlor exit alleys? Studies indicate when water is available in the exit alleys, cows will consume as much as 30 percent of their daily intake at these locations.

Two reminders that should always be followed that stimulate water usage are to keep water tanks clean and to check flow rates.

Water for Cooling Sprinklers should wet the back and then stop to allow the water to evaporate prior to another cycle beginning.

Evaporative cooling occurs by wetting the skin with low-pressure, large-droplet water soakers. If you cannot install both fans and sprinklers, start by installing sprinklers, before fans, over feed alleys.

Fans should be in place over freestalls.

Application of water with low-pressure sprinklers cools cows more efficiently than fans alone over feed alleys. Water without fans will lead to increased humidity and heat stress in the holding pen for a sauna-like effect. Holding pens are the most hostile heat stressed

environment on the dairy. When cows are compacted in a holding pen, the amount of heat generated is tremendous. Begin soaking times at 65 degrees Fahrenheit and have adequate fan power to generate airflow.

Fans Make sure fans are clean and the grill and blades are free of debris. A dirty fan will reduce airflow by as much as 50 percent. For a given airflow, a larger diameter fan is more energy efficient than several small diameter fans.

When two fans have equal diameter and revolutions per minute, the fan with lowest motor current rating is usually more efficient. When two fans have equal airflow, the fan with slower speed is usually quieter and more efficient. Depending on their level of milk production, cows can produce 4,500 to 6,000 BTU per hour. That heat production is similar to the output of a 1,500-watt hair dryer.

The angle of the fans is important for cooling cows. Experts recommend a 15-18 degree tilt to blow air on the cows. Fans should begin blowing at 65 degrees Fahrenheit. Again, if you cannot install both fans and sprinklers, choose sprinklers before fans over the feed alley. Fans should be a first priority over freestalls, with fans over all freestalls, both head-to-head and on the outside row of freestalls in six-row barns.

Application of water with low-pressure sprinklers cools cows more efficiently than fans alone. The use of water and fans (5 MPH air) is most effective. Where water is used without fans, soaking frequency should be increased.

Keep cooling cows at night. Often fans and soakers are turned off at night when we feel heat stress is less of a risk. Body temperatures in the herd may rise in this situation as humidity increases. Remember humidity is from not only the environment, but from water on the barn floor, urine and fecal matter

from cattle and the cattle’s respiratory system. Cattle will exhale a tremendous amount of water. Keep fans on at night to 65 degrees Fahrenheit.

Nutrition Considerations Maintain a dietary acid detergent fiber (ADF) level of 19 percent and a diet that provides at least 40 percent forage.

Insure particle length is sufficient to provide effective neutral detergent fiber (NDF). Rations should optimize the balance of amino acids in metabolizable protein. This helps to compensate for the decreased protein intake due to a reduction in dry matter intake.

Optimizing amino acid balance in metabolizable protein will allow diets to be formulated to meet the metabolizable protein requirements of the cow without increasing dietary protein concentration.

Increase dietary potassium (from 1 to 1.5 percent) and sodium (from 0.18 to 0.5 percent) for lactating cows.

Magnesium should be increased to 0.35 percent because potassium may interfere with absorption and use.

Sodium bicarbonate levels should be increased to help maintain rumen pH and keep cows on feed. Discuss the inclusion of complex minerals for reproduction and the immune system and the addition of live cell yeast or yeast culture to keep cows on feed and enzymes for improved nutrient absorption. Do not forget to monitor colostrum quality on heat-stressed fresh cows.

Minimizing the effects of heat stress is a challenge every summer.

Maintaining optimum nutrient balances and providing highly palatable, digestible feeds and ample supplies of fresh, clean water, along with shade, ventilation, and cooling will go far toward keeping your cows comfortable and their milk production and reproduction as profitable as possible when the heat is on. 

11

Select Sires Udder Specialists - April 2012

UDC PTAT Rel% GTPI •7HO9545 HERO +3.93 +3.57 91 +2026 •7HO8885 EMPHASIS +3.12 +2.40 89 +1814 •7HO9471 MAJOR +3.08 +2.83 89 +1816 •7HO9420 GUTHRIE +3.02 +3.11 90 +1975 7HO10211 RYKER +2.95 +2.89 84 +2070 7HO9535 LUCKY +2.86 +2.18 90 +1822 •7HO9893 ATLANTIC New +2.86 +3.17 88 +1844 7HO8777 GENERAL +2.75 +2.36 90 +1757 •7HO9393 EZEKIEL +2.73 +2.43 88 +1873 •7HO9030 RICHMAN +2.72 +2.39 90 +1920 •7HO9157 ERNIE +2.70 +2.91 92 +1749

SM

JUI™ GJPI™ •7JE840 BELVEDERE +5.66 +1.7 88 +99 •7JE962 SUCCESS +5.52 +1.9 73 +90 •7JE859 RILEY +5.42 +1.9 81 +127 •7JE855 FORCE ^ +4.92 +1.6 80 +119 236JE146 ZUMA * +4.56 +0.8 51 +223 •7JE860 ECLIPES-P +4.42 +1.6 82 +98

UDC PTI •7GU405 GRUMPY +1.8 +1.1 82 +147 •7GU402 YOGIBEAR ^ +1.6 +2.0 88 +83M

GPPR 7BS900 BRAIDEN New +1.31 +1.0 77 -13 •7BS779 PARKER ^ +1.14 +1.1 94 +17

Eligible for semen export to Canada. ^Limited semen available. *236JE146 ZUMA semen is available through Select Sires only in the United States. 04-12 USDA/HA/AJCA/BSCBA Genomic Evaluation. 04-12 USDA/AGA/ABA Sire Summary. M=IB-M/USA Sire Summary. ™JPI and JUI are trademarks of the American Jersey Cattle Association. SMTPI is a servicemark of Holstein Association USA, Inc. ●

12

Summertime Somatic Cell Count Strategies

by John Gerbitz, sales and service specialist, East Central/Select Sires With summer temperatures on the rise, every dairyman’s thoughts turn to higher somatic cell counts. Hopefully summer brings some other thoughts to mind as well, but you can’t deny that most dairies see cell counts rise with summer temperatures.

This summer there will be added interest in somatic cell counts (SCC) because the European Union (EU) has become more stringent in enforcing their SCC limit of 400,000 cells per milliliter. The SCC limit in the EU has been 400,000 since October of 2010.

In the past, the EU would accept milk for import if the blended SCC was less than 400,000. Current EU enforcement now requires that all imported milk come from farms that have bulk tank cell counts below 400,000. The U.S. standard remains at 750,000, but U.S. handlers may need to adjust their standards if they are exporting milk to the EU. Utah has already reduced its SCC limit to 400,000. While the timetable and mechanism are uncertain at this point, tighter SCC limits are certainly on the horizon.

Lower cell counts require a comprehensive program Lower cell counts on your farm make sense, regardless of limits imposed by handlers or government agencies.

Most markets pay significant quality premiums for lower SCC milk. Mastitis causes lower milk production and is a top reason for culling. Direct economic losses result from dumped milk and drug expense. High cell counts impact fertility through reduced cyclicity, lower conception rates and early embryonic death. Finally, cell count affects the public perception of the wholesomeness of milk.

Effective mastitis control involves managing every aspect of the cow, the environment and the people. Your whole management team can help make this happen. Veterinarians,

milking equipment representatives and milk plant field personnel can all be valuable resources.

Cow factors include genetics and general health of the cow. Your Select Sires representative can help you decide how to use low somatic cell score (SCS) bulls in your herd. Your nutritionist can help you feed for healthy cows. Your veterinarian can help identify mastitis pathogens, treatments and vaccinations.

Environment includes where the cow lives and the equipment used to milk her. Make sure that your equipment is clean and operating efficiently. Your dealer is probably in the best position to help you evaluate performance of your milking system.

Facilities must be designed to keep cows clean and comfortable. Your Select Sires representative can help manage the environment with a quality line of teat dips including EFFERCEPT™, 4XLA®, UDDERgold® and Aztec Gold™.

Don’t overlook the importance of the people working with the cows. They are the link between the cow and the environment and the finished product.

Select Sires has bilingual training and materials available to help your milkers do their job to the best of their ability.

per day for three days. Ten days after the treatment, cell counts started to drop and continued dropping for 24 days.

What is BioFresh Bolus?

BioFresh Bolus contains special L-form bacteria which have a unique action in the gut and are extremely stable in storage. BioFresh also contains a combination of enzymes, B vitamins, microbial sugars, egg proteins, and high quality trace minerals. All of these ingredients work together to improve immune system performance and fight mastitis.

The ingredients in BioFresh Boluses are also available in Select BioCycle™ and Select BioCycle Plus™ or BioFresh® Plus Soluble drench.

BioCycle and BioCycle Plus are granular products that can be mixed in a TMR or top dressed. Both can help with a whole herd reduction in SCC or help to sustain the SCC reduction from BioFresh Boluses. A single BioFresh Bolus contains eight times the dose of BioCycle. BioFresh Plus Soluble drench is a powder that can be mixed in a pint of water. It also includes a dose of calcium (54 grams calcium propionate) and 12,000 milligrams of niacin. BioFresh Plus Soluble Drench is an excellent way to give your fresh cows a good start.

Let the Select Sires team be part of your comprehensive program to improve milk quality. We can help you choose the right solutions for your dairy. 

Another tool for high cell count cows You can do everything right and still have a handful of chronic high cell count cows. A few high cell count cows can increase your bulk tank cell count quickly. BioFresh® Bolus can lower somatic cell counts in problem cows.

Research done at Southern Illinois University showed that BioFresh Boluses were effective in reducing SCC for cows with SCC over 300,000.

The graph on this page shows the research comparison between cows treated with BioFresh and a placebo.

Cows were given one BioFresh bolus

13

BULLetin Board SANCHEZ daughters score well at Ransom Rail Farm Ransom Rail Farm of Perry, N.Y., recently classified and had success with several 7HO8190 Gen-Mark Stmatic SANCHEZ daughters. Among those being scored were Siemers SZ Hia-Mae-ET (VG-89), 2-year-old; CoVista Sanchez Dixie (VG-88), 2-yearold; Belmoral Sanchez Jem (VG-88), 2-year-old; Durchan Sanchez Delta (VG-86), 2-year-old; Vision-Gen SNZ Weep-273 (VG-86), 3-year-old; and Arethusa Sanchez Merigold (VG-87), 2-year-old.

scored Very Good. Winterlance Mint Bailey-ET, owned by Danae, Ethan and Katie Bauer, Wis., scored Very Good (87), and Winterlance Mint Filene-ET, owned by David, Patrick, Frank, Jr. and Gregory Bauer, Wis., scored Very Good (86).

BOGART daughter now Excellent (91) One of the first pictured daughters of 7HO8559 Macomber O-Man BOGART, Webb-Vue Bogart Ebonie, owned by Robert A. Webb, Plymouth, Wis., was recently raised in score to Excellent (91).

Siemers Sz Hia Mae (VG-89) Ransom Rail Farm, Perry, N.Y.

Webb-Vue Bogart Ebonie (EX-91), Third Lactation Robert A. Webb, Plymouth, Wis.

G W ATWOOD is on fire!

7HO10506 Maple-Downs-I G W ATWOOD-ET sired four young cows that recently scored Very Good. BVK Atwood Abilene-ET, owned by Mike and Megan Moede, Algoma, Wis., scored Very Good (87), and Farnear-TBR Atwood BabesET, owned by Rick J. and Thomas D. Simon and Tim Rauen, Iowa, scored Very Good (86). Joining the list of new Very Good ATWOOD were Jauquet Anora Atwood-ET, owned by Tyler and Nathan Jauquet at Very Good (87) and Jauquet Ardelis Atwood at Very Good (86).

ALEXANDER daughter scores well for Kueffner Holsteins Ernest-Anthony Allure-ET is sired by 7HO8221 Golden-Oaks St ALEXANDERET and owned by Paul Neer and Ernest Kueffner, Belleville, Pa. and recently scored Very Good (89). She was Honorable Mention Intermediate Champion of the 2012 New York Spring Show and sold for $80,000 in the Kueffner Kows at Cowtown Sale in June.

are owned by Southland Holsteins, Teteringen, Holland. GoFarm Million Trilly-ET is sired by 7HO8165 EnglandAmmon MILLION-ET and is owned by Go Farm, Italy.

Southland Planet Dellia 4888 (VG-86) Southland Holsteins, Teteringen, Holland

Southland Alex Sharon 23 Southland Holsteins, Teteringen, Holland

Go-Farm Million Trilly-ET Go Farm, Casalmorano, Italy

GARY and TURLEY daughters raised in score 7GU428 Golden J Skipper GARY sired Rozelyn Gary Tana, recently scored Very Good (88) for owner Rozelyn Farm, Lynden, Wash. Dairyman Turley Seashel, sired by 7GU394 Penny Lane Royal Oak TURLEY,

was raised to Excellent (90) for Hoard’s Dairyman Farm, Fort Atkinson, Wis. Select-sired Swiss do well at New York Spring Show Maple Sugar A Starrynight, sired by 7BS766 Blessing Banker AGENDA ET, was the first winter calf of the New York Spring Brown Swiss Show. She was exhibited by Shaun Young, Tinmouth, Vt. Graystone Grandslam Trick, sired by 7BS840 Top Acres GRANDSLAM and owned by Steve Wagner, Quarryville, Pa., was the first summer yearling.

BRAIDEN daughter receives honor In the April 2012 issue of Brown Swiss Bulletin, Blessing Braiden Doria “VG86” is listed as the Class Leader Under Two 365d 2X Fat and a Protein Plus Cow. Her record is 1-10 365d 30,500M 5.3% 1606F 3.1% 954P. Doria is sired by April graduate 7BS900 Blessing Tex BRAIDEN ET and owned by Caid Blessing, Fort Wayne, Ind.

Blessing Braiden Doria “VG86” Caid Blessing, Fort Wayne, Ind.

Recent first-time Excellents for HERO and PLANET 7HO9545 Siemers Toys HERO 9701-ET and 7HO8081 Ensenada Taboo PLANET-ET now have their first Excellent daughters! Siemers

Ernest-Anthony Allure-ET (VG-89-EX-MS) Paul Neer and Ernest Kueffner, Belleville, Pa.

BVK Atwood Abilene-ET (VG-87) Mike and Megan Moede, Algoma, Wis.

Young SPEARMINTs score Very Good 7HO9879 Pine-Tree SPEARMINT-ET sired two young cows that recently

14

Select sires have International appeal!

Southland Planet Dellia 4888 (VG86) is sired by 7HO8081 Ensenada Taboo PLANET-ET, and Southland Alex Sharon 23 is sired by 7HO8221 Golden-Oaks ST ALEXANDER-ET. They

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

Siemers Hero Kara 12618 (EX-90) Siemers Holstein Farm, Inc., Newton, Wis.

Hero Kara 12618, owned by Siemers Holstein Farm, Inc., Newton, Wis., and OCD Planet Danica-ET, dam of 7HO11525 DONATELLO, a Super Sampler™ to be released in August, were both classified Excellent (90) in March. Danica is owned by Jonathon Lamb, Francis Gomez and Dan Lufkin, Oakfield, N.Y. High Sellers at the Heartland Premier Production III Sale The two top sellers in the Heartland Premier Production III Sale in Seneca, Kan., were full sisters to 7JE1169 Heartland Merchant TOPEKA-ET and sold for $16,300 and $8,700. The third and fourth high-sellers at $8,600 and $7,200 respectively, were daughters of 7JE1038 All Lynns Louie VALENTINOET, while the fifth was a 7JE1057 GR Pearlmont Dale DANDY-ET daughter ($6,500).

Mysha-Wo Advent LIRIANO-ET, is owned by Hannah Rhodes, Greenville, Ohio. She was also named first fall yearling and junior champion of the International Milking Shorthorn Show and Pennsylvania All American in 2011.

Buckeye Knoll Liriano Pila Hannah Rhodes, Greenville, Ohio

Danielle Brown joins Select Sires staff Select Sires has hired Danielle Brown as sales and marketing communications specialist. In this role, she will manage the production of Select Sires’ customer newsletter, Selections; coordinate all press releases; and work closely with the sales and marketing team to promote Select Sires’ many programs and services.

Brown is a recent graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a Bachelor of Agricultural Science in Dairy Science and Life Science Communications.

Select Sires honors Elsass Loren Elsass of COBA/Select Sires Inc. was honored as the 2012 Select Mating Service™ (SMS™) genetic consultant of the year in front of an audience of his peers at Select Sires’ national SMS Consultant Conference held in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, May 6-9.

This national award is presented annually to genetic consultants who exemplify the qualities that make SMS known throughout the world as the premier mating program in the industry to assist dairy producers in developing genetic business plans.

Party at the Park Sale boasts Selectsired high sellers!

The Party at the Park Sale averaged $30,500 on 45 lots. Topping the sale was Coyne-Farms Srock JillET, a 7HO10849 Ladys-Manor PL SHAMROCK-ET daughter. She was consigned by Coyne Farms of New York and sold to Matt Kimball of Maryland for $116,000. Hartford ColtP315-Red-ET*PO, and Mr Chassity Pistol-ET*RC*PO tied for the second high-seller at $100,000 each, both 7HO10904 Sandy-Valley COLT P-REDTW*PO offspring. Hartford Colt-P315Red-ET*PO was consigned by Hartford Holsteins of Minnesota and purchased

by Westcoast Holsteins of Chilliwack, BC. Mr Chassity Pistol-ET*RC*PO was consigned by the Chassity Syndicate and purchased by the Pistol Syndicate.

Pretty as a picture!

Buckeye Knoll Liriano Pila was voted the winner of the heifer class in the 2011 All-World Red Cow Photographic Competition. Winners of the contest were decided by the five countries involved – Australia, the United Kingdom, Canada, the United States, and New Zealand. Pila, who is sired by new graduate 7MS347

15

PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE

selections YOUR SUCCESS Our Passion.

mission

11740 us 42 North • Plain city • Ohio • 43064-0143

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.

For more information, visit www.selectsires.com or call (614) 873-4683.

Product of the USA.

Select Detect, Select RePRO Analysis, Select Reproductive Solutions, SRS, SelectCheck, Super Sampler, Select Mating Service, SMS, Program for Genetic Advancement, PGA, Program for Fertility Advancement, PFA, Superior Settler and StrataGEN are trademarks of Select Sires Inc.; Aztec Gold is a trademark of Ecolab Inc., St. Paul, MN; JPI and JUI are trademarks of American Jersey Cattle Association. ® FeedPRO is a registered trademark of Select Sires Inc.; EfferCept is a registered trademark of Activon Products; 4XLA and UdderGOLD are registered trademarks of Ecolab; BioFresh is a registered trademark of Agrarian Marketing Corporation; SM Total Performance Index and TPI are service marks of Holstein Association USA. All product claims, representations and warranties, expressed or implied are made only by the product manufacturers and not by Select Sires Inc. TM

PAID Minster, Ohio 45865 Permit No. 2