Winter 2020 Selections

WINTER 2020

Selections

YOUR SUCCESS

Our Passion.

IN THIS ISSUE ISSU

4 Semen Records and an Exciting Proven IN Sire THIS ISSUE TM NxGEN Member Share

6 4 There’s Power in Polled One Year Later: Results, Goals withResearch, Skyview Dairy and Transparency ProfitMAX 8 7 8 Not Every Heifer Guaranteed an Interview 10 New Colostrum Recommendations: HerdisManagement Solutions

Problems or Opportunities: Herd Management Solutions

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WHO’S ON YOUR TEAM? David C. Thorbahn, president and C.E.O. Woody Hayes coached Ohio State Football for 28 years, garnering international attention for winning records and an inspirational spirit. Among the many lessons he shared with players, students and community, a single concept reigns supreme: “You win with people.”

The value of good people and teamwork is impressed on us nearly all our lives. We navigate through childhood and adulthood making associations between teamwork, common goals and ultimate success. Every player on the team serves an important role and selecting the right people is paramount in determining success. With that consideration, I challenge you to reflect and ask the question – Who’s on your team?

Teamwork leads to results We have an opportunity to build a perfect team that fosters communication and collaboration to reach profit and production goals. Here at Select Sires, we take the team approach to offer the best service to customer-owners.

As a customer-owner of Select Sires, you know that you have the best genetics within your reach. Do you also realize that you have access to the industry’s largest, professionally trained sales and service force? Programs like ProfitMAX® were designed to help you engineer genetic strategies to maximize profit using the many tools and resources available through your local Select Sires member cooperative.

More than an audit We recognize that many companies are at your barn door offering up a genetic or reproductive audit. The Select Sires strategy is different and puts emphasis on the team approach from the first handshake all the way to the endzone. Working as a team provides vision, strategic planning, guidance and solutions when you encounter a challenge and the tenacity to achieve real results.

Whether you’ve already identified a challenge or you’re simply planning for the next generation, ProfitMAX offers hands-on service and expertise customized for you and your operation.

Now is the time to set your goals and build a world-class team focused on those goals and the success of your operation. Contact your local Select Sires member cooperative today and get connected with the right people for your team. X

BUILT ON FIVE PILLARS DRIVEN BY YOUR GOALS FOCUSED ON YOUR FUTURE CUSTOMIZED FOR YOUR OPERATION INCREASED GENETIC VALUE SUPPORTED WITH TRUSTED SERVICE

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7HO14250 LEGACY FRAZZLED x YODER x LIQUID GOLD +1,089NM$ +2894GTPI® +1,131CM$$ 250HO14134 RENEGADE Jaltaoak x MILLINGTON x DAVINCI +954NM$ +2848GTPI +994CM$ 7HO14364 EISAKU SAMURI x Rubicon x MORGAN +956NM$ +2822GTPI +978CM$ 7HO14792 MAGNITUDE CASPER x LYLAS x Numero Uno +987NM$ +2900GTPI +1,018CM$

New 7HO14859 MAXIMUS Visit www.selectsires.com/NxGEN to learn more and submit a membership application today!

ROLAN x Blowtorch x YODER +1,058NM$ +2825GTPI +1,094CM$ Photos by Thomas. CDCB/HA 12/19 NM$ Rel: LEGACY 77; RENEGADE 76; EISAKU 77; MAGNITUDE 74; MAXIMUS 74.

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Record Breaking 7JE5004 CHROME

ROCKETFIRE: READING THE WHOLE STORY

NO. 1 SELLING JERSEY AT SELECT SIRES IN 2019 Sales from 2019 show that 7JE5004 River Valley Cece CHROME-ET topped another semen sales record by more than 20,800 units. In 2018, CHROME surpassed the Jersey breed unit sales records previously held by 7JE1219 OLIVER-P in 2017 and 9JE202 ROCKET since 2005. These new reports put CHROME ahead of 7JE254 BERRETTA {6} as No. 3 for lifetime unit sales. Additionally, CHROME ranks as the fifth highest selling bull among all dairy breeds at Select Sires.

According to Jeff Ziegler, vice president of dairy cattle breeding, “CHROME’s most recent record personifies our cooperative’s investment in Jersey sire development.”

CHROME has been a high-ranking performer on the Jersey Performance Index™ (JPI™) and Jersey Udder Index™ (JUI™) lists for multiple sire evaluations and has garnered attention from Jersey enthusiasts around the globe. The most recent evaluation included 2,207 daughters from 338 herds in four countries. Known as a true customer-satisfaction sire, his daughters are outstanding performers in the milking herd, improving with every lactation and adding incredible genetic value. CHROME boasts +1,215 Milk, +109 combined Fat and Protein, +$572 Cheese Merit, +185 GJPI and +33.4 GJUI. “In my travels and discussions with dairymen, it is clear that CHROME sires profitable cattle with great mammary systems, correct feet and legs and the ability to milk,” says Herby Lutz, Jersey development manager.

CHROME’s impact on the Jersey breed is substantial and his influence continues with progeny like 7JE5041 JX TRIUMPH {5} and 7JE5042 JX TYRANT {5} — both recent daughter-proven graduates with elite JPI rankings. CHROME, JX TRIUMPH {5} and JX TYRANT {5} were bred

by River Valley Farm in Tremont, Ill. Select Sires is very grateful to work with breeders to create the next generation of Jersey genetics. X

7JE5004 CHROME Group, Jer-Z-Boyz, Pixley, CA

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Jeff Ziegler, vice president, dairy cattle breeding

“Never judge a book by its cover.”

We’ve all done this—whether with a piece of literature or in another aspect of life. We select a book based on the back cover opinions of famous critics and upon reading the book, we often come to different conclusions.

Some call these book cover opinions misleading, but I prefer the terms misinterpreted or over-rationalized. It’s not uncommon to believe something before the true story and facts unfold. Genetic data can also get caught in this perception trap. There are cases in which early genetic estimates turn into reality or even exceed expectations.

GDP success Select Sires’ Genetic Development Program (GDP), previously known as the Program for Genetic AdvancementTM (PGATM), continues to be important in sire development. With the most recent success of new, daughter-proven graduate 7HO13454 S-S-I Josuper ROCKETFIRE-ET, the impact of this program is affirmed.

ROCKETFIRE made his debut on the proven lists ranked as the industry’s No. 4 sire for TPI® and No. 12 for Net Merit (NM$). He offers breeders extreme production combined with fertility, mastitis control and tremendous linear type.

ROCKETFIRE is being used today as a sire father.

The big question Many are asking: Why was ROCKETFIRE not used heavily as a sire father as a young sire? Simply stated, the PTA estimates when ROCKETFIRE was first available, in December 2016, ranked him No. 179 for NM$ among the sampled bull population. With much higher genetic estimates at the time, sires like 7HO12788 FRAZZLED, 7HO12600 MODESTY, 7HO13250 JEDI, 250HO13267 DUKE and many others received the sire father slots. Today, with 277 daughters in 73 herds, ROCKETFIRE has jumped to +937 NM$, and has the thirtyeighth highest change among the 5,025 global genomic young sires analyzed three years ago.

As always, we recommend genetic programs incorporate a variety of young sires and not too much of any one young bull. The genomic system is still far superior to any genetic estimates from previous models, but until daughter data completes the story, we can misinterpret the true genetic story on any sire. Once the genetic book is completely read, we will all be wiser. X

THERE’S

POWER IN POLLED Now more than ever, consumers are curious about food production. Many raise concerns about nutrition, sustainability, environmental impact and animal treatment. Today’s consumers have loud voices and strong opinions, and their influence is amplified with the help of social and digital media. The reality is that their perceptions of management practices have a direct effect on the future of the dairy and beef industries. With this in mind, we must be forward-thinking and proactive in addressing these concerns.

S-S-I Zipit 11293 11891P-ET (GP-83), dam of 7HO14648 CAFFEINE-P

MORE POLLED BULLS THAN EVER BEFORE: ELITE HOLSTEINS

Pedigree

7HO15050 THOMAS-P Tendoy-P x DUKE x Jacey

NM$

GTPI®

Milk Yield

+887

+2663

+1,281

7HO14291 BUD-P FRAZZLED x Powerball-P x LUCID +850 +2635 +1,719 Target acquired Dehorning practices have been targeted 7HO14648 CAFFEINE-P JARED x ZIPIT-P x Powerball-P +836 +2658 +1,650 as a concern to consumers. Most recently, 14HO14607 LIMELIGHT-P Spice-P x Supershot x MOGUL +833 +2681 +1,260 organizations like Farmers Assuring Responsible Management (FARM) and the American Association of Bovine Practitioners have adjusted ELITE JERSEYS Pedigree CM$ GJPITM Milk Yield their recommendations for proper dehorning and disbudding procedures to include strict protocols 7JE1526 SLUGGER-P Nikon-P x DIMENSION x Venerable +600 +161 +418 for pain management.

7JE1474 SALSA-P TITANIUM x Venerable x Mercedes +560 +155 +1,184 As we plan for future replacements, we begin to consider genetic strategies that may lessen 7JE1499 SOLAR-PP Nikon-P x DIMENSION x Venerable +460 +137 +684 or eliminate the need to dehorn cattle. Genetic development is moving at an unprecedented pace The future looks exciting with two elite additions expected to and recent acquisitions and proactive matings join the lineup in 2020 and 2021. 7HO15289 BIG SMOOTH-PP-ET show that there is power in Polled genetics. is a LIMELIGHT-P son boasting more than +1,000 NM$ and +2843 Polled opportunities GTPI. 7JE1814 DIMITRI-P is a JX KIAWA {6}-P son offering +663 “Our goal is to develop more Homozygous Polled sires to truly CM$ and +197 GJPI. affect the market and population. This will require us to make Over the last five years, Select Sires has emphasized the many Heterozygous parents from highly ranked horned sires development of polled genetics. In the last year, five new or dams, and then combine this Heterozygous pair to develop homozygous polled sires were added to the lineup. As of the Homozygous calves to increase the dominant polled gene,” December 2019 sire summary, nine of the top-20 NM$ homozygous explains Jeff Ziegler, vice president of dairy cattle breeding. polled Holstein bulls are offered by Select Sires. X

FRAZZLED’s BEST SONS

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CDCB/HA/AJCA 12/19 Rel: THOMAS-P NM$ 74, Yield 77; BUD-P NM$ 77, Yield 80; CAFFEINE-P NM$ 74, Yield 77; LIMELIGHT-P NM$ 75, Yield 77; BIG SMOOTH-PP NM$ 72; SLUGGER-P Yield 93; SALSA-P Yield 92; SOLAR-PP Yield 94; DIMITRI-P Yield 72.

Oconnors Supershot Lasting (VG-87-VG-MS), dam of 14HO14607 LIMELIGHT-P

7JE1499 SOLAR-PP daughter group, Jer-Z-Boyz, Pixley, CA

POLLED BULLS ARE KEEPING PACE Trends in polled genetics have been interesting to watch. What started as a handful of breeders focused on a niche for two decades or more has slowly grown to the point where nearly all breeders are paying attention. That doesn’t mean every breeder is using polled genetics, but most are at least keeping their eyes on the available bulls.

Market outlook and availability The percentage of polled bulls gained traction early in the genomic era but has been flat since that time with five to 10 percent of bulls typically polled. Breeders have made it clear that they aren’t willing to sacrifice genetic merit for other traits such as fat and protein yield. If we look at the genetic merit of polled versus horned bulls, there is a real trade-off.

Typically, heterozygous polled Holstein bulls trail their horned counterparts by $100 to $200 in Net Merit (NM$). The same is true for combined Fat and Protein with the heterozygous bulls approximately 40 pounds behind. Homozygous polled bulls are another step back from heterozygous bulls. The drops are smaller for Jerseys, but still evident.

Looked at from the current level of NM$ alone, it may seem like polled genetics will never catch up. However, there are additional considerations. When we look at trends in genetic merit, the polled population has done at least as

well as the horned population – in fact, the gap closed a bit over the last decade. While $100 in NM$ may seem like a big number, it really is not. We’re only talking about a two- to three-year difference between polled and horned bulls at our current rate of genetic progress.

Is there a path forward for polled genetics to catch up with the horned population and still provide enough genetic diversity to manage inbreeding? Yes – but it will require the commitment of many breeders. If market demand for polled genetics rises significantly, companies will begin to develop enough bulls that the gap between polled and horned is eliminated. There will be a short-term slowdown in a breed’s genetic merit, but by a relatively trivial amount.

Polled genetics have advanced at the same pace as the horned population for some time. While polled genetics do not rank as high as horned genetics, data shows that the rate of genetic improvement with the two populations is similar. If enough breeders are willing to make a small sacrifice in the short term, the current gap can be eliminated in the coming decade. X Dr. Chad Dechow, associate professor, dairy cattle genetics Penn State University

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DRIVEN

BY YOUR GOALS

By tracking performance with genetic data, Skyview Dairy measures the impact of genetic selection on profitability. Together, with professionals from Minnesota/Select Sires Coop, Inc., the herd establishes goals and prepares strategic breeding plans. Brandon Thesing is one of many Select Sires team members that collaborates with Skyview. “We know that when our producers are profitable and successful, they are able to reinvest in their farm, their family and their future,” says Thesing.

A review of cattle born in 2018 and 2019, shows an increase in average sire GTPI® from +2418 to +2503 and an increase in Net Merit (NM$) from +674 to +739. The most extreme genetic selection changes are seen in the herd’s average sire Productive Life (PL) and Daughter Pregnancy Rate (DPR) values. Average sire PL was +4.2 in 2017 and +4.3 in 2018. With strategic selection, the average sire PL for cow’s born in 2019 was +6.1. Sires of cows born in 2017 and 2018 show negative values for DPR. In 2019, the average sire DPR clocked in at +0.9.

Herd performance Recent review of parent averages for Milk, TPI, NM$, and fitness traits across both heifers and lactating cow groups, proves Skyview’s intense genetic progress. With this data, the herd can analyze inventory needs and go one step further to maximize profit potential within the operation.

Charts below show the true impact of genetics on profit and compare genetic rank to performance and costly health events. Parent averages for both first lactation and second lactation and greater cows show better reproductive efficiency, less health events and significantly lower turnover rate.

For more information about Skyview Dairy and Garrett Luthens’ experience with ProfitMAX, visit www.selectsires. com/ProfitMAX and follow along with our farmer-focused video series. X

Located in Hutchinson, Minn., Skyview Dairy is owned and operated by Daryl Luthens and his four sons, Shane, Brandon, Justin and Garrett. The herd totals 1,500 lactating cows and replacement heifers.

As Select Sires’ comprehensive service program, ProfitMAX incorporates the cooperative’s many genetic and reproductive tools into a customizable plan for each dairy operation. The program is built on five pillars, with the leading pillar: driven by your goals.

ProfitMAX begins with a consultation in which goals are established. “Select Sires asks us what we want, offers clarity and helps us establish goals. With those goals established, we can take a step back and trust that the Select Sires team will carry them through,” says Garrett.

Genetic goals As a previous Dairy Cattle Reproduction Council gold winner, Skyview has outstanding reproductive performance.

They have set genetic goals and pushed the envelope to develop genetically elite cattle in recent years.

Parent Average for NM$: First Lactation Cows QUARTILE

NM$ AVG

AVG MILK

AVG FCM

PREG RATE

DAYS OPEN

TOTAL FRESH

DNB

SOLD

DIED

TURNOVER %

LOWEST

+320

79

85

25%

108

196

36

75

6

41%

HIGHEST

+494

78

85

33%

103

186

5

11

4

8%

Parent Average for NM$: Second and Greater Lactation Cows QUARTILE

NM$ AVG

AVG MILK

AVG FCM

PREG RATE

DAYS OPEN

TOTAL FRESH

DNB

SOLD

DIED

TURNOVER %

LOWEST

+179

92

98

27%

107

355

54

206

33

67%

HIGHEST

+433

86

96

29%

107

300

20

55

7

21%

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TIGHTEN-UP

YOUR COLOSTRUM MANAGEMENT PRACTICES When properly harvested and consumed, there is no doubt that maternal colostrum is the ideal first meal for the newborn calf. However, the caveat, when properly harvested and consumed, can be the bane of the calf raiser on many farms.

Follow along as Julian Olson, DVM, technician services veterinarian with Milk Products, LLC, outlines newly suggested passive transfer goals and why you need to tighten up your colostrum management practices.

Comparing today’s protocols to the new research Influencers of harvest include: the health of the dam and her udder, the time from calving to milking, the cleanliness of the udder and collection equipment, transport, storage and feeding.

Consumption constraints are related to the time from collection to feeding the calf, the method of feeding, such as suckling or esophageal tubing, the impact of other things consumed by the calf prior to colostrum, and the quality of the colostrum with low bacteria counts.

There has been a long-standing definition for adequate passive transfer-10 grams per liter of IgG in the calf’s serum at about 24 hours after birth. This equates to a serum protein of 5.2-5.5 mg per deciliter.

An article in the November 2019 Veterinary Clinics of North America: Food Animal Practice by Dr. Sandra Godden and others, suggests a new definition of adequate passive transfer of 25 grams per liter of IgG (serum protein greater than 6.2 grams per deciliter) in more than 40 percent of the calves in a herd.

To achieve this level of serum immunoglobulin (IgG), properly harvested and consumed becomes that much more important.

Old Goal

New Goal

Minimum serum concentration g/L:

10

25

25

25

25

Calf weight (lbs):

88

88

88

88

88

Plasma volume (9% of bw) liters:

3.6

3.6

3.6

3.6

3.6

Apparent Efficiency of Absorption (AEA):

35%

35%

50%

35%

40%

Maternal colostral concentration (g/L):

40

40

40

50

60

Required IgG intake:

103

257

180

257

225

Required amount to feed (liters):

3

6

5

5

4

Image© Farmgirl Photography. ®First Day Formula is a registered trademark of and manufactured for Select Sires Inc.

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Recommendations for achieving passive transfer Examining the critical factors of achieving passive transfer, quickness in feeding and excellent cleanliness improves efficiency of absorption, while quickness in milking, age, health and other factors of the dam improves colostrum volume and concentration. In the chart below, it is clear that efficiency of absorption and concentration impacts the volume required to meet the serum concentration goals.

To achieve the new passive transfer goal, do whatever it takes to (1) improve efficiency of absorption and (2) increase concentration of the maternal colostrum: (1): quick feeding, clean colostrum, suckling, healthy birth (2): breed-Jersey is best, age, nutrition, season, vaccination, quick collection.

When some of these factors are difficult to control, consider supplementing maternal colostrum with First Day Formula® CR. For example, mix 75 grams of colostrum replacer IgG (250 grams of First Day Formula CR) into one liter of warm water and add to three liters of maternal colostrum that has a concentration of about 50 grams per liter. The resulting four liters will equate to 225 grams per four liters ((50 x 3) + 75 = 225).

Well established and consistently applied management practices make this more aggressive serum goal attainable.

Utilizing First Day Formula CR as a colostrum supplement to maternal colostrum is a viable strategy when maternal colostrum concentration (Brix < 22-23) or volume is questionable, or efficiency of absorption is in the lower end of the range of 35-50 percent. For more information about First Day Formula CR and other herd management solutions, please visit www.selectsires.com. X

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“THE DECISIONS WE MAKE

ARE FOR OUR FUTURE” - TIFFANY SCHNEIDER, HERDSPERSON, PAULUS DAIRY Tiffany Schneider is a large animal veterinarian, herdsperson at Paulus Dairy and a mother to three young children. Paulus Dairy is her family’s farm, owned by her parents, Mike and Lori, and brother, Andy.

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PLANNING FOR THE LONG-TERM “With the dairy industry changing so rapidly, the farming community has to adapt. Everything we do today will affect tomorrow. That’s where family comes into the family farm—we want to be here, we want to pass it on,” says Andy.

Throughout the years, Paulus Dairy has grown from 33 cows to today’s 1,500-cow operation in Fredonia, Wis. The Paulus family manages 1,500 youngstock and farms 2,000 acres, all while making decisions that advance and innovate their operation. In May of 2018, they installed CowManager® as a tool to facilitate long-term success.“The system gives us a good snapshot of what that cow is doing,” says Mike, “It is an easy program and once you get going, it’s not overthink-it, it’s work-it!”

Heifer reproduction The value of CowManager came into play in the Paulus Dairy heifer program. Heifers are housed at a separate location and the situation offers challenges for personnel, time and travel to the farm. Heat reports and graphs are viewed remotely in the farm office or on a mobile device, and the real-time features of the system have led to more efficient heat detection. “We can use better quality semen and our semen used per conception is much lower,” says Mike.

Cow health The system has also proven itself in the lactating cow herd, specifically with herd health. Each day starts with a review of CowManager reports. Not only does the system save time from walking the pens, but it offers a more precise observation than what can be achieved with a brief glance from the human eye.

The Paulus crew recalls a case in which the system flagged a cow for going off feed. “There is no way that even the best herdsman would have picked that cow out as having a DA,” says Mike. “But she was in early stages and we got her fixed up and away she went.” With this early detection, treatment was less invasive and less costly, her recovery was much quicker, and she remained in production.

Paulus Dairy is approaching the end of two years with the CowManager system and they continue to see the benefits of the technology. Andy says, “CowManager is another tool in our arsenal to be more profitable, productive and efficient.” X

Monitoring the health, fertility, nutritional status and location of your cows with impressive accuracy.

ùǗƜ ŵƜȚƜ˛ʀɱ ȫǂ -ȫʸ őȚőDžƜɡ® 24/7 eye on your herd The most accurate product on the market Saves labor and ensures a sustainable herd Simple to use ear tag sensor Fantastic 24/7 support at your disposal

Accuracy. No less.

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DISCOVER YOUR BEST APPROACH Ray Nebel, Ph.D vice president, technical services

TIMING OF INSEMINATION DEPENDS ON YOUR ESTRUS DETECTION METHOD A.M./P.M. guideline versus once-a-day A.I.

A successful A.I. program must incorporate three main concepts: 1. Efficient and accurate detection of estrus 2. Proper semen handling techniques 3. Timely A.I. relative to ovulation Estrus detection is cited many times as the most common and costly failure of A.I. programs. Inefficient detection of estrus results in lost lifetime milk yield, decreased number of calves born per lifetime, excessive days open, and increased reproductive culling. Effective and accurate detection of estrus and the timing of resulting A.I. remain major challenges to improving reproductive and economic efficiencies of many dairy farms.

Biological events The time of ovulation and age of the egg at sperm penetration is critical for conception, so the goal of a heat detection program should not merely be to attain a high detection rate but to achieve a high detection rate with a corresponding high conception rate. The occurrence of estrus is due to specific influences of ovarian steroid hormones on behavioral centers in the brain.

As a growing follicle matures under the stimulation of follicle stimulating and luteinizing hormones (FSH and LH) during the last three to four days of the estrous cycle, it synthesizes and secretes increasing quantities of estradiol. A threshold level of estradiol is reached which triggers two closely linked events-the behavioral response known as estrus and a surge of pituitary hormones, primarily LH. It is useful to point out that the maturity of the Graafian follicle that regulates the amount of estradiol synthesized regulates its own time of ovulation and concurrent maturation of the oocyte.

Traditionally, the cow that stands still and allows others to mount her is in standing heat. Standing is the primary sign of estrus.

Ovulation usually occurs approximately 24 to 32 hours after the onset of standing estrus in dairy cows. After ovulation, there is only a short period when ova can be fertilized (Figure 1). Optimal fertility of ova is projected to be between six and 12 hours after ovulation.

The viable life span of sperm in the reproductive tract is estimated at 24 to 34 hours.

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For the past seventy years, researchers have investigated the optimal time at which to inseminate cows relative to the stage of estrus. Conception rates are highest when cows are inseminated between six and 24 hours before ovulation. This early work led to the establishment of the A.M./P.M. recommendation.

This guideline suggests that cows in estrus during A.M. hours should be inseminated during the P.M. hours, and cows in estrus in the P.M. should be bred the following A.M. However, these studies were conducted with intensive visual observations for estrus combined with frequent palpation of the ovarian structures to determine the precise time of ovulation. Neither of these procedures are practical in todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s dairy industry and we now rely on various methods to determine the best time to inseminate.

In a large study conducted in Pennsylvania (7,240 first service A.I.), it was determined that once daily A.I. had a slightly lower conception rate but was not statistically different from A.I. following the A.M./P.M. guideline. Using once-a-day breeding, a small percentage of cows will be inseminated too early prior to ovulation and an almost equal percent will be bred too close to the time of ovulation. This does not allow time for capacitation and sperm transport to the oviduct, the site where fertilization occurs.

Figure 1. Biological events associated with timing of insemination

Tail chalking Using the tail-chalking system, the equivalent condition to a standing heat is finding tail chalk or paint rubbed away due to mounting activity. Tail chalking is the heat detection system of choice in many large dairy operations. This is due mainly to the high percent of heats that can be detected through this system, as it provides an efficient means to accurately identify cows that have stood to be mounted since the last observation period. It is also a rather low-cost means of heat detection. Once-a-day insemination is the method used with the tail chalking practice of estrus detection. There will be a small percentage of cows inseminated too early and an almost equal percentage that is too late for conception to occur, but generally it is a very effective method.

CowManagerÂŽ activity monitoring system

Timed A.I. using a synchronization protocol Timed A.I. is now a common protocol in most dairy operations.

Timing of A.I., relative to the last GnRH injection when using a synchronization protocol, has shown 16 hours attained the highest conception rates (Table 1). Insemination at the time of GnRH injection, 72 hours after the prostaglandin injection, will result in a slightly lower conception rate but is commonly used for compliance and eliminating the necessity to work cows in the afternoon prior to insemination.

Table 1. Various times in relation to ovulation synchronization with the final injection of GnRH (adapted from Purlsey et al., 1998)

Hours from ďŹ nal GnRH injection of Ovsynch to timed A.I. Hours

0

8

16

24

32

Number of animals

149

148

149

143

143

Conception Rate (%)

37

41

45

41

32

The precise hour of the onset of estrus activity is determined by the CowManager system. The window to achieve the highest conception rates is 12 to 22 hours after the onset of activity.

Insemination should be delayed approximately six hours from this recommendation when using gender SELECTedTM semen.

Take-home message Because of biological variation in the time of ovulation in respect to the onset of estrus, sperm transport time in the female reproductive tract to the site of fertilization, and lifespan of both gametes (sperm and ova), there is a broad window for the optimum time of A.I., of approximately 12 hours. The key component to timing of A.I. is frequent and accurate observation periods to determine the onset of estrus. X

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PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE

PAID

YOUR SUCCESS Our Passion.

SELECTIONS 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.

TM gender SELECTed, Program for Genetic Advancement, PGA are trademarks of Select Sires Inc. JPI and Jersey Udder Index (JUI) are trademarks of the American Jersey Cattle Association. ®NxGEN, ProfitMAX, WellnessPRO, Select Mating Service, SMS, and Select Reproductive Solutions, SRS, are registered trademarks of Select Sires Inc. CowManager is a registered trademark of Agis Automatisering. Dairy Wellness Profit Index, DWP$, Wellness Trait Index, WT$, are registered trademarks of Zoetis Inc., its affiliates and/or its licensors.

CLARIFIDE is a registered trademark of Zoetis Inc., its affiliates and/or its licensors. Total Performance Index (TPI) is a registered trademark of Holstein Association USA. ™Select DTX is a trademark of Select Sires Inc. and is manufactured by Agrarian Solutions®All claims, representation and warranties, expressed or implied, are made only by Agrarian Solutions and not by Select Sires Inc. Limitations and Conditions of Sale: gender SELECTed semen shall be used only for the single insemination of one female bovine during natural ovulation with the intent to produce single offspring unless specifically approved on an individual customer basis

by Sexing Technologies in writing. As a condition of purchasing gender SELECTed semen, the purchaser agrees that gender SELECTed semen will not be reverse sorted or re-sorted unless specifically permitted, in advance, on a case-by-case basis by Select Sires in writing. Select Sires intends to monitor the use of the gender SELECTed semen and vigorously enforce these restrictions on use. Please see http://www.selectsires. com/designations/genderselected.html for additional details.

Minster, Ohio 45865 Permit No. 2