HORIZONS, Beef Edition

HORIZONS Beef Edition

2019

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Vol. 23/No. 1 Published bi-annually for GENEX members and customers ADDRESS CORRESPONDENCE GENEX P.O. Box 469, Shawano, WI 54166 info@genex.coop 888.333.1783 www.genex.coop

COOPERATIVE COUNCIL John Ruedinger, President Van Dyne, WI, 920.922.9899 Bobby Robertson, 1st Vice President Tahlequah, OK, 918.822.0020 Harold House, 2nd Vice President Nokesville, VA, 571.722.3356 Ronald Totten, Secretary Stafford, NY, 585.344.0758 Jon Wayne Danielson Cadott, WI, 715.289.3860 Casey Dugan Casa Grande, AZ, 520.251.3492 Terry Frost Roundup, MT, 406.323.3415 Israel Handy St. Johnsville, NY, 518.568.5476 Lamar Gockley Mohnton, PA, 717.283.5586 Kay Olson-Martz Friendship, WI, 608.564.7359 Jody Schaap Woodstock, MN, 507.215.2257 Daniel Tetreault Champlain, NY, 518.298.8690 Bill Zimmerman Foley, MN, 320.355.2191

HORIZONS STAFF Jenny L. Hanson, Editor Andy Graf, Graphic Designer

CONTENTS 04 Spring Special 06 How to Give Multitasking Mamas

an Added Nutritional Boost 08 Seven Suggestions to Set

Calves Up for Top Performance 10 Calving Season Tips Feeding Colostrum to Your Calves

12 New Acquisitions 17 A Day in the Life of a

GENEX Breeding Project

22 Genetics Producing Profitable Results 44 Farms Buy-back Programs

24 We are GENEX 26 What is GENEX? The Annual Meeting Version

29 In the News Dugan Elected to Council, GENEX Announces Senior Leadership Team, Koepon and CRI combine to form URUS, GENEX Awarded $7.7 Million Grant, Delegate Elections Scheduled

31 New Photos

20 Stockmanship is Key During A.I. Breeding Projects

REPRINTS Material may not be reproduced in any fashion without permission from GENEX. Genex Cooperative, agents or employees, cannot and do not guarantee the conception rate, quality or productivity to be obtained in connection with the use of their products or recommended techniques. THEY MAKE NO WA R R A N T I E S O F A N Y K I N D W H AT S O E V E R E X P R E S S E D O R IMPLIED WHICH E X TENDS BE YOND THE DESCRIP TION OF THE PRODUC TS A ND HEREBY DISCL A IM A L L WA RR A NTIES OF MERCHANTABILIT Y AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICUL AR PURPOSE. In the unlikely event that any of the products shall be proven to be defective, damages resulting from their use shall be limited to their purchase price.

STATEMENT OF PURPOSE GENEX is the trusted provider of world-class animal genetics, progressive reproductive solutions, value-added products and innovative services to members and customers.

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5

How to

Give Multitasking Mamas an Added Nutritional Boost Article provided by BioZyme® Inc

Ask any new mother how she’s feeling and variations of “exhausted” will likely be uttered from her mouth.

If a new mama cow could talk, her answer might be the exact same, especially if she is a 2- or 3-year-old that has just delivered her first or second calf into the herd, while she’s still growing and developing herself.

That’s not all this multi-tasking mama is doing; she’s also lactating, caring for a calf and trying to prepare herself for the upcoming breeding season.

Producers put a lot of pressure on their cows. While they continue to grow and mature themselves, they are also growing a calf in their womb and hopefully generating an ample supply of high-quality colostrum.

On calving day, you expect them to deliver a healthy, vigorous calf unassisted, and get that calf up and nursing. Then, during peak lactation when nutrient needs are the highest, you also expect them to maintain their body condition, all while continuing to grow and being ready to rebreed 45-60 days after their calf is born.

“These are some unrealistic expectations we put on a cow in a very short amount of time, about 120 to 150 days of her life,” said Lindsey

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Grimes-Hall, Nutrition and Field Sales Manager for BioZyme® Inc. “Our cattle are genetically superior to what they were 50, 40, even 20 years ago so our nutrient requirements are also increased because they are genetically capable of more.

“Between genetics being better and our exceedingly high-performance expectations of that cow to stay in business, we have got to take care of her at a nutrient level that will allow her to reach optimal performance. If she’s not getting the groceries and goodies she needs, she is going to fall short. We’re going to want to blame it on the cow, but it’s not really her fault. We weren’t paying attention to what she needed.”

The hierarchy of nutrient partitioning applies to all vitamins, minerals, protein and energy according to Grimes-Hall, and a large portion of nutrients that an animal consumes each day goes toward maintenance.

Next, the remaining nutrients are used for the growth of the actual animal if they have not yet met maturity. If there are still a surplus of nutrients, these can be allotted for fetal growth and development. Finally, any remaining nutrients are then used for milk production, reproduction and weight gain – all critical to that younger cow that has just given birth.

“If you are lacking nutrition, milk production, reproduction and BCS are what are going to suffer

Hierarchy of nutrient use 1. Maintenance 2. Growth of the animal 3. Fetal growth and development 4. Milk production, reproduction, weight gain

“If she’s not getting the groceries and goodies she needs, she is going to fall short.” first,” Grimes-Hall said. “And that’s not even taking into consideration the weather.”

the cows too hard to get them overly fleshy because that could lead to bigger calves and calving difficulties.

Weather has a huge impact on basic maintenance requirements. When it is really cold, an animal is going to have to expend more energy to keep herself warm. Nutrient requirements tend to increase 10-25% in extremely cold weather, when many producers do calve.

Additional nutrition for your cows will depend on the region you live in and the resources available to you.

If you were able to make plentiful high-quality hay, you might be able to supplement with additional forage.

For others, adding grain to the diet might be necessary.

To prepare your cows for this “That’s the beauty of the beef industry. nutritionally challenging time of We can do so many different things their production cycle, Grimes-Hall to achieve the same result all across suggests making sure the younger the country,” she said. females are on a more positive plane of nutrition and exceeding some of One sure way to get added nutrients their nutrient requirements. As they into your herd’s diet while maximizing enter the last 30-45 days of gestation, the nutritional value of their feed, is an extra boost of protein and energy to feed with VitaFerm® Concept•Aid®. will help them with colostrum Concept•Aid is a line of vitamin and production, as well as their own mineral supplements for beef cattle maintenance. She warns not to push formulated to promote effective,

easy breeding when fed 60 days pre-calving through 60 days postbreeding. High concentrations of vitamin E and organic trace minerals, coupled with the Amaferm® advantage, supports quick repair of the reproductive tract and more energy for reproductive success.

Additionally, increased nutrient absorption and digestion leads to healthier and heavier calves giving you performance that pays.

The mama cow is a busy lady with raising a calf, maintaining her own body condition and getting reproductively in-shape for rebreeding. As producers, it’s your priority to make sure she has the nutrients she needs to handle the balancing act required to continue to be a high-performing, profitable part of your herd. Provide the nutrition she needs with VitaFerm® and the Amaferm® advantage. 

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7

Seven Suggestions to Set Calves Up for Top Performance

By Kevin Hill, D.V.M., Technical Services Manager, Merck Animal Health

In the cow/calf business, fall profits depend heavily on decisions producers make in the spring for both cows and calves. Keeping calves healthy and prepared for top marketing programs, as well as getting cows rebred, are universal keys to ranching success. Here are seven springtime management suggestions that will provide reproductive protection through breeding and gestation, plus build strong calf immunity to maximize their growth potential and be immunologically prepared to transition to the feedlot in the fall.

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1

Work with your veterinarian to build a health protocol specific to your herd. Your veterinarian is the best resource you have to identify the pathogens and disease challenges that are most important in your area. Vaccinations for cows should be focused on optimizing conception and preventing abortion, while prevention of respiratory disease is the most important element of calf vaccinations.

2

Vaccinate cows in the spring whenever possible.

Five to eight weeks before breeding is the ideal time to vaccinate cows for maximum reproductive protection. The focus is to protect against reproductive pathogens that can interfere with conception or trigger abortions. Administering a combination vaccine, such as Vista® 5 VL5 SQ, can accomplish this in one dose. And don’t forget to include trichomoniasis testing for bulls in your health protocol. There are no vaccines for trichomoniasis, so testing is the best option available.

3

Vaccinate calves for respiratory protection with a target on fall marketing health programs.

Spring is often our first opportunity to prime the calf’s immune system, so they rapidly respond to weaning vaccinations. The viruses of concern that need to be included in a vaccination program are Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis (IBR), Bovine Viral Diarrhea (BVD) and Bovine Respiratory Syncytial Virus (BRSV). The most prominent players for bacterial pneumonia are Mannheimia haemolytica and Pasteurella multocida. Look for combination vaccines, such as Vista Once SQ, that address all the important respiratory viruses and both bacteria. For more information about calf preconditioning protocols, visit www.cattleprimevac.com.

4

Use intranasal vaccines in calves younger than 5 months of age. Intranasal vaccines, such as Nasalgen® IP and Once PMH® IN, stimulate a strong immune response directly on mucosal surfaces in the nose – the major route of respiratory infection in cattle. Intranasal vaccines also are less stressful on the young calf than vaccines given under the skin and escape interference from maternal antibodies in colostrum.

Bovilis® Coronavirus is the newest intranasal vaccine that can be used in newborns to reduce scours caused by the bovine coronavirus.

5

Eliminate internal parasites before turnout. There’s no shortage of evidence that shows if parasites are effectively eliminated, the cow will eat more, milk better and produce a heavier calf. Because of documented parasite resistance to ivermectin products, the most effective strategy to control internal parasites should include fenbendazole, the active ingredient in Safe-Guard®. Using Safe-Guard with an ivermectin pouron for external parasites will achieve a near 100% parasite kill and slow the development of resistance.1 Consult with your veterinarian to assist with the diagnosis, treatment and control strategies for internal parasites.

6

Control pinkeye with vaccination and management.

Because pinkeye is a significant health problem in many parts of the country, a combination of vaccination and fly control is recommended for complete control. Fly tags in cows and calves can be very helpful in areas with heavy fly pressure.2

7

Consider implanting all calves at branding.

Implanting a calf will add 20 to 25 pounds to the weaning weight and an extra $40 in revenue for just a $1.25-per-head investment.3 Unless a producer has a solid contract for a “natural” program that guarantees a premium of $40 or more, implants should be part of his spring turnout program for all calves older than 1 month of age.

After you have taken the steps to ensure optimal calf health, be sure to document the products and practices you have used. A signed certificate, especially one signed by your veterinarian, will add value to your calves.

Documentation should be comprised of vaccination, parasite control and other treatments, including the product, what it’s for and the date applied. Print a copy to accompany the calves when they go to market. Buyers pay $15 to $35 more per head for calves with that kind of documented health history.4  References: (1) Yazwinski, T. A., Tucker, C. A., Powell, J., Jones, L. and Wray, E. Considerations for control of helminths in stocker cattle. The Bovine Practitioner, Vol. 47, No. 2.

(2) Derouen, S. M., Foil, L. D., Knox, J. W. and Turpin, J. M. Horn fly (diptera: muscidae) control and weight gains of yearling beef cattle. Journal of Economic Entomology.

Vol. 88, Issue 3; pp. 666-668.

(3) Selk, G. (1997) Implants for Suckling Steer and Heifer Calves and Potential Replacement Heifers. Proceedings: Impact of Implants on Performance and Carcass Value of Beef Cattle. Oklahoma State University, P-957. Pg 40.4. Superior Livestock Sale data report 2018.

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9

Calving Season Tips: Feeding Colostrum to Your Calves Provided by SCCL

The single, most important meal a calf will consume in its lifetime is the first feeding of colostrum. Knowing when and how to assist your calves with colostrum is the first step to achieving a successful calving season.

Under what circumstance do calves need to receive a colostrum supplement or replacement?

There are many circumstances when producers should feed a colostrum product. These include very cold (or warm) weather, twin births, and calves born to first-calf heifers with poor mothering instinct and low quantity of colostrum; however, calves born with difficulty (also known as dystocia) are at the greatest risk for failure of passive transfer of immunity, since they are often slow to get up and suckle.

Additionally, their ability to absorb antibodies may be compromised due to the delay of nursing and altered metabolic parameters. Whenever calves are born with intervention or

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assistance, the calf should always be given at least a supplemental dose of colostrum, if not a full replacement dose. Also, producers should consider supplementing any calf that has not suckled within 1-2 hours of birth to get them started.

the calf up and suckling – a good quality colostrum supplement or replacer is an excellent alternative to ensure the calf receives a timely first meal. If colostrum has been delayed past 2 hours, feed larger amounts to compensate for reduced absorption.

When should colostrum be fed?

How much colostrum do calves need?

With each minute that passes after birth, a calf’s ability to absorb antibodies is reduced. By 24 hours the gut is almost completely closed and can no longer absorb antibodies.

Colostrum must be fed as soon as possible after birth, ideally within 1-2 hours. If bottle or tube feeding is necessary – when it is not possible to milk the cow immediately or get

When it comes to colostrum, research shows more is better. Most veterinarians now recommend calves receive at least 1 gallon or 4 liters of good quality colostrum, which should provide calves with 150-200g of IgG. New USDA National Animal Health Monitoring System recommendations suggest at least 200g IgG to achieve

“excellent” passive transfer. Quality colostrum replacers can be used when the dam does not provide enough volume or where colostral quality and IgG concentration is low.

A significant percentage of first-calf heifers produce only small volumes of colostrum, sometimes less than 1 liter, so their calves would benefit from a colostrum supplement or replacer.

Should cold weather calves be treated differently?

Calves have a thermal neutral zone of 59 to 77°F (15 to 25°C), and calves are often born into conditions much colder than this. Calves need a timely feeding of colostrum to warm them by providing energy to shiver and thermoregulate. Colostrum contains unique colostral fat that initiates metabolism of brown fat stores which fuels the calf’s internal furnace for heat and energy to get up, suckle, stay warm and stay alive.

Can producers use colostrum from their own cows, and if so, how?

What should I look for in a colostrum product?

Herd colostrum can be used to supplement calves of other dams, but to be done right, it is a demanding process. Colostrum should be collected with sanitized equipment within 2 hours of birth.

Then, it should be tested with a refractometer or hydrometer to measure quality; only colostrum that meets parameters consistent with high IgG levels should be used. The colostrum should be cooled in small 1L or less containers as quickly as possible since bacteria numbers double every 20 minutes. Then, the colostrum should be stored either in a refrigerator for no more than 48 hours or frozen for no more than a year. Avoid freezing and thawing repeatedly as this may reduce the quality and life span of colostrum.

It is unwise to use colostrum from neighboring dairy farms as this is a risk for introducing disease agents into the herd, even from farms using an on-farm pasteurizer.

The most effective colostrum products are derived from bovine colostrum. Examine ingredient labels carefully. Most products are made from various sources and include a formula of proteins and fats from these sources. Colostrumbased products contain all the immune, metabolic and growth factors naturally found in maternal colostrum. As previously stated, one crucial ingredient is colostral fat, which is essential for activating brown fat metabolism, an important energy source required by the calf immediately after birth. Products that contain blood or whey with added vegetable and animal fats not naturally found in colostrum do not provide the same benefits for the calf, and some of these products contain no actual colostrum at all. Look for products that are regulated by the USDA and backed by numerous safety and efficacy studies published in scientific journals.

What are the impacts of good colostrum feeding practices on long-term productivity?

The financial benefits of good colostrum feeding practices due to improvements on tangible production parameters are often overlooked.

Ensuring proper colostrum intake can improve average daily gain, improved health with reduced treatment and more efficient feed conversion. Lastly, a calf that does not achieve passive transfer of immunity is four times more likely to die, and mortality has extremely negative impacts on bottom line. 

Available Now!

Ask your GENEX representative about Calf’s Choice Total® HiCal colostrum and PureStart™ Colostrum.

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1SM00175 BLUESTEM

Reg#: 3520573

J Bar J Nightride 225Z x RCR Quick Draw B65

Watch Video

$ 20 CED

BW

WW

YW

ADG

15.5 -0.9 70.8 115.4 0.28 .43 .49 .48 .48 .48 15% 25% 30% 15%

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10%

MCE

MM

MWW

STAY

DOC

CW

YG

MB

BF

REA

SHR

API

TI

8.3 21.0 56.3 17.6 10.5 39.0 -0.32 0.30 -0.029 1.14 -0.38 141.8 76.3 .26 .42 .43 .24 .34 .44 .34 .41 .31 .44 .05

20%

25%

20%

30%

1%

30%

15%

20%

EPDs as of 3.29.2019 (Angus), 3.24.2019 (Red Angus), 4.1.2019 (Hereford), 3.26.2019 (Simmental)

Up-to-date EPDs at Your Fingertips All the Time.

To search for sires, view the latest EPDs, sort bulls on traits and indexes, see photos and watch videos, download the GENEX Beef app today!

The NEW ESTROTECT™ Breeding Indicator featuring patent pending Breeding Bullseye™ technology makes it easier than ever to identify cows that are in heat, pinpoint timing for AI and Timed AI protocols, as well as confirm successful pregnancies.

BREED

DON’T BREED

According to third-party research, when the new ESTROTECT™ Breeding Bullseye™ is rubbed off by mounting activity, cows are up to three times more likely to conceive. Not only does ESTROTECT™ with the Breeding Bullseye™ indicate when a cow is in heat, it tells you exactly when the animal should be bred to achieve optimal results.

©2018 ESTROTECT. ESTROTECT and As Good As A Bull are trademarks of Rockway, Inc.

A Day in the Life of a

GENEX Breeding Project

By Sarah Thorson, Beef Marketing and Education Manager, GENEX

Have you ever wondered what a day on a large artificial insemination (A.I.) breeding project is like?

The logistics and planning required can seem overwhelming and is often the reason producers choose not to A.I. However, if the logistics can be solved – and they most always can – the advantages of A.I. can help improve the ranch’s bottom line. Think more calves born earlier in the breeding season, the ability to use proven genetics and value-added replacement females.

Follow along as I take you through a recent breeding project and show you why GENEX is known for offering the industry’s best chute‑side service!

6:00 a.m.

7:30 a.m.

I make my way down to the hotel lobby where Justin Hergenreder, GENEX Beef Large Herd Development Manager, is anxiously waiting to get on the road. Justin is the logistics guy on our team. If you are concerned about the facilities, time or labor involved in a breeding project, Justin is the person to talk to. While I grab a cup of coffee and a quick bite to eat, Justin briefs me on the day’s events. We have about 550 total head of cows to breed today at two different locations. Talk about logistics! As always, Justin has a plan, and I am confident the day will go smoothly.

After a quick trip to the local doughnut shop to get a treat for the cowboy crew, we arrive at the ranch. We are just getting there, but the ranch’s cowboy crew has already been hard at work. They have gathered the first group of cows and are just finishing sorting the calves off. Troy Carruthers and Matt Dolezal, GENEX Independent Contractors, arrive about the same time we do, and we get to work setting up the double-stall breeding barn, filling thaw units with water and making sure the A.I. gun warmers are plugged in. The portable breeding barn is the one piece of equipment that makes it possible to breed cows almost anywhere. If you have some

kind of corral and alley (portable, temporary or permanent), we can back up our breeding barn to it and, when things are moving smoothly, can easily breed 80 females an hour.

8:15 a.m.

The first cows start rolling through the chute right on schedule. There are about 280 cows to be bred at the first location. We fall quickly into our rolls. Justin, Troy and Matt take turns A.I.ing in a three-man rotation, while I start off the morning thawing semen.

Today, we are using semen from 1AN01300 INVESTMENT. The ranch feeds their own calves, so INVESTMENT was a great choice as

A portable breeding barn makes it possible to breed cows almost anywhere. The breeding barn can be backed up to a portable, temporary or permanent corral and alley for efficient and stress-free breeding.

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With 280 cows to breed this morning, three people rotate to conduct A.I. while another thaws semen and loads the A.I. guns.

his progeny are known to feed well.

That, however, isn’t the only reason they chose him. INVESTMENT also has a 103 PregCheck™ ranking. The PregCheck™ fertility ranking system, proprietary to GENEX, is the first of its kind in the beef industry and evaluates an individual sire’s frozen semen conception rate. While everyone knows some A.I. sires get more cows pregnant than others, in the past it was difficult to measure a bull’s conception ability. Now with PregCheck™ rankings, we can do just that! At a 103 ranking, we expect INVESTMENT to achieve about three more pregnancies per 100 breedings than his contemporaries. On the 550 cows we are going to breed today, that’s 16 extra A.I. calves!

1:00 p.m.

3:45 p.m.

After a quick breeding barn picnic consisting of Little Debbie® Honey Buns and Double Stuf OREO cookies (no one said a breeding project would be good for your diet), we are back at work. This time Matt takes a turn thawing semen, and I jump into the breeding rotation.

I look out the back window of the breeding barn, and the corral behind the alley is nearly empty! The last few cows flow smoothly through the barn, and we are finished! We pack everything up and hook the barn to Troy’s pick-up, so he can drop it off where we will be breeding cows tomorrow. There are another 300 to breed tomorrow morning! I hop into the passenger seat of Justin’s truck.

It’s been an awesome day. Things couldn’t have gone smoother, but all I want now is a cheeseburger, fries and a hot shower!

Even though I’ve been breeding cows for almost 20 years, my job as the GENEX Beef Marketing and Education Manager keeps me at my desk most days, so I love any opportunity to be out on a breeding project. I always learn something and am amazed at how efficiently our team can manage a project of this magnitude. Everyone has a role to play. As I indicated earlier, Justin is the logistics guy. He takes his job very seriously. While he is always up for a joke in the breeding barn, he also sets the tone and keeps things moving. He is also the cleanest A.I. technician I have ever seen; don’t you dare run into him with a poopy glove on! Matt is our Angus genetics and pedigree guru. I would put Matt’s eye for cattle up against just about anyone. He knows what it takes to make a good one. Troy is the energizer bunny of the breeding barn.

He never seems to get tired. The rest of us are always willing to take a turn thawing semen so we can stand in one place for a while. Not Troy. He wants to be where the action is.

This is just one example of a recent GENEX breeding project. Nearly every day of the spring breeding season, our 17 full-time employees and 180 independent contractors are working on breeding projects of all sizes throughout the U.S. Don’t let logistics be the thing that keeps you from using A.I. to add value to your breeding program. Our team has the experience to help you make a plan that will achieve your goals. Whether looking to add value to replacement females, have more calves born earlier in the breeding season or benefit from use of proven genetics, we will be with you every step of the way! 

Chute-side service breeding projects are a team effort. You get the cattle to the alleyway, and GENEX takes care of the breeding!

11:30 a.m.

We are just finishing up the first group of cows. The cowboy crew loads up their horses and heads five miles down the road to the next group while we clean up the breeding barn, hook it up to Justin’s pick-up and head out. When we arrive at the next location, it’s a tight squeeze for the breeding barn, but we get backed up and get to work putting everything back where it belongs while the crew finishes up sorting.

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Engineered for

the farm.

Photo by Michaela Mann.

XC-20 Signature The XC-20 Signature is engineered specifically for farm use by our precision manufacturing design. The XC-20 Signature includes our Bend Don’t Break and Semen Safe technologies, enhancing the durability and efficiency of the tank. The liquid nitrogen safety deflector diverts liquid nitrogen away from the pump-out valve in case of liquid nitrogen overflow.

Chart/MVE Industries Inc.

BioMedical

407 7th St NW New Prague, Minnesota, USA 56071 Tel: 1-800-683-1387 MVE.Request@chartindustries.com For more information visit chartindustries.com or check us out on social media! Š 2018 Chart Industries. All Rights Reserved.

Stockmanship is Key During A.I. Breeding Projects

By Justin Hergenreder, Beef Large Herd Development Manager, GENEX

Once you have made the progressive decision to implement artificial insemination (A.I.) into your cow herd there is one big word you need to focus on: STOCKMANSHIP. Stockmanship is the knowledgeable and skillful handling of livestock in a safe, efficient, effective and low stress manner (Stockmanship Journal).

It’s important to practice good stockmanship skills whenever handling cattle, but it’s especially important when you have a group of females set up for A.I. Realize this is going to be the third time in 20 days the females have gone through your facilities, you have manipulated their hormones and, if you’re A.I.ing cows, there are now calves involved. That might sound like a lot at first, but the results next spring or fall will be well worth it!

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The right crew can be the difference in making your A.I. breeding program successful.

In my experience, there are a few simple things you can do during an A.I. project that will make your day much more enjoyable.

1. Get the right crew I’m talking about your cowboy crew.

GENEX will provide you with an excellent breeding crew. You can count on that!

What you need to do is get your crew involved and excited about your A.I. project. Don’t be afraid to talk to your crew about a few things ahead of time like making sure they are on time, someone is in charge of supplies, everyone sees the value in A.I. and reminding them this is a little different from branding or weaning day.

With an A.I. project involving mature cows, her calf is now added to the equation. Stay with me now; it’s not that bad! Anyone who has A.I.ed mature cows will tell you the first time was a little uneasy because they didn’t know what to expect. It just becomes a part of the process in the years to follow.

GENEX can help with minor changes to your facilities to get pairs split in a safe, low stress and efficient manner.

Little things, such as removing the bottom two rails of a panel for calves to go under and be put in a separate holding pen, can be an easy add-on to any facility.

As an A.I. technician myself, I know firsthand standing behind cattle that have had a hot shot used on them in the alley makes for an unsafe work environment, and I don’t like it.

Instead, use tools such as flag whips, sorting sticks or fiberglass poles.

Items such as these reduce the stress level of the cattle, and when the cattle aren’t stressed neither is the crew. Everyone wins!

Remember, it doesn’t take much to make your A.I. project a success. A little stockmanship goes a long way.

Don’t be afraid to talk to your crew beforehand about what is expected, and never miss an opportunity to

When it comes to gathering, sorting and getting cattle through the A.I. barn, nothing is worse than having people there who don’t believe in what you are doing. If your cowboy crew is excited about A.I. day, they are calmer, more patient and easier on cattle. All of these things will translate to more pregnancies and more money in your pocket.

When it comes to crews handling cattle, it is helpful to remember less is more. Less people with more experience and patience will yield better results almost every time. The right crew will be the difference in your success.

2. Facility design When it comes to facilities, it’s not about trying to reinvent the wheel; it’s about making sure everything is in the right place so you can do more with less. With a virgin heifer A.I. project, you can usually leave everything the way you have it for everyday use. There is not much sorting that needs to happen, and facilities are usually designed to process yearling size cattle.

Keep both the crew and cattle calm. Don’t use hot shots. Instead, if needed, use tools like flag whips, sorting sticks or fiberglass poles.

See how one person can sort pairs without additional labor or stress. http://bit.ly/SortingCow-CalfPairs.

Watch Video

3. Cattle Handling First things first, please do your A.I. crew a favor and check everyone’s truck, trailer and even their saddlebags to ensure every hot shot was left at home! The WORST tool someone can bring to an A.I. project is a hot shot with fresh batteries.

help someone correct what he or she is doing to make things run smoother. Handling cattle is an everlearning process, and every situation is unique. Sometimes you have to be creative and think outside of the box. If you have any questions or would like some help on your next A.I. project, please feel free to contact me anytime. 

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Genetics Producing Profitable Results Today’s beef industry is more complex than ever before. Innovation and creativity are critical to cultivating a long-lasting future. This is why GENEX and 44 Farms have teamed together to provide you with an outstanding combination of quality Angus genetics, chute-side service and a buy-back feeder calf program.

The process is simple. Purchase semen from 44 Farms’ bulls from your GENEX representative. These sires make easy-on-the-eyes daughters and sons that excel at the bunk, perfect for marketing or retaining. Remember, your GENEX representative is available to assist with mating and chute-side service.

To qualify for the buy-back program, you must also meet 44 Farms’ calf care requirements and benchmarks which lead to the finest experience for the consumer. Once certified that the requirements are met, weight standards are in compliance and body condition is acceptable, 44 Farms buys back the weaned and pre-conditioned calves. That’s added value to your bottom line.

Never-Ever (NE3)

Prime Pursuits

Feeder Calf Program

Feeder Calf Program

Never-Ever (NE3). No Antibiotics, No Hormones and No Ionophores

No Hormones Added

All Natural Certification

Meet the USDA Definition of Angus

Predominately 44 Farms Genetics

Weaned for a Minimum of 45 Days

Meet the USDA Definition of Angus

No More Than 90 Days from Youngest to Oldest in Group

Follow Our RightWay® Animal Health Protocols Weaned for a Minimum of 45 Days No More Than 90 Days from Youngest to Oldest in Group Subject to Minimal Sort by a 44 Farms Representative to Ensure Uniformity

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Predominately Angus Strong® Genetics

Subject to Minimal Sort by a 44 Farms Representative to Ensure Uniformity

1AN01231 EF AUTHENTIC 0829

G A R New Design 5050 x S S Objective T510 0T26 AUTHENTIC is a proven calving-ease bull siring fast growing, short-haired cattle with added carcass value.

Reg#: 16822472 Watch Video

AUTHENTIC sires docile, easy-on-the-eyes daughters along with stout-made sons that are easy to sell or make money with at the bunk.

With more premiums being paid on the rail, AUTHENTIC will be used by cattlemen who capture value on fat cattle.

1AN01325 44 ENVISION

Reg#: 17448751

A A R Ten X 7008 S A x G A R Predestined A proven double-digit calving-ease sire, ENVISION offers plenty of growth and carcass merit.

Watch Video

Calves come easy, get up quick and excel at the bunk. Expect his moderate-framed progeny to convert well and capture premiums on the rail.

Daughters are moderate-framed, easy-fleshing, short-haired females that are super consistent in their kind.

1AN01429 44 COMMON

SENSE 6160

Reg#: 18425958

V A R Index 3282 x Werner War Party 2417 COMMON SENSE sorts into the upper echelon for carcass merit genetics with his breedleading end-product merit EPDs and $ indexes.

On the hoof, COMMON SENSE is expressive in his muscle shape, capacious in his center rib and correct in his design.

1AN01428 RIVERBEND PERFECT

GAME A757

Reg#: 17597590

Connealy Impression x G A R Predestined PERFECT GAME combines superior phenotype with a strong EPD profile. He is a visual standout with a semi-proven data set that puts him in the top tier for CED and growth combined with outstanding $W and $B values.

He adds body mass and pounds to any calf crop.

The bottom side of his pedigree is filled with breed legends like 1I98 and 2536.

For more information on the 44 Farms buy-back programs: 254.697.4401 // INFO@44FARMS.COM // 44FARMS.COM

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We are GENEX

By Huub te Plate, Chief Operating Officer, GENEX

Member representation at GENEX is achieved by dairy and beef producer members across the USA electing delegates and alternates for their respective membership region. In addition to electing the GENEX council members (also dairy and beef producers from across the USA), these delegates and alternates represent members’ interests at two important events during the year: fall input meetings and the annual meeting. During both events, delegates and alternates hear from and provide input to the cooperative’s council and management.

The delegate input meetings are always interactive. The typical agenda for the event includes a director’s report with financial, governance and strategic information as well as a management report focused on GENEX and industry happenings. For many delegates, the highlight is what comes next: input sessions where we ask delegates and alternates for feedback on particular topics.

Most recently, we asked delegates what sets GENEX apart, how do we want to differentiate GENEX and how should GENEX be identified as a brand? In essence, besides delivering world-class products and services, what do you want GENEX to be? Your delegates’ top answers are listed below.

What is GENEX? Here's how your member-elected delegates describe GENEX.

Cooperative

Maintain our status as the top bovine genetics cooperative.

Quality

Continue to provide quality products and services to members and customers.

Reliable

This speaks to our knowledgeable and friendly staff and the dependability of our products.

Innovation

Research-based technologies should continue to serve us well into the future.

Service

Carry on the tradition of providing timely, resourceful and problem-solving service.

Affordable

Continue to offer competitive, cost-effective prices.

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These six cornerstones were not surprising. Delegates (and members) value our status as a cooperative. Grassroot input is essential to any farmer-governed cooperative. Quality speaks for itself; outstanding genetics as well fertile semen create pregnancies. Reliable, knowledgeable, friendly, dependable staff – this is where we excel. While in a commoditized world product can be copied to some degree but having first-class staff cannot.

Like a professional sports team, outstanding individuals can be drafted or bought, but it’s the team that brings home the championship.

Innovation is another area we take pride in. GENEX and our predecessors have established many industry firsts. On the beef side of our business, some examples include chute-side reproductive service and our beef sire fertility rankings (known as PregCheck™ rankings).

Count on the GENEX team of professionals for their quality work, dependability and reliability, and their dedication to delivering solutions as a service.

Service. It was great to hear delegates comment over and over that GENEX is “more than arm service.” We deliver solutions as a service. Well-educated and knowledgeable staff provide answers to many issues. If answers were not provided on the spot, delegates reported excellent follow-up.

Affordable. We have a challenging dairy and beef economy, and being cost effective is a must. Just a couple months ago, GENEX became a cooperative within URUS. The URUS group drives cost effectiveness in the breeding program, semen production and back-office functions. Just as you look at where you can become more efficient in your operation, so do we.

We have found our definition of “We are GENEX.” Directors and delegates have given us the guide to follow. I trust you will see the top six GENEX traits come through in our daily actions and communications with members and customers. 

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What is GENEX? The Annual Meeting Version

By Terri Dallas, Vice President of Member Relations, GENEX

The 2019 GENEX annual meeting held Jan. 22-23 in Bloomington, Minnesota, was a perfect example of what GENEX is and what GENEX stands for.

The annual meeting is about beef and dairy producers. It’s about cooperative members, delegates and alternates. It’s about sharing the results of the previous year and plans for the future. It’s about learning, providing input and making a difference. It’s also about talking to producers from all over the USA with the same challenges. It’s about making new friends and visiting with old friends. It’s about sitting back, relaxing, laughing and having fun.

And yet, it’s more. It’s about being a cooperative. It’s what GENEX is.

It’s hard to talk about the annual meeting and not reflect on the quality of the breakout sessions and speakers. In a presentation

by Jeff Swenson, Vice President of Beef Marketing, Sales and Product Development, and Brad Johnson, Director of Beef Genetics, delegates

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The annual meeting provided delegates the opportunity to learn about the array of new herd care line products available from GENEX.

and alternates heard firsthand how GENEX Beef is growing and changing to meet market demands.

Luncheon speaker Amberley Snyder brought the crowd to their feet at the conclusion of her very timely and touching talk, “There is No Future in Giving Up.” Delegates and alternates also had the chance to visit with GENEX product experts about the reliable

Herd Care Line products such as Push™ calf nutritional paste and new colostrum products from URUS partner SCCL. Your cooperative is proud to be known for innovation through the development of many industry firsts.

Annual meeting attendees got an in-depth look at some of the newest GENEX ideas, including the features and future vision of the GENEX Beef

Sarah Thorson, Beef Marketing Manager, shared with delegates the current features of the GENEX Beef Bull Search app and future capabilities as the app continues to evolve.

App. The newly launched mobile app allows users to have up-to-date beef information, pictures and videos at their fingertips.

Thank you to the GENEX delegates and alternates for their service to the cooperative. As member-elected delegates, one of their duties at the annual meeting was to caucus with others from their membership region and elect their GENEX council member. There was ample time to provide input on GENEX membership appreciation meetings and fall delegate meetings as well.

For many, the highlight of the GENEX annual meeting was the presentation by Michael Sleeper, GENEX Associate Vice President of International Beef Marketing. The presentation took attendees through his 40-year journey in global A.I. Michael’s talk captured the attention

of many who had relied on GENEX and its predecessors for semen and services because it was high quality and affordable – just as you’d expect from a cooperative.

Quality. Reliable. Innovation. Service.

Affordable. Cooperative. In his address to the delegate body during the annual meeting, GENEX council President John Ruedinger expressed his optimism for the future

of GENEX. “If we hold fast to what GENEX is, then GENEX will be here for the next generation of producers.

We will remain relevant to members by asking for their feedback and responding to their needs, and we will ensure the next generation of producers is involved in and driving their cooperative’s future.”

What is GENEX? GENEX is your cooperative. 

HORIZONS

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27

High Altitude

Standout 1AN01454 PAINTROCK

TRAPPER

Reg#: 2703910

Paintrock Mountain Man x Isaacs Alliance 7161 TRAPPER offers real-world maternal genetics with worlds of mating flexibility.

Look to him for added foot quality, body capacity and fleshing ability.

Four-year-old TRAPPER received a PAP score of 40 at 7280’ elevation!

CED

HPG

CEM

MILK

9 0.5 66 111 0.23 1.13 19 12.9 .36 .74 .67 .46 .19 .34 .28 .15

BW

WW

YW

7 .23

26 .28

30% 35% 15% 20%

RADG

35%

SCR

DOC

25% 35% 20%

35%

MKH

MW

12 0.25

MH

$EN

CW

MARB

RE

FAT

0.1 -11.32 43 0.35 0.27 0.011 0.3 0.37 0.31 0.32 0.28 35%

Carc H/P Ult H/P

1 2

$W

$F

$G

$B

71.08 71.39 25.57 126.8 10%

25% EPDs as of 4.1.2019

Dugan Elected to GENEX Council

Four Council Members Re-elected At the GENEX annual meeting, dairy producer Casey Dugan of Casa Grande, Arizona, was elected to his first term on the cooperative’s governing council after serving as a delegate since 2014. In this council position, he represents dairy and beef producers in the GENEX membership region which includes Washington, Oregon, California, Nevada, Utah, Casey Dugan Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas.

Four incumbents were also re-elected to the GENEX council. Those re-elected to new three-year terms include Dan Tetreault of Champlain, New York; Lamar Gockley of Mohnton, Pennsylvania; Kay Olson-Martz of Friendship, Wisconsin; and Jody Schaap of Woodstock, Minnesota. 

GENEX Announces Senior Leadership Team “Change is inevitable,” states Huub te Plate, GENEX Chief Operating Officer. “2018 went into the books as the year GENEX became part of a new organization, URUS. While we continue to market cattle genetics, herd care products and reproductive service, as part of this new organization we can realize significant savings.”

The formation of URUS and centralization of operations, along with the desire to position GENEX for the future, also led to a restructuring of the GENEX senior leadership team.

“The new leadership team is an experienced multicultural team that, with the help of all employees, will move GENEX to the next level and enable this cooperative to serve dairy and beef producers around the globe long into the future,” states Huub.

The senior leadership team consists of Dean Gilge, Vice President of Wholesale Markets; Dave Goedken, Vice President of U.S. Dairy Sales and Service; Judd Hanson, Vice President of U.S. Dairy Strategic Sales; Nick Hemauer, Vice President of Global Sales Support; Dave Mellinger, Chief Financial Officer; Humberto Sánchez DVM, General Manager of GENEX México; Sergio Saud, General Manager of GENEX Brazil; Jeff Swenson, Vice President of Beef Sales, Service and Product Development; and Terri Dallas, Vice President of Member Relations. 

Koepon and CRI combine to form URUS Two strong organizations – one cooperative and one privately-owned company – have combined to form a new global leader in cattle artificial insemination genetics and farm management information.

Koepon Holding BV and Cooperative Resources International (CRI) announced their intent to merge in December 2017. Following due diligence and votes by each organization’s board of directors as well as the member delegates of CRI, the business combination was completed in October 2018. The new organization is known as URUS. “While URUS is a new name in the global agriculture industry, its roots run deep,” states Cees Hartmans, CEO. “The companies within the URUS family – AgSource, Alta

Genetics, GENEX, Jetstream Genetics, PEAK/GENESIS, SCCL and VAS – have a history of serving dairy and beef producers across the world. Now, as part of this new organization, these companies are even better positioned to meet the future needs of members and clients.”

The formation of URUS, with its size and scale, makes possible a significant increase in investment towards products and services that will benefit producers across the globe.

“The companies of URUS will be leaders in new developments for the cattle industry,” states Hartmans.

“Dairy and beef cattle producers are the heart of this organization, and so we want to ensure our members and clients have access to the

best products and services at a competitive price. We want to be your partner of choice for cattle genetics, reproduction and farm management information for years to come.

“Together, we can focus on producing high-quality and healthy food while contributing to a sustainable, productive and profitable global dairy and beef industry.”  HORIZONS

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GENEX Awarded $7.7 Million Grant

for International Development Work

with local partners to provide training and conduct the first inseminations.

Opportunities like this - within the grant-funded venture - create new markets for GENEX products while also benefitting smallholder farmers.

In the previous round of funding, GENEX CDP activities in South Africa helped 13 cooperatives achieve substantial growth. In eight years, the cooperatives experienced a 713% growth in sales, 510% growth in profit and near-total growth in patronage dividends.

GENEX staff trained Ikhephu Cooperative in beef cattle genetics and artificial insemination as part of a Cooperative Development Program in South Africa..

Farmer cooperatives in South Africa and Peru will improve their profitability, productivity, resilience and competitiveness in the marketplace as the result of a new five-year, $7.7 million grant from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). This project coordinated by GENEX will build on work completed in the previous eight years through similar grant-funded activities.

GENEX is the program partner for this USAID Cooperative Development Program (CDP), which focuses on building the capacity of cooperative businesses for self-reliance, local ownership and sustainability. As a cooperative, GENEX values living out the cooperative principle of cooperation among cooperatives.

“The CDP is an opportunity for our cooperative to share its business values while using its products and services to improve farms of all shapes and sizes worldwide,” explains Matt Gartman, a dairy farmer from Sheboygan, Wisconsin, who participated in the previous GENEX CDP activities in South Africa by presenting on cooperative governance.

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Since 2010, GENEX has helped build South African agricultural cooperative businesses. The goal has been to elevate these developing businesses as suppliers to local and regional processors, sellers of value-added products, and buyers of inputs from local and regional firms.

For example, during the first phase, GENEX staff with expertise in beef cattle genetics and reproduction traveled to South Africa to provide consultation and training to a cooperative desiring to offer artificial insemination services to members.

The GENEX representatives worked

With the new five-year, $7.7 million grant, GENEX intends to further support South African and Peruvian dairy and beef producers and their cooperatives through business-planning guidance, technical assistance from industry mentors, better access to affordable financing, and finally, training and networking to develop sound cooperative governance.

After his experience in South Africa, Gartman states, “It’s clear the CDP has and will provide farmers with an opportunity to grow their livelihoods while also bringing value-added U.S. goods to an expanding market.

It’s all about cooperatives helping cooperatives succeed in the global agriculture industry.” 

Delegate Elections Scheduled for July Last year the GENEX council decided, with input from delegates and alternates, to change the annual membership qualification period and the delegate election timeframe. The membership qualification period is now May 1 through April 30. For example, to qualify as a member in 2019, a customer had to spend $500 on GENEX semen, products and/ or services between May 1, 2018, and April 30, 2019. In addition, they need to have a membership agreement on file GENEX members who meet the above-mentioned requirements will receive a self-nominating postcard in early June. The self-nomination postcards must be returned to GENEX in Shawano, Wisconsin, and then ballots will be created using the self-nominated names. Ballots will be mailed to GENEX members in early July. 

Old Favorites,

New Photos 3SCC DOMAIN A163

1AR00960 DOMAIN Beckton Dominator T122 Z1 x Basin Hobo 0545 Reg#: 1619642 Watch Video

S A V CATALYST 6704

1AN01406 CATALYST S A V Resource 1441 x S A V Final Answer 0035 Reg#: 18579117 Watch Video

VERMILION RE-RIDE

1AN01462 RE-RIDE Connealy Spur x CCA Hay Buster 846T Reg#: 18508640 Watch Video

The GENEX and A.I. Advantage 3 Access to proven genetics at a reasonable cost 3 More calves born earlier in the breeding season means more dollars in your pocket at weaning Increased weaning weights More uniform calf crop

3 Increased value of replacement females Calves born earlier means more heifers cycling at the start of the breeding season Heifers that calve early in the season with their first calf are more likely to calve early in breeding seasons throughout their lifetime

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