December 2010 Dairy Horizons

Horizons December 2010

In This Issue …

■ December Proof News ■ Genomics -A Risk Analysis -Examining its Predictive Power ■ Farm Features from Quebec, Minnesota and Wisconsin

More Reasons to Choose

Sun Valley SV Vicky 501JE00639 SUN VALLEY

Trinity's Allstar Melody 501JE00654 ALLSTAR

Drinkall Gratitude Class 751JE00604 GANNON-PR

With a lineup of diverse strengths, there is a sire for every mating.

Bring out the best of your next generation with sires from the Genex GenChoice lineup.

T ab l e of contents

Horizons December 2010 Vol. 16/No. 4 Published four times a year for dairy producers around the globe.

Address correspondence Cooperative Resources International 117 E. Green Bay Street, P. O. Box 469, Shawano, WI 54166 info@crinet.com

888.333.1783

www.crinet.com

BOARD OF DIRECTORS Duane J. Nelson, President Winthrop, Minn., 507.647.2540

Jimmy Franks, 1st Vice President Waynesboro, Ga., 706.437.0527

John J. Ruedinger, 2nd Vice President Van Dyne, Wis., 920.922.9899

Paul Greene, Secretary Berlin, N.Y., 518.658.2419

Jacques Couture Westfield, Vt., 802.744.2733

Jim Crocker Valley City, Ohio, 330.483.3709

Jon Wayne Danielson Cadott, Wis., 715.289.3860

Kay Olson-Martz Friendship, Wis., 608.564.7359

Bobby Robertson Tahlequah, Okla., 918.456.2357

Ronald Totten Stafford, N.Y., 585.344.0758

Clarence Van Dyke Manhattan, Mont., 406.282.7579

Richard Vold Glenwood, Minn., 320.634.4665

Alfred Wanner, Jr. Narvon, Pa., 717.768.8118

HORIZONS EDITORIAL BOARD

Perspective

4 A Grassroots Perspective

Genomically Speaking

6 Are Genomic Sires Just Too Darn Risky?

8 The Predictive Power of Genomics

Genetically Speaking 10 GENESIS - Enhanced by Genomics, Positioned for Progress

SIRE SPOTLIGHT 12 GENESIS Yields Elite Sires

Proof Highlights 14 Roll Out the Red Carpet

In the News 16 CRI Hosts Dairy Profit Tour for Producers from Around the Globe 17 Soil Testing Records Shattered at AgSource

Safety 18 Rogue Cattle – A Discussion of Proactive Solutions

Herd Stories 19 20 21

Focus Sets the Stage for Success Recycled Sand Bedding Pays Unexpected Dividends Excellence Isn’t By Chance at Golden Dawn Dairy

Members Raymond Diederich, De Pere, Wis. Pat Dugan, Casa Grande, Ariz.

Gerald Evenson, Mora, Minn.

Dave Loewith, Lynden, Ont., Can. Harold Shaulis, Somerset, Pa. Employees James Arati, Dairy Education Manager Angie Coburn, Dairy Procurement Manager Ron Hanson, Area Sales Manager, N.Y. Sarah Thorson, Training Programs Manager

HORIZONS STAFF Jenny L. Hanson, Editor, jlhanson@crinet.com Angie Kringle, Assistant Editor, akringle@crinet.com Amy Seefeldt, Graphic Designer

REPRINTS Material may not be reproduced in any fashion without Cooperative Resources International’s permission.

Cover: A calf at the cooperative’s GENESIS facility enjoys the first snowfall of the winter.

1HO09167 O-STYLE Schmidts Century O-Style Y238 Mission Statement: Provide products and services as effectively as possible to maximize the profitability of members and customers worldwide while maintaining a strong cooperative. ©2010 CRI

HORIZONS

3

PERSPECTIVE

A Grassroots Perspective By: Terri Dallas, Vice President, Information & Public Relations, CRI By definition, cooperatives like Genex are member-owned businesses organized by people to provide needed goods and services. In any cooperative, the membership serves an important role in planning for the organization’s future. Annually, Genex members provide their input by electing delegates, participating in delegate meetings and attending the cooperative’s annual meeting.

Fall Delegate Meetings

Genex delegates and alternates from membership regions throughout the United States recently attended fall delegate meetings. Ten meetings were held and 184 delegates/alternates were present to receive a cooperative update from board members and provide input on cooperative issues.

In addition, delegates voted on the merger of Genex and Central Livestock Association (another CRI subsidiary).

Delegates from Central Livestock and AgSource Cooperative Services also voted on the merger at their respective meetings. The merger surpassed the required two-thirds vote with a 94 percent positive vote. Therefore, Central Livestock will become a Limited Liability Corporation of Genex effective January 1, 2011 and will continue to do business as Central Livestock.

Delegate Elections

The Genex bylaws allow for the election of delegates to take place at a membership meeting or by mail-in ballot. Board members decided which type of election works best for their region. Region 9 will hold elections at their membership meetings. All other regions will hold elections by mail-in ballot. All members will receive a mailing in mid-December. Those members interested in having their name on the ballot should complete the self-nomination business reply postcard and return it by the date indicated on the card. The names of those submitted will be included on the ballot and sent to all Genex members in their respective region/district to elect their delegates and alternates for the upcoming year.

CRI Annual Meeting

Members elected as delegates have the opportunity to attend the third annual national meeting for Genex and CRI. The meeting will be held March 22 and 23, 2011, in Bloomington, Minn. The annual meeting features break-out sessions on current issues, a trade show, the annual meeting of CRI and Genex, and a banquet.

Delegate expenses to and from the meeting are paid.

Genex Membership Region Map

4

HORIZONS

Š2010 CRI

Everywhen DayitCounts comes to finding open cows.

Know as early as 29 days post breeding with the use of DG29™ blood pregnancy test.

The complete kit includes all required materials from blood tubes to needles and the shipping container. Test one cow or a whole herd and have results e-mailed within days.

“With DG29, you can pregnancy check on a daily basis. You don’t have to herd check on someone else’s schedule. We draw blood on all cows 30 days after breeding.”

“The biggest advantage to DG29 is being able to test on our own time. We’ve always received results on time which allows us to work around the holidays like we want.”

Matt Manning, Manning Dairy, Lansing, Iowa

Dave Jessee, DS Farms, Alma, Wis.

A Product of:

For more detailed information, visit the Genex web site: http://genex.crinet.com and click on the DG29 box on the right side of the screen. To purchase DG29 test kits in the U.S., contact your local Genex representative, call customer service at 888-333-1783, or order online at profitshop.crinet.com.

www.conception-animal.com

G E N O M I C A LL Y S P E A K I N G

Are Genomic Sires Just Too Darn Risky?

By: Roy Wilson, AVP-National Account Profit Center, Genex We can all think of an individual bull that “disappointed” us as he transitioned from first-crop status to adding second-crop daughters. But, for the most part when a sire adds second-crop daughters, we consider the process fairly stable. Yes, his genetic evaluation does alter slightly but there is not a large undertone of nervousness as a sire goes through this process. The changes are acceptable.

• The closer a dot is to the thick black line, the less the bull’s evaluation for Lifetime Net Merit (LNM) changed as he gained additional daughters. If a bull is far above the black line, he largely improved in LNM as he added daughters. If a bull is far below the black line, he dropped in LNM as he added daughters.

It is not surprising to see a downward skew to the data; in fact, this is normal. It is more important to observe that both sets of dots have a similar scatter pattern. This shows sires in both groups have similar opportunity to change in genetic merit.

Since we are already familiar with the transition from firstto second-crop daughters, perhaps comparing it to the transition from genomic proven to daughter proven will allow us to determine how “risky” genomic-proven sires are. This sire comparison is demonstrated in the scatter graph below.

Here’s how to interpret the graph: • Each orange dot represents a first-crop sire in February 2005 that is now (as of August 2010) considered a second-crop sire. There are 455 bulls in this dataset.

As of the August 2010 sire summary, each bull averaged 2,665 milking daughters.1

A closer examination of the LNM values shows the genomic- to daughter-proven sire group has a tighter distribution. In other words, the average change in genetic merit was less as these sires added daughters compared to when the first-crop sires added secondcrop daughters. (The standard deviation of change from first to second crop was 133. The standard deviation from genomic to daughter proven was 99.)

• Each purple dot represents a bull that was genomicproven (zero milking daughters) in January 2009 and as of August 2010 averaged 89 milking daughters.

There are 1,375 bulls represented in this dataset.1

One last observation: genomic-proven bulls are positioned more to the right side of the graph. This means they ranked higher initially for LNM than the first-crop sires.

Or, in other words were more genetically superior.

All sires were appropriately adjusted for the genetic base and LNM formula changes.

1

Sire Comparison 300

First to Second Crop Genomic to Daughter Proven

Change in LNM = Initial LNM - August 2010 LNM

200 100 0 -100

Take-Home Message

-200

Genomic-proven sires are similar in risk to first-crop sires and, statistically, are actually less risky.

-300 -400 -500 -300

-100

100

300

500

Initial LNM 6

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©2010 CRI

700

900

1100

on!

NO %-I s I S S A C 5 6 a 1HO025

Setting the

Pace for Profit Two high LNM bulls out of Genex sires!

1HO10079 SIDEBET %-I

SIDEBET %-I and PARKER hold prominent positions in the

Cassino x Ally x Orion

Genex lineup alongside familiar names like FREDDIE %-I,

+$683 LNM • +6.3 Productive Life • +2.5 Daughter Preg. Rate

O-STYLE, MASSEY, AWESOME, LOGAN and SUPER.

+0.19% Fat, +0.07% Protein • 6% Sire Calving Ease

DE 7713 AU 0 O H 1 a

N son!

These profit stars along with newcomers YANO, BANNING, FRANK, KENSTON, MILO and JETLINER %-I head up a long list of elite Lifetime Net Merit sires that create the cows dairy producers wish for.

Lifetime Net Merit …

1HO02848 PARKER Auden x O Man x Durham +$680 LNM • +1313 PTA Milk • +0.14% Fat, +0.09% Protein +2.60 Somatic Cell Score • 7% Sire Calving Ease

The economic index delivering overall profitability!

G E N O M I C A LL Y S P E A K I N G

power The Predictive of

Genomics

By: Angie Coburn, Dairy Procurement Manager, Genex With 3K genomic testing now routinely and economically available to all producers, many Genex members are considering testing their females. Questions often asked are which females to test, how to use the data, and ultimately, how accurate are the results?

The cooperative’s GENESIS program has been testing all females since the 50K genomic test became available in 2009. That amounts to a total of 479 Co-op prefix females born since January 2005 that have been genomic tested. Graph 1 plots the distribution of genomic PTAs for Lifetime Net Merit $ (LNM) of these females. As expected, they follow the normal, bell-shaped curve that is the gospel of population genetics. Genex customers that test a significant number of females can expect the same graphic representation of results for their herd.

Graph 1. Distribution of GENESIS females by genomic PTA LNM

<0 -49 -99 149 199 249 299 349 399 449 499 549 599 649 699 749 750 0 50 0- 0- 0- 0- 0- 0- 0- 0- 0- 0- 0- 0- 0> 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 LNM

When looking at cows on an individual basis, the compatibility of the genomic PTAs with phenotypic data is remarkable. One of my favorite things to do is to walk through the post-fresh groups and match a newly fresh heifer with the genomic PTAs to identify which 8

HORIZONS

©2010 CRI

Number of Females

80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0

Co-op female she is. Likewise when a producer reviews their milk test data sheet, they can expect to see the similarities of production levels and somatic cell scores.

It’s also quite predictable which cows will have longer days open by looking at their genomic PTA for Daughter Pregnancy Rate (DPR). Lastly, the linear conformation scores (as GENESIS females are classified three times per year) are extremely consistent with the genomic results for type traits. To demonstrate this concept, the following tables provide a simple comparison of genomic and phenotypic data for GENESIS females in the categories of yield, health and conformation.

YIELD Table 1 lists GENESIS 1HO07235 TOYSTORY daughters from the same herd with their genomic PTAs and corresponding phenotypic data. The first cow listed, Cow 5813, has the lowest PTA for Milk as well as the lowest herdmate deviation for milk. A further review of her production information, shows that in fact she had only one test day over 100 pounds of milk. Contrast that to Cow 2732. Cow 2732 has a PTA Milk of +1414, a herdmate deviation of 6944 and further production information shows 11 of her 14 test days were over 100 pounds.

Sometimes, you have to look at individual data to confirm everything makes sense. Cow 5825 has the highest PTA Milk of the group, but not the highest herdmate deviation.

Upon inspecting her individual test day weights, she has one odd test day of 48 pounds yet the remaining test days average over 100 pounds.

G E N O M I C A LL Y S P E A K I N G

When reviewing data for Fat %, it’s not surprising to find Cow 5813 surpassed 4.0% fat on all test day measures and Cow 2732 only averaged 3.1% fat.

Lastly, Cow 5825 was a chronically high Somatic Cell Score (SCS) cow on test day and also has the highest value for PTA SCS. Table 1. GENESIS TOYSTORY daughters with genomic PTAs and corresponding phenotypic data.

Genomic Herdmate Avg. Avg. Genomic PTA Genomic Deviation Test Day Test Day Cow # PTA Milk Fat % PTA SCS for Milk Fat % SCS 5813 314 +0.13 2.71 1717 4.60 1.38 5825 1596 +0.01 3.06 4170 4.15 6.77 5842 635 +0.03 2.70 3166 4.50 2.61 2732 1414 -0.10 2.91 6944 3.11 1.20

HEALTH Genomic testing has real benefits for predicting phenotypic performance for low heritability traits like DPR. Table 2 lists the three lowest ranking GENESIS females for DPR. As the high number of days open suggests, they all had difficulty getting pregnant.

Table 2. Comparison of DPR and Days Open

Cow # 5574 5765 5738

Genomic PTA DPR -2.2 -2.0 -1.8

1st Lactation Days Open 193 162 392

Conformation The final table (Table 3) lists 10 GENESIS females that with the December proofs will receive their first genetic evaluation with contributing phenotypic data. All were recently classified, and as demonstrated in the table, the genomic PTAs for Type were remarkably predictable for

categorizing the cows into high and low final scores.

Likewise, the PTAs for Stature accurately described the cows. This is depicted by the linear scores with Cow 3324 having the highest PTA for Stature and a linear score of 50. In contrast, Cow 5907 had the lowest PTA of -1.6 and a linear score of only 9.

Table 3. Comparison of Genetic and Phenotypic Conformation

Cow # 3324 9102 3319 5935 3369 5941 3317 5909 5896 5907

Genomic PTA Type 1.88 1.26 1.49 1.43 1.68 0.97 1.58 0.09 0.45 0.23

Final Score 85 85 83 83 81 81 79 77 70 63

Genomic PTA Stature 2.0 0.5 0.7 0.5 1.0 0.0 0.7 -1.5 -0.4 -1.6

Stature Linear Score 50 41 41 29 29 41 34 14 24 9

Analyses such as these that compare genomic and phenotypic data are an excellent indicator of the power of genomic testing. There are numerous benefits to be captured by genomic testing females - while some producers will have the opportunity to identify high genetic ranking females that may become bull mothers for the next generation of A.I. sires, the greater benefit to the industry will come from commercial genomic testing of a larger portion of a herd’s female population.

Having more information on the cows and heifers in your herd will provide the opportunity to make more impactful management decisions to increase profitability; Today, it is simple decisions like which females to keep in the herd, which to sell and which to breed with GenChoice™ sexed semen. The future holds even greater promise – perhaps we’ll know which cows will respond to a certain veterinary treatment or have the opportunity to tailor rations and group cows based on nutritional needs predicted with genomics. To realize this potential, it’ll take some research and a lot of data. But first, you have to genomic test! ©2010 CRI

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G enetica l l y S peaking

Enhanced by Genomics, Positioned for Progress In 1989, GENESIS nucleus began as a pilot project with calves raised in a shed. The goal was to provide pathogen-free bull calves to enter the cooperative’s bull facilities. Today, this program means much more to the cooperative and its members.

GENESIS has produced numerous genetically superior females. Many can be found by paging through a Genex Holstein sire catalog and examining the pedigrees of active bulls. Females with the Co-op prefix or with CRI in their names are members of GENESIS.

An Evolving Program

Currently, the most notable GENESIS female is Co-op Boliver Yoyo-ET. She ranks atop the industry as the #1 genomic-tested cow, and has been worked with extensively in efforts to produce an elite crop of heifer and bull calves.

Today’s GENESIS program has progressed into a herd of some of the industry’s most elite genetics. “GENESIS has truly evolved. Today, we are not just raising bull calves but working with and developing genetically superior females,” explained Steve DeWall, Genex Dairy Genetics Specialist.

Those elite females are identified through genomic testing as well as performance testing in nucleus herds.

The use of nucleus herds allows GENESIS females to prove themselves by competing in large, unbiased commercial environments.

In 2001, two nucleus herds milked GENESIS females alongside their own cows. Today, there are 11 nucleus herds across the United States and Canada. These dairy herd owners accept the responsibility of assisting with the production of the next generation of elite genetics.

They work closely with Genex staff to identify, genomic test, mate and flush elite members of the GENESIS herd. Genex works with these producers to broaden the genetic base of their herds and further generate farm profitability. This philosophy falls in line with the true spirit of member cooperatives and the CRI mission statement.

Co-op Boliver Yoyo-ET 10

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©2010 CRI

While GENESIS has produced elite females, the initial goal of producing pathogen-free bull calves still remains an integral part of the program; however, over time the program to develop bulls for the active lineup as evolved too.

Changing Timelines

The length of time it takes for a bull to enter the active Genex lineup has shortened dramatically, first with the addition of the GENESIS program and now with the addition of genomics.

The traditional method of contracting sires took close to a decade before a bull joined the Genex lineup. A portion of this time was utilized to identify an elite cow to be mated. At that point a mating contract was agreed upon and, if all went as planned, a bull calf was born nine months later. The bull then entered the daughter-proving process to determine his genetic transmitting abilities.

This process included time for the bull to reach a level of maturity to be able to produce semen and be utilized in artificial inseminations. Nine months later, his daughters were born. Additional time was needed for those daughters to reach maturity, be bred and produce their own milking records. After all that, the bull had reliable genetic evaluations allowing the cooperative to decide whether or not to include him in the active lineup. This sire procurement method resulted in an average of one in 11 sires graduating to the active lineup.

The introduction of GENESIS quickened the sire procurement timeline. GENESIS served as a source population of elite females and also provided the opportunity to flush females as soon as they reached maturity. While bulls produced through GENESIS still

G enetica l l y S peaking

“GENESIS, a program revitalized by genomics, was a gem from the beginning. To have an elite group of animals owned and controlled by the co-op’s members has proven to be a very good thing.” ~ Jacques Couture, Genex Board Member

underwent the lengthy daughter-proving process, it was the availability of elite females that shortened the production timeline. Because of the focus put on developing elite females, this method resulted in an average of one in six sires graduating to the active lineup.

of determining cost effective and logical methods to expand GENESIS. To be capable of efficiently raising additional GENESIS young stock, the division analyzed current and potential new facilities, investigated various production schemes and further sourced highly skilled staff.

The inclusion of genomic testing in the GENESIS program has further shortened the generation interval. All GENESIS calves (both male and female) are genomic tested at birth, and their genetic potential is known within months. This allows males and females of known genetic abilities to be mated as soon as they reach maturity. It also allows males to join the active lineup as soon as they reach puberty – no longer having to wait for information from their milking daughters. In fact, the youngest sire to join the active Genex lineup this December was just 15 months old.

In determining facility needs, the Production Division set goals to minimize investments in brick and mortar and remain fluid in a time of fast changing technologies. As a result one new facility is being constructed - a calf barn (pictured above) at the cooperative’s Stony Hill location west of Shawano, Wis. In addition, several barns no longer used for bull housing are being renovated for older calf group housing: one at Stony Hill and two at the cooperative’s Tiffin, Ohio, production facility.

Another example from this December’s proof also demonstrates the speed of genetic progress made through the incorporation of genomic testing. The genomic-proven 1HO02565 CASSINO %-I joined the active lineup last year. Now, the first son of this elite Lifetime Net Merit sire has also joined the active lineup.

His son, 1HO10079 SIDEBET %-I, joined the lineup before CASSINO added any milking daughters to his proof.

Progressing in People and Places

Over 20 years of calculated breedings in the GENESIS program has resulted in deeply rooted generations of strong genetics. The Genex board of directors has recognized this genetic advantage and the significance of GENESIS. Therefore, in 2010, the board approved plans to expand the program.

The Genex board assigned the Production Division the task

The expanded number of GENESIS calves to be produced each year will result from several production methods.

The majority of inseminations, embryo flushes, embryo transfers and calvings will continue to occur at Stony Hill. Nucleus herds and contract herds will produce the remainder of the calf crop. With the exception of calves born at nucleus herds, all other calves will be housed at Stony Hill starting at birth or shortly thereafter, hence the need for the new calf barn.

To ensure success, the Production Division has sourced educated and talented individuals to assist with reproductive management of the GENESIS herd as well as the management of calves, embryo recipients and the program’s elite females. The production team includes new and long-time employees dedicated to the advancement of the program. Recent staff additions are Sher Nadir, DVM, Ph.D. and Martin Hahn, DVM, who both have extensive backgrounds in dairy cattle and reproductive physiology. ©2010 CRI

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11

S I R E S POTLIG HT

GENESIS Yields Elite Sires By: Angie Kringle, Communications Specialist, CRI Throughout the years the presence of GENESIS sires has become more prominent in the Genex active lineup.

Designated by the ‘Co-op’ prefix, these sires are graduates of the cooperative-owned MOET (Multiple Ovulation Embryo Transfer) program.

The December sire summary brings the total number of GENESIS sires in the active lineup to 27. Meanwhile, the number of Co-op bulls in the top TPI™ list continues to climb.

Two new GENESIS graduates entering the lineup this winter include 1HO10085 YANO and 1HO10000 FRANK. These sires come from two of the most prolific cow families in the program. The addition of genomic technologies has allowed strong families such as Coyne Farms Yelena CRIET to be recognized early.

Genomic technology has also validated the genetics of longstanding cow families such as Co-op Addison Faith.

These two sires illustrate the strength and diversity present in the GENESIS program.

Whether from a deeply rooted GENESIS pedigree, or from a new and exciting addition to the program, these sires offer well-rounded improvement while also capitalizing on their own strengths.

Sky-High Debut

Debuting at number four in the Genex lineup, 1HO10085 Co-op UPD Planet YANO-ET (Planet x Bret x Manfred) transmits the strengths of one of the most talked about cow families currently in the GENESIS program. Son of Coyne Farms Yelena CRI-ET, this first generation GENESIS graduate has numbers worth a second look.

Outstanding +$713 Lifetime Net Merit, impressive +1175 PTA Milk and a notable +2.67 Somatic Cell Score will cause YANO to catch the eye of many producers. Looking further reveals strengths in health traits as well: +6.4 Productive Life, +1.7 Daughter Pregnancy Rate and 6% Sire Calving Ease.

Coyne Farms Yelena CRI-ET, dam of YANO, comes from a long line of impressive production records.

Genomic testing has revealed that she transmits this and many other strengths.

To capitalize on these strengths, Yelena has been mated to multiple sires and has over 60 male and female descendants currently in the GENESIS program. YANO is not the last proven sire to result from this exciting GENESIS cow family.

Coyne Farms Yelena CRI-ET, dam of YANO 12

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Solid Foundation of GENESIS

1HO10000 Co-op Goldwyn FRANK-ET (Goldwyn x O Man x Dane) is a fourth generation graduate of the GENESIS program, making his the longest standing cow family of GENESIS. His pedigree can be traced back to Co-op Addison Faith, GP-83, GMD, one of the early GENESIS cows.

“Faith has proven to be a good brood cow, with three Very Good daughters and one Excellent 93 point daughter who were all part of the GENESIS program,” stated Steve DeWall, Genex Dairy Genetics Specialist.

FRANK transmits improved conformation evident by his +2.19 PTA Type, +2.21 Foot and Leg Composite and +1.49 Udder Composite. He sires well-attached, high and wide udders (+2.3 Fore Udder Attachment, +2.3 Rear Udder Height, +2.0 Rear Udder Width) that are made to milk!

At +1243 PTA Milk and +2.68 Somatic Cell Score, FRANK also provides the genetics for production.

High +5.0 Productive Life combined with low 4% Sire and Daughter Calving Ease makes FRANK another well-rounded GENESIS graduate.

Co-op Addison Faith, third dam of FRANK

Leading the Breed

O Harrow’s Freddie 7023, GP-83, second lactation

1HO08784

Freddie %-I

+$755 Lifetime Net Merit +2222 TPI™ 1HO08658

Logan

+$629 Lifetime Net Merit +2095 TPI 1HO08778

Jaeger Logan 2158

Super

+$622 Lifetime Net Merit +2178 TPI 1HO09192

Hill

+$527 Lifetime Net Merit +2079 TPI

Troika Hill Roeray

North Harbor Super 2197

These producer-pleasing sires top the Genex lineup for Lifetime Net Merit and are ranked among the top 10 TPI™ according to the Holstein Association, USA. For breed-leading genetics, look no further than the Genex lineup.

PROOF HIGHLIGHTS

Roll Out the Red Carpet

their first milking daughters and their first progeny are validating their genomic evaluations. Both are available in GenChoice.

Topping industry lists this proof run are six elite Genex sires: 1HO08784 FREDDIE %-I, 1HO09167 O-STYLE, 1HO08777 AWESOME, 1HO08658 LOGAN, 1HO08778 SUPER and 1HO09192 HILL.

Other standouts include the genomic-proven 1JE00754 FIG (Jevon x Country) at +$456 CM and +154 JPI. Improving both type and udders are 1JE00742 GOBBLER (Ace x Jace) at +1.7 PTAT and +5.21 JUI™ along with 1JE00711 PLUS at +1.9 PTAT and +5.15 JUI. PLUS is also available in GenChoice.

In the Lifetime Net Merit (LNM) index, which measures overall profitability, Genex is home to five of the top 10 progeny-proven LNM bulls. FREDDIE maintained his status as #1 in the breed and was joined by O-STYLE at #2, AWESOME at #5, LOGAN at #8 and SUPER at #10.

Genex dominates the TPI™ industry rankings too. Four of the top 10 TPI bulls come from the number one stud.

FREDDIE and SUPER maintained their #1 and #2 rankings at the top of the breed, LOGAN improved to #7 and HILL debuted at #8.

Jersey Lineup Excels in Depth and Quality With 60 daughters contributing to his proof, the new debut 1JE00648 SF (Artist x Lemvig) is an all-round solid sire. He’s the lineup’s #1 LNM and #2 Cheese Merit (CM) bull. SF improves fluid yield, fat and protein tests, Productive Life, PTA Type and udders. He’s also uniquely exceptional among Jersey sires for Somatic Cell Score (SCS) at +2.66.

Two genomic graduates earned spots in the active lineup.

1JE00759 BRUNO, a Tbone x Matinee, sires high CM, great components and well attached udders. 1JE00763 LANCE-GR, a Dale x Impuls, is a yield specialist at +1604 PTA Milk and also improves Productive Life, Daughter Pregnancy Rate (DPR), PTAT and udders.

1JE00654 ALLSTAR, available in both conventional and GenChoice™ semen, remains the lineup leader for CM at +$504. Additional daughter information confirms he sires high solids and outstanding udders.

At +184, 1JE00672 GOOSE-PR is the Genex JPI™ leader.

Goose stands at +$459 CM siring tall, high-producing Jerseys with very correct udders.

1JE00666 VERMEER and 1JE00670 JOULE added 14

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My Herd. My Choice.

Genex offers elite Holstein genetics in sexed semen. Read on for proof updates on some of the ‘big names’ available in GenChoice. Check back with your Genex rep in early January for new additions to the sexed semen lineup.

At +$695 LNM, the health trait specialist 1HO02771 JOCK %-I is a profitable choice for creating female replacements. His combination of +7.0 Productive Life, +1.7 DPR and +2.56 SCS is unmatched.

1HO02565 CASSINO %-I offers enormous herd profit potential (+$632 LNM) with impressive health traits and outstanding conformation (+2.03 Udder Comp., +2.36 Foot & Leg Comp.).

The 97th percentile LNM Bret x Manfred son, 1HO08631 LES, excels in fitness traits siring easy-breeding daughters with well-attached udders that last lactation after lactation.

The high profile LOGAN provides production, positive components, longevity, SCS and calving ability.

1HO02683 SEBASTIAN improves both daughter fertility and longevity while transmitting top-notch conformation (+2.69 PTAT, +2.18 Udder Composite and +2.78 Foot & Leg Composite).

Red Carrier, 1HO09951 PEMBROKE *RC, produces daughters that prosper with outstanding conformation: +2.11 PTAT, +1.76 Udder Composite and +2.05 Foot & Leg Composite.

1HO07235 TOYSTORY sons 1HO02571 COLE, 1HO02509 FLAWLESS and 1HO09673 MONTA each add their specialty - production, calving ability and health traits, repectively.

PROOF HIGHLIGHTS

Breeding for the Herd of Tomorrow…

When sourcing overall profitability for the next generation, rely on the Lifetime Net Merit (LNM) index as the sire selection guide. Since its release, Genex has always believed LNM to be the index to improve herd profitability.

While LNM still plays an important role, industry changes such as the introduction of genomics and 3K testing now allow producers to better identify specific genetic areas in which their herds need improvement.

Therefore, Genex has developed additional economic indexes focused on key genetic areas – four closely relate to LNM sub-indexes and the fifth is sire fertility.

The new indexes (expressed in dollars) identify the most elite Genex Holstein sires - the top 25 percent of the lineup - in each category listed below. The complete sire listing for each index can be viewed in the December 2010 Holstein Investment Guide.

Health & Fitness 1HO08521 DANGER, 1HO06360 WIZARD, 1HO08631 LES, 1HO08784 FREDDIE %-I, 1HO02771 JOCK %-I

The Health & Fitness index is a selection tool to breed for healthier, more fertile, longer-living cows. The index is comprised of the three primary health traits found in LNM: Productive Life, Somatic Cell Score and Daughter Pregnancy Rate. Choosing sires according to this index should improve Productive Life and Daughter Pregnancy Rate at twice the rate of the LNM index!

Sire Fertility 1HO02686 MURRAY, 1HO02473 BOUTLAND %-I, 1HO09092 LAZARITH, 1HO09997 KARIM %-I, 1HO08812 MARCELLUS For over a decade, Genex has been the source for fertile sires, and the delivery of a powerful Sire Fertility index should continue that tradition. More than half the index is based on the independently calculated, unbiased Sire Conception Rate evaluation calculated by USDA-AIPL. The remainder is a combination of GenCheck™ and SynchSmart™ analyses derived from the Genex internal information database.

Production 1HO02848 PARKER, 1HO08658 LOGAN, 1HO07127 SHARKY, 1HO09248 SIGNIF-P, 1HO02531 HEFTY

Utilize the Production index to add more pounds across the board than any other index! The index combines the production traits found in LNM and Lifetime Fluid Merit: Milk pounds, Fat pounds and Protein pounds.

Calving Ability 1HO09952 KARSTEN B/R %-I, 1HO02809 LIESL, 1HO10000 FRANK, 1HO10017 MENEFER, 1HO10028 FLOYD

The Calving Ability index identifies sires that have calves born easily and that produce daughters that have live calves.

The traits found in the Calving Ability index are the same four included in LNM’s Calving Ability trait: Sire Calving Ease, Daughter Calving Ease, Sire Stillbirth and Daughter Stillbirth.

Conformation 1HO02809 LIESL, 1HO02583 DELPHINO, 1HO10032 JAMAR, 1HO10059 CLARK, 1HO09543 KOLTON

Improve udders and overall conformation – the Conformation index combines the conformation portions of LNM and TPI™: Udder Composite, Feet & Leg Composite and Final Score (PTA Type). ©2010 CRI

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IN THE NEWS

CRI Hosts Dairy Profit Tour For Producers from Around the Globe

In October, CRI’s International Division hosted over 80 visitors from 12 different countries for a Profit Tour – an educational tour featuring profitable dairy genetics and commercial dairy operations. The international guests were dairy producers and industry professionals from Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Greece, Iran, Japan, Mexico, Poland, Russia, South Africa and Taiwan.

CRI’s Profit Tour began at World Dairy Expo in Madison, Wis. There, the guests attended one of the industry’s largest tradeshows and viewed elite show cows. The tour continued in northeast Wisconsin as participants learned about CRI and toured the cooperative’s headquarters.

In addition, participants attended educational seminars

Central Livestock Unveils Virtual Tours

Virtual tours of Central Livestock’s Albany, Minn., Zumbrota, Minn., and West Fargo, N.D., markets have gone live on the Web. Each video describes how livestock flow through the facility. They also highlight the proper animal handling techniques utilized by Central Livestock employees and recent improvements made at market locations. The videos are available at www.centrallivestock.com and www.youtube.com.

to learn the latest on genomic technology, CRI’s dairy sire lineup and GenChoice™ sexed semen.

By touring dairies throughout central and northeastern Wisconsin, Profit Tour attendees also saw firsthand the results of utilizing high Lifetime Net Merit sires as well as the fertility advantage CRI genetics can provide. Furthermore, they had the opportunity to learn about U.S. farming practices directly from dairy owners and managers. Herds visited on the Profit Tour include: Tidy View Dairy and MilkSource Genetics, Kaukauna, Wis.; Harmony-Ho Holsteins, Stratford, Wis.; Schneider Farms Custom Cattle, Hilbert, Wis.; and Ruedinger Farms Inc, Van Dyne, Wis.

2011 Sire Summaries

The dates of the official 2011 dairy sire proofs are April 5, August 9 and December 6.

Market

Virtual Tours

Join the TEAM

Utilize TEAM, an interactive online marketplace, to sell potload groups of cattle. Visit www.centrallivestock.com and click on TEAM for more information.

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Shop Genex 24/7

Purchase online, anytime from your office, living room or mobile device. The Genex Profit Shop allows members to shop at their convenience. Products available include dairy semen, A.I. supplies, CRI Calf Coats, DG29™ and much more. Customers immediately make a purchase with MasterCard or Visa using an online payment system.

Products are shipped directly via UPS. Check out the Genex Profit Shop at http://profitshop.crinet.com.

Whether ordering through Profit Shop or from your local Genex representative, it’s never been easier to purchase Genex semen and products.

IN THE NEWS

Genex Director Spotlight Jon Wayne Danielson grew up among parents, grandparents, and aunts and uncles who patronized co-ops for nearly every aspect of their family farms. This influence made Jon a believer in the value of working together to gain products and services cattle producers need.

His interest in serving on the governing board of a co-op also stemmed from family. “My uncles, Leonard Peck and Bernard Danielson, served consecutively on the boards of Badger Breeders and Midwest Breeders for a total of 40 years,” explained Jon. Jon first served as a delegate in 1977 and held that position for roughly 20 years before elected to the board of directors. This is his 13th year as a director.

The Danielsons enjoy a rich heritage of family farming.

Jon and his wife Jane along with their sons Rick and Jason farm with Jon’s parents Wayne and Flora and his brother Les near Cadott, Wis. The family has about 90 head of registered Holsteins and farms 800 acres.

The family’s dedication to this co-op has not wavered.

“My father and uncles were original users of the MAP™ upon its release in 1966 and we continue to utilize MAP mating recommendations today.”

Besides conventional Genex dairy semen, the Danielsons utilize GenChoice™ too - not only on heifers but on young cows that show good heat. Artificial insemination service is the combined effort of local Genex Breeding Program Specialist David Wilichowski and Jon’s son Jason who breeds the cows when home from college.

Soil Testing Records Shattered at AgSource This fall’s record harvest of corn and soybean harvest in the Midwest had a large impact on AgSource Cooperative Services’ soil testing businesses in Nebraska, Iowa and Wisconsin. As perspective, in 2000 – just 10 years ago – AgSource tested a total of 50,000 soil samples in its Bonduel, Wis., laboratory for the entire year. This year, in just the month of October, the combined throughput of all AgSource soil laboratories was 260,000 samples.

Although much of AgSource’s increase in soil testing occurred due to laboratory acquisitions in Iowa, Nebraska and Oregon, the Bonduel laboratory alone showed considerable growth. Bonduel shattered the previous single month record by 22 percent, testing 40,435 samples in November. The laboratory is projected to test over 128,000 samples for the year.

AgSource laboratories in Lincoln, Neb., and Belmond, Iowa, also set volume records. Lincoln tested 11,890 samples the week of October 11; 19 percent above its previous weekly record. Belmond tested over 53,000 samples in October beating the laboratory’s single month record by 57 percent.

AgSource’s new acquisition in Ellsworth, Iowa, handled staggering volume of 148,700 samples in October; 48 percent above the previous single month record.

That amounted to more than 40,000 over their volume from January through September combined. Two days in October exceeded over 8,000 samples each.

Supported by growth and acquisitions, it is believed AgSource is now the largest soil testing organization in the United States. To learn more about AgSource, visit www.agsource.com.

Join Us on Facebook

As a follower of the Genex and CRI International Division Facebook page, you can be the first to know what’s happening with the cooperative and have the opportunity to converse with other members, customers and employees. Go to www.facebook.com/GenexCRI to view the latest news or to post your question or comment. ©2010 CRI

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17

SAFETY

Rogue Cattle

A Discussion of Proactive Solutions By: Jeff Gundrum, Director of Safety and Wellness Programming, CRI

It was an early December afternoon when an A.I. technician made his last stop for the day. At 2:20 p.m., the technician made his way through the freestall pens on the 200-head family farm. Suddenly, from behind, the technician was thrown to the ground and repeatedly bunted by a rogue cow. The attack continued until the technician reached a gate and escaped under it. This specific attack resulted in bruises to the face, scrapes to the right knee and hand, and aches and pains from head to toe. This cow had a history of attacks on the herdsman and later attacked another farm employee before being removed from the herd.

Hidden Costs

Accidents are more expensive than most people realize.

Direct costs - such as workers’ compensation claims which cover medical costs and indemnity payments for an injured or ill worker - are obvious. However there are also costs to train and compensate a replacement worker, repair damaged property, investigate the accident, implement corrective action and maintain insurance coverage. Furthermore additional costs relate to schedule delays, added administrative time, lower morale and increased absenteeism.

No Easy Solution

What solutions are available to prevent injuries and control costs related to aggressive cattle? Since causes of aggressive cattle behavior are unclear, predicting the next probable attack is not part of the arsenal an A.I. technician or herd employee can use to stay out of harm’s way. So what can be done to assist employees exposed to the unpredictability of rogue cattle? Can rogue cattle related accidents simply be avoided by being diligent and avoiding complacency?

Unfortunately, the unpredictability of rogue cattle requires additional measures above and beyond awareness.

Watching for highly excitable cattle, evaluating overall temperament while working the pens, communicating potential problems to make others aware of aggressive cattle, and using cow bells or markings to identify aggressive cattle can all help avoid rogue cattle hazards.

Employees should be on their toes when it comes to 18

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safety awareness and watching for problems … alert individuals stay a step ahead of safety hazards.

Communication is Key

Communication of aggressive cattle behavior may be the key to avoiding injuries to herdsman, on-farm employees and others working around cattle. As in the example, the cow had a history of aggressive behavior. Reporting accidents and near misses provides essential information and an opportunity to find ways to keep the incident from happening again. This could include isolating the aggressive animal or removing it from the herd altogether. An attack by an aggressive cow or heifer should lead to the animal being culled from the herd. Multiple attacks by a single animal on different employees are not uncommon. At what point does an animal with a history of aggressive behavior become not only impractical from an exposure standpoint, but also costly from the standpoint of accident-related expense? After all, recognizing and controlling hazards before an accident occurs is an important aspect of safety and gives the opportunity to prevent further occurrences.

In order for everyone to perform their jobs safely, they must be aware of the hazards and potential hazards they will be exposed to and how best to keep safe while performing their job duties. Taking appropriate action to control hazards and providing proactive solutions to aggressive cattle behavior will help keep everyone out of harm’s way. Doing so should help provide a safer, healthier and more profitable atmosphere for all working at or providing service to the farm.

H E R D STORY

Focus Sets the Stage for Success By: Jenny Hanson, Communications Manager, CRI

Creating Calves

Visual heat detection is the predominant heat detection method used on the farm. However, the Bruneaus incorporate synchronization protocols as needed to ensure cows are inseminated around 60 days in milk.

Bruneau began conducting the artificial insemination (A.I.) service on the farm 25 years ago. For several years, the family utilized a combination of A.I. and herd bulls; though in recent years, A.I. has played an even more important role in the dairy’s reproductive program. “We had used herd bulls in the past,” commented Bruneau.

“However, since the death of my father, George-Émile, who was killed by a herd bull 13 years ago, A.I. has been and will be the only method used.”

About two hours east of Montreal and two hours south of Quebec stands a fourth generation family farm owned

by Daniel and Trishia Bruneau. Working alongside the Bruneaus on the dairy are their sons, Patrick (15) and Marc (14). Both sons are active participants in most aspects of the dairy business.

A Family Farm Setting

The Bruneau’s dairy farm operation is composed of 210 total head of purebred Holstein and Jersey cattle.

They are presently milking 110 cows twice daily in an autotandem eight-stall milking parlor. The herd produces 28 liters (7.4 gallons) per cow per day with component levels at 4.20% butterfat and 3.50% protein.

In 2002, cattle housing underwent a significant change with the construction of a 106-by-120 foot barn. Prior to the construction of the freestall facility, cattle were housed in tiestalls.

The farm operation also includes 600 acres of land.

Four years ago, the Bruneau family decided it was in their best interest to center their concentration on the cows and efficiency of milk production, so they began to outsource much of the field work. Still, they understand how important a good feed source is to milk production, cattle health and cattle reproduction. “We have been and continue to work on producing quality forages through culture rotation, planning and management,” remarked Daniel Bruneau.

The success of their reproductive program is confirmed by the number of pregnancies created – 83 percent of cows are confirmed pregnant by 150 days in milk.

Making Genetic Decisions

The Bruneaus consider both their payment structure and facility requirements when determining the type of cow they strive to develop. “We breed for a cow that has good milk production and butterfat to get an optimal price for the milk. The cows must also have good rear legs and solid hooves in order to thrive in our freestall environment.”

Daughters of 1HO07235 TOYSTORY, 1HO08784 FREDDIE %-I and 1HO02571 COLE are among those presently impacting the herd. 1HO02848 PARKER, 1HO08778 SUPER and 1HO09192 HILL are sires recently used for A.I. service among Holsteins while 1JE00711 PLUS and 1JE00654 ALLSTAR are examples of Jersey service sires.

Among sires used in the herd over the last two years (since genomic sires were made available), about 20 percent have been genomic proven. Genomic sires are incorporated into the reproductive program in the same manner as progeny-proven sires. “In our opinion, they are equivalent,” remarked Bruneau.

Other genetic considerations are made on a case by case basis. Though the Bruneaus strongly believe fertility rates Continued on page 22…

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H E R D STORY

Recycled Sand Bedding Pays Unexpected Dividends By: Angie Kringle, Communications Specialist, CRI Another unexpected advantage has been in the fertilizer and method of application. In the past, the Scherpings hauled 40 loads of manure onto fields every six days. With 10 months of manure storage and the ability to inject manure with a dragline, the fields experience significantly less compaction and receive a higher nitrogen value fertilizer than previously applied.

Ginny and Vern Scherping are pictured above with their two grandsons.

The 800 Holstein cows at Scherping Farms of Little Falls, Minn., relax daily in sand-bedded stalls courtesy of a state-of-the-art manure management system. When the Scherpings decided to expand, they knew they’d need to take a closer look at ways to manage manure on their farm which is surrounded by wetlands. Owner Vern Scherping worked with Genex Farm Systems to design and build a manure management system allowing them to recycle their sand bedding without having to input any fresh water. Two years later, the Scherpings and their cows couldn’t be happier.

Unique System

“Nobody has what they do at Scherping’s,” stated Matt Silbernick of Genex Farm Systems. Manure is collected in a reception pit before moving to where the sand is washed (using 100 percent recycled water) and separated from organic matter. At this point, sand is ready to be utilized in the freestalls again. The remaining organic material goes through one more separation process before storage in one of two Slurrystores. As solids settle at the bottom, grey water is decanted from the top to be combined with parlor wash water for re-use in the sand separator (see diagram at right).

Yet another pleasant surprise has been the drop in somatic cell count of the milking herd. The somatic cell count currently averages 120,000. Limiting the use of outside sand has limited the introduction of additional bacteria and disease.

Genex Genetics

Not only have Scherpings utilized Genex Farm Systems for their manure management, the genetics of the Scherping herd come from Genex as well. Genex Breeding Program Specialist Dennis Zigan manages the reproductive program with the help of his teammates.

“We use the top Lifetime Net Merit bulls. We breed for a cow with good feet and legs, longevity and good production,” related Scherping. Zigan and Scherping meet after each sire summary to choose the bulls for the breeding program. Zigan mates individual cows based on pedigree. Scherpings have also been using GenChoice™ sexed semen on their heifers for the past three years.

Relying on the expertise of Genex Farm Systems’ and Genex breeding professionals has resulted in a highperforming herd of cows that sleep peacefully on high quality bedding. The Scherpings also rest assured knowing they are doing their part to protect the environment.

Unexpected Advantages

“Now that everything is fine tuned, it works great. It practically runs itself,” proclaimed Scherping. While the intent of the system was to provide manure storage and allow re-use of sand bedding, Scherping has noticed additional advantages to the new system. “We’re getting back more sand than we thought we would. We used to use eight loads of sand per week for 300 cows. We’ve used only eight loads of sand in the past two years!”

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For more on Genex Farm Systems, see page 22.

H E R D STORY

Excellence Isn’t By Chance at Golden Dawn Dairy By: Angie Kringle, Communications Specialist, CRI A written protocol incorporates Mating Appraisal for Profit™ (MAP™) matings, genomic sires and GenChoice™ semen into their breeding program. The Reproductive Profit Manager™ program is used quarterly, “as a basis for finding where we’re at and monitoring the little changes we make,” explained Svetlik.

Genex Breeding Program Specialists Gerard Kaiser (left) and Scott Grund stand with Laurie Svetlik, herdsperson at Golden Dawn Dairy.

Even on the muddiest of days there is an air of happiness around Golden Dawn Dairy in Merrill, Wis. Cows eat peacefully at the feedbunk, calves are healthy and energetic, and employees laugh and joke with each other.

Owned by Genex delegate Hans Breitenmoser, Jr. and his family, this 400-cow dairy has been recognized for excellent reproductive performance, low Somatic Cell Count (SCC) and their commitment to energy efficiency.

Communication and teamwork between employees, management and the Genex team has allowed Golden Dawn Dairy to achieve impressive results. The herd was recently recognized as a silver award winner by the Dairy Cattle Reproductive Council for their reproductive excellence. With an annual average conception rate of 44 percent and a pregnancy rate of 29 percent, it is an obvious understatement to say things are going well.

Stewards of the Land

It is evident through multiple avenues that Breitenmoser is passionate about energy efficiency. He’ll say it himself, “It’s a philosophical thing on our part to be as energy efficient as we can be.”

Good Animal Husbandry

“Everything speaks to herd health. The repro award and the SCC award aren’t a coincidence, they are related,” shared Hans as he explained the emphasis they place on healthy cows.

Laurie Svetlik, herdsperson at Golden Dawn Dairy for almost 20 years, echoed the same thoughts, “We really place an emphasis on proper cow handling by all employees. We feel a stress-free cow is a happy, healthy cow!” The numbers prove Svetlik and Breitenmoser are exactly right. Recognized for a low 107,000 average SCC count for 2009, Golden Dawn Dairy has continued healthy production with an average of less than 100,000 for 2010.

Golden Dawn Dairy works with the local Genex team to keep their reproduction program on track. “We use everything Genex offers here,” stated Scott Grund, Genex Breeding Program Specialist (BPS). Fellow BPS Gerard Kaiser added, “The program has evolved and been streamlined for the most efficiency.”

Genex delegate Ha

ns Breitenmoser, Jr.

pictured above with

his family.

Using new technologies and proven methods from the past, they work to reduce their carbon footprint. A plate cooler not only cools the milk, but water is recycled as drinking water for the cows. When it came time to replace light bulbs in the freestalls, a long-day lighting system with fluorescent light bulbs was installed.

Continued on page 22…

©2010 CRI

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21

H E R D STORY Excellence Isn’t By Chance at Golden Dawn Dairy …continued from page 21.

Focus Sets the Stage for Success …continued from page 19.

This summer a 160-foot tower was installed and has since been collecting data on wind speed, temperature and wind direction to determine if their hilltop location would be suitable for a wind turbine. Solar panels are also being considered for installation on the south exposure of the freestall barn.

are the direct result of the health of the cow (impacted by optimal feed ration intake and ideal environmental factors), they do conscientiously utilize high fertility sires under some circumstances. “High fertility sires can provide a benefit when certain ‘problem cows’ have difficulty breeding,” explained Bruneau.

Giving Back to the Community

Golden Dawn Dairy works to leave a positive impact on the industry. For the past four years, employee Nate Weisenfeld has been partially paid in-kind with heifer calves. In May 2011, Nate will be moving his animals to his own recently purchased facility nearby. Working with Breitenmoser while building up a herd of his own has allowed Weisenfeld to build the skills and equity he needs to start dairying. Breitenmoser recently began working with GrassWorks to develop an apprenticeship program to offer similar experiences for other dairies and those with the desire to start dairying.

Svetlik advocates the importance of training employees on proper animal handling skills. She participated in a producer panel as part of the Tri-State Regional Dairy Summit and also suggested and contributed to an animal handling module published by their local county extension program.

From the outside, Golden Dawn Dairy looks like many of the dairies that dot the countryside in north central Wisconsin. A short visit with those that make the dairy run proves animal management practices, commitment to the land and giving back to the community are what makes this dairy unique.

The use of GenChoice™ sexed semen is another genetic decision made for individual inseminations. “We sometimes use sexed semen in a good productive cow to increase the chances of calving another potentially good future cow. We have also used sexed semen in our Jerseys for the simple reason that we have fewer Jerseys and would like more.”

Attending to Details

“We believe the strong point on our dairy is the close attention we pay to herd management,” noted Bruneau.

“This leads to a high rate of pregnant cows.” Of course, herd management is the collaborative effort of the Bruneau family along with their local veterinarian, nutritionist and Genex representative Chuck Fowler.

Genex Farm Systems

is a leading provider of high-quality farmstead and milking products. For over 50 years, Farm Systems has supplied agricultural producers throughout the upper Midwest with the complete package of sales, service and installation.

Contact Genex Farm Systems to learn more about the products and services offered: Farmstead Products: A dealer of Animat, Harvestore®, Slurrystore®, FAN Separator, Parkson and Andigen products Tel: 1-800-247-0012 Milking Equipment: A dealer of Delaval, Germania, West Agro and Universal products Tel: 1-800-636-5581 22

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S h o w yo u r G e n ex p r i d e ! o JNRN

Navy Rain Jacket A 100% waterproof nylon shell jacket with a nylon mesh lining. This jacket has one interior pocket, two front zipper pockets, adjustable cuffs and an open bottom hem.

S-2X...... $41.00 3X...... $43.00

o SGZF

Full-Zip Sweatshirt A classic gray, full-zip sweatshirt made of a 50/50 cotton/polyester mix.

Sweatshirt is pill resistant with front pouch pockets.

S-XL...... $25.75 2X-3X...... $27.75

SGZF

o HCCW

Cross Weave Hat This heavy-duty, cotton cap is made of strong and durable canvas-like material. It's a great khaki color featuring the CRI logo.......$4.10

J NRN

o FLSL

F LS L

LED Flashlight A must have flashlight to keep in your vehicle or toolbox. This 7" LED flashlight is thin for easy storage yet long enough to grip easily.......$5.00

H C CW

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SHIPPING TOTAL Please MAIL or FAX completed order form to: CRI Promo Orders, P. O. Box 469 Shawano, WI 54166 Fax: 715-526-7577

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Genex Cooperative, Inc.

A subsidiary of Cooperative Resources International 117 E. Green Bay Street, P.O. Box 469 Shawano, WI 54166 • Phone 888/333-1783

CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED

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1HO02473 BOUTLAND %-I

Twin Elm Lazarith 1534

B0362-110

Product of the U.S.A.

Glick Marcellus Ginger

GROW YOUR FARM FAMILY

Through use of the industry’s nationally recognized sire fertility measurement.

Hillcrest Shampoo 4022

1HO09248 SIGNIF-P

Trinity’s Allstar Melody

Sire Conception Rate (SCR) is an unbiased fertility measurement independently calculated by USDA-AIPL. SCR evaluations are expressed as deviations from the overall average; a bull with a +4.0 SCR is expected to produce a conception rate of 34% in a herd that normally averages 30% and historically has used average conception rate bulls.

1HO02473 BOUTLAND %-I +6.5 SCR 1HO09092 LAZARITH +5.0 SCR 1HO08812 MARCELLUS +4.6 SCR 1HO09208 SHAMPOO +4.2 SCR 1HO09248 SIGNIF-P +4.0 SCR 1JE00654 ALLSTAR +3.9 SCR