The Premier Pioneer Summer 2022

SUMMER 2022

LASTING IMPACT We all know that we should be taking care

of our health. We also know that eating a carrot one time isn’t going to improve our overall wellbeing. Rather, a holistic approach incorporating diet, exercise, and lifestyle will set us on the path to longA QUICK term success.

FIX DOESN’T HAVE LASTING IMPACT, BUT A COMMITMENT TO STRATEGY DOES.

Similarly, we know that there’s no magic elixir that will give us healthy, long-lasting, productive cattle. Promises of cheap or fast solutions may be tempting.

However, producers

achieve the best return on investment by creating and sticking to a management plan devoted to the long-term success of the operation. A quick fix doesn’t have lasting impact, but a commitment to strategy does.

Today’s dairy or beef producer needs hardy, healthy cattle that produce well while supporting efficiency and sustainability on-farm. That doesn’t happen overnight.

However, your Premier team is available to help you create and stick to a long-term plan that will allow you to meet consumer demands while adjusting to economic and environmental challenges. We hope this newsletter helps you discover some tools to help you do just that.

Healthy, long-lasting, productive cattle require a foundation of strong genetics. Our sire analysts work hard to help you meet modern

consumer, industry, and operational demands by creating genetics with the potential you need. Learn about healthfocused dairy indexes, cutting-edge dairy young sires, a new beef production EPD, and other genetic topics in the following pages.

HEALTHY,

Preventative care is LONG-LASTING, a minor investment PRODUCTIVE that can save major costs and headaches CATTLE REQUIRE down the road. And A FOUNDATION when treatment is OF STRONG needed, antibiotics aren’t always the GENETICS. best answer. Learn about some of our heard management products to prevent and treat the many challenges you face on pages 4-5.

Attention to detail is important as well.

Check out page 2 and ask your local representative about the CowManager® activity monitoring system, which can help improve fertility, nutrition, and health by alerting you to changes in your animals before the human eye can see them.

We are a member cooperative, and we exist to work in cooperation with you so that we can all succeed. Thank you for trusting us as a partner on your operation.

Please contact us if you have questions or suggestions on how we can better serve you!

IN THIS EDITION: Lasting Impact........................................ 1 Message from the CEO........................... 2 Future Focused: Health Indexes............ 3

Product Special........................................... 4 Volatility Requires Wisdom......................... 5 NxGEN® Program......................................... 6

Farm Features............................................ 8 Beef Briefs.................................................. 10 ShowcaseTM Spotlight................................. 12

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MESSAGE FROM THE CEO Mark Carpenter, Chief Executive Officer I’ll start first with saying thank

you, again. Seems like I was just thanking you for not only supporting Premier during the pandemic but allowing us the opportunity to work together with you to find new ways to deliver solutions that exceeded your needs. There has been no shortage of challenges on your operations or ours these past couple years and every time one challenge seems to come to pass another comes along. We were so thrilled to be putting the COVID-19 challenges in the rearview and then supply chain disruptions and inflationary pressures came on at unprecedented levels.

I hope we’ve been able to help you meet your near and longterm needs with our industry-leading products and services. As your cooperative and partner, we’ve listened carefully and remain dedicated to uncompromised product quality while delivering with the high standards you expect.

In times when suppliers are cutting services, shrinking packages, and trying to find short term gains at any cost, you can be assured that Premier has doubled down on just the opposite. We are with you for the long-term and are doing everything we can to balance

expenses while staying true to our farmer boards’ expectations of being a service leader.

Premier remains proud to be your go-to source for leading genetics

by Select Sires, GenerVations, and Accelerated Genetics, along with many additive products and technologies that enhance and protect your genetic investments. Our employees take great pride in being your trusted advisor and work hard to offer solutions that fit your specific operational needs. We value our partnership with our members and welcome the opportunity to show you all the ways your cooperative can serve you.

Your cooperative has the tools both internally as well as through strategic partnerships with ZoetisTM, Simplot®, CowManager®, Agrarian Solutions®, ProfitSOURCE® beef on dairy program partners, and many others to help you continue your success. Please make sure you are taking advantage of all that your cooperative has to offer.

Thank you again and in advance for your continued trust and support. We are prouder than ever to be true to our purpose and to be wholly owned and controlled by our members. #RideWithPremier Zoetis is a trademark of Zoetis Services LLC or a related company or licensor. ®Simplot is a registered trademark of the J.R. Simplot Company. CowManager is a registered trademark of Agis Automatisering. Agrarian Solutions is a registered trademark of Agrarian Marketing Corporation. ProfitSOURCE is a registered trademark of Select Sires Inc. TM

FIND THE SEMEN STRAW for a chance to WIN a special Premier Select Sires prize!

1. Find this semen straw hidden somewhere in the newsletter (hidden straw may be smaller than the one shown here) 2. Go to www.premierselectsires.com and click the“Newsletter Contest” button on the home page 3. Tell us where you found the straw to enter the drawing!

You may also send your submission in the mail. Write us a note including the following information: your name, account #, address, and where you found the semen straw. Mail it to the following address for a chance to WIN!

Premier Newsletter Contest Attn. Laura Williams 1 Stony Mountain Road Tunkhannock, PA 18657

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Responses must be submitted by August 19, 2022

CONGRATS! Congratulations to Teresa Fawley of Tefaw Farm in Jefferson MD, winner of the Spring 2022 semen straw contest!

The semen straw was on page 11, on the DTX box.

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VOLATILITY REQUIRES WISDOM Jeffrey Hostetter, Product Manager

Agriculture is our wisest “pursuit, because it will in

the end contribute most to real wealth, good morals, and happiness.

-Thomas Jefferson

The agriculture industry is the source of

much wisdom in our society and it always has been. We continuously work to improve the health of our cattle, knowing that the return on those investments is evident in improved longevity, growth, and performance. The value of cattle health is a higher priority than ever in today’s agricultural environment.

The beef and dairy cattle on your farms and ranches represent the most superior genetic specimen of all time. At Premier Select Sires, we are striving to come along side our member owners and offer the tools to bring out the best of those advanced genetics.

Every one of our animal health products is designed to “ENHANCE and PROTECT” your genetic investment.

As mycotoxins become more prevalent in feeds and forages than ever before, producers and nutritionists are recognizing that nutritional protection is needed. With a mode of action unlike the multitude of binders on the market, DTXTM protects your cattle from the damaging effects of mycotoxins and enhances the function of their immune system. By activating the cow’s own natural defense mechanism,

DTX can protect against a broad spectrum of mycotoxins without the risk of binding up essential vitamins, minerals, and amino acids. More and more nutritionists and feed mills are using DTX to provide protection and allow cows to express their true potential.

As weather volatility wreaks havoc on dairies and feedlots, look to Bovine Accellyte II to protect your cattle. A proprietary blend of electrolytes, osmolytes, and sugars, Bovine Accellyte II helps reduce milk production losses in hot weather. Also, many dairy producers use this product to help maintain reproductive performance throughout the summertime and especially in the early fall when that “summer lag” can still drag down conception rates. Bovine Accellyte II also has an incredible ability to reduce shrink and improve carcass quality when fed to fat cattle before harvest.

Brand new to the Premier toolbox is AccelAIRate, a unique blend of essential oils and antioxidants that can be used to prevent or treat respiratory disease in young cattle.

With the reduction in use of antibiotics in feed, AccelAIRate is a fabulous alternative

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with exciting potential to address a challenge that has affected many beef and dairy producers through the years. AccelAIRate uses technology that has been in place in Europe where antibiotics have basically been banned for several years. This technology has proven itself over and over across the pond, and it’s now available exclusively to Select Sires customers in the US. Ask your Premier representative about this innovative solution today.

Farming is historically viewed by Americans as one of the most respected professions.

Polls show that even as inflation grows and food prices rise, farmers are respected for their hard work, trustworthiness, and nurturing of others.

Thank you for the resilience that you display every day in working hard to feed our country and the world. It seems the ups and downs of farming become more volatile every year, yet you continue to work smarter and harder to be successful. Our passion is to give you the tools and the knowledge to meet your goals each and every day.

Select DTX is a trademark of Select Sires Inc.

TM

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NxGEN® is a membership program used

to expedite the distribution of elite genetics from the Select Sires breeding program into the marketplace. The NxGEN program aims to minimize the generation interval on farm and maximize genetic gain, while also protecting the cooperative’s investments to benefit customer-owners.

By joining and accepting the terms and conditions of the NxGEN program, members will have earlier access to our most elite genetics, which are widely respected in today’s genomic world.

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“The NxGEN program was designed for dairy producers who want to drive genetic performance. The lineup includes sires to meet the needs of every dairy producer, no matter the management environment or selection criteria,” said Jordan Siemers, Holstein Sire Analyst at Select Sires Inc.

Premier member-owners can benefit from the NxGEN program after three simple steps: 1. Complete the membership application at selectsires.com (or ask your local

Premier representative for a paper copy of the application).

2. Once the application has been submitted and approved, pay a one-time membership fee of $300 and accept the terms of the NxGEN program.

3. Choose from breed-leading genetics

from sires that top the charts for production and health traits and watch your herd improve like never before!

Ask your local representative about joining the NxGEN program, or complete the online application today.

ADD THESE ELITE SIRES TO YOUR BREEDING PROGRAM BY JOINING NxGEN! 7

You’ve heard about the NxGEN bulls, but what about the people? What are members of the NxGEN program saying?

Here’s input from two commercial Virginia dairy farms, both of different scope and scale, using NxGEN. Read on to learn about their experience!

Homestead Valley Farm

Interview with Herd Manager Eric Wenger Farm Location: Bridgewater and Dayton, Virginia Animals: Milking 115 cows three times per day, 15 dry cows, 162 heifers (heifers raised on-farm)

Acres: 100 acres, about 75 with crops Production: 27,000 pounds rolling herd average Management: Owner, John Wenger; Herd Manager, Eric Wenger; John and Eric’s

wives, Carolyn and Christine, both help on the farm; three employees assist with one of the daily milkings

Premier Representatives: Area Sales Manager Mike Marchand, Dairy Program Specialist Luke Johnson, Regional Sales Manager Brad Barham

Can you provide some background on your farm?

Eric: My father-in-law, John Wenger, has owned and operated the farm since

2004. I have served as the herd manager since 2016. We operate in two different locations, one in Bridgewater, VA, and one just about ten minutes down the road in Dayton, VA.

What are some of your genetic goals?

Eric: Fat has always been a focus. We look for Milk, Feet and Legs, strong Productive Life, DPR, NM$, and DWP$®. We look at

health traits and mastitis as well. We try to use the best…we look at buying genetics as an investment in the future of the herd, and I’m glad that my father-in-law and I are on the same page when it comes to genetic selection. We’re hoping to get the best genetics as quickly as possible. The price difference for better genetics is worth it for what you’ll make out of the cow, and using the right genetics can save money in vet bills later. We’d love to go from the 27,000 pounds rolling herd average to 30,000 pounds, and our long-term goal is to always get better!

When did you join the NxGEN program and why?

Eric: We have been a member of the program for just over a year. We had noticed and really liked some of the NxGEN bulls in the

sire directory, so we decided to sign up as a way to get the best genetics the fastest. We wanted to be able to access those higherlevel genetics. Our Area Sales Manager, Mike Marchand, helped us with the signup process. We filled out a paper application and he submitted it for us so we could become members.

What has your experience with the NxGEN program been so far?

Eric: We have been pleased with the sire selection. We’re a small farm, and sometimes

we wish we had even more capacity to use NxGEN sires. Often times new ones are released before we finish using the previous month’s sires. We breed our best heifers, which I determine based on pedigrees and visual appearance, to NxGEN semen. We’ve even flushed to the NxGEN bull 7HO15583 KASHTON, and those calves are due at the end of July. We have genomically tested some of our animals, and this is something we’re considering doing more in the future—especially with the NxGEN sires. Most of the NxGEN offspring here are young, but I look forward to seeing them mature!

“It’s nice to see young producers like Eric with such attention to detail. He and John see their genetic purchases as investments, and it’s a pleasure to be a part of their farm!”

–Mike Marchand, Premier Area Sales Manager A 7HO15167 GAMEDAY (NxGEN sire) heifer at Homestead Valley Farm g

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Stoney Run Farms, Inc.

Interview with Rachel Smith Fink Farm Location: McGaheysville, Virginia Animals: Milking 2,700 cows 3 times per day, 300 dry cows, 3,400 heifers (heifers raised on-farm)

Acres Farmed: 1,700 Production: Averaging 95 pounds of milk per cow per day Management: Partnership (Rachel’s grandfather Fred Smith, father Jeff Smith,

mother Noma Smith, brothers Nathan and Matthew Smith, and Rachel). 45 full time employees and a few part time employees.

Premier Representatives: Area Sales Manager Mike Marchand, Dairy Program

Specialist Luke Johnson, Independent Select Reproductive Solutions Specialist David Whitlock, Regional Sales Manager Brad Barham

Can you provide some background on your farm?

Rachel: Stoney Run Farms is a fifth-generation farm. It was primarily a crop

farm until 1959 when the first parlor, a double 8, was built by my greatgrandfather and grandfather. The farm started with 50 cows. In the early 90’s, another double 16 herringbone parlor was built, and then in 2015 our 72-stall rotary parlor was built.

What are some of your genetic goals?

Rachel: We strive for healthy, profitable cows so that we can achieve high milk production and quality. We’re looking for A2A2 bulls with good composition and production traits…cows that are strong and last in the freestall setting. Luke Johnson mates our cows and before him, Mark Smith (retired Premier Dairy Coordinator) mated our cows. Premier has helped us for a lot of years and have done good work. My dad has always been strong breeding 100% with Select’s bulls for at least 15 years, and he’s always used good semen and wanted to breed good cows and I think it shows. He also has enjoyed the relationship with Select’s people and the benefits they offer that other companies don’t.

When did you join the NxGEN program and why?

Rachel: We joined the NxGEN program about two years ago after learning about it in a meeting with Mike Marchand and Brad

Barham. We joined because we were looking to increase our bull availability to breed heifers and cows that have the A2A2 gene as well as increase milk production and components. We completed the application process online, and within the next week we were already approved and signed up. It was easy.

What has your experience with the NxGEN program been so far?

Rachel: The biggest benefits we have found with the NxGEN program

are the wider selection of bulls and the better genetics that are available through that. We also have very good sales representatives working with us to use those bulls and mate our animals. The NxGEN program helps us reach our long-term goals by providing us with the superior genetics to produce a cow that is going to last longer in our herd, make more milk, and have the A2 gene as well as the overall health benefits that we’re looking for. The first NxGEN progeny are about ten months old, and we look forward to seeing those offspring come into milk!

“Select Sires is focusing on longevity and that’s really what they’ve been doing here at Stoney Run Farms. They focus on good, functional cattle. Now with the NxGEN program, they’re able to get access to power genetic bulls quicker and extend their selection. Stoney Run is one of the early adopters of NxGEN, and the goal is that they’ll see genetic and production progress sooner than someone who’s maybe not a member of the NxGEN program.

Stoney Run Farms’ criteria are pretty specific for bulls, so the NxGEN program allows us to identify bulls that fit their program.”

–Luke Johnson, Premier Dairy Program Specialist

fRachel Smith Fink next to a NxGEN calf

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BEEF BRIEFS

NEW ANGUS PRODUCTION EPD:

HAIR SHEDDING expected progeny difference (EPD) has been released from a research EPD to a production EPD, effective May 27, 2022. This is after two years of research and collaboration among the American Angus Association, the University of Missouri, and other universities across the Southeastern United States. Hair Shedding will now be reported weekly through the American Angus Association’s genetic evaluation.

Cattle that shed off their winter coat earlier in summer months have been shown to have a better tolerance to heat and fescue toxicosis.

Hair shedding is evaluated on

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a 1-5 visual appraisal scale, where 5 is a full winter coat and 1 is a completely slicked out winter coat. Additionally, this is a genomically enhanced EPD. As for favorability, a lower EPD indicates earlier shedding.

Breed averages include: • Current sires 0.60 • Current dams 0.50 • Non-parent bulls 0.50 • Non-parent females 0.50 Hair Shedding is a moderately heritable trait at 0.36.

The information for this article is from the American Angus Association. To read more about this new Hair Shedding production EPD, visit Angus.org!

HAIR SHEDDING (HS)

TOP TEN PREMIER SIRES

The Hair Shedding (HS)

Standout

7SM122 SCHOOLEY STANDOUT 27G // 3585120 Epic x Cowboy Cut // Homo. Black/Homo. Polled // PB SM STANDOUT is the complete package of phenotype and genotype.

Use him to create more value.

Fully Loaded

14SM3101 DMCC/WOOD FULLY LOADED 39D // 3131823 14SM Lock N Load x Macho // Hetero. Black/Homo. Polled // PB SM Blaze-faced, super thick and extremely sound, FULLY LOADED delivers showstopping eye-appeal along with major advantages for easy-to-sell heifers.

From Lazy C Diamond Ranch, ND and Schooley Cattle Co., IA

From High Prairie Genetics, KS

CE: 15.9 BW: -1.6 WW: 80.8 YW: 117.9 MARB: .52 REA: .69 API: 165.4 TI: 93.5

CE: 11 BW: 1 WW: 80.2 YW: 119.4 MARB: .02 REA: 1.07 API: 129.1 TI: 78.1

Promoter

7SM115 KLER PROMOTER G15 // 3613881 Turnpike x Predestined // Homo. Black/Homo. Polled // 3/4 SM 1/4 AN PROMOTER is more than just a pretty picture. He offers elite growth and performance and descends from the same cow family as W/C Ft Knox.

Uno Mas

7SM65 WLE UNO MAS X549 // 2532016 Dream On x Goldmine // Hetero. Black/Homo. Polled // PB SM The standard for CE and phenotype, UNO MAS continues to generate females that excel on the tanbark, in the sale ring and in the pasture!

From K-LER Cattle Co., MN and Sloup Simmentals, NE

From Wesner Livestock Enterprises and Purdue University, IN

CE: 12.3 BW: 1.2 WW: 96 YW: 161 MARB: .26 REA: 1.3 API: 135.6 TI: 91.4

CE: 14.2 BW: -1.3 WW: 65.7 YW: 85.5 MARB: .44 REA: .43 API: 149.6 TI: 81.8

contact your local representative to order!

STANDOUT, FULLY LOADED, and UNO MAS EPDs as of 6/9/22. PROMOTER EPDs as of 5/11/22. ™gender SELECTED and gender SELECTED 4M are trademarks of Select Sires Inc. All gender SELECTED semen is processed using Ultraplus™ technology. Ultraplus is a trademark of Inguran LLC. Limitations and Conditions of Sale: gender SELECTED semen shall be used only for the single insemination of one female bovine during natural ovulation with the intent to produce a single offspring unless specifically approved on an individual customer basis by Sexing Technologies in writing. As a condition of purchasing gender SELECTED semen, the purchaser agrees that gender SELECTED semen will not be reverse sorted or re-sorted unless specifically permitted, in advance, on a case-by-case basis by Select Sires in writing. Select Sires intends to monitor the use of the gender SELECTED semen and vigorously enforce these restrictions on use. Please see http://www.selectsires.com/designations/genderselected.html for additional details.

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PREMIER SELECT SIRES, INC. 1 Stony Mountain Road Tunkhannock, PA 18657

Our Mission

TO SERVE AS A TRUSTED PARTNER WITH BEEF AND DAIRY PRODUCERS, BUILDING THEIR SUCCESS THROUGH INDUSTRYLEADING GENETICS, EFFECTIVE HERD MANAGEMENT PRODUCTS, VALUABLE SERVICES, AND EXPERIENCE-BASED INSIGHTS FROM KNOWLEDGEABLE, PASSIONATE EMPLOYEES.

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