SPRING 2022
MESSAGE FROM THE CEO Mark Carpenter, Chief Executive Officer WHAT’S NOT NEW? “What’s new?” If you’ve asked this question to your local Premier representative over the past year or two, there’s a decent chance you’ve gotten a different answer each time he or she has visited your farm. Like never before, we’ve been adding new products, programs, tools, and experts to our portfolio because we want to help you succeed in an agriculture and economic environment that has also been changing faster and more drastically than ever before. We realize that all of these changes, coming from Premier and elsewhere, can sometimes be a bit overwhelming. But it can sometimes help to ask, “What’s not new?” So, what’s not new?
1. Premier Select Sires is still committed to providing you with leading genetics that are highly fertile and fairly priced. This remains the
hallmark of our cooperative. We’ve added many other products and resources to our portfolio with the goal of enhancing or protecting the investments you’re making in genetics. We haven’t gotten away from our foundation as a genetics company, rather, we’re striving to help you get more out of those genetics. We understand that to remain competitive as a modern dairy or beef operation, you need to think big picture, and we hope that as a cooperative we can all work together to discover new efficiencies and opportunities.
2. People matter. We partner and work with scientists,
veterinarians, nutritionists, and other industry experts so we
can offer you modern solutions that are cutting edge. However, it’s your local area sales manager, technician, reproductive specialist, dairy coordinator, etc. who will be on your farm explaining the latest research with a focus on how it impacts YOU and YOUR OPERATION. Every farm is different, and rather than “drinking from a firehose” of data and trying to figure out what is actually helpful for you, trust your local Premier representative to act as your filter. Our field staff are local to your area, and they understand what’s at play in your region and on your unique operation.
3. Change and tradition can exist together. We don’t need to give
you a history lesson for you to understand just how far beef and dairy producers have come in recent years alone. The same goes for the A.I. industry. New technologies and new methods of doing things have improved our lives, but agriculture has always been rooted in hard work, dedication, and a vision to achieve something bigger than ourselves. As a cooperative that’s owned by you, our farmers, we trust that with your direction we can find the best balance of change and tradition to continue lifting our industry higher. Yes, there’s a lot of “new.” There’s a lot going on in the world around us, within the agriculture industry, and within our cooperative. Just know that at the same time, some things are not new, and we remain committed to serving you and helping you achieve success. We hope this newsletter provides a good sampling of some current happenings and offerings in our cooperative—guidance from our in-house specialists, genetics from the industry’s top sires, products to help your animals perform at their best, leadership from our dedicated board, programs to help you be more profitable, young agriculturists who make our future look bright, and more. Thank you for your commitment to your Premier cooperative!
IN THIS EDITION: Message from the CEO.................. 1 Rest is Power................................. 3 2022 Annual Meeting Highlights.... 4
Bovine Accellyte II Pre-Booking Special.........5 Beef Briefs.......................................................... 10 NY Farm Builds Profitable BxD Program......... 6 Inflammation & Lactating Cow Productivity....... 11 2022 Premier Scholarship Recipients............. 8 Dairy Sire Designations.......................................12
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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 May 13, 2022
CONGRATS! Congratulations to Jesse Rhodes of Dayton, Virginia, winner of the Fall/Winter 2021 semen straw contest! The semen straw was on page 6, on the cable above the cow.
REST IS POWER
FINDING THE MOST PROFITABLE COMBINATION OF PRODUCTION, REST, AND CONCEPTION RATES Stephanie Clavijo, Reproductive Specialist for Premier Select Sires
As a dairy herd manager or producer,
getting the most production out of our cows is usually the number one goal. It is not an easy thing to sometimes step back and make sure we are looking at the entire picture and all the moving parts that can affect this like reproduction, transition, and health events. With the outstanding management that we see ST 1 LACTATION these days, COWS CAN NOW more and more I see how OFTEN HOLD THEIR first lactation MILK THROUGHOUT cows really THEIR ENTIRE hold their milk LACTATION AND MAKE throughout IT HARD TO WANT TO their entire lactation, DRY THEM OFF…BUT sometimes THIS CAN RESULT IN making it difficult to A LOW 1ST SERVICE make the CONCEPTION RATE decision to ON 2ND LACTATION dry them off. COWS. What I am also seeing when running reproduction reports for farms is a low first service conception rate on second lactation cows.
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Dairy Herd Management came out with a great article in January 2021, titled “Goldilocks of Dry Periods.” The message you get from reading this very
informative article is that first lactation cows benefit greatly from a 61 – 70 day dry period, and second lactation and greater benefit most from a 51 – 60 day dry period. A dry period shorter than that and you will begin to see milk loss. A dry period longer than that and you will begin to see an increase in transition and/or fresh cow diseases. The reason first lactation cows perform better with a slightly extended dry period is simply the power of rest. These cows have just gone through their first calving and first lactation cycle, and they greatly need that rest period to be able to come into their second lactation strong and ready to conceive when it comes time to breed again. Having previously been in a herd management position myself, I truly understand that when that 1ST LACTATION first lactation COWS BENEFIT cow is still FROM A 61 – 70 DAY producing close to what DRY PERIOD, AND she was at her 2ND LACTATION AND peak milk we GREATER BENEFIT think keeping FROM A 51 – 60 DAY her in the milking herd DRY PERIOD. another week or two might be the best call – but is it the best call for her?
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Milk production is what pays the bills, but we also know that without a pregnant cow we won’t be able to produce that milk. We all IF YOU’RE SEEING know and LOW 1ST SERVICE recognize the circle of CONCEPTION RATE life within ON 2ND LACTATION this industry, COWS, AND IF YOU’RE so when LOOKING TO HELP making those decisions that BOOST THIS – TRY seem like STARTING WITH THAT they might not benefit us FIRST DRY PERIOD… REST IS POWER! at that very moment, we should rest assured that it is going to benefit us in the end.
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If you are seeing this low first service conception rate on your second lactation cows, and if you are looking for a place to start within your management to help boost this – try starting with that first dry period. Make sure those first lactation cows are falling within 61 – 70 days dry. If you notice your younger cows seem to calve early – adjust accordingly and extend the number of days dry on your list for those first lactation cows to account for early calvings. Remember, rest is power!
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2022 ANNUAL MEETING HIGHLIGHTS Premier Select Sires held the Annual Membership Meeting on March 2, 2022 in Charleston, South Carolina. Following is a summary of that meeting: • An audit report of last year was given. 2021 resulted in financial performance of $2,253,370 in profit on revenues of $37,816,081. For the third consecutive year, Premier Select Sires sold more than 1.8 million units. • All Directors and Delegates were reelected. Officers for year ahead are: • President - James Cook, Virginia • 1st Vice President - Kenny Taylor, Tennessee • 2nd Vice President - Jim Houser, Pennsylvania • Secretary - John Edd Harris, Georgia • Treasurer - Mike Saylor, Tennessee • Select Sires Inc. board representatives are James Cook, Steve Craun, and Kenny Taylor
YOUR PREMIER SELECT SIRES BOARD MEMBERS
• Highlights of the meeting discussion included a review of 2021, discussion on Premier’s investment in Agrarian Solutions, strategic planning on the correct blend of value-added services, and an unveiling of Premier’s new Enterprise Resource Planning software. BOARD OF DIRECTORS James Cook, President, District 3, Penhook VA Steve Craun, District 3, Bridgewater VA Bob Cruikshank, District 1, Ogdensburg NY Gary Dell, District 2, Westminster MD Paul Gingue, District 1, Waterford VT John Edd Harris, Secretary, District 3, Musella GA Kelvin Hatch, District 2, Columbia PA Jim Houser, 2nd Vice-President, District 2, Spring Mills PA Barbara Nedrow, District 1, Clifton Springs NY Mike Saylor, Treasurer, District 4, Jonesborough TN Kenny Taylor, 1st Vice-President, District 4, Fayetteville TN
PUBLIC DIRECTOR Tim Riley, Columbia TN DELEGATES Pat Ard, District 4, Ruth MS Vern Buessing, District 4, Baileyville KS Jonathan Lamb, District 1, Oakfield NY Kevin Satterwhite, District 3, Newberry SC Jessica Slaymaker, District 2, Mansfield PA EMPLOYED OFFICERS Mark Carpenter, CEO/Executive Vice-President, Tunkhannock PA Beverly Barnes, Assistant Board Meeting Secretary, Spring Hill TN Ryan Visneski, Assistant Secretary and Treasurer, Tunkhannock PA
Our Mission
TO SERVE AS A TRUSTED PARTNER WITH BEEF AND DAIRY PRODUCERS, BUILDING THEIR SUCCESS THROUGH INDUSTRY-LEADING GENETICS, EFFECTIVE HERD MANAGEMENT PRODUCTS, VALUABLE SERVICES, AND EXPERIENCE-BASED INSIGHTS FROM KNOWLEDGEABLE, PASSIONATE EMPLOYEES. 4
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Photos (left to right): A ProfitSOURCE calf at Damin Farms, Marc and Keri Clements, the steer herd at Damin Farms.
DAMIN FARMS BUILDS PROFITABLE BEEF ON DAIRY PROGRAM Damin Farms, a successful Holstein and
Jersey operation milking 1650 cows in Prattsburgh, New York, has developed a profitable beef on dairy program with the help of Premier’s ProfitSOURCETM program. As a result of quality genetics, management, and marketing, the farm has been receiving a $150 to $200 premium for their calves at the local sale barn. Damin Farms also raises some of the crosses in their 750-head steer herd. Marc and Keri Clements, along with Keri’s parents, siblings, and their children, run Damin Farms. Marc and Keri told us a little bit about their beef on dairy program and how Damin Farms has become a trusted name at the sale barn and beyond.
QUALITY GENETICS Marc said that Damin Farms began the beef on dairy process with Premier’s ProfitMAX® program. Through the ProfitMAX program, Premier representatives helped Damin Farms analyze cow and heifer inventories to project the number of heifers needed to meet future herd size goals. They then devised a plan to create elite dairy replacements from the herd’s best genetics, while breeding the remainder of the herd to beef semen for higher-value feeder calves.
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“We’ve raised Holstein steers for a long time, and we started using some Angus semen before the ProfitSOURCE program came about,” said Marc. “We wanted to control our herd size and reduce heifer numbers since we were no longer looking to expand our herd. We can almost get all our needed heifer calves by breeding the virgin heifers to sexed semen. We want to breed our best and most modern genetic heifers with the best dairy semen. Then, all our second, third, fourth, and fifth lactation cows get bred to beef semen.” Now that the ProfitSOURCE program is available, Damin Farms uses ProfitSOURCE semen for their beef on dairy breeding. ProfitSOURCE sires excel for calving ease, growth performance, carcass merit, and fertility. John Mikel, Premier Dairy Coordinator, administers the Select Mating Service® on the farm and helps select dairy sires. Scott Irvine, the Premier Reproductive Services Specialist, selects which ProfitSOURCE sires to use when he breeds the cows. “For Angus sires, we are looking primarily for fertility and calving ease,” said Marc. “The Premier staff knows what we’re looking for and we trust them to choose the sires.” “When we started with these Angus sires it didn’t take long to notice a difference,”
said Keri. “It makes sense—they’re choosing sires that work for Holsteins. Sires that pack the muscle on and have good meat on them…the Angus cross produces a thrifty calf, and they’re aggressive.”
QUALITY MANAGEMENT As producers know, healthy, productive animals are a result of both genetics and environment. To take part in the ProfitSOURCE program, producers must sign an agreement stating that they’ll comply with newborn calf-care guidelines including dipping the navel in iodine, feeding colostrum, administering appropriate vaccines, and providing quality nutrition and housing. But Keri, who manages Damin Farms’ calves, makes the process simple— “We take care of them just like we do with our heifer calves. Some producers treat their bull calves as a biproduct or like they’re a no-good calf. We have never done that, and it has always made a difference. We treat bulls and heifers the same, and we’re going to treat them like we’re keeping them ourselves.” The Clements will tell you that the ProfitSOURCE program is not a “magic bullet” to earn you instant premiums for cross calves. They place high value in calf care, and Marc, pointing to Keri says, “Our magic bullet is sitting right there.”
“You just have to care,” said Keri. “You wait all of that time for the dam to freshen, and then to not take care of the calf just because it’s not a heifer? It doesn’t make sense. If the calf isn’t initially cared for, it’s not going to do well.”
QUALITY MARKETING Producers who use ProfitSOURCE semen and follow the appropriate management guidelines may tag the resulting calves with red ProfitSOURCE tags. These tags alert buyers that the calves have increased value due to their genetic merit and healthy start. “We put a lot of time and money into these calves and we need to get top dollar for them,” said Marc. “The red tag itself doesn’t necessarily do that, but the buyers know what they’re getting and it helps identify that. The tags are a good tool and part of a good program. The red tags help the calves get noticed at the sale and are really for the processors, so they know what they’re getting. We knew what our calves would look like, and it made sense to try the tags.” “That good healthy start makes all the difference,” said Irvine. “They’re selling the process more so than the tag. It’s an alert, or a tool, to show what’s behind the calves.” The Clements market most of their calves at Empire Livestock Marketing, the local sale barn about 15 minutes from the farm in Bath, NY. As mentioned, they typically receive a $150 to $200 premium for their cross calves. “We put a lot of up-front work in marketing the calves,” said Marc. “We have a good relationship with the sale barn manager and started by trickling in some calves and telling him that more were coming. I wanted them to see the quality that they were going to get when more calves were ready. We write ‘Damin Farms’ on the tags too, so people know they’re coming from a quality local farm. This helps us and the sale barn, and lets the buyers know what they can expect out of the calves.” “Even before we were using a beef on dairy program, buyers at the sale would ask, ‘Do you have any of those Damin calves?’ Our name has always
been attached to our calves,” said Keri. “The ProfitSOURCE tag with our name definitely makes a difference. They trust our red tags with our name. We’ve gained their trust that what we’re selling is accurate.” The calves that the Clements sell at Empire Livestock Marketing can range from 24 hours to 7 days old depending on the day of birth and the day of the next sale. Most of the calves average 4 days old when they’re sold.
PART OF THE OVERALL PLAN Marc says that the farm is and will remain primarily dairy-oriented, but the beef on dairy breeding has played an important role on their operation. As for Damin Farms’ steer herd, Marc said the beef on dairy crosses perform well for the Clements as well.
Photo (left to right): Premier Dairy Coordinator John Mikel, Marc and Keri Clements, Premier Reproductive Services Specialist Scott Irvine
“We could see how much better these calves were doing pretty quickly,” said Marc. “We can finish them on high forage diets—not high grain—and most all of them finish between 18 and 24 months. They are fed dairy herd refusals and good quality corn silage and haylage with very little purchased grain. For one of our last loads, 9 out of about 20 went Certified Angus, and the rest were Choice Yield Grade 3. An Angus cross steer can bring about $250 more than a Holstein steer.” The Clements continue to seek opportunities for improvement with their program. They have been breeding Holstein cows to Angus sires, and Jersey cows to Limousin sires, however, they are experimenting with some Jersey x Angus crosses to discover the best end-product for their purposes. All in all, the Clements are committed to excellence, whether that’s for their beef on dairy program or their operation as a whole. “You have to be sold on the whole process. It doesn’t fit every farm’s management style. Like anything else, it is an investment and if you do it right, you will see a return on it,” said Marc. “Our main goal is just to keep farming for our kids. We want to have something to pass down to them.”
ProfitMAX and Select Mating Service are registered trademarks of and TMProfitSOURCE is a trademark of Select Sires Inc.
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2022 PREMIER FUTURE AG LEADERS SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS Premier Select Sires awarded a total of
$19,500 to 19 college students through the 2022 Premier Future Ag Leaders Scholarship Program. Two students received $2,500 scholarships through the Johnny Daniel Memorial Scholarship and the Wayne Dudley Scholarship. Seventeen other students received scholarships of $750 to $1,500 in value.
Allen Graulich of Argus Acres, LLC, a 500-cow
Registered Holstein operation in Cobleskill, N.Y., is the son of David and Suzanne Graulich. Allen received the Wayne Dudley Scholarship. Allen is a student at Cornell University studying Animal Science with a dairy concentration, and after graduation he plans to begin working at Riverview, LLP in Morris, Minn. He looks forward to learning new techniques from a different perspective.
Ryan Allen of Glen Toctin Farm, a 120-cow
Registered Holstein operation in Jefferson, Md., is the son of Michael and Johanna Allen. Ryan received the Johnny Daniel Memorial Scholarship. Ryan is a student at Penn State University studying Animal Science. After
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graduation, Ryan plans to pursue a career in the A.I. industry. He hopes to translate his passion for dairy genetics into a role focusing on the procurement and advancement of the best possible genetics. He also plans to stay involved on his home farm.
Hannah Diehl of Musser Run Jerseys, a 200-
cow Jersey operation in McVeytown, Pa., is the daughter of Joseph and Kristin Diehl. Hannah is a student at Penn State University studying Animal Science. After graduation, Hannah plans to work as a herd manager or assistant herd manager to grow her skills on a farm that is different from her home farm. She then hopes to return to her family’s farm and use her new skills and experience while expanding the farm and implementing new technologies.
Erin Armitage of Clover Stone Farm, a 50-
head dairy heifer and beef cattle operation in Greenwich, N.Y., is the daughter of Kevin and Lee-Ann Armitage. Erin is a student at SUNY Morrisville studying Dairy Science and Agribusiness. After completing her Associate’s Degree in Dairy Science and Agribusiness, Erin plans on transferring to Virginia Tech to complete her Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees.
She then hopes to open an agribusiness marketing and consulting firm to help other agricultural businesses make plans for the future and improve their operations. She also hopes to grow her herd of dairy show cattle and allow youth to lease them so they can have the same opportunities she did in the agricultural industry.
Laurel Gray of Grayhouse Farms, a 1,100-
cow dairy operation in Stony Point, N.C., is the daughter of Andy and Amy Gray. Laurel is a student at North Carolina State University studying Agricultural Business Management. After graduation, Laurel plans to return home and work on her family’s dairy farm. Her goals include helping with finances, assisting with field work, working with calves and heifers, helping with the family’s hunting business, and expanding her small herd of beef cattle.
Regan Jackson of Waverly Farm, a 70-cow and 200-heifer dairy operation in Clearbrook, Va., is the daughter of Kevin and Laura Jackson. Regan is a senior at Clarke County High school and plans to attend Louisiana State University to study Nutrition and Food Science. After receiving her undergraduate degree, Regan plans to continue her education to become a
doctor. As a doctor, she will use her medical position and agricultural background to serve as a spokesperson providing factual information on dairy products and their nutritional benefits.
George Sebright of Farview Holsteins, a 60-
cow Registered Holstein operation in East Berlin, Pa., is the son of Robby and Jayne Sebright. George is a student at Virginia Tech studying Dairy Science. After graduation, George hopes to work in the A.I. industry, either working with mating programs, working in sales, or working with a sire analyst team. He wants to help dairy producers achieve genetic goals while improving the breeds that define the future of the dairy industry. He also hopes to continue his family’s tradition of dairying.
Jordan Anderson of Cabaret Cattle Company,
a 25-head dairy calf and heifer operation in Centre Hall, Pa., is the daughter of Don and Angela Anderson. Jordan is currently serving as a Pennsylvania state FFA officer and will begin studying Agriculture Communications at the University of Wyoming next year. After graduation, she plans to pursue a career advocating for the industry she loves and helping to give our hardworking farmers a voice that reaches consumers. She is also interested in working in the marketing and communications department of an agricultural company.
Glenn Barnes of Maple Knoll Farm, a 320-
cow dairy and 30-head beef cattle operation in Lawrenceville, Pa., is the son of Jeffery and Pamela Barnes. Glenn is a senior at Cowanesque Valley High School and plans to attend Oklahoma State University to study Agricultural Engineering. After graduating from college, Glenn plans to return to his family’s dairy farm and become a partner with his father, brother, and uncle. He wants to use his education to make positive changes on the farm, making it a more advanced, modern facility. His degree will provide him with a better understanding of the machines and systems on-farm, and he will be able to service the equipment as needed. Glenn is also working towards using his piloting skills to train and become an aerial application specialist.
return to his family’s fourth-generation farm. He plans to continue broadening his scope of the industry, and he hopes to play a part in helping farmers garner the respect they deserve for their dedication and work ethic.
graduation, Chad plans to return to the family farm. He will use what he learned from college to improve the farm and solve problems in an efficient manner.
Hayley Daubert of Standard of Excellence
Holstein operation in Lebanon, Pa., is the daughter of Ammon and Brenda Peiffer. Paige is a student at Penn State University studying Animal Science. Paige is deciding between several avenues for after graduation. She is interested in applying for vet school, pursuing a career in cattle reproduction or nutrition, or returning to the family farm as the fourth generation. She hopes to make a positive impact on the industry no matter what her career choice.
Dairy, a 30-cow dairy operation in Dayton, Va., is the daughter of Jeremy and Rebecca Daubert. Hayley is a senior at Turner Ashby High School, and she plans to attend South Dakota State University to study Dairy Science with a Microbiology focus. After graduation from college, Hayley plans to work in a veterinary laboratory to study animal disease. She hopes to help farmers and veterinarians better identify and treat diseases and limit the spread of disease on farms. She also plans to volunteer with a local rescue squad as an EMT. She is especially passionate about helping farm families who experience the unfortunate occurrence of farm accidents. Hayley also plans to continue breeding and raising cattle.
Naomi Diehl of Musser Run Jerseys, a 200cow Jersey operation in McVeytown, Pa., is the daughter of Joseph and Kristin Diehl. Naomi is a student at Messiah University studying accounting. After graduation, Naomi plans to work as an agriculture accountant. She wants to help farmers manage their finances and learn where they can save money. She would also like to start a creamery at her family farm and promote the dairy industry and the wholesomeness of milk. Kendal Jenkins of Leona-View Holsteins, a
150-cow Registered Holstein operation in Columbia Crossroads, Pa., is the daughter of James Jenkins. Kendal is a student at Penn State University studying Animal Science. After graduation, Kendal would like to pursue a career as a dairy nutritionist. Through this career, she looks forward to being involved in several aspects of agriculture including animal science, cow care, agronomy, and forage crop management.
Lainey Koval of Koval Brothers Dairy, LLC,
dairy farm in DeRuyter, N.Y., is the son of Paul and Jerri Barnes. Kyle is a student at Virginia Tech studying Dairy Science. After graduation, Kyle plans to work in the agriculture industry. He would someday like to return to his home farm and begin an expansion process.
a 500-cow Holstein operation in Stillwater, N.Y., is the daughter of Christopher and Jennifer Koval. Lainey is a student at Cornell University studying Agricultural Science. After graduation, Lainey plans to either return to her family farm or enter a field that allows her to work alongside farmers. She has a passion for protecting the nation’s farmland and managing businesses in economically and environmentally sustainable ways.
Will Coltrane of Coltrane Dairy, LLC, a 600-
Chad Patterson of Patterson Farms, Inc., a
Kyle Barnes of Gate House Farms, a 280-cow
cow and 700-heifer dairy farm in Pleasant Garden, N.C., is the son of David and Amy Coltrane. Will is a student at the University of Mount Olive studying Agricultural Business and Animal Science. After graduation, Will plans to
300-cow Holstein operation in Chestertown, Md., is the son of Charlie and Sherry Patterson. Chad is a student at Purdue University studying Agriculture Systems Management. After
Paige Peiffer of Boxed-In Acres, an 80-cow
Salem Sifford of Roseview Cattle Farm and
Plessed Rose Dairy Farm, a 40-head Hereford and 25-cow Holstein operation, respectively, in Goldvein, Va. is the daughter of Stephen and Rosemary Sifford. Salem is a senior at Liberty High School, and she plans to attend college to study Animal Science/Pre-Veterinary. After completing her undergraduate degree, Salem hopes to attend veterinary school and pursue a degree as a veterinary pathologist. She feels that this career will give her the opportunity to be involved with finding much needed solutions to better the industry and help producers protect their animals.
Cole Verano is the son of Jose and Tammy
Verano. Jose is the manager of JM Larson Inc., a 4,500-cow dairy operation in Okeechobee, Fla. Cole is a student at the University of Florida studying Agriculture Operations Management. After graduation, Cole hopes to work for a dairy farm in southern Florida where he will be able to use his education to help improve the sustainability of dairy farming. He also looks forward to using his marketing and management skills to increase the profitability of dairy farming to ensure that there are plenty of farms for future generations. The Premier Future Ag Leaders Scholarship Program provides financial support to eligible students pursuing agricultural education, and it also provides additional return to the cooperative’s member-owners by supporting the next generation of young people desiring to study and work in the agriculture industry. The Premier Select Sires board of directors has made a commitment to providing money to support this scholarship program on an ongoing annual basis.
Congratulations Students! 9
BEEF BRIEFS
SELECT SIRES DELIVERS MORE A.I. PREGNANCIES FOR YOU! 0.9 0.7
A.I. INDUSTRY SIRE CONCEPTION RATE (SCR) DECEMBER 2021 .73
0.5
.37
0.3
.20
0.1
.18
.09
.03
-1.23
Bull Stud E
Others/Custom
-0.1 -0.3 -0.5 -0.7
-0.9 -1.1 -1.3
Select Sires
Bull Stud A
Bull Stud B
Bull Stud C
Bull Stud D
Back by popular demand, Select Sires Beef rolled out 18 new Select Series videos for 2022. Visit selectsiresbeef.com to view these videos featuring a wide array of topics! • Welcome • Angus - $Maternal Masters • Angus - Elite $Combined Sires • Simmental Leaders - Proven Sires • Red Angus - Proven Leaders • Angus - Phenotype Rockstars
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• Angus Calving Ease Elites • New Hereford Leaders • New Red Angus Sires • The Importance of Maternal • 7AN618 PVF Marvel • Delivering More!
• Hereford Updates and 7HP120 CUDA • Angus - Balanced Trait Sires • Angus - Growth and Performance Leaders • 7 & 7 Synch Protocol • New Simmental Sires • New Angus Sires
INFLAMMATION & LACTATING COW PRODUCTIVITY Larry Roth, Ph.D., PAS Assoc. VP of Science and Technology Agrarian Solutions Inflammation and its effects on dairy
cow productivity and reproduction has become a frequent research topic and popular press subject, and rightly so. Inflammation is a normal and necessary process for the body’s immune system to assist in healing and recovery, such as resolving a bacterial infection in the cow’s mammary gland. Calving and subsequent body healing are major inflammation periods in the cow’s year; unfortunately, combining ruminal changes, heat stress, comfort challenges and mycotoxins are extra inflammation loads that may go unresolved with disastrous consequences of diverting nutrients from performance goals and draining dollars from financial goals. The Select DTX™ product has the potential to protect the cow from excessive inflammation due to mycotoxins, as well as support immune function via other modes-of-action. The dry period is often considered a rest and relaxation period for the cows. Instead, the two months before calving is the time of greatest fetal growth, the determination of colostrum quality and quantity, and preparation of the mammary gland for launching into milk production post-calving. Unintended bodily challenges from moldy feeds, heat stress and overcrowding can result in continual and unresolved nutrient drains to weaken
the unborn calf, reduce colostrum production, and reduce the ability of the mammary gland to prepare for lactation. Then the cow experiences her most disruptive day of the year: the day she calves. Inflammation opportunities abound: • Body fat breakdown to meet energy needs sends signals to activate the immune system. • Failure to shed the placenta and adequately shrink the uterus can result in major uterine infection and metritis. • Changes in mammary tissue and a weakened immune system can quickly result in mastitis. • Mycotoxins can compromise the intestinal barrier reducing its ability to protect the body from a multitude of pathogens. The DTX™ product features the unique L-form bacteria technology, also known as cell wall-deficient bacteria, to actively work at the intestinal lining to protect the body and reduce the inflammation load. Recent studies also suggest the cell wall-deficient bacteria enhance immune function to protect the cow against other challenges besides mycotoxins. This finding is important for those situations
when mycotoxin levels are low. Numerous case studies have demonstrated that supplementing DTX during confirmed mycotoxin challenges, as well as periods of variable toxin levels, improved pregnancy rates, reduced abortions and increased milk production. For example, a 4,200-cow herd decided to remove DTX, and within 90 d experienced a conception rate drop of 3% units and a milk decrease of 5 lb/cow/d. The enhanced production and reproduction observed in the case studies likely resulted from resolving inflammation to allow nutrients to be available for cows to more successfully achieve their genetic potential. Please contact your Premier representative to learn more about putting DTX to work in your herd to reduce inflammation for directing nutrients to positive purposes and putting dollars in your pocket.
Larry Roth, Ph.D., PAS is the Assoc. VP of Science and Technology with Agrarian Solutions. He has conducted research of probiotics and mycotoxin mitigation, as well as provided nutritional consulting to dairy and beef customers in the US and internationally for over 30 years. He is available to assist Premier clients with their management and utilization of the Agrarian Solutions brand products.
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Select DTX is a trademark of Select Sires Inc. It is manufactured by Agrarian Marketing Corporation a registered trademark of Agrarian Marketing Corporation, Middlebury, IN.
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PREMIER SELECT SIRES, INC. 1 Stony Mountain Road Tunkhannock, PA 18657
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