WINDBROOK: OUTCROSS WITH SUBSTANCE, STYLE, STRENGTH & PROFITABILITY pg. 3

NEW SIRE USED ON CHAMPIONS: PINE-TREE SIDpg. 4-5

PUTTING SEMEX’S TOOLS TO WORK pg. 6-7

7 HABITS OF HIGHLY EFFECTIVE REPRODUCTIVE MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS pg. 10-11

RAISE YOUR HEIFERS RIGHTpg. 12-13

SWISSGENETICS: LEADERS IN RED HOLSTEIN GENETICS pg. 15

Page 3WINDBROOK: Outcross With Substance,

Style, Strength & Profitability

Page 4-5NEW SIRE USED ON CHAMPIONS: Pine-Tree Sid

Page 6-7PUTTING SEMEX’S TOOLS TO WORK

Page 10-117 HABITS Of Highly Effective Reproductive

Management Programs

Page 12-13RAISE YOUR HEIFERS RIGHT

Page 15SWISSGENETICS: Leaders In Red Holstein

Genetics, Savard & Leonard

Balance is a magazine designed to promote dairy genetics, technology and management. The magazine is published by the Semex Alliance. The Semex Alliance is focused on global leadership in the genetics marketplace.

SEMEXX™, Genomax™, Genomaxx™, Repromax™, ProMate™, ReproMix™ , Semex Premier™, Health$mart™, ai24™ , Designer Series™, .25Plus™ and CVG™ are registered trademarks of the Semex Alliance.

Comments or submissions to the editor should be forwarded to Brenda Lee-Turner, Semex Alliance, 130 Stone Road West, Guelph, Ontario, Canada N1G 3Z2. tel: 519-821-5060, fax: 519-821-7225; email: bturner@semex.com

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Sem

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olut

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Semex Alliance Canadian Partnerships:

Semex has actively sought sires that will offer more to a broader range of customers,” says Brad Sayles, Vice President, Global Marketing. “We’re appealing to more and more dairymen worldwide through a product offering that continues to become

more diverse. Dairymen are looking for their genetic suppliers to offer more than just the very top of the lists. They’re looking for sires that are outcross sires, highly reliable sires and sires that can get to work today on their bottom line.”

This is evident in Semex’s 2010 graduates. Once again in December, Semex added unique bloodlines, reliability, cow families, strength and the credible statistics that you’ve come to expect from Semex and its lineup.

Offering a broader and more complete lineup than ever, sons of Mr Sam, Laudan and FBI are offering new outcross opportunities; Goldwyn sons continue to be among the most popular available today and dominate the rankings; and

high reliability sires such as Buckeye are now beginning to graduate their first sons in the USA young sire proving program.

Additionally, Semex’s solutions continue to offer dairymen more in each of the areas contributing to profitability: herd health, reproduction and type. Nowhere is it easier to find those bulls that meet your needs than from within Semex’s suite of solutions including: Repromax™, Health$mart™, Designer Series™ and Genomax™.

New to Semex customers is the Semex Customer

Value Guide (CVG™). The CVG™ offers dairymen the opportunity to create their own breeding guide, customized to their individual breeding goals and criteria.

The results are powerful, putting economics to breeding choices and making it even easier for dairymen to choose Semex as their genetic supplier. Available worldwide, learn more about the CVG™ on pages 6-7 or ask your Semex representative for your own CVG™ demonstration today.

On the cover: 2010 Photo Contest Winner “Heifer Eclipse”. Submitted by Julia Rees, Lidgetton, Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa. “Heifer Eclipse was the winner in the Land-scapes with Semex Cows category and was also chosen as the People’s Choice Winner.

Comments or submissions to the editor should be forwarded to Brenda Lee-Turner, Semex Alliance, 130 Stone Road West, Guelph, Ontario, Canada N1G 3Z2. tel: 519-821-5060, fax: 519-821-7225; email: bturner@semex.com

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Genetics is a very specific science allowing us to take two great bloodlines, and mate them with the goal of producing something extraordinary. While it doesn’t always work out the way we plan, a success story benefits everyone. In December 2010, Semex graduated one of its most interesting sires in recent years, a bull that is a combination of two great cow families. Semex’s 0200HO03501 Gillette Windbrook arrives just when the industry is looking for the diversified bloodlines his pedigree offers. Windbrook is certainly something unique being sired by Semex’s Gillette Brilea FBI. FBI is an Mtoto son that left a positive impact everywhere he was used. “At 10 years of age, FBI is still as sound as he ever was,” says Semex Sire Analyst Julien Chabot who purchased both FBI and his son Windbrook. “FBI daughters were known for their solid frames, square rumps and excellent foot structure. Today, this is exactly how you would describe FBI himself.” Windbrook’s maternal family tree is a branch of the Gypsy Grand family that has never been hotter. His dam is the former #1 LPI cow, Gillette Blitz 2nd Wind VG-88-3YR-CAN 15*. This Blitz daughter is also the dam of the December 2010 #4 and #10 GLPI cows, making her

exceptional in her own right. She produced just over 17,000 kgs in 365 days and with all but three of her 15 daughters scoring Very Good she is already a 12* brood cow. “Windbrook is a great combination of the right bloodlines and will be very valuable as a unique FBI son,” says Chabot. “For anyone that ever saw Windbrook’s dam,

2nd Wind, they quickly see her in Windbrook’s daughters but these daughters have the added substance and length from FBI.”

When you walk into a barn the Windbrook daughters immediately stand out at you, with his pedigree’s breeding patterns stamped on each daughter. Daughter after daughter, in herd after herd, the Windbrooks all show tremendous rear udder width, an extremely strong crease, a deep foot and a strong foot angle. Their extra substance, strong loins, ideal rump angle and rump width make these cows score well and impress their owners. Looking into their milk records and projections, however, Windbrook proves he’s about much more than

conformation traits, transmitting great solids, strong production and profitability. When it comes to Windbrook’s strengths what he does, he does very, very well. He will undoubtedly sire high scoring and exceptional daughters. Many, however, are wondering if this exceptional conformation will leave show winners; Windbrook is an ideal cross for the large majority of today’s show pedigrees and definitely

has the ability to sire some great show winners. If used on the stylish cow with fine blending of parts, it could be a winning combination.

Windbrook has already been used on many of the top cows in the country, as a sire of sons and for matings in international embryo sales. His pedigree and proven performance make it an easy decision for breeders and buyers to use this bull. A high ranking new release in the December proofs watch for this bull to be one of the most exciting sires of his generation.

Mike West, Semex Alliance Sire Analyst & Product Support Specialist

From left to right: ACMELEA WINDBROOK QUEEN VG-85-2YR-CAN, ELLIOTTDALE WINDBROOK GILLIE VG-85-2YR-CAN,

DUALANE WINDBROOK CIERRA VG-85-2YR-CAN Photos by Patty Jones

GILLETTE WINDBROOKAn Outcross With Substance, Style, Strength & Profitability

Julien Chabot, Semex Alliance Sire Analyst

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Alexandra was an attraction in this year’s Semex Walk of Fame daughter displays at both shows. Although not an objective of the display, Alexandra was joined by daughters of 0200HO05024 Dudoc Mr Burns *RC and 0200HO03280 Gillette Final Cut at the RWF in the Semex Walk of Fame and in the show ring. These daughters demonstrated that high type, Designer Series™ sires are competitive on an international scale, placing well at one of the world’s premier dairy shows.

“Our goal is to always showcase daughters that breeders and dairymen want to see for their own breeding programs,” says Brad Sayles, Semex Alliance Vice President, Global Marketing. “Our Canadian partners, international guests and large and small dairymen were all impressed with this display (at the RWF). This group of sires is extremely well-

balanced, offering health traits, high fertility, show type and even a promising new release sire… a remarkable accomplishment for any daughter display.”

Centre d’insémination artificielle du Québec (CIAQ) Progeny Analyst, Carl Saucier, said the focus on the first-calver by Sid was intense.

“She was the star of our Walk Of Fames, for sure,” Carl said. “I don’t know how many times we could have sold her during those weeks at the shows.”

“It is very rare that you see a daughter from a first-crop bull with that show type calibre. The first cow to have that was Howes BC Sassy EX-2E-CAN 7* (All-Canadian & All-American Sr 3 Yr Old, 4 Yr Old and 5 Yr Old). Without any doubt

Semex will now sell everything Sid can produce for a long time.”

Carl said Alexandra came from a Master Breeder herd, owned by brothers Mathieu and Martial Lemire, from St-Zephirin, Québec. The pair, who also focus on Red & White Holsteins, are using 20-25% Semex young sires within their breeding program.

They showed Alexandra at their local show in Victoriaville, Québec in early August where she stood third and Best Udder of the class (to the same class winner and this year’s Reserve Intermediate Champion at WDE, Bonaccueil Camee Final Cut, from Comestar Holsteins).

“Comestar Holsteins’ owner Marc Comtois was already using Sid on his herd in Victoriaville, but right after that show he must have ordered 50 doses of the bull,” Carl said. “The WDE Intermediate Champion (Idee Goldwyn

One cow shown at the World Dairy Expo (WDE) in the United States and the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair (RWF) in Canada proved you do not have to be a champion to inspire champions.

Both the WDE Premier Breeder (Pierre Boulet, of Pierstein Holsteins) and WDE and RWF Premier Exhibitor (Simon Lalande, of Ferme Blondin Holsteins) are now using new Semex sire, 0200HO02137 Pine-Tree Sid, on their best cows after seeing one of his daughters, Micheret Alexandria Sid, finish fifth in a massive class of 36 head in the Sr 2 Yr Old Class at WDE. At WDE Alexandra was Best Udder and 1st Bred & Owned in her class.

A little over a month later at the RWF, Alexandra bested her WDE performance, placing 1st in class and repeated as Best Udder and 1st Bred & Owned.

“Our goal is to always showcase daughters that breeders and dairymen

want to see for their own breeding programs.”

Dianna Malcolm, Semex Pty Ltd

MICHERET ALEXANDRA SID VG-88-2YR-CANFerme Micheret, St. Zephirin, PQ, Canada

NEW SIRE BEING USED ON CHAMPIONS:

PINE-TREE SIDDianna Malcolm

CIAQ Progeny Analyst Carl Saucier & Micheret Alexandra Sid at the 2010 Walk of Fame Display at World Dairy Expo

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Lynley) and Frosty (WDE Supreme Champion) have both been bred to Sid. Frosty’s co-owner Mike Duckett was doing IVF work with 11 cows recently – seven were being done to Sid. Most of the show cows will be done to him soon!”

Carl said Sid, who has already been designated a Semex Designer Series™, Repromax™ and Health$mart™ sire, was a special type improver. He is also appealing because he is an outcross sire, being a Mr Sam son from a VG-88-5YR-USA DOM Finley out of an EX-92-3E-USA GMD DOM Rudolph who is proceeded by an EX-90-5YR-USA GMD DOM Elton.

“He is one of those bulls that will sire daughters that could make an impact in the show ring some day, as well as producing powerful, balanced dairy barn cows,” Carl said. “He is an outcross sire that lots of breeders are looking for today with all that Goldwyn blood everywhere.”

“My day-to-day work as progeny analyst had given me the opportunity to see over 60 of them since early spring, as we pictured close to a dozen in the last few weeks. You don’t have to see that many to figure out how special and consistent that bull is in his pattern. They have got that rare balance of strength and dairyness to them, as they shows lots of power, depth and spring of fore and rear rib and lots of width all way through.”

“To complete the package, Sid is also an udder specialist, with very attractive udder veination, very well-attached udders as much in the fore udder with width and height of rear udders. They have also got nice quality of feet and leg, but some could use a little more depth of heel in some cases. They have really got that nice show style. They are balanced, tall and with an uphill run in many cases with great width to their rump.”

Carl said for the best results use Sid over refined dams with lower pin settings.

“Probably the best, most logical mating would be using Sid on the Goldwyns, September Storm *RC, Buckeyes, Ashlars, Boltons, Toystorys, Lous, Shottles, Leader and even the Lheros, Outside, Lyster bloodlines as well.”

5Top: Micheret Alexandra Sid at the Royal Winter FairBottom: Micheret Alexandra Sid at World Dairy Expo Photo by Carl Saucier

As our economy, world and industry becomes more global, it is more important than ever to understand the value that semen companies and bull evaluations can add to your dairy operation.Looking at all of the tools dairymen have when making their breeding decisions, it is easy to see how overwhelming this process can be. Semex has designed a suite of solutions that help dairymen make profitable, logical breeding decisions.Advertisements put out the most current information on the bulls, utilizing genetic evaluations, daughter photos and breeding comments. When you look at the Crackholm Fever ad above, what do you see? There’s lots to look at, but you may notice that he is a Goldwyn son, he has been designated by Holstein Canada as being a superior type sire, is +19 for Conformation and he has nice, fancy daughter pictures.If that gets noticed, then we are missing out on some of the most import information in this ad. Fever also has been designated with three of Semex’s breeding solutions: Repromax™, Health$mart™ and Designer Series™. These icons immediately tell the reader key things about this bull – knowing how to put them to use makes matings easier and more profitable.

One of the solutions identified in the Fever ad, Repromax™, is the symbol of high fertility at Semex.

Semex scientists have gathered SCR (Sire Conception Rate), ATA (Agri-Tech Analysis) and Non-Return data to develop the world’s first international fertility evaluation. Known as Repromax™ sires, these sires are Semex’s highest-ranked fertility sires. Repromax™ sires are highly reliable bulls proven to be high fertility sires, with no genetic sacrifices. These bulls improve the fertility performance of cows and increase your profitability, representing the best of the best, with no genetic sacrifices. Measuring conception on farm is generally focused on one or more of the following three measures: pregnancy rate; number of days open; or number of inseminations per conception. The common denominator in each of these measures is that the dairyman needs to reduce the number of days the cow is open to increase his overall profitability.

How much does a day open cost you?

In 2006, the University of Florida calculated that the average cost for an open cow to be between $3.20 and $5.40 per day. If the average cost of a day open is $4.50 for every 20 days open you are going to lose $90/cow. You can see on the chart below how this can significantly add up.

Semex understands that there are ‘hidden’ costs associated with dairying. For example, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) estimates that a difficult calving costs the dairy an extra $70 dollars in labour and vet costs alone. A difficult calving also results in a greater probability of the cow dying, or at the very least may reduce her 305-day milk production by 300 kgs of milk. On top of that, these difficult calvings may increase the average days open by 20 days. This issue adds to the pre-existing problem of open cows on the dairy. Figure 1 produced by Canadian Dairy Network (CDN) in 2009 shows that approximately one-third of Holstein cows in Canada are culled from a herd due to reproductive reasons.

Semex’s Health$mart™ category takes these factors into account. The Health$mart™ sires are identified

as those that sire the most valuable and profitable cows on the dairy. These sires excel for qualities that dairies can easily quantify in their ledgers including Daughter Fertility, Milking Speed, SCS, Herd Life and Daughter Calving Ease. Semex Health$mart™ sires are identified using the following formula:• 60% Health (Herd Life, Somatic Cell Score, Calving Ability, Milking

Speed, Daughter Fertility)• 20% Production (Milk, Fat, Protein)• 20% Conformation (Conformation, Mammary System, Foot & Leg)Looking at the Health$mart™ line-up, Semex has 76 bulls that are >=100 on Herd Life, Daughter Fertility and Calving Ability; these same sires are also less than or equal to 2.99 SCS. Averaging 92% reliability, these bulls also average +7 Conf, +8 Mammary System, over 700 kgs of Milk, have positive components with an average milking speed of +101. According to CDN, these traits combined account for 100% of herd disposal reasons.

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Greg Dietrich, Semex ProMate™ Coordinator

9% 9%

18%20%

30%

2%

12%

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

Perc

enta

ge

Natural Production SomaticCell/Mastitis

Type Reproduction MilkingSpeed/Temp.

Disease

Disposal Reason Category

Figure 1: Culling Trend by Disposal Reason Category - Holstein

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008

Cows $(US)

50 $4,500

100 $9,000

200 $18,000

300 $27,000

500 $45,000

1000 $90,000

2000 $180,000

REDUCED PROFITABILITYFROM 20 EXTRA

DAYS OPEN

Putting Semex’s Tools To Work

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This herd index then ranks Semex sires based on your breeding goals and includes/excludes sires such as Semex Genomax™ sires based on your personal preferences. The CVG™ will also take the average trait information of the bulls returned, creating an economic profile that helps you identify exactly where the dollars are coming from. On the right are a couple of the reports that are available from the CVG™. The index that was created was split equally on health, production and conformation. Genomax™ sires are excluded, the market condition emphasized components and no premium was placed on SCS.There are 10 bulls on this report from four different sires with six different maternal grandsires. The bulls average 1,156 kgs of Milk with strong components (60 kg F, +0.17% F and 47 kg P, +0.08% P), high Conf at +13 with double digits for both Mammary System at +12, and Feet & Legs at +10. Additionally, strong health traits of +108 Herd Life, +103 Daughter Fertility, +104 Calving Ability and low 2.79 SCS make this group valuable. These traits are all key in reducing expenses and increasing profitability on the dairy. In this report, the economics of recommended sires are generated. The daughters by this group of bulls will earn approximately $1531 CAN/daughter more than the average Holstein population (values calculated in Canada in 2009). Each trait is also standardized, allowing them to be plotted on the same chart. This section does a great job of plotting the value of the bull, based on the criteria that you set for your herd in your original eight questions. If you put more emphasis on production, or on health you will see those values increased.The CVG™ is the most recent solution offered by your Semex representative. Ask about this tool today and begin increasing your profitability as soon as possible!

Semex’s Client Value Guide™ (CVG) is a new tool that allows you to create your own breeding index by answering eight simple questions. These questions help to create your personalized herd index, based on your breeding goals and needs.

Putting Semex’s Tools To WorkCVG Breeding Recommendations:

CVG Economic Impact of Mating Suggestions

CVG Economic Impact/PTA Point:

From left to right:

ACMELEA WINDBROOK QUEEN VG-85-2YR-CAN, ELLIOTTDALE WINDBROOK GILLIE VG-85-2YR-CAN, DUALANE WINDBROOK CIERRA VG-85-2YR-CAN, EARLEN WINDBROOK LISA VG-85-2YR-CAN (photo reversed), HARTVELD WINDBROOK JEWEL GP-83-2YR-CAN (photo reversed), ROOYALDALE WINBROOK WAYNLYN GP-84-2YR-CAN (photo reversed) Photos by Patty Jones

GILLETTEWINDBROOK

0 2 0 0 H O 0 3 5 0 1

F B I X VG -88 15* B L I TZ X VG -86 23* STORM X BRAEDALE GYPSY GRAND VG -88 37*

EX-93-CAN

From left to right:

ACMELEA WINDBROOK QUEEN VG-85-2YR-CAN, ELLIOTTDALE WINDBROOK GILLIE VG-85-2YR-CAN, DUALANE WINDBROOK CIERRA VG-85-2YR-CAN, EARLEN WINDBROOK LISA VG-85-2YR-CAN (photo reversed), HARTVELD WINDBROOK JEWEL GP-83-2YR-CAN (photo reversed), ROOYALDALE WINBROOK WAYNLYN GP-84-2YR-CAN (photo reversed) Photos by Patty Jones

GILLETTEWINDBROOK

0 2 0 0 H O 0 3 5 0 1

F B I X VG -88 15* B L I TZ X VG -86 23* STORM X BRAEDALE GYPSY GRAND VG -88 37*

EX-93-CAN

7 habits of highly effective reproductive management programs

Reproductive efficiency drive profitability on dairy farms by maintaining cows in the herd at optimal production levels, notes Paul Fricke, University of Wisconsin dairy cattle reproductive specialist. Therefore, achieving excellent reproductive performance is a critical goal.

Although numerous management and physiologic factors come into play when it comes to reproductive performance, Fricke recommends that you concentrate on these seven key factors. You’ll be glad you did.

1. Inseminate cows at the correct time.Timing of AI, relative to detection of estrous behavior or synchronized ovulations, can affect subsequent fertility. For farms that AI some or all of their cows to a detected estrus, a single mid-morning AI for all cows and heifers detected in estrus the night before or the same morning should result in near maximal conception rates and is an effective alternative to using the a.m./p.m. rule to manage AI breeding programs. For farms using timed AI, Ovsynch 56 is the best recommendation for an optimized protocol based on research data, as well as the physiology of timing in relation to ovulation, contends Fricke.

2. Improve AI efficiency.This refers to factors affecting pregnancy rates due to AI technique. Research has consistently shown that the people responsible for conducting AI on a farm can have a profound effect on fertility. In research trials, fertility of cows inseminated by professional AI technicians almost always exceeds that of herd employees, Fricke explains. Invest in the training of farm employees and/or the services of professional AI technicians when AI technique is the suspected cause of a low conception risk on a farm.

3. Inseminate cows quickly after the end of the voluntary waiting period.First post-partum AI service represents a unique opportunity for reproductive management of lactating dairy cows because all cows in the herd have a known pregnancy status at this time (not pregnant). This allows the use of hormonal synchronization systems that use prostaglandins without the risk of aborting a previously established pregnancy.

Reprinted with permission from Dairy Herd Management

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4. Maintain high compliance to protocols.To achieve success with timed AI protocols, each farm has to develop a system to administer the correct injections to the correct group of cows on the correct days. Then, personnel must also subsequently AI the correct group of cows. The inability to comply with protocols is a widespread cause of poor reproductive performance, and needs to be addressed when these protocols are put in place to manage reproduction, Fricke notes.

5. Identify non-pregnant cows after AI (but not too early).Although it has long been accepted that pregnancy status should be verified as soon as possible after AI, the accuracy of pregnancy diagnosis outcomes determined early after AI is complicated by subsequent pregnancy loss. Therefore, it is recommended that rectal palpation should not be done before approximately 35 days following AI, says Fricke. Ultrasound should not be done before about 28 to 30 days after AI.

6. Promptly re-inseminate non-pregnant cows.Although relying on synchronization of ovulation and timed AI for improving first AI services reduces the impact of poor estrous detection, the improved AI submission rate to first timed AI often is followed by a time-lag exceeding 60 days before cows that failed to conceive are detected and re-inseminated. Although new strategies are under development, administering GnRH to all cows 32 days after a previous timed AI and conducting non-pregnancy diagnosis at day 39 so that non-pregnant cows can continue the protocol is advised, recommends Fricke.

7. Adopt and adapt to new technologies.Many technologies are now becoming available to help manage reproduction in large dairy herds. Some of these new tools will be incorporated in the dairy management systems, but others will not. Each dairy manager must evaluate the potential that these new technologies have to offer, concludes Fricke.Source: University of Wisconsin

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Successful heifer raising is the first step to a healthy and productive first lactation. Getting your heifers to calve by 24 months and be productive as soon as they hit the milking line begins the day she is born. Every step in your heifer rearing process from newborn, to weaning and on to breeding directly impacts the time it will take for her to join the milking herd and generate profits. Age at first calving, heifer pregnancy rate and first lactation stillbirth rate are key monitors that can be used to measure the success of heifer raising programs. Calving out heifers at 24 months of age has major economic and production benefits for your herd. These economic benefits come from decreasing raising costs. These costs are estimated at $2.00 to $3.00 per animal per day past 24 months, and lowering the necessary inventory of replacement heifers that the herd must carry. For example, a herd calves out 50 heifers a year, at an average age of 27 months. Assuming it costs $2.50 per day to raise a heifer, this herd can save up to $11,250 per year, if it resumed age at first calving down to 24 months. There are also some production benefits from calving heifers out at 24 months. CanWest DHI records show that the heifers that calve out at 24 months of age make 1,500 kgs more milk in their lifetimes than those who calve at 28 months. At $26.00/hectolitres, its approximately $400 of revenue lost, by calving the heifer out 4 months later. Reaching a 24 month calving age means the first breeding must occur at 13 months. A herd with an average heifer conception rate of 60% with good heat detection should start their breeding program at 13 months to ensure the majority of their heifers are pregnant by 15 months, and after carrying the calf for nine months calve at 24 months. In order to have your heifers in top shape for breeding at 13 months, the first 12 months of her life are key. A heifer’s nutrition and health from the day of birth until she reaches the breeding group determines her breeding eligibility and her effectiveness in the breeding program. A general rule of thumb is that a heifer should be at 60% of her mature body weight when first breeding occurs. The recommended weight for a breeding age Holstein heifer is approximately 394 kgs; the recommended height is 127 cms/50 inches. Subpar nutrition and disease in the first few months of life will greatly affect whether these growth targets are met. Monitoring is a critical and overlooked part of a heifer breeding program. In order to manage and focus our resources on the right parts of the breeding program, we need to monitor our results. Traditional measurements of heifer reproductive performance such as conception rate,

do not tell the whole story. As an industry, we need to start using pregnancy rate more effectively when talking about heifer reproduction. Although pregnancy rate is becoming the common measurement for assessing the performance of the lactating herd, it is still under-utilized when it comes to heifer reproduction. A quick survey of 10 progressive dairy herds show the average pregnancy rate in heifers to be just 26%, showing there is lots of room for improvement. For heifers, this pregnancy rate goal should be much higher. When you consider that heifers have much better fertility and express heats better then lactating counterparts a pregnancy rate of 36% or higher is achievable. To get above 36% pregnancy rate from your heifers, you must look at maximizing your conception and insemination rates. Over the past decade, many tools have been developed to assist dairymen in overcoming some of these heat detection

shortfalls. Electronic activity monitoring accuracy and cost effectiveness has improved over the past decade, making it an attractive option for heifers. With heifers being a low maintenance animal, heats are often missed simply because no one is around to see them. Many producers in Ontario are now using electronic activity monitoring systems such as Heatime® to bridge some of the heat detection gaps that commonly develop. For the Heatime® system, collars are placed on the heifers approximately 30 days prior to the start of the breeding period, and removed once the heifer is confirmed pregnant. By watching

heifers on a 24-hour basis with activity monitoring, fewer animals slip between the cracks and more get bred on a timely basis. An activity monitoring system can quickly pay for itself if it can help lower the age at first calving to the optimal 24 months. Calving management of heifers is also another over looked, yet critical part to getting productive first lactation cows into the pipeline. Stillbirths and hard calvings in first lactation cows can reach above 10% if not managed correctly. These numbers needs to be monitored and reviewed regularly. The goal should be to keep stillbirth and hard pulls below 5%. To reduce stillbirths and increase calving ease, monitor body condition scores of your heifers, pick sires for calving ease and look at your overall calving management. Herd sires are too commonly used on heifers, as they’re seen as a low input to get heifers pregnant. Although it can appear to be an attractive financial option, there are many costs and risks associated with using a herd sire. Not only do herd sires increase the risk of hard calvings and stillbirths, they also remove the opportunity to optimize sire selection, and may lead to higher inbreeding and less productive cows.

*All figures in Canadian $.

Raise Your Heifers RightMark Carson, MSc. BSc. (Agr)., Gencor Reproductive Specialist

Every step in your heifer rearing process

from newborn, to weaning and on to breeding directly

impacts the time it will take for her to join the milking herd and

generate profits.

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Raise Your Heifers Right

# Heifers Raised/Year

Extra Cost to Raise to 28 Mo

1 $225

25 $5,625

50 $11,250

100 $22,500

150 $33,750

200 $45,000

250 $56,250

500 $112,500

1000 $225,000

Estimated Savings Calving Heifers at 24 months vs 28 months

# Heifers Raised

$ Lost

1 $400

25 $10,000

50 $20,000

100 $40,000

150 $60,000

200 $80,000

250 $100,000

500 $200,000

1000 $400,000

Estimated Lost Milk Production Revenue Calving Heifers at 24 months vs 28 months

Semex high fertility Repromax™ sires are the best of the best for semen fertility. Repromax™ utilizes Sire Conception Rates, Agri-Tech Analysis and Non-Return Rates to establish the world’s only international fertility evaluation. Repromax™ sires are highly reliable bulls with no genetic sacrifices, ensuring that each pregnancy is a valuable one.

Optimizing conception rates are key to the success of any breeding program. With proven results of 2% higher conception rates, the Semex .25Plus™ straw arms dairymen with an additional $5 in value per straw, making the switch to the .25cc straw not only logical, but profitable!

Just like on the dairy, every dose counts at Semex. We work hard to ensure that each and every dose stamped with the 200 stud code is the very best product available, from the bull to the farm tank. Semex’s focused and dedicated staff prides itself on exceeding industry standards for sire care, laboratory, warehouse and transportation services. This commitment to excellence and belief that every dose counts, guarantees that Semex sires are the most reliable, fertile and profitable choice for dairymen everywhere.

ai24™ is Semex’s Solution for Efficient AI. The centerpiece of this innovative reproductive management program is Heatime™ the 24-hour a day, 365-day a year heat detection system. With this program dairymen can expect increased pregnancy rates, fewer health problems, reduced labor costs and more cows back in the milking line sooner.

Looking to increase profitability and create solutions on the dairy, Semex’s research & development arm, L’Alliance Boviteq (LAB), is diligently working to utilize the newest technologies available. These projects are aimed at increasing fertility, implementing new technologies and making AI more efficient and profitable.

Semex researchers have developed Repromix™, a pooled semen product, to provide dairymen with one powerful ‘cocktail’ to fight infertility. Each ‘cocktail’ is a high fertility package that provides proven genetics to fit producer’s specific needs. Each sire has been chosen after careful evaluation for semen quality and non-return rates by Semex laboratory and genetic staff.

Focus onFertility

TM

LEADERS IN RED HOLSTEIN GENETICS: SAVARD & LEONARD Switzerland had its latest proof round in November 2010. Two Red & White Holstein bulls that stayed in the spotlight are SAVARD and LEONARD. They are both highly demanded in the Swiss and international markets. They both have great proofs to thank for their popularity!

Plattery Talent LEONARD-RED Talent x Rubens x Creation

LEONARD took a great leap forward for the fourth time in a row. He increased five index points on the Total Merit Index and took over the #1 position on the Swiss bull listing. LEONARD’s strong point is his production proof. With +1,605 kg milk +40 kg F, -0.28% F, +53 kg P and +0.00% P LEONARD also is the Swiss #1 for production. His udder score of 120 is an impressive conformation trait. LEONARD sires well-attached udders with great texture and ideal teat placement. The rumps he transmits to his daughters are horizontal; only we have not seen high pins on his first crop daughters. The rumps are without exception extremely wide. LEONARD scores 163 for rump width; the highest in the breed.On functional traits, LEONARD brings a desirable somatic cell score of 103. LEONARD calves are easily born, which is shown by his note of 105 for calving ease. Also on herd life, LEONARD does well with a score of 107. His daughters have the ability to have a long and productive life.

LEONARD’s strengths:Production + 1,605 kgs milkProtein ...........+ 53 kgsUdder score ......... 120Rump width .......... 163Calving Ease ........ 105

SAVARD-REDBrad x Storm x Jonn

SAVARD has certainly made himself a name for himself in the Swissgenetics line-up during the past few years. Now, with over 100,000 units of SAVARD exported, he is just the second bull owned by Swissgenetics to reach this milestone. While his second crop daughters are beginning to appear around the world, his first crop daughters in Switzerland are developing into attractive mature cows. Already, 12 SAVARD daughters are classified Excellent. These are all first crop daughters. No other bull tested in Switzerland has achieved this ever before!These daughters brought his frame and udder scores of 125 and 124 respectively, both at top level. SAVARD sires good milk production (+707 kgs milk) and excellent functional traits. SAVARD brings positive female fertility of 106 and has very strong score of 113 for herd life. Not surprisingly, farmers who milk first crop daughters, have gone back and used SAVARD again intensively. SAVARD daughters are in general good framed cows and at the end of the day, that is the most important thing.

SAVARD’s strengths:Production ......... + 707 kgs milkFrame score ...... 125Udder score ...... 124Daughter fertility . 106Herd life ........... 113

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More Milk – Better Conception – Less Problems

With Calving Ease Sires

Mainstream Manifold Daughters at Vanplew Farms, Ponoka, Alberta Photo: Ella Wright

Research shows each difficult birth reduces 305-day milk yield by 700 lbs (nearly $200 in lost production). A cow experiencing a difficult birth typically has a delay in becoming pregnant again by 20 days (20 x $4.50/day = $90).* You can trust that a Semex calving ease sire will have a positive financial impact, saving time and vet bills, as well as lost breedings and lost production.

Calving Ease Sires Ca

lving

Abi

lity

Daug

hter

Ca

lving

Abi

lity

Milk

Kg

Fat K

g

Prot

ein

Kg

Prod

Rel

iabi

lity

%

Conf

orm

atio

n

Feet

& Le

gs

Mam

mar

y Sy

stem

0200HO00402 Mainstream Manifold 112 103 2074 98 76 86 6 -1 6

0200HO02197 Comestar Ladner 110 107 631 50 28 92 14 12 13

0200HO05577 Gillette Jerrick 108 105 1116 58 40 95 11 9 12

0200HO05575 Gillette Jordan 107 106 1420 69 51 96 15 13 15

0200HO03498 Gillette Winners 106 106 684 52 17 94 11 7 10

0200HO02106 Stantons Steady 103 107 683 74 32 92 14 11 11

Sources: Animal Improvement Programs Laboratory, Agricultural Research Service, USDA, Beltsville, MD & De Vries, A., Department of Animal Sciences, University of Florida

Source: Canadian Dairy Network 12/2010

130 Stone Rd. W., Guelph, Ontario, Canada N1G 3Z2Tel: 519-821-5060 | Fax: 519-821-7225 | info@semex.com | www.semex.com