Fall2007

Fall 2007
Q: The Semex Cow...
Who Is She?
For many, the Semex Cow is the cow that can walk the
tanbark, accumulating coloured ribbons at world class
events such as the Royal, Expo and many other shows.
Truthfully, this is only a small portion of who she is.
Page 4-5
Breeding With Confidence
Wisconsin’s Krohlow’s Registered Holsteins
The Semex Cow is about much, much more... She is
also about the people who work tirelessly to develop
On the cover: Nethercan Goldwyn Karen her... She is about the pride and the passion that these
people bring to their jobs each day to make her the
EX-91-CAN. Photo by Patty Jones.
best in the business... She is about the profitability that
her owners enjoy because she’s trouble-free and lasts longer... And most of all, she is
about the TRUST that dairymen worldwide, regardless of their herd size, have
in her genetics.
It may be best explained by example. Recently, one of our salesmen analyzed the
dairy management records on one of his client’s large dairies. He knew that Semex
was only providing them with 17% of their semen inputs, but when he pulled a list of
all cows that were three lactations and older, he quickly noticed that Semex sired
cows were 35% of the total herd over three lactations! Double the percentage of
semen used to breed the herd. The result was a dairyman who was convinced that
he needed to increase the amount of Semex semen in his herd if he wanted profitable
cows that maximize his return on investment.
This clearly shows the increased value of Semex genetics and the value of longevity
made possible through our “Balanced Breeding” philosophy. This philosophy
emphasizes breeding cows that are built to last... built by people who believe in what
they do, and do it with a pride and passion that is second to none… and most of all,
built to add profit to your bottom line over a lifetime…generation after generation!
A: She’s a profitable
cow whether you
milk 50, 500 or
5,000 cows!
Paul Larmer
Chief Executive Officer
▲
Page 3
The More Things Change...
The More They Stay The Same
Cedarwal Spirte
Lots of bulls arrive on the scene with a great first proof,
making a big splash. Their daughters are showcased in
advertisements and news stories around the world, driving
sales and raising breeder expectations… but then what?
We wait. And we wait. Waiting to see if he really turns
out to be what his proof says he is. This long-term success
is years in the making, and it’s the second crop progeny
that determine any bull’s place in history.
Semex’s 0200HO00113 Cedarwal Spirte is in the middle
of his second crop proof, exceeding all predictions and
expectations and landing him in the throes of international
popularity and high demand.
Page 8-9
Jersey Dominance
SHF Centurion Sultan
With more than 1500 Canadian daughters to his credit,
and more worldwide, Spirte is certainly not disappointing
anyone. When we compare his initial evaluation with his
second crop proof, things look very similar, nearly
unchanged.
Page 14-15
Semex Around The World
Balanced Breeding At Work
Page 16-17
Managing
Inbreeding
Page 18
Strutting Their Stuff
Three Views On Cow Shows
Mike West, Semex Alliance Product Support Specialist & Sire Analyst
0200HO00113 Cedarwal Spirte
Page 6-7
Developing Leading Edge Technology
For Today’s A.I.
Page 12-13
Willdina Farm
Balanced Breeding Is Colour Blind
Cedarwal Spirte
THE MORE THEY
STAY THE SAME.
Photo by Patty Jones
Looking back through some past Balance issues I
noticed the above question in the editorial exactly one
year ago. I think it is a subject worth continuing and
providing further answer to. Specifically, who is she,
who should invest in her and the genetics which
make her?
The More Things Change...
Spirte was originally cited for his ability to sire extreme
angularity, silky udder texture and a flat bone quality.
Today, breeders are saying he’s still the one siring striking
daughters with a balance of strength and dairyness.
Spirte’s sire, Comestar Lee, was known to deliver cows that
were long, dairy and high producing with great udder
texture and bone quality, making him popular worldwide
and a Millionaire Sire. Many of the first crop Spirtes stood
out just like the good Lee daughters, showing long heads
and necks, with a tremendous length of body adding to
their dairy character, and complimenting their udder
quality and open angle to their ribs.
Since the first of May, Spirte has had more than 30 Very
Good two-year-olds in Canada, and his total group of
progeny average over 11,000 kgs of milk. Spirte daughter
reports come in daily with news of a new great daughter
who calved in well and has left the owners extremely
impressed.
Predictors have indicated that Spirte could sire a show
winner, and in Canada Spirte daughters have experienced
success at recent shows in both Ontario and Québec.
Spirte heifers earned All-Canadian Nominations in 2006,
leaving spectators waiting for the 2007 show season to see
how these daughters have calved in as they enter milking
classes. Their style and tremendous first look appeal has
earned them positive comments thus far, but it is their
complete breakdown that will allow them to go on and be
profitable cows contributing on-farm each and every day.
Popular worldwide, Spirte has sold extensively to a wide
variety of countries with varying environments and
conditions including Argentina, Spain, Australia, USA,
France, Brazil, Germany and the UK.
In the UK, Spirte has made a great name for himself on the
reputation of a pair of daughters, Denmire Spirte Marie 37
and Denmire Spirte Erma 7, both scored VG and GP in 1st
lactation, with great milk production to boot.
Second crop proofs are extremely important and can lead
to the ultimate success of a bull. Spirte’s second crop
daughters are following in the footsteps of the first crop by
maintaining their great dairy strength and overall quality.
Their udders show a true quality and texture while
maintaining strong attachments, particularly the rear udder
height and fore udder strength. Their legs excel in their
refined bone quality and comfortable turn to the hock.
Their frames are tall and long, with tremendous width of
chest that opens up into a deep rib that gives way to a
very impressive angularity.
When a bull receives his second crop, it can make or
break him. And for Cedarwal Spirte, his second crop
proof is propelling him into the ranks of some very elite
company. The job he is doing in the barns at home and in
the show ring will continue to broaden his popularity,
giving him the potential to reach the same international
success as his extremely popular sire, Comestar Lee.
Page 19
Bits We’ve Collected Along The Way
Semex Alliance
Canadian Partnerships:
2
Milner, BC
(604) 530-1141
Milner, BC
Guelph, ON
130 Stone Road West, Guelph, ON N1G 3Z2
Telephone: (519) 821-5060 Fax: (519) 821-7225
E-mail: [email protected] Web Site: http://www.semex.com
130 Stone Road West, Guelph, ON N1G 3Z2
130 StoneKemptville,
Road West, Guelph,
ON N1G Saint-Hyacinthe,
3Z2
ON
QC
Kemptville, ON
Telephone: (519) 821-5060 Fax: (519) 821-7225
E-mail: [email protected] Web Site: http://www.semex.com
E-mail: [email protected] Web Site: http://www.semex.com
(519) 821-5060Guelph,
Fax: (519)
Milner, Telephone:
BC
ON821-7225
CENTRESPREAD
Photos by Sheila Metcalfe
Balance is a magazine designed to promote Canadian 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.
Saint-Hyacinthe, QC
(519) 821-2150 (604) 530-1141
(613) 258-5944
(450) 774-1141 (613) 258-5944
Guelph, ON
Kemptville, ON
Saint-Hyacinthe,
QC
(519)
821-2150
(450) 774-1141
Comments
submissions(604)to530-1141
the editor should
be forwarded
to Brenda
Lee-Turner,
Semex
Alliance, 130 Stone
Road West, Guelph, Ontario,
(519)or
821-2150
(613) 258-5944
(450) 774-1141
Canada N1G 3Z2. tel: 519-821-5060, fax: 519-821-7225; email: [email protected]
Cedarwal Spirte Daughters at Ferme Maskita, Ste-Hyacinthe, Québec, Canadaa
Photo by Hugo Brouillard
▲ Denmire Spirte Erma 707 GP-84-UK-1st Lac.
Projected to 9,881kg at 3.87%F and 3.23% P
3
▲ Denmire Spirte Marie 37 VG-86-(EX-90-MS)-UK-1st lac.
Projected to 9,253kg at 3.74%F and 3.06%P
BREEDING WITH CONFIDENCE
Nick Sarbacker, Semex USA Product Support Specialist
Wisconsin’s Krohlow’s Registered Holsteins
At Krohlow’s Registered Holsteins, owned by Craig
& Marlene Krohlow and their children Ryan, Tiffany
and Travis, Semex sires have always played an
important role in their breeding program. For a
small Wisconsin homebred herd, Semex bulls have
had a great influence on the bloodlines and cow
families that are the most prevalent in their herd
today.
Craig Krohlow’s interest in highly reliable sires from
proven cow families began in the 1980’s when he
began marketing Maple Leaf Genetics as an
independent distributor. Later with the formation of
Semex, Craig continued to market Semex sires in a
small area in northeastern Wisconsin, all while
breeding and developing his own herd of cows.
Although Craig no longer markets semen, he enjoys
visiting with other breeders in the area about their
breeding programs.
“The competition and the comaraderie in
Wisconsin’s Outagamie county keeps me on my
toes. It makes me strive for breeding a better herd
of cows,” says Craig.
The goal at Krohlow’s Registered Holsteins has
“We want to
breed cows
that look good,
last a long
time and are
profitable.”
always been to “Breed cows that look good, last a
long time and are profitable.”
Semex has helped the Krohlows achieve their
breeding goals for over 25 years. Since they began
breeding their own small herd of cows, the Krohlows
have bred an astounding 47 Excellent cows, 23 of
which are Semex sired.
The Krohlows attest that their herd wouldn’t be what
it is today without having used Semex bulls like
Lindy, Astro Jet, Inspiration, Skybuck, Linjet, Mason,
Carlton, Aeroline, Leader, Gibson, Outside and
Rubens, all which have sired excellent cows in their
herd in the past. Currently the herd is home to 19
EX, 18 VG and 3 GP cows which calculates to an
outstanding BAA of 112.4.
Craig likes to have confidence in the bulls he uses.
He likes to know what kind of type a sire will
transmit before he uses him. Knowing the kind of
cow family a bull is from and knowing that a bull
has reliable proof makes it easier to know where to
use them.
When selecting sires to use on their herd, the
Krohlows put the most emphasis on type, but more
importantly they like to use bulls from proven cow
families. They like bulls with dams and grandams
that have gold medal status and like to see
generations of Excellent cows in the bull’s maternal
line. Of course they also pay close attention to sire
stack, using bulls that are sired by proven type
transmitters.
Semex’s Balanced Breeding philosophy gives them
the kind of bulls that meet their needs... high type
sires that don’t sacrifice the production and health
qualities that keep them in the herd lactation after
lactation.
Krohlows are using popular Semex sires including
EK-Oseeana Aspen, Ladino Park Talent*RC,
Braedale Goldwyn, Pursuit September Storm*RC,
Comestar Stormatic and Canyon-Breeze Allen. If
you take a walk through the heifer pens at the farm,
you will be most impressed with daughters of
Comestar Lheros, EK-Oseeana Aspen, Comestar
Outside and Peachey Timber, who was part of the
Semex Designer Series young sire program.
Two of the most promising young cows in Craig &
Marlene’s herd are daughters of Semex’s
internationally recognized 0200HO03067 Pursuit
September Storm*RC.
Krohlows were first attracted to September Storm
because of his aAa numbers. They fit nicely in their
herd, complimenting many of their animals. Craig
also said he was impressed with September Storm’s
deep cow family, but it wasn't until he saw his
4
▲
Marlene Krohlow & Craig-Kro Sept Pansy VG-88-2YR-USA
▲ Craig & Marlene Krohlow with Craig-Kro Sept Storm Adison VG-86-2YR-USA
and Craig-Kro Sept Pansy VG-88-2YR-USA
impressive type breakdown in his proof that he
began using September Storm in his herd. Being a
great foot and leg improver, September Storm was a
logical mating on the dams of both of the milking
daughters in the herd.
Craig-Kro Sept Storm Adison scored
VG-86-2YR-USA on her first classification and was
the winner of their local futurity this year. She is a
September Storm from an EX-92 Comestar Outside
daughter that stands in the end stall at Craig-Kro.
Addison has a 305d projection of 9,867 386F 290P
kgs at 2-00.
Craig-Kro Sept Pansy, another daughter of
0200HO03067 Pursuit September Storm*RC, won
their WI District Holstein Show this June and placed
seventh in a strong class at the 2007 Wisconsin
Championship Show. Pansy is the highest scoring
two-year-old in the barn at VG-88-2YR-USA, and
she has an exceptional frame, with an incredible
amount of style and balance and is projected to
9,822 395F 293P kgs proj at 2-03 in 305d.
The Krohlows are excited to develop their September
Storm daughters into second lactation cows, they are
the type that are sure to improve and impress as
they become older cows.
As the Krohlows continue to strive toward breeding
a high-type herd of cows, they will continue to look
to Semex for sires that can build their herd
generation after generation.
5
DEVELOPING
LEADING
EDGE
TECHNOLOGY
Patrick Blondin, L’Alliance Boviteq, M.Sc., Ph.D.Director of Research and Development
FOR TODAY’S A.I.
The Semex Alliance continues to
develop innovative reproductive
biotechnologies through its
research and development
branch, L’Alliance Boviteq (LAB)
that has two laboratories situated
in the St-Hyacinthe, Québec
region in Canada.
LAB is an embryo transfer centre
that offers producers from
Canada and the USA various
biotechnologies such as in vitro
fertilization, embryo sexing and
freezing, cloning, and various
assisted reproductive
technologies to treat different
infertility problems with heifers or
cows. LAB also has a semen
laboratory that offers Semex
state-of-the-art biotechnologies in
semen processing, handling and
freezing studies.
For the past four years, LAB has
focused on contributing
significantly to new technologies
that will propel the bovine
industry into the future by
pioneering biotechnologies in
6
reproduction and genomics. Two
of these innovations have already
been transferred to Semex.
One of them is cloning
technology, as Semex has
already cloned copies of 10 elite
bulls. Semex has received import
approval from some Latin
American countries, and we are
awaiting approval from other
markets to widely distribute this
product. When permitted,
Semex will be able to provide
producers everywhere with
semen from some of Semex’s
most highly
demanded sires.
have access to yet another tool to
manage the production of heifers
in their herds. This will allow
them to better manage herd
numbers, replacements and
biosecurity.
Always a major concern at
Semex, LAB is assuring that
SEMEXX is the highest quality
sexed semen through the use of
cutting edge technology with
in-house computer-assisted sperm
analysis (CASA) and flow
cytometry. With such
innovations, LAB can now
Detector
Figure 1. Hamilton Thorne’s CASA system (CEROS).
Multiple lasers
Multiple
Detectors
excitation
Cell sorting
Male
Waste
Female
Semen analysis
Figure 2. Flow cytometry: Semen sexing and semen diagnostics
analyze multiple sperm parameters
to assure that Semex includes only
‘gold standard’ quality semen in
each SEMEXX sexed semen straw.
With CASA, it is not only possible
to qualitatively assess an ejaculate,
but it is possible to quantify many
parameters related to the motility
(movement characteristics) of the
sperm under observation. This is
possible by uniting the latest
technologies in microscopy, digital
cameras and computer software
(see Figure 1). Now motility
assessment can be achieved with
higher standards.
Flow cytometry is another
innovation that is being utilized at
LAB. This technology can be used
to separate male and female
sperm (see Figure 2 – semen
sexing).
Another
breakthrough has
been the
commercialization
of sexed semen
through Semex’s
SEMEXX sexed
semen product.
With sexed semen,
producers now
Laser excitation
However, LAB is taking this
technology to a new level where it
is possible to analyze up to a
dozen semen parameters
simultaneously and correlate these
to semen quality and fertility (See
Figure 2 – semen diagnostics).
In a typical ejaculate, there are
billions of sperm cells. With as
few as 5 to 10 thousand sperm
cells, LAB has developed a
technology capable of analyzing
multiple sperm parameters within a
few minutes. Preliminary data has
demonstrated that it is possible to
correlate these parameters with
semen fertility before it even hits
the field.
of novel additives that can be
included in current extenders to
help sperm better survive to the
freezing process; and the
development of a fresh semen
extender that could assist in
increasing the number of nonfrozen doses of short-supply bulls.
All of these areas will be featured
in future issues of Semex’s
Balance.
Therefore, Semex and its partners
can assure that the straws of
semen produced from the
ejaculate all have the high quality
and fertility that producers are
expecting. In fact, LAB is now
using this technology to assure that
all of Semex’s semen, sexed and
non-sexed, reaches the ‘gold
standard’ it has set for itself.
LAB is currently researching the
development of a unique semen
extender that contains no animal
protein; the identification of unique
fertility proteins of animal and
plant origin that can contribute to
semen of higher fertility; validation
7
SHF Centurion Sultan
Patrice Simard, Semex Alliance Jersey Sire Analyst & Product Support Specialist
JERSEY DOMINANCE
“Their (Sultan) udders are highly-held, snuglyattached in fore and rear, level along the floor
and particularly high in rear attachment.”
- Eric Lyon, Lyon Jerseys, Toledo, Iowa, USA
▲
0200JE00303 SHF Centurion Sultan
As Semex’s SHF Centurion Sultan
claims international success
through his second crop
daughters in Canada and across
other Jersey markets, this Sooner
Centurion son dominates the
Jersey breed, deserving a closer
look at his career and breeding
pattern.
Semex’s sire procurement
philosophy strives for long-lasting,
problem-free, profitable cows
through selecting strong maternal
bloodline and sire stacks. Sultan
is a true representation of this
ideology, coming from an
extremely strong maternal line as
Sultan’s pedigree includes three
EX dams sired by Curtsey Duncan
Jude, A-Nine Top Brass and
Merry Sleeping Jester.
Brad Sayles, now Holstein
Canada Marketing Manager, was
Semex’s Jersey Sire Analyst and
Coordinator when Sultan was a
young calf.
8
“Sultan is from a cow
family that has a
tremendous amount of
strength and dairy
quality. The family was
never a high indexing
family, but there was a
strong line up of sires in
the pedigree that
complimented the
strengths of Centurion
very well,” says Sayles.
“Sultan’s mother was a largeframed daughter of Duncan Jude
that had plenty of dairy strength
and a high wide rear udder.
Sultan was a stylish young bull
with plenty of dairy strength and
capacity. Sultan is the kind of bull
that the Jersey breed can build
upon. He can sire production
champions and show winners!”
With such popularity and a
profile that matches multiple
breed philosophies, Sultan’s
progeny have been the highlights
of large progressive herds and
show strings alike.
In 2006, Sultan progeny
impressed everyone at two of the
most important shows in the
United States, the Central
National Jersey Show at World
Dairy Expo and the All-American
Show at Louisville. Both were
stages for Sultan to confirm his
show type abilities with class
winners, DF Sultan Burganne and
UHT Canaan Sultan Ella. These
individuals showed extreme style
and balance, while moving on
superb feet & legs.
At Lyon Jerseys in Toledo, Iowa, a
First released in October 2003
with a very balanced profile,
Sultan was immediately one of the
top sires in Canada for both type
and production. Sultan’s
popularity has not decreased in
Canada, as he has had the most
progeny registered at Jersey
Canada for the past two and a
half years.
▲
Being one of Centurion’s first sons
to hit the international market,
Sultan quickly became an
ambassador for the Semex Jersey
lineup not only in Canada, but in
the US and around the world.
herd of over 320 milking cows,
the herd’s emphasis for the past
80 years has always been placed
on developing efficient cows that
produce milk easily and are
UHT Canaan Sultan Ella
1st Winter Yrlg., Central Nat’l Jersey Show 2006
profitable. The 10 milking Sultans
on the farm have met these goals.
“These medium-sized cows are
testing high and very wellbalanced in body and udder with
good chest strength,” says Eric
Lyon, farm co-owner.
“Their udders are highly-held,
snugly attached in fore and rear,
level along the floor and
particularly high in rear
attachment. They are calm cows
that you love to see coming into
the milking parlour. Sultan is one
of the best udder bulls we have
used lately.”
Bob Bignami from the 1000 cow
Brentwood Farms in Orland,
California used Sultan early on.
“We have lots of fresh Sultan
daughters, and the best
description is "WOW!” says this
recent American Jersey Cattle
Association Master Breeder.
“We have lots of
fresh Sultan
daughters & the
best description
is WOW!”
- Bob Bignami, Brentwood Farms,
Orland, California, USA
Through the Semex Alliance
global distribution network, Sultan
daughters are found around the
world, wherever the brown Jersey
cow is found. As more and more
of these Sultan daughters come
into milk, the stories of satisfied
breeders mount and include
success in the heavily Jersey
populated South Africa.
“Our four Sultan daughters scored
an average of 90.5 for final
score, with 91 for mammary
system score,” says Arno Theron,
owner of 70 milking Jersey cows
at his Kwa-Zulu Natal Farm in
Memel. “They all have
exceptional dairy strength and are
from different maternal grand
sires.”
▲ Norval Acres Sultan Jess VG-86-2YR-CAN
2-02 305 8,601 5.7 491 3.7 316 kg
Considered a mammary system
specialist, Sultan’s popularity only
grows as he transmits superb
udder qualities, including strong
attachments, silky texture and
correct teat placement.
No matter the maternal
grandsires, Sultan consistently
transmits to his daughters, with a
definite pattern of good
production with great overall
balance for type resulting in an
efficient and long-lasting cow. His
influence as a sire of sons will be
determined soon, as Semex has
put 10 Sultan sons through its
proving programs in Canada, the
USA and Australia with more to
come.
As Semex’s Jersey lineup
continues to expand and grow,
second crop results with proven
sires like Sultan adds to the
reliability and strength of the
entire program, while
demonstrating the power of
Semex Jersey sires to come such
as 0200JE00420 Pine Haven
Senior and 0200JE00314
Hollylane Lilibet’s Legacy.
▲ Petinord Sultan Sibelle VG-87-2YR-CAN
1-10 305 4,570 4.4 203 3.7 170 kg proj
▲ BW Sultan Shera L899
1-10 110 3,166 4.4 141 3.1 99 kg Inc.
▲ Peninsula Sultan Emily EX-91-2E-CAN
5-01 305 7,731 5.3 406 3.8 290 kg
Nom. All-Canadian 5 Yr. Old 2006
9
T H E
P O W E R
O F
B A L A N C E D
Cedarwal Spirte Daughters at Ferme Maskita, Ste-Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada
Photo by Hugo Brouillard
B R E E D I N G®
Dann Brady, Semex Alliance Product Support Specialist
WILLDINA FARM
Balanced
Breeding Is
Colour Blind
For Ontario’s John De Vries the
goal of breeding and working with
great cows started over 30 years
ago.
John’s father began farming this
well-managed herd of Holstein
cattle in 1957, introducing
purebred Holsteins in 1972. John
was just 15 years old at the time,
but began making the herd’s
breeding decisions. The Willdina
prefix was born the following year,
and has continued to this day,
breeding balanced cows with
longevity and sustainability.
Today, John and his wife Alice are
sole owners of the 45 Holsteins
and 11 Jerseys calling Willdina
home. John’s father may not have
considered this unique combination
30 years ago, but John’s
appreciation for great cows has
led him to milk both breeds side by
side.
12
“Our biggest mistake when we
added Jerseys was thinking that
the calves needed extra attention
because they were smaller; we
soon found out that size doesn’t
matter!” comments John. “We
would put the Jersey calves in with
younger Holstein calves, when
really they needed to be in with the
same age or even older Holsteins!”
learn as much as we can about the
Jersey breed. When we bought
her, we purchased her with Gary
Bowers from Lencrest Jerseys in
Québec. We think it’s the cows
that make this industry
interesting… but it’s the people
that make it fun!”
“They are here to stay now,” says
John. “We enjoy the people in our
business as much as the cows, and
the Jerseys bring a whole new
element to the herd.”
The goal of breeding great cows
and reaching the prestigious
Master Breeder status has never
been forgotten, and the Willdina
herd achieved this recognition in
2003.
A love for deep pedigrees is
evident walking the aisles at
Willdina. Entering the barn, the
first cow is Comestar Ada Talent
VG-86-2YR-CAN, a Talent
granddaughter of the 2000 Royal
Agricultural Winter Fair Grand
Champion Shoremar S Alicia EX97-3E-USA 4*, with 2-01 305
11,933 3.9 463 3.4 411 herself.
Purchased at the 2006 Comestar
Sale, Ada’s dam is BKB Lartist
Angel VG-87-5YR-CAN with 4-04
305 13,839 4.2 586 3.2 438 kg
proj.
When selecting animals to invest
in, John looks for something
unique. Something from a family
with a big future but hasn’t been
over used as of yet.
▲
John De Vries
“We want to get in early on a
family that will be recognized by
people around the world,” says
John. The De Vries feel the Alicia
family is one that has produced
some amazing cows to date, with
an amazing future ahead of them.
The heifer paddock behind the
barn belongs to a Goldwyn
daughter of the million dollar
Lylehaven Lila Z VG-89-2YR-CAN,
purchased at the 2006 Morsan
Sale. On the Jersey side Willdina
purchased a heifer from the
internationally famous Piedmont
Declo Belle EX-94-CAN . This
heifer combines both show type
and index as she is Canada’s #1
LPI Jersey heifer.
“We invested in her because she is
the complete balanced package,”
says John. “We also wanted to
“I have always wanted and bred
for those balanced breeding type
of cows,” says John.
When selecting for the sire to use
or next purchase for the herd, John
turns to Semex bloodlines. “These
bulls are the ones that got us to our
Master Breeder shield and will be
the ones to take us into the future,”
comments John.
that around the world the Semex
name continues to work for you
and make it the best it can be.”
“It is still very important to be
looking to the next generation,”
John later says. “That’s why I use
young sires in the herd. We
choose the test sires according to
their pedigrees, and how their
potential genetics will match with
our breeding goals.”
Willdina has been very fortunate
to have first crop daughters of
Semex greats Mattador, Storm,
Bambam and Goldwyn. Most
recently three EX Goldwyns,
including the highly publicized and
Walk of Fame star, Nethercan
Goldwyn Karen EX-91-CAN, have
drawn tours and interest from
around the world.
“We enjoy having the first crop
daughters of these bulls because it
brings people and tours from
“Not only is it the bulls and the
pedigrees that make up Semex, it
is the people. Not just here in
Canada, but around the world. The
Semex team is one of integrity,
respect and knowledge, providing
even more confidence for us to use
these bulls. We know that by
having these bulls in the pedigrees
▲
Nethercan Goldwyn Karen EX-91-CAN
4-10 305 12,136 3.7 448 3.2 384 kg proj
around the world to the farm. We
learn from each other, and it helps
us to be a part of an exciting
future.”
“Our goal now is to breed a top
bull in A.I. and to have cows and
heifers, no matter what the breed,
that people around the world want
to see and invest in,” says John.
Willdina’s future is strongly rooted
in Canadian genetics and rock
solid breeding. “We’d like to stay
this size, but continue to develop
and breed solid cow families along
with increasing the overall milk
production in the herd,” says John.
“But, most of all, we will continue
that Balanced Breeding approach.
We’ve decided to step it up over
the next 15 years and try to
develop an elite herd with genetics
in demand worldwide.”
With John’s active involvement in
the farm and off the farm in
industry related fields such as
serving on the Semex Alliance
Board of Directors with his Jersey
partner Gary Bowers, John
mentions, “It is important to be
involved in the present, but even
more important to be involved now
for the future generations to come
because they are the future Master
Breeders.”
13
AROUND
THE
WORLD
breeders have tried other companies but the
bottom line is competition will always be there so
why not deal with it?
have come to the surface when making
management decisions. Less problems require less
labour.
More breeders than ever tell me that they can trust
Semex bulls to obtain more reliability and
consistency in their herds. They like the different
cross of sires that we have and also the selection
that we offer as far as production and type go.
Breeders really do appreciate our bulls with second
crop daughters that ‘maintain’ their proof and stay
on our proof sheet. After all these years, I realize
that Semex sires just don’t help my breeders, they
also make my job easier!”
Fertility, high type, longevity, and using our bulls
for outcross bloodlines is what my clients like most
about Semex USA. Our bulls compliment the
industry because the bulls have pedigrees that
work in the everyday marketplace.”
Lane Meyer
Semex USA
Sales Rep.
in Nebraska,
SW Iowa, SC
South Dakota
daughters and Monday who is our highest
production bull prove that Semex bulls work on a
pasture based system.”
David Stalker
Semex NZ Limited
Area Representative
& South Island
Manager
TOP BULLS SOLD
• Ladino Park Talent *RC
• Ricecrest Monday
• Gillette Final Cut
• Summershade Igniter
• Braedale Freelance
•
•
•
•
BW Country
Sunset Canyon RP Militia
Pine Haven Senior
Bushlea Brook Biestar
“It’s always challenging to get farmers to see that
it is more important to have a cow that lasts for
many lactations with sound type, than a cow with
just high breeding values that has to be replaced
after a couple lactations because her type is so
bad. My farmers want cows that are easy to
work with, that have management traits that make
them better as they get older and make the farmer
more money.
I am sure that the combination of superior type,
management traits and sound production is what
my clients want. Bulls like Talent who is the
14 highest rated udder bull on his New Zealand
Oscar Rots
Semex
Germany Sales
Representative
USA
Balanced Breeding At Work
NEW
ZEALAND
GERMANY
EASTERN
BREEDERS
INC.
Dominique
Pelletier
Market Development
Specialist
TOP BULLS SOLD
• Dudoc Mr Burns *RC
• Regancrest Dolman
• Braedale Goldwyn
• Pursuit September Storm *RC
•
•
•
•
Cedarwal Spirte
R-E-W Buckeye
Braedale Pagewire
Young Sires
“Today, more and more breeders want to see less
sales people knocking at their door and, the
reason is simple... time. They like to have
somebody that they can trust and help them in
their breeding strategy. That’s where I come in as
an EBI/Semex Representative!
After almost 20 years in this business, I can safely
say that breeders have a lot of faith in our
Balanced Breeding philosophy. Of course, some
TOP BULLS SOLD
• Stouder Morty
• Diamond-Oak Appoint
• Braedale Freelance
• Diamond-Oak Frosty
• B-Y-U Manassa
•
•
•
•
•
Pen-Col General
Ladino Park Talent *RC
Comestar Lheros
R-E-W Buckeye
Emerald-Acr-SA T-Derek
“My customers are concerned with fertility, rising
feed and labour costs. As a sales rep, I believe in
Semex’s product due to our high quality standards.
It is my responsibility to provide bulls capable of
settling a high percentage of cows and benefiting
the producer’s bottom line. Although price is
important to my customers, so is the product’s
quality.
With feed costs on the rise, it is my duty to provide
bulls to offset feed costs by getting cows bred,
keeping the cost/pregnancy minimal and
concentrating on the concept of Balanced Breeding.
Anybody involved in the dairy industry knows it is
just as important to keep improving your genetics
as it is putting top quality feed into the cows.
Finding good help, and keeping them is a very
critical piece of the dairy industry. The Semex
philosophy of Balanced Breeding comes into play
when you have cows that have longevity, require
less labor, work hard and pay for themselves.
Within that concept, health traits are a tool that
TOP BULLS SOLD
• Pennview Ice Pack
• Cedarwal Spirte
• Ladino Park Talent *RC
• Comestar Leader
• Gillette Cutler
•
•
•
•
•
Regancrest Dolman
Regancrest Mr Samuelo
R-E-W Buckeye
Comestar Outside
Dudoc Mr Burns *RC
“Low milk prices, increasing energy costs and the
recent increase in feed prices, as well as recent
environmental pressures make it harder to maintain
profits. These challenges increased the demand for
the low-maintenance, problem free dairy cow.
To deliver this cow I always stress the importance
of deep, solid pedigrees and reliability. Further I
do stress the need to breed a two-year-old with a
lot of potential to grow and improve if they want to
end up with the low-maintenance cow. This is the
same as explaining Balanced Breeding, because
Balanced Breeding delivers those two-year-olds
who possess the potential to develop into great
old cows.
Our global second crop successes tell my clients
that not only in Germany, but worldwide, dairy
farmers can trust Semex to deliver the profitable
cow now, and in the future.
Most of all my customers take pride and joy in
their Semex cows which makes them trust Semex
and consider themselves a part of
Balanced Breeding.”
15
Managing....
Dr. Jacques Chesnais, Semex Alliance Senior Geneticist
INBREEDING
Inbreeding
Each animal has two copies of every gene, one from each
of its parents. The inbreeding level of an animal is the
probability that these two copies are identical by descent.
The gene copies, to be identical, must originate from one
or several common ancestors, which means the parents
must be related.
Inbreeding increases in Canada
Table 1 shows the situation for various breeds in Canada
over the last 20 years. For the Holstein breed, the use of a
few very popular sires in earlier years led to rapid
increases in the rate of inbreeding in the period 19901999. Since then, the use of a greater diversity of sire
lines has reduced the rate of increase.
Inbreeding can be used to increase the percentage of
desirable genes in the population, and make it more
predictable and uniform for the traits of interest. However,
it also has some negative effects. Some mutations can
render a gene inoperative. When the mutation is present
in both of the two gene copies carried by an individual,
the individual is unable to produce the required protein.
This may affect its performance, reproduction or fitness.
It is important to realize that the rate of increase in
inbreeding is much more meaningful than the level or
percentage of inbreeding itself. The latter depends to a
very large extent on the depth of pedigree information
available to compute it. The Canadian Dairy Network
keeps pedigrees going back very far, so inbreeding levels
might appear higher in Canada than in other countries.
However, if one used pedigree information going back
only a few generations, as many mating programs do
currently, inbreeding levels would appear to fall
dramatically.
As inbreeding increases, an animal has more chance to
carry two identical copies of mutated genes. This is why,
on average, the effect of inbreeding on performance and
fitness is negative. On the other hand, some animals with
relatively high levels of inbreeding can perform quite well.
Selection
Selection consists of retaining the best animals for the
intended selection objective as parents of the next
generation. As selection progresses, the best animals are
likely to be descendants of the same family lines. When
this occurs, the chance of mating related animals
increases and inbreeding goes up.
When selection operates in a population of limited size,
as is the case for selection within a given breed, the
progressive rise of inbreeding is unavoidable. The answer
is neither to stop selecting nor to disregard inbreeding.
Rather, one must strike a proper balance between genetic
progress for the traits of interest and the rate of increase
of inbreeding in the population.
A commonly accepted standard is that inbreeding should
not increase by much more than 1% per generation. In
dairy cattle, where the generation interval is between 4
and 5 years, this means we should try to keep the rate of
increase in inbreeding below 0.20% to 0.25% per year.
Breed
16
Ayrshire
Brown Swiss
Canadienne
Guernsey
Holstein
Jersey
Source: CDN
Striking the right balance
What can be done at the herd level and at the level of
A.I. organizations to strike the right balance between
genetic progress and increases in inbreeding?
At the herd level, there are a few basic rules to follow:
define the selection objective you want to achieve, keep
good pedigree and performance records, use a good
mating program, and use a diverse group of sires.
Cow pedigrees and genetic evaluations are used quite
effectively in Semex’s domestic and international mating
programs. The program allows the user to set his own
selection objective, or to choose one among a set of
existing ones such as LPI or TPI. Then it computes
inbreeding levels for all prospective matings based on the
pedigree information available at CDN, going back many
generations. Given the complexity of today’s dairy cattle
pedigrees, the resulting information is considerably more
useful than for programs going back only 3-4 generations.
In cases when CDN data is not available, inbreeding
coefficients are calculated using any available pedigree
information plus various population parameters such as
the average inbreeding level of cows in each birth year
Table 1: Current Inbreeding Level and Change in Average Inbreeding by Breed
Average % Inbreeding
Average Annual Increase In Average
For 2005
Inbreeding % By Time Period
6.19
4.89
7.11
5.28
5.55
5.59
1970-1979
.23
.05
.08
.04
.08
.13
1980-1989
.19
.19
.28
.08
.05
.05
1990-1999
.05
.11
.20
.20
.25
.15
2000-2005
.14
.15
.21
.12
.14
.08
and the average relationship of active bulls to the cow
population. Penalties are then subtracted from the genetic
value of each prospective mating depending on its
expected level of inbreeding and on faults for specific
traits, and mating recommendations are made based on
the adjusted values. The user can control the size of
inbreeding penalties depending on how adverse he is to
inbreeding, or he can set maximum inbreeding levels for
all recommended matings.
One can use economics to set these penalties. According
to a large US study by Smith et al. (1998), the average
cost of inbreeding for milking cows, taking into account
production, reproductive performance and longevity, is
about $30 CDN per percentage increase in inbreeding.
In comparison, according to an economic study
completed last year by CDN and Valacta, a 100 point
increase in LPI is worth about $50 CDN at the herd level.
Penalties could therefore be set in the mating program so
that a 1% increase in inbreeding in a prospective mating
corresponds to a loss of 60 points of LPI.
A recent study in Québec has shown that the use of
Semex’s domestic Progen mating program over the past
two years has led to a notable decrease in the annual
rate of inbreeding. A special version of Progen called
ProMate is available for international clients. These
programs will use any available pedigree and
performance data in order to recommend matings that
strike the optimum balance between genetic progress and
inbreeding.
Producers should also strive to maintain diversity in the
pedigree of their animals. One way to do this is to use a
variety of sires from different pedigrees. Table 2 below
provides a quick look at pedigree diversity for the top 25
Semex bulls by LPI that are widely available at the time of
this writing.
For these 25 bulls, there were 13 different sires and 24
different dams (Braedale Baler Twine being the dam of
both Goldwyn and Pagewire). Although there were
several half-brothers and sisters among these, a large
majority of them were from different maternal grand-sires.
Another way to look at this is to go back 3 generations
(last 4 columns in the table). There were only 5 different
great paternal grand-sires for these 25 bulls: Starbuck,
Blackstar, Melwood, Bell and Mark. On the other hand,
there were 10, 12 and 17 different bulls represented in
each of the other paths. Across all 4 paths, 31 bulls were
different among the 100 theoretically possible male
ancestors (since each of the 25 bulls has 4 great grandsires). This is a high proportion, considering that the
largest amount of genetic diversity does not originate
from the male but from the female ancestors. Therefore,
while the Semex line-up is concentrated on the sire side
on the 5 lines named above because of their clear value
for selection, it remains quite diverse through the use of
bull dams of different genetic origins. Taking advantage
of this diversity can sometimes mean sacrificing a bit on
progress for specific traits you are interested in. However,
the over-all risk is quite small, because if you maintain
diverse pedigrees in your herd, it will be easier for you in
future to use the sires of your choice without creating too
much inbreeding in the progeny.
Is crossbreeding the solution?
Crossbreeding can reduce inbreeding, but it does not
create any genetic improvement on its own. It merely uses
the improvement generated in parent breeds. To make
genetic progress, we need to improve the breeds we
work with, and in doing so we must deal with the issue of
inbreeding. Some crossbreeding enthusiasts have been
decrying the level of inbreeding in parent breeds, but this
is akin to biting the hand that feeds you.
The future
A key question for all breeds, whether they have small or
large populations, is: will the rate of inbreeding increase
faster or slower in the future than it did over the last
decade?
There are several strategies to control the rise of
inbreeding which are becoming available today. One of
them, as mentioned before, is the advent of better cow
mating programs. Another has been the fact that AI
organizations are more reluctant than in the past to test
too many young bulls from the same sire. At Semex, for
example, we try not to test more than 100 sons per sire,
even if the sire is exceptional. A third factor that may
contribute to slowing down the rise of inbreeding is the
increasing number of traits in today’s selection objectives.
This more diversified selection should lead to a greater
number of sire lines and cow families which come up to
the top for a variety of attributes. Additionally, in recent
years Semex started to buy young bulls from different
countries in Europe and in Australia in order to bring in
top genetics from different bloodlines on the maternal
side.
There are also new research tools available. Genomics
will make it increasingly possible to measure true
inbreeding, rather than to estimate it with probabilities.
Semex is initiating research on selection methods to
optimize genetic progress and inbreeding in the joint
selection of sires of sons and bull dams. Given these new
approaches, it is likely that managing inbreeding will
become more and more integrated to future breeding
programs at both the A.I. and herd levels.
Table 2: Number of Distinct Male Ancestors For The
Top 25 Holstein Semex Bulls for LPI That Are
Distributed By At Least Two Semex Partners
(Based On May 2007 Evaluations)
PGS: Paternal Grand-Sire of Sire or Dam, MGS: Maternal Grand-Sire of Sire or Dam
NUMBER OF
NUMBER OF
13
24
SIRES
DAMS
PGS
5
SIRE
MGS
10
PGS
12
DAM
MGS
17
17
STRUTTING THEIR STUFF
V i e w s
Many parts of the world look at
showing cows in different ways. Some
view it as a sport or hobby; some as
an investment; others use it as a
marketing tool; universities use it as a
teaching tool; keen youngsters meet
friends and learn life lessons; and for
others it is simply their bread and
butter.
O n
C o w
and was Nominated All-Canadian. It’s
not possible for her to be more
valuable!”
University of Minnesota Judging Coach
& Animal Science Professor Les
Hansen comments, “I enjoy traveling
with my dairy cattle judging teams to
dairy farms of all breeds each fall for
practice sessions.”
No matter your view, cow shows are
exceptional opportunities to inspect
daughters of bulls you may not
otherwise see; visit with other
dairymen; or just sit back and watch a
parade of beautiful cows.
“Showing is very important to us,”
says Marc Comtois of Comestar
Holsteins in Victoriaville, Québec,
Canada. “It’s our most important
marketing tool.”
“Even though lately dairymen are
looking for high production from
larger herds, they still want a nice
cow, not a show cow but a nice cow,”
says Comtois.
him in the know about genetics and
dairy cattle breeding.
This is the dam’s second calf, she (and eight others in our herd) are from one of the oldest
dairy herds in the country which was set up over 60 years ago by an Italian. The farm was
then run by the government until it went into private ownership more than 15 years ago.
They are very much Friesian animals (and in recent years very inbred) and I selected Spirte
to use on them for his angularity, overall conformation and mammary systems. Of course, I
was delighted to see him improve on milk and SCS when his second crop daughters came
through!
“We have been showing cattle since
the late 1960’s and I’d say the number
one reason we show is that we enjoy
taking our homebred cattle; comparing
and competing with others; and
enjoying the great friendships we have
made over the years.”
Our biggest number of pregnancies are to him, and we plan to continue using him heavily for
the next year.
We are so thrilled that we persevered to get Semex semen into Malawi, and interest and sales
are increasing as well!
“As far as how it helps us breed a
better herd, I think when you go out to
the shows and look at the cows from
other breeding programs you can get
a better idea of how some of the really
good bulls work,” says Airoso.
▲ Prof. Les Hansen (far left) and his 2006
University of Minnesota Judging Team
“Our teams have been highly
successful in recent years, among the
top four teams at the National
Intercollegiate Dairy Cattle Judging
Contest at Madison for six years in a
row. Last fall, our team was first in
Holsteins, among the top five in all
seven breeds, and second overall.”
“She must have dairy strength, loin
strength, high lifetime production and
correct heel depth and foot angle.”
“One of our students was high
individual in the national contest last
fall. I believe strongly it is a very
good thing that all of our dairy cattle
judging students also enroll in my full
semester course in dairy cattle genetics
at the University of Minnesota, so they
get exposed to the results of research
regarding the sort of dairy cow that is
most profitable for commercial dairy
producers. That cow is much ‘smaller
and rounder’ than the sort of Holstein
cow that places highly at shows.”
“With (Comestar) Lautamie Titanic she
puts it all together. She’s a #1 LPI
Cow, from a #1 LPI bull, a homebred
Laurie Sheik and then she won a show
Large dairymen often wonder where
and if they fit in at a cow show.
California dairyman Joey Airoso sees
showing cows as part of what keeps
▲ Marc Comtois & Res. All-Canadian Jr. 2 Yr. Old
2006 Comestar Lautamie Titanic at the Royal
Winter Fair in 2006
S h o w s
Sincerely,
Clive Wilton
Malawi, Africa
“We have always put a lot of
emphasis on type and components,
and having shown for years it helped
us continue down that path even when
it wasn't popular. Even though the
show cows of today are more dairy
than those of the past, they still
maintain more strength and width and
are the kind of cows that can utilize all
the modern tools.”
1500+
$30CDN
NUMBER OF CEDARWAL SPIRTE’S
CLASSIFIED DAUGHTERS IN CANADA
Holstein Canada 8/07
▲ Joey Airoso,
Airoso Dairy
Farms, Pixley,
California, USA
▲
T h r e e
Dear Semex,
Here are some photos of our first Semex calf, Beckwood Spirte Ellissee. The first photo is
with my stepson Sam, and the back of the Summer 2007 Balance magazine, showing the
Spirte advertisement. The second is with my wife Charity (wearing her very faded Semex
baseball cap!). The third is Ellissee drinking her milk.
“Our herd average is just under
12,200 kgs of milk on 1900 cows,
and we believe the better cow you
breed... the more milk you’ll get.”
“Also, last but not least, is cow
comfort. Most dairyman have figured
out that the more comfortable a cow
is, the more milk she’ll give.
Where did that come from?
Probably showing!”
THE AVERAGE COST OF INBREEDING FOR MILKING COWS,
TAKING INTO ACCOUNT PRODUCTION, REPRODUCTIVE
PERFORMANCE AND LONGEVITY
Smith et al. (1998), Managing Inbreeding, Balance Fall 2007
TORONTO
THE PLACE TO BE THIS NOVEMBER AS SEMEX
& ITS PARTNERS HOST 1300+ INTERNATIONAL GUESTS AT THE
ROYAL AGRICULTURAL WINTER FAIR IN TORONTO, ONTARIO!
balanced (bal•anced)
18
adjective
1.being in harmonious or proper arrangement or adjustment,
proportion, etc. Semex Sires
19
Thunder x Storm x Astre
aAa: 234156
DMS: 345
EARNEWALD BURNS JOSSY GP-81-2YR-CAN
EARNEWALD BURNS JUDY GP-82-2YR-CAN
EARNEWALD BURNS BONNY GP-82-2YR-CAN
2-00 305 12,325 3.4 425 3.1 384 kg
1 Superior Lactation Award
Earnewald Holsteins, Lacombe, Alberta, Canada
1-11 305 12,329 3.9 479 3.2 392 kg
1 Superior Lactation Award
Earnewald Holsteins, Lacombe, Alberta, Canada
2-01 305 10,684 3.7 390 3.2 344 kg
Earnewald Holsteins, Lacombe, Alberta, Canada
Photo by Nick Sarbacker
The Power of Balanced Breeding®
130 Stone Road West,
Guelph, Ontario, Canada N1G 3Z2
www.semex.com