Company News

Mark E. Carson BSc. (Agr). MSc., Gencor Herd Reproduction Analyst
We’re often asked what top reproductive herds do to achieve reproductive success. Unfortunately, there are no magic tools that work across all herds, but here are some common management techniques which help herds find success. These are called “The Three P’s for Pregnancies.”

Plan
A plan without goals is like taking a trip without a destination; you’ll never know if you achieved the results that you set out to get! Setting up a plan with specific goals is critical to your reproductive success. Although the end goal is always to get cows pregnant, other measurements of reproductive performance are needed to ensure your cows are getting pregnant in an effective and efficient manner.

Here are the key questions that your plan needs to answer to make sure your herd ends up at the right destination:
• What pregnancy rate do I want to achieve? Average pregnancy rates in many places are at 14%. A herd goal should be well above the average at +20% .
• How many pregnancies per month do I need? It is suggested that 10% of your herd should be calving every month. To achieve 10% calving per month, at least 10% of your herd should be getting pregnant each month.
• When on average does first breeding occur? We recommend that all cows get bred within 30 days after the voluntary waiting period has expired. So, if you planned to begin breeding your cows at 60 days after calving, ideally all cows should be bred for the first time by 90 days in milk. For herds that do the majority of first breedings with a synchronization protocol, all inseminations should occur in accordance with the timed A.I. schedule.
• How long does it take to identify open cows after breeding? Many herds have effective protocols in place to make sure first insemination occurs, but struggle to get open cows re-inseminated. Make sure your cows don’t go to long without having their pregnancy status confirmed. A good goal is ... Read More...

The International Dairy Week Semex Spectacular is on again at IDW 2010. With 46 impeccably bred lots there will be somthing for everyone.

The sale catalogue is now available from the Dairy Livestock Services Website on the following links;

Introduction, Contents and Lots 1-7

Lots 8-19

Lots 20-30

Lots 31-42

Lots 43-46 plus special infomation and forms

For further information please contact;

Semex Sales Representatives
Vaughn Johnston
Mobile:0408 304 526
Email:VaughnJohnston@semex.com.au

David Fechner
Phone:08 8389 6237

Other Semex Staff
Jim Conroy 0418 107 863
David Mayo 0439 343 121
Stuart Mackie 0438 640 221
Howard Hodgetts 0428 261 620
Peter Dickson 0428 539 040
David Ninness 0427 305 269





... Read More...

By Shannon Linderoth | 3/15/2002
Reprinted from Dairy Herd Management Online

Dairy offices are awash with data. Whether you've got papers overflowing from filing cabinet drawers or details neatly digitized on computer disks, you're inundated with facts and figures. And thanks to technology, you can pull reports for virtually any of the records that you keep. Even if you are numbers-inclined, all of this information can be difficult to translate into necessary action.
However, monitoring your herd's reproductive performance from this fountain of facts doesn't have to be complicated, or time-consuming. Focus on a few key areas to determine whether your program is going according to plan.
This means dropping some measurement tools from your repertoire and adding others. By using five key areas to measure current herd performance, you can decide whether current performance meets your goals, and determine what management changes, if any, are needed to improve performance.
Avoid Averages
Traditionally, producers have used measures like average calving interval, average days open, annual heat detection rates and annual first service conception rate to judge their reproductive programs. But experts are skeptical as to the relevance of these parameters in making timely management decisions.
With average days open, for example, you immediately have an accuracy dilemma since you must decide which animals to even include in the equation. Do you include all cows in the herd for the time frame beginning with the most recent calving through the latest insemination? Do you include culled cows? Or cows you've elected not to breed? Or cows that have never been serviced?
There is no standard industry calculation, so accurate comparisons between herds, or even within herds if definitions change, become difficult.
The measurement also reflects significant lag time between current performance and past activity. And, it doesn't reflect individual cows with extremely high ... Read More...

This year 2500 dairy cows from 500 Australian farmers were entered in this uniquely Australian event that is a logistical marathon, involving thousands of kilometers and a sea of volunteers. The Semex-Holstein Australia On-Farm Competition brings the judges to the cows instead of the cows travelling to a show, being fitted and paraded in front of the public and a single judge. To cope with the distances involved in a country that spans some 7.6 million kilometres, 34 regional (including state overjudges) are chosen to officiate. “It is the second-most recognized award dairy cows can win in Australia outside a first place at International Dairy Week (Australia’s biggest dairy show),” Semex Australia’s general manager, Jim Conroy, confirmed. “But for many, it is the No.1 event.” “It is always a blend of first-time new entrants, the regulars who have occasional winners/high placers and the elite of our breeders. It’s a great day, and perhaps there is no other like it where everyone is rubbing shoulders and sharing ideas in such a relaxed way,” says Conroy of the awards presentation luncheon held recently on December 4, 2009. The 90 finalists from nine sub-branches were judged by Daniel Holmes, of Arabella Holsteins at Brookstead, in Queensland. Holstein Australia’s federal president Adrian Dee was sweeping in his praise of the contest which included 1335 animals from the Victorian region alone, representing a lion’s share of overall state numbers. Entries peaked at 253 at the sub branch level (with more than 60 entries in some classes) – put forward by 189 breeders. “We thank Semex for co-sponsoring this event, because everyone really looks forward to it,” Adrian said. “To be honest, it’s so big now it’s almost a logistical nightmare and a big commitment for the judges that give up their time. It has been a huge effort to get to today.” “I’ve done a few On-Farm Competitions now and the thing I’ve found works for me is that I keep a clear image of my ideal cow (for ... Read More...

Back at the start of this month Semex Field Representative David Ninness took a group of dairy farmers to inspect daughter groups of some of Semex's current sire line up. Here is what he found.

Kendtway HOWIE
This sire was my surprise package. They are upstanding cows with ideal feet and legs and the milking daughters showed great capacity, height and width of rear udder with loads of texture. The daughters certainly had better rumps than his proof reads. They are big milk cows and we saw quite a lot of heifers that were sired by this bull in the breeder barns.

HOWIE IDW Special



Crocket Acres EIGHT
The milking daughters by EIGHT were beautifully shaped cows. They were cleaner in the bone then I expected. They had nice square rumps and good udder attachments. The owners said they were very aggressive competitors for feed in the herd and they displayed consistently outstanding temperament in the dairy.



La Presentation DENZEL
I liked both of the DENZELS that we saw because of their capacity, their strength their depth of rib and their beautifully attached udders that were high and wide at the rear with nice texture to them. While, I would protect him on foot angle, this bull was being talked up significantly in the Eastern Breeders and Gencor area.



Regencrest DOLMAN
We saw 20 DOLMANS and once again they were very consistent. They excelled in strength, body depth, feet and legs and a will to milk. They have nice rear udders with good fore attachments. They were a little above average in size with a nice width of rump and chest, which gives them the capacity to give large volumes of milk. Farmer feedback included that they had exceptional temperament and that they planned to continue to use this sire in their breeding ... Read More...

Avonlea Holsteins’ John Gardiner was excited to uncover some sleeping giants in the New South Wales final of the Semex-Holstein Australia On-Farm Competition.

The well-known Gippsland two-time Master Breeder was entrusted to find the champions in the state, which included 774 entries from 121 breeders.

Two of the big stories to come out of the final was the news that the three-year-old winner, Rosmel Dundee Startler, entered by Neil and Roslyn Smith, at Austral Eden, now has a new home with high profile breeders Fraser Holsteins. Neil, a former butcher, only returned to dairying six years ago and his herd includes 60 head.

John said he knew as soon as he got a good look at the young cow that he was dealing with a potential champion.

“We arrived at 6pm at night after milking and Neil was bringing her up towards us and I thought: ‘This is a heck of a good young cow’,” John said. “Before I could get a complete look at her I was wondering is she just another cow, or is she more than just another cow? When he got her to us, I knew she was going to be right up there and I hadn’t seen any other finalists at that point. She was outstanding, with an exceptional rear udder. It was a refreshing experience because I’d never met this farmer.”

Neil was still trying to find the words to describe his reaction minutes after accepting his award.

“I’m tickled … speechless,” he said. Although involved in showing and living near fellow breeders who do show, he said the decision to sell her sat easily with him. She was recently herd tested at her new home and was milking 48 litres.

“I wanted to see her promoted in some way,” Neil said. “I knew she’d be looked after and she carries my prefix, so it’s a feather in my hat that she’s won an on-farm and she’ll go on and hopefully do something for Mark and Leeanne (Fraser).” ... Read More...

David and Mina Covert of Prattsburg, New York began dairy farming in the spring of 1977 with just 30 cows. Over the years they’ve grown their operation to 1,036 milking cows and 2500 acres of crops.
Today, Damin Farms LLC includes David and Mina, as well as their three children, spouses and grandchildren. Daughter Keri and her husband Marc Clemons are in charge of the cows and heifers, making all management, genetic and nutritional decisions.
Marc began working on the farm when he was just 13, and with 24 years of experience he’s become a driving force on the dairy. The 1000+ cows are now milked 3x/day and are boasting an impressive herd average of 24,470 3.5% 865 3.0 723 lbs and a 30% conception rate.
A partner in Semex’s young sire program, Premier™, since April 2004 Marc is proud of the results in his herd.
“I think Semex does an excellent job selecting the bulls that they sample,” Marc says. “I am impressed with the number of bulls I have used that Semex has returned to their active line-up.”
Bulls used at Damin through the Semex’s young sire programs include 0200HO01818 Blue- Haven-Ltd Brick, 0200HO05217 Vieuxsaule Malicieux and 0200HO03315 Braedale Pagewire. Marc’s Malicieux daughters have been widely publicized with Damin-Acres Malicieux 1214 VG-86-(EX-MS)-3YR-USA and Keri-Co Malicieux 1212 GP-84-3YR-USA being featured in Malicieux advertising around the world.
Important to Marc is his herd’s longevity and the durability built in by using Semex Premier™ Young Sires.
“We’re happy with the sound, functional daughters we’ve bred with Semex,” comments Marc. “Most of these daughters have outstanding longevity, lasting for several lactations. This is important because we know that Semex is helping us grow the herd internally. We don’t have to go looking for replacements”
“For cows to last for us they have to have good udders, and exceptional feet & legs to take them back and forth to the parlor.”
“We have more Semex sired daughters than any other in ... Read More...

Oakey Holstein breeders Travis and Melissa Deans capped off a word-perfect year, winning three of the five classes in Queensland’s state final of the Semex-Holstein Australia On-Farm Competition recently. The couple also finished with a reserve champion in the four-year-old class, which gave them 40% of the 10 champion and reserve titles on offer and 60% of the available champions. Added to their 2009 show campaign, which included winning supreme champion cow titles with three different cows at the Brisbane Royal, the Toowoomba Royal and the Dairy Spectacular and they are starting to look like a runaway train in the sunshine state. “We were pretty thrilled,” Travis said. “I don’t think it’s been done in Queensland before at state level and to have five cows place in the state final was fantastic.” The achievement was made more notable because Travis and Melissa milk a modest-sized herd of 75 cows, which has a rolling herd average of 10,800 litres, in a challenging milk-making environment on 700 acres. They were part of a Queensland competition that included 302 entries from 38 breeders. Judge Jenny Grey, from Kiama, in New South Wales, confirmed that one of the most exciting animals she saw was Leader Holsteins’ two-year-old champion, Leader Damion Cretonne-ET. “She carried an oustanding udder,” Jenny said. “Her attachments, her seam, her teat placement and height and width of rear udder were stand-outs. She also had a lot of width throughout and a tremendous angle to her rib.” Travis also rates the young cow, saying she is as good a heifer as he has ever put the cups on. She carries a VG88-classified mammary system; she has two full sisters in the herd and she peaked at 38 litres, pushing her projected production out to 10,000 as a junior two-year-old. She has given Travis and Melissa a Lauren heifer, two Braedale Goldwyn embryos and she is short-bred to Goldwyn. She traces her heritage back to her great granddam, Rockwood Park Warden ... Read More...

The South Eastern Australia section of the Semex-Holstein Australia On-Farm Competition had something for everyone when the champions were unveiled at the picturesque Witchmount winery at Melton on December 4.

One of the country’s most successful Jersey studs, Bushlea Jerseys, signalled its intent in the Holstein arena, winning its first championship in only its second year competing, while a 77-year-old Leitchville breeder collected his first title, and the competition’s first Red and White Holstein qualified for the finals.

The 90 finalists from nine sub-branches were distilled by judge Daniel Holmes, of Arabella Holsteins at Brookstead, in Queensland.

Holstein Australia’s federal president Adrian Dee was sweeping in his praise of the contest which included 1335 animals – a lion share of overall state numbers. Entries peaked at 253 at the sub branch level (with more than 60 entries in some classes) – put forward by 189 breeders.

“We thank Semex for co-sponsoring this event, because everyone really looks forward to it,” Adrian said. “To be honest, it’s so big now it’s almost a logistical nightmare and a big commitment for the judges that give up their time. It has been a huge effort to get to today.”

Judge Daniel Holmes kept his head by focussing on the job at hand.

“I’ve done a few On-Farm Competitions now and the thing I’ve found works for me is that I keep a clear image of my ideal cow (for age) in my mind’s eye as I work through the animals,” he said.

“It was an honour to be involved and I was humbled to be asked. I just hoped that I did the job with as much professionalism as Semex display in their business and with as much enthusiasm and dedication as the farmers have for their cows.”

His two-year-old champion was a Semex-sired Braedale Goldwyn daughter owned by one of ... Read More...

Thank you for your interest in the Victorian state champions of the Semex-Holstein Australia On-Farm competition which was announced at Witchmount Winery at Rockbank today. The champions are listed below. Photos of the cows and additional commentary will be loaded shortly.

Other stories to come out of the day include the competition’s first Red and White Holstein to finish in the top five; a state champion from one of the country’s most celebrated Jersey herds; Jim Conroy’s state of the nation address on Semex’s new direction and the value-adding that registered Holsteins continue to command; and an imported embryo turns into a finalist for a young couple from the Western Districts.

Please check back...

2009 Semex-Holstein Australia Victorian On-Farm Competition champions -

Two years in-milk - 1st: Bushlea Gold Crinkle-ET, Bushlea farms (Koonwarra, South Gippsland region) – 2nd: Brindabella Buckeye Fran, S and J Sieben (Torrumbarry, North-West region) – 3rd: Edenburg Toystory Lovely-ET, W and J Thompson (Mount Gambier, South East Australia region) – 4th: Gowerville Hope Marlene, N Goodfellow (Kyabram, Northern region) - 5th: Starcrest Ladino Marty, H and D Dodd (Westbury, West Gippsland region).

Three years in-milk – 1st: Zella-Ville Minda 3735, K and L Allez (Leitchville, North-West region) - 2nd: Krishlaye Goldwyn Madilyn-ET, A and J Harrison (Leongatha, South Gippsland region) – 3rd: Elmar Goldwyn Jessica 7, S and D Hore (Leitchville, North-West region) – 4th: Creswick Kendall Peace, G and M Male (Caldermeade, West Gippsland region) - 5th: Woodlawn Gold J Coconut, L and V Flanagan (Finley, South-West Riverina region).

Four years in-milk – 1st: Orchard Vale Informer Tiffany-ET, R and J Gordon (Cohuna, North-West region) – 2nd: Haverdale Jocko Dekol, S and J Mills (Rochester, North-West region) – 3rd: Corra Lea Ladino Faith, ... Read More...