Company News

Semex is pleased to announce that Christina Crowley has been selected as the 2009 Semex Alliance Marketing Summer Intern.



Christina is a recent graduate of the University of Guelph, with a Bachelor of Commerce Degree, majoring in agricultural business.  Christina brings with her dairy cattle knowledge and agricultural experience, growing up on her family’s registered Holstein farm, Crovalley Holsteins, in Hastings, Ontario.  Christina is an active 4-H member, was the President of the College Royal in 2008 and will be part of the team representing the University of Guelph in the National Agri-Marketing Association competition in Atlanta, Georgia.



While at Semex Christina will gain hands-on experience, working with Semex’s global marketing department in developing and producing materials to assist sales through both print and website venues.  This work includes market research analysis and collaborating within the marketing department to produce 2009 marketing materials.
... Read More...

The Semex Alliance, a global leader in international bovine genetics, is pleased to announce an enhancement to its corporate structure, streamlining our leadership framework within a global focus, while taking steps to fulfill our objectives through an expansion of our marketing division.



Effective immediately, all aspects of our marketing will be under one roof within our corporate structure with Brad Sayles taking on an a new leadership role within the executive team as Vice President, Global Marketing. Brad will oversee all aspects of Semex’s product marketing, programs, pricing, branding, promotion and communication on a global basis.  Brad will lead the Marketing Department to ensure all aspects of global Semex marketing closely align with the strategic corporate objectives and initiatives.  Brad joined the Semex Alliance in November 2007 as Director of International Sales & Business Development, Western Europe, Scandinavia, Australia & New Zealand, and will continue to service these key clients in addition to his marketing leadership responsibilities. 



Brad has a lifetime of industry experience beginning as a Sire Analyst for United Breeders and leading Semex’s Jersey sire procurement. Brad’s leadership roles continued through the Semex family, being named Marketing Manager at Gencor, a Semex Alliance partner, developing leading edge programs and services for its producers while managing all marketing and product support staff.   Brad also served as Marketing Manager at Holstein Canada, initiating highly successful business development and growth programs for both the domestic and international markets before returning to the Semex family.



Further streamlining operations within Semex, Vince Bosquet, current Semex Chief Finance Officer will also add Vice President Operations to his leadership role.  ... Read More...

In August 2008 the United States Department of Agriculture released Sire Conception Rates (SCR) for the first time ever, replacing Estimated Relative Conception Rates (ERCR). The SCR evaluation has proven to be better than ERCR as it is a more accurate measure of a bull’s ability to actually get a cow in calf, as opposed to just measuring non-return rates. Repromax™, Semex’s lineup of high fertility sires, benefits from this new system, as the SCR evaluation is included, forming the world’s only international fertility information.



Semex sires rank well above average for SCR, adding to the confidence breeders can have in using our Repromax™ lineup. The Sire Conception Rate (SCR) rating is an important fertility figure, but should just be part of the decision making process when choosing a mating sire. Therefore, it’s important to keep in mind just what the SCR figure represents. With SCR, the average conception rate for the Holstein and Jersey breeds has been set at 0, therefore a bull that scores 1.0 SCR can be expected to have a 1% higher conception rate than the average bull. And, the opposite is true for a bull with a -1.0 SCR score.



Looking at the industry snapshot of numbers like 1.9… 2.0… 2.1… and 2.3… one wonders how much difference is there between these bulls?



There is a difference of less than half a percet separating the top four competitors in the Holstein breed, and an even smaller difference among the top four competitors in the Jersey breed. These small margins do not lend themselves for any one company to claim complete dominance in SCR rankings.



When is a Bull “Good” or “Bad”?

If only small differences separates so many bulls, technically it is difficult to label one bull better or worse than another for ... Read More...

The April 2009 proof release placed the stamp of approval on reliable second crop Semex sires such as 0200HO04779 R-E-W Buckeye and 0200HO03218 Gillette Brilea FBI, while ushering in sires designed to meet the needs of dairymen everywhere. Entering the Semex lineup are sires designed to positively impact bottom lines such as 0200HO09804 Crockett-Acres Eight, sires that meet the needs of Red & White clients, and newly proven sires for those looking for the best proven sons of Semex greats Talent and Titanic.

Buckeye daughters are known for their calving ease, high production, ideal feet & legs and exceptional rear udders, making him one of the most popular BW Marshall sons available today.  The April proof round echoed these same comments dairymen have been making since his release in 2005, and has solidified his place as a Second Crop Success.  Buckeye’s credentials put him in elite ranks for those looking to up their profitability, with +1914M, over 2.52 PTAT, +2.48 for both FLC and UDC, and +2.10 PL and a 6% Calving Ease.  Showing the Power of Balanced Breeding™ and the strength of Semex’s proving program in the USA, Buckeye’s proof has only increased since his initial release, gaining over 140 TPI points overall and adding over 2500 daughters since January 2009.   

Similar to Buckeye, FBI ticks all the boxes for most dairymen, with equivalent figures of +1908M, +2.67 PTAT, +2.05 UDC and +1.90 FLC with +463 NM$ and low 2.76 SCS.  FBI also answers the quest for high fertility, scoring above average on the Sire Conception Rating (SCR) rankings and is a Semex Repromax™ sire.  With over 4000 daughters in his production proof and over 2200 in his type proof, FBI can easily be considered a highly reliable sire. 

Semex’s 0200HO05049 Morningview Ashlar is still one of the breed’s highest ... Read More...

With each genetic evaluation Holstein Canada recognizes sires who reach elite standards in production, conformation and also genetic indexes through their Superior Production (SP), Superior Type (ST) and Class Extra (EXTRA) programs.



Superior Production

Nine Semex sires have been recognized in April 2009 as Superior Production sires having combined genetic indexes for Fat and Protein in the top 5% of the Canadian sire population. Sires must have a reliability of at least 85%.



USAM135556243

CROCKETT-ACRES EIGHT-ET (Oman x Mtoto)



CANM102437918

GEN-I-BEQ SAHARA (Champion x Durham)



CANM101431904

LA PRESENTATION DAMAFRO (Forbidden x Supersire)



CANM101432000

LA PRESENTATION DISCOUNT (Goodluck x Lantz)



USAM135218857

MARKWELL AARON-ET (Champion x Convincer)



USAM130588960

R-E-W BUCKEYE-ET (BW Marshall x Rudolph)



CANM9501468

STANTONS SPONSOR (Finley x Rudolph)



CANM8875264

VYECROFT VITTORIO (Champion x Durham)



CANM7419933

WILLSONA SILAS (Titanic x Convincer)



Superior Type

Six Semex sires have been recognized as Superior Type in April 2009. Sires winning this award are within the top 5% of the sire population for their type proof (Conformation, Mammary System, Feet & Legs, Dairy Strength, Rump) and with a reliability of at least 85%.



CANM8852019

FREUREHAVEN TALON (Talent x Aeroline)



CANM8798386

GLENHAVEN CHANT (Champion x ... Read More...

April 2009 LPI proofs are now online at www.semex.com



Once again dominating the LPI listing, Semex Holstein sires capture 65 of the top 100!



# 3 LPI Holstein Sire: 0200HO03205 Braedale Goldwyn (#3 Conformation Sire & #1 2nd Crop Sire)

# 4 LPI Holstein Sire: 0200HO05049 Morningview Ashlar

# 5 LPI Holstein Sire: 0200HO05024 Dudoc Mr Burns *RC

# 6 LPI Holstein Sire: 0200HO09804 Crockett-Acres Eight (#1 New Release Holstein: Oman x Mtoto)

# 7 LPI Holstein Sire: 0200HO09132 Regan-England Murano (#2 New Release Holstein: Finley x BW Marshall)

# 8 LPI Holstein Sire: 0200HO05191 Kerndtway Howie

#10 LPI Holstein Sire: 0200HO5322 Gen-I-Beq Sahara *RC (#3 New Release Holstein: Champion x Durham)



# 4 LPI Ayrshire Sire: 0200AY00597 Kildare Jupiter

# 5 LPI Ayrshire Sire: 0200AY00594 Duo Star Normandin

# 6 LPI Ayshire Sire: 0200AY00596 St Clement Edmour

# 7 LPI Ayrshire Sire: 0200AY00511 Visserdale Etro

# 8 LPI Ayrshire Sire: 0200AY00580 Des Chamois Poker

# 9 LPI Ayrshire Sire: 0200AY00601 Lagace Ristourn



# 3 LPI Brown Swiss Sire: 0073BS00018 R-Hart Cartoon



# 2 LPI Guernsey Sire: 0200GU00109 Pine Ridge Double L

# 3 LPI Guernsey Sire: 0200GU00001 Rozelyn Enhancer Jordan

# 3 LPI Guernsey Sire: 0200GU00111 Myown Poker Bingo

# 5 LPI Guernsey Sire: 0200GU00400 Knapps Enhancer Krunch

# 7 LPI Guernsey Sire: 0200GU00401 Millborne Bolero

# 8 LPI Guernsey Sire: 0028GU00123 Eby Manor Buttermost Warden

# 9 LPI Guernsey Sire: 0200GU00102 Knapps Mr America



# 1 LPI Jersey Sire: 0200JE00314 Hollylane Lilibet's ... Read More...

Progeny of Ladino Park Talent – one of the world’s leading type and udder sires – have dominated this year’s Semex-NZHFA On-Farm Competition, claiming two championships, one reserve championship and a swag of placegetters across the five classes. The Australian-born Holstein sire is one of the heavily-used sires in the world, with more than 800,000 doses of semen sold in 40 different countries to date. Sponsored by artificial breeding organisation, Semex NZ Limited and the New Zealand Holstein-Friesian Association, the on-farm competition differs from conventional events in that cows are assessed on their home property by a visiting judge. Entries are assessed for their inherent structural correctness using a specially-designed linear score sheet, with the weighting emphasising those traits that influence health, production and longevity. This year’s competition attracted 566 entries from 95 breeders throughout the Northland, Waikato, Taranaki, Bay of Plenty, Hawkes Bay, Manawatu, Wairapapa, Nelson, Marlborough, Golden Bay, Canterbury, Westland, Otago and Southland regions. The first and second placegetters from the seven regional competitions were then “over-judged” by Mrs Jenny Grey of The Pines Holsteins, Kiama, NSW, Australia, to determine the five National Champions. Two Year Old Champion was Sherraine Talent Manon VG87, a Ladino Park Talent daughter bred by Peter and Rhonda Sherriff of Sherraine Holsteins, Ohoka. Manon is a fifth-generation descendant of Deloraine BA Madge EX, who was acclaimed as the highest-producing cow in New Zealand when she produced more than 500 kg of fat in a single lactation in the 1980s. Manon, who was placed second in the 30-month-old class and won the All-Breeds three-year-old class at the NZ Royal last year, is from Sherraine Fatal Monica, one of three EX daughters of Deloraine Aerostar Manon VG86. Peter and Rhonda Sherriff are already milking 14 Talent daughters and hope to milking 20 by the end of the year. ... Read More...

Ladino Park Talent has become the first Australian Holstein sire to have semen exported to Japan in more than a decade.

The 3500-dose shipment is the result of more than five years of negotiations between government and industry associations in both Australia and Japan.

Semex Pty Ltd General Manager, Jim Conroy, said the shipment was yet another milestone in what has been a truly stellar career for the 10-year-old sire.

“Talent graduated as the No. 1 Type and Udder sire in Australia in February 2003 and then in Canada six months later,” he said.

“In doing so, he became the first Australian Holstein sire to be marketed throughout the world via the Semex Alliance.

“To date, more than 800,000 doses of his semen have been sold in 40 different countries over the past five years.

“Last year, he became Semex’s highest-selling sire in the world and this demand is continuing to soar on the strength of the performance of his tens of thousands of second-crop daughters.

“Talent demonstrates an excellent balance of production, type and management ease – the complete package needed for profitable dairy production, no matter where you are in the world.

“He remains at or near the top of the rankings in Canada, USA, Australia, New Zealand, France, Germany, Holland, England, Spain and Italy.

“To get access to Japan, which is arguably the most discerning market in the world, is yet another endorsement of the quality of this sire.”

Semex Administration Manager, Karen Phillips, who supervised the export, said the process wasn’t overly difficult – just time-consuming.

“Japan’s requirements are no more stringent than other countries – but because it has not been done for many years, it took five years to re-establish a health ... Read More...

Well-known dairy industry figure, David Mayo, is continuing to build his impressive list of judging appointments, having recently judged the International Ayrshire Show as part of the World Ayrshire Conference held in Finland recently.

It was the first time an Australian has ever been invited to officiate at the combined show, sale and conference, which is held in a different country every four years.

Mr Mayo said the prestigious event, which attracted 161 head from 70 breeders throughout Finland, was one of the highlights of his long judging career. A translator conveyed his judging comments to the mostly Finnish-speaking audience.

“Not many people would know that Finland has the largest Ayrshire population in the world,” Mr Mayo said. “There are 170,000 Ayrshire cows in Finland and they make up two-thirds of its dairy cow population.

“It was a tremendous show with a wonderful atmosphere. It was held in a huge indoor arena and was attended by a very large and enthusiastic crowd of both local and international visitors.

“The classes in the show were quite large, ranging from 15 through to 30 head, and were very competitive in terms of quality. The Champions and Reserve Champions in both junior and senior sections were great animals which would be competitive at any major show in other countries.”

The Senior and Grand Champion cow, HH Tia Marie Sue, was by Woodland View Pardner from a Royalcroft Brendan cow imported into Finland from Canada as an embryo. The Junior Champion, Joukolan Vaavikki, was by another Canadian sire, Margot Calimero, and from a Finnish dam.

“A lot of overseas genetics have been imported into Finland over the past six to eight years, with both embryos and semen being used in breeding programs,” Mr Mayo said.

Although the average herd size in Finland is only 25 ... Read More...