Company News

The Semex Designer Series™ sires are hand-selected for their ability to sire individuals with Semex’s famous high-type look. These sires transmit head-turning looks as well as longevity and its related increased production and profitability. New releases to the program on July 1, 2010 include two Genomax™ sires: • 0200HO02553 Duckett-SA Federal (Shottle x Harvue Roy Frosty) • 0200GU00305 Indian Acres Prada (Aaron x Indian Acres MM Pistachio Pie) 0200HO02553 Duckett-SA Federal is an exciting Shottle son of the 2009 WDE Supreme Champion and RWF Res. Grand Champion Harvue Roy Frosty EX-95-5YR-USA. Federal is her high-ranking Shottle son and joins her only Goldwyn son, 0200HO02554 Duckett-SA Fremont, at Semex. Frosty is widely considered to be one of the finest cows to ever walk the tanbark and impressed show enthusiasts worldwide with her performance in 2009, gaining the title of 2009 Unanimous All-American & All-Canadian 5 Yr Old as well as being named Holstein World’s People’s Choice Cow. 0200GU00305 Indian Acres Prada is an Aaron son from the 2007 World Dairy Expo Supreme Champion, Indian Acres MM Pistachio Pie EX-94-USA. Pistachio Pie is a four-time National Champion, two-time All-American and two-time Jr. All-American. Pie hails from an extremely prolific family, with her dam being VG-88 and granddam scoring EX-91 and was named Res. All-American Jr 3 Yr Old 1995. The next three dams are all VG. These Genomax™ Designer Series™ sires are the result of Semex’s Balanced Breeding philosophy, a selection process based on the careful mating of the world’s most popular sires and proven cow families, and are available through Semex’s Genomax™ program. For more information on these Designer Series™ sires or any of Semex’s growing suite of programs designed to increase real dairy profitability, please visit www.semex.com
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The Semex Designer Series™ sires are hand-selected for their ability to sire individuals with Semex’s famous high-type look. These sires are those that transmit head-turning looks as well as longevity and its related increased production and profitability. New releases to the program include two progeny proven sires: • 0200HO02106 Stantons Steady (Mr Sam x Convincer x Saturday family) • 0200HO03491 Ladys-Manor Aurora (Goldwyn x Champion x Aaron) Genomax™ sires added to the program include 0200HO02554 Duckett-SA Fremont, 0200HO06042 Comestar A New Day and 0200HO76579 Wabash-Way Evolve, each generating a lot of excitement surrounding their April 6, 2010 release. These Genomax™ sires bring star-studded pedigrees to the Designer Series™ line-up. 0200HO02554 Duckett-SA Fremont is the only Goldwyn son of the 2009 WDE Supreme Champion and RWF Res. Grand Champion Harvue Roy Frosty EX-95-5YR-USA. Frosty is widely considered to be one of the finest cows to ever walk the Tanbark and impressed show enthusiasts worldwide with her performance in 2009, gaining the title of 2009 Unanimous All-American & All-Canadian 5 Yr Old as well as being named Holstein World’s People’s Choice Cow. Fremont’s Shottle brother, 0200HO02553 Duckett-SA Federal, will be released in August 2010. 0200HO06042 Comestar A New Day is a Wilcoxview Jasper son from one of Canada’s most prolific maternal lines, the Laurie Sheiks. A New Day’s dam is the VG-89-2YR-CAN, Res. All-Canadian Jr. 2 Yr Old Comestar Lautamie Titanic. Impressive in every way, Lautamie has also stood at the very top of the LPI rankings for years, boasting a +2844 GLPI in the April 2010 genetic evaluation. 0200HO76579 Wabash-Way Evolve is a high-ranking Bolton son of the former #1 CTPI cow Wabash-Way Emilyann VG-88-2YR-USA. From a powerful and elite cow family, Emilyann’s Oman dam, Crockett-Acres Elita VG-87-4YR-USA DOM, is also a former #1 CTPI cow. The maternal line continues with an Mtoto, Crockett-Acres Mtot Elly ... Read More...

Trusting Semex and its high fertility Repromax™ sires to get your cows pregnant has never been easier. In the January 2010 Sire Conception Rate (SCR) data published by the USDA, Semex sires scored higher than all other studs in two categories that show real results on real dairies… 5,000 breedings and more and 10,000 breedings and more. Semex sires achieved the highest average SCR score of any stud in both categories! These results prove that time and time again, Semex sires are working on dairies everywhere, getting cows back in calf faster and making real dairies more profitable with each service. As the world’s only international fertility evaluation, Repromax™ combines SCR, ATA and Non-Return data. Known as Semex Repromax™ sires, these are highly reliable bulls proven to be high fertility sires with no genetic sacrifices. Semex’s Repromax™ sires are easily identified with the Repromax™ brand in all Semex materials and are included in ProMate™, Semex’s global custom selection index. For a complete listing or more information on Repromax™ sires, or any of Semex’s growing suite of programs designed to increase real dairy profitability, please visit www.semex.com
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Semex has been at the forefront of genomic research since 2003, and has been incorporating genomics into its breeding program to increase both the number and diversity of elite bulls to our clients. Since August 2008 Semex’s Genomax™ product has done just that, allowing Semex customers worldwide to make the most genetic progress and profit within their own herds. Following the January 2010 genetic evaluations, Semex is extremely pleased with the official evaluations posted by its first Genomax™ team. “In August 2008 Semex released its first team of five genomic bulls in North America,” says Pierre Laliberte, Semex Alliance Senior Vice President, Genetics & Research. “Not even 18 months later, as four of those bulls are officially proven, we can definitely say that this concept works better than we hoped. If we look at the average of these proven bulls and compare it to their genomic proof, the group obtains a +1895 for TPI now compared to +1889 in August 2008. Production is slightly lower, but the type is up with desirable functional traits.” In fact, many traits for this group of sires increased, including fat and protein percentages, PTAT, UDC, FLC, PL and NM$. Individually these bulls are leaders of the breed and are poised to make their mark, with Semex customers already reaping the benefits of having utilized these Genomax™ sires when first made available: • 0200HO00422 MORSAN OMANNY (Top 10 New Release TPI Sire Jan 2010) • 0200HO05357 COMESTAR LECLYPSE (Top Herd Life, Calving Ability & Low SCS Sire) • 0200HO05378 KLOVER-HILL JAVA-ET (#1 FLC & UDC Int’l Sire Jan 2010) • 0200HO05428 MY-JOHN KARIK-ET (Increased TPI, Deviations & FLC) • 0200HO05575 GILLETTE JORDAN (Early Goldwyn son poised to make impact in April 2010) “Breeders that used the first Genomax™ team were able to take advantage of very fine genetics in advance,” says Laliberte. “As Semex has always said, the reliability of a team of genomically proven bulls is very close to ... Read More...

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...

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...

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...

Submitted by Harley Nicholson, Semex Jersey Program Manager The Canadian National Jersey Show held in conjunction with the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair in Toronto, Ontario on November 13 & 14 featured 244 head exhibited by breeders from several Canadian provinces and a handful of US states. Semex top proven sire for conformation 0200JE00427 Select Scott Minister (+11Conf 8/09) showed why he has continued to be a popular sire among show enthusiasts since his sampling period in 2005. A total of eight of his daughters placed among the top 10 of their classes in Toronto, including PM Minister Lea, 2nd Junior Heifer Calf, Cadrijo Minister Raquel, 2nd Summer Yearling, Charlyn Minister Blossom, 2nd Intermediate Yearling, and Peninsula Minister Carisma, 2nd Sr. 2 Year Old. Perennial favourite 0200JE00303 SHF Centurion Sultan had many offspring exhibited in both the junior and milking classes. A total of seven of his daughters ranked among the top 10 of their classes, including the 2nd Jr. 2 Year Old, Swissbell Sultan Freska. Now with many second crop daughters calving across Canada and the USA, 0200JE00131 Bridon Remake Comerica proved why he continues to be in heavy demand as a sire of high type and test. A total of six Comerica daughters placed in the top of their classes, including Lookout Comerica Nestea, 3rd Summer Yearling. The following present and former Semex sires also had daughters which placed among the top 10 in their classes: Bridon Excitation, Pine Haven Senior, RJF Big Show, Unique VS Habit, Bridon Jamaica, Molly Brook Fusion and Glenholme Counciller.
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Developing cows that are built to last is key to reducing expenses and increasing profitability on dairies worldwide. These long-lasting, trouble-free cows are the real cows on real dairies that deliver real profitability day after day. They are the favourites on any operation and at the Royal Winter Fair on November 13, they were among the favourites at the entire show.
The Holstein Mature Cow Class was an impressive display of dairy strength and longevity for the thousands of visitors who watched as the 100% Semex-sired class proudly entered the ring. These veterans were sired by seven different Semex sires, known to deliver profitable daughters including: Shoremar James, TCET Lyster, Silky Cousteau, Comestar Lheros, Innwood Terrason, Markim Thunder and Comestar Stormatic.
Led by the 2009 Grand Champion cow, EX-97-2E Thrulane James Rose, who has nearly 64,000 kgs of 4.6F and 3.8P lifetime, each of these cows showed the qualities that spell durability and endurance. They each possess tremendous dairy strength, strong mammary systems and great feet & legs, and an average final score of 94 points, showing that they exemplify long-lasting, functional conformation.
Production drives profitability and these impressive individuals average 43,477 kgs of 4.1F and 3.4P lifetime to date, showing that Semex sires not only deliver long-lasting cows, but also deliver the real cows that deliver real results and real profitability.
Providing the genetics to breed those real cows on real dairies that are profitable and long-lasting is Semex's #1 goal. With the past being the best predictor of the future, dairymen worldwide can trust that Semex has the breeding knowledge, history and understanding to continue to deliver the most valuable daughters on any operation worldwide.
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