Company News

Semex firmly believes that its people are the cornerstone to its success, and is pleased to announce two key appointments to its embryo division effective immediately. These placements underpin its commitment to global growth and leading technology within its embryo division:      Dany-Pierre Rondeau has been named Vice President, Business Development Embryo Division. Reporting to Semex CEO Paul Larmer, Dany-Pierre will lead the growth of Semex's global embryo division, focusing on global business planning, market development and operational leadership.   Dany-Pierre joined Semex in 2013, progressively adding responsibilities to his portfolio of responsibilities within Semex's global sales team. In March 2018, Dany completed his MBA at Western's Ivey School of Business. Following this, in April 2018, Dany accepted the role of Director, International Sales & Business Development, managing Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Africa, and in 2019 expanded his involvement to Western Europe, overseeing 74 markets in total. During his tenure at Semex he has established new business in Vietnam and Indonesia and has led rapid sales growth in Russia and the Middle East.   Reporting to Dany-Pierre Rondeau, Dr. Shantille Kruse has been appointed Director, Boviteq US Business Development. Shantille has been with Boviteq in the US since July 2014, collaborating with veterinarians and clients, as well as supporting OPU/IVF services technical inquiries. Shantille was raised on a diversified livestock operation near Tecumseh, Nebraska, and earned her B.S. in Animal Science from the University of Nebraska, followed by her M.S. in Biomedical Science at the Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology Lab at Colorado State University. There, her research focused on improving cryopreservation techniques for both in vivo- and in vitro- produced bovine embryos. She earned her Ph.D. in Reproductive Physiology from the University of Minnesota ... Read More...

Semex is saddened to announce that global superstar 0200HO00560 Monument Impression has passed away.


 

Outcross sire, Impression arrived with a progeny proof in April 2013 as Semex's #1 new release sire. Six years later, his demand has never waned with sales to every corner of the Earth including Canada, the US, Germany, France, and Japan.

 

As one of the flagship Immunity+® sires, Impression's appeal knew no bounds! He was globally demanded because he sired healthy, long-lasting, profitable cows and ranked as the top sire of calves registered in Canada in 2016!

 

"His daughters were the kind that could virtually go unnoticed in herds," says Brad Sayles, Semex Chief Operating Officer. "That's why producers continued to use him again and again. Impressions do not get sick and just do their jobs day in and day out, just like we expect Immunity+ sires to do. Dairymen everywhere tell us they are their favorites because they're functional and easy to work with. Based on his 82% Good Plus and better rating on over 12,000 cows scored in Canada, we can definitely say they were appealing and will remain in herds for many, many lactations."

 

A 99% reliability sire, Impression's maternal line is dominated by the most popular sires of modern times including Durham, Lee and Bellwood, with his five closest dams being VG or EX. Impressions everywhere have been the beneficiary of his pedigree, as he's maintained solid type figures throughout his career, posting a +12 Conf and +2.02 PTAT in December 2019.

 

A limited amount of Impression semen remains. For more information on Impression, Semex or of its suite of solutions visit www.semex.com

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The Semex lineup is truly designed to 'Crush Disease' with the addition of four Jersey and 29 Holstein Immunity+® sires in the December 2019 genetic evaluation. These additions have driven the active Immunity+ lineup to 245 sires! Exclusive to Semex, Immunity+ is the only proven genetic solution that improves herd health with the first generation, compounding with each subsequent generation. "Dairymen everywhere are serious about herd health," says Drew Sloan, Semex Vice President, International Sales. "Financial and social pressures are driving clients everywhere to look for a genetic solution. And, they're making health a primary selection goal. Our Immunity+ lineup is the only proven way to improve the strength of an animals' immune system and reduce disease and antibiotic usage. We're literally helping clients everywhere 'Crush Disease'."
"We've found that the environment doesn't really matter too much," says Dr Steven Larmer, Semex Senior Manager, Genomics Program. "When it comes to Immunity+, we see the same kind of results in dairies all around the world. We consistently see less mastitis, less mortality and less lameness. And, those are important economic drivers."
Leading the Immunity+ Holstein lineup in December is the new #19 GTPI sire, 0200HO10693 Siemers Bloomfield, at +2698 GTPI. He is the only bull in Holstein Association USA's Top 100 International Bulls' Top 20 listing, offering disease resistant genetics! A Delta x Numero Uno x Bombi, Bloomfield delivers +878 NM$, +1021 DWP$, +106 PTAF, +5.9 PL, +2.40 DPR with solid +2.24 PTAT.
Impressively, many of our top 10 LPI proven sires are also Immunity+® sires. The newest to the list is #9 LPI 0200HO10661 Stantons Adagio-P, making him the #1 New LPI Immunity+ sire! A Powerball-P x McCutchen x the Elly Mae family is +3381 GLPI and delivers impressive mammary systems, that are shallow with excellent quality and strong attachments. With over 200 ... Read More...

The best giveaway at World Dairy Expo now comes in brown! This year Semex is pleased to be giving away two Immunity+® sired heifers …. One Holstein, and for the first time ever, one Jersey!

“We’re extremely excited to be giving away both a Holstein and a Jersey calf this year,” says Michael Hurst, Semex Director, US Sales & Business Development. “They’re both by in-demand Immunity+ sires and are ready to go home and literally help you build a healthier herd from day one! We’re also giving away 10 Elevate® genomic tests each day and entry is simple… Just come to the Semex Tent!”

Launched in December 2012, Semex’s Immunity+ sire lineup has proven itself to be the only way to effectively crush disease with genetics. At 30% heritability and proven to reduce disease from 5-10% in just one generation with no genetic sacrifices, Immunity+ sires are improving herd health worldwide.

“Studies analyzing health data from over 30,000 cows and 75,000 heifers on 35 herds have shown reductions in every major disease ranging from 5-20% compared to other sires. We’re hearing from herds around the world every day about how healthy these animals are,” says Hurst. “And, with the 2018 launch of our female genomic testing program, Elevate, we can now access female Immunity genomics, providing us with the best way to crush disease and help our clients make more money every day.”

Semex invites all World Dairy Expo attendees to visit the Semex Tent, have fun in our photo booth with special props and prizes, and enter to win one of these calves and 10 free Elevate tests to be announced daily. Known as the ‘place to meet’ at World Dairy Expo Semex will once again be hosting hospitality hours from 5:00-7:00 pm on Thursday and Friday nights, with a live calf draw at 6:00 pm both nights. ... Read More...

Semex is pleased to announce that Marc Comtois of Comestar Holsteins has been selected as a 2019 inductee into the Canadian Ag Hall of Fame.     The official announcement reads, "A pillar of the Canadian Holstein industry, Marc Comtois is the man behind the famous Ferme Comestar – a Quebec-based dairy farm that’s been changing the face of dairy genetics around the globe for the last four decades. A farmer, promoter, mentor, marketer and official judge, Marc has travelled the world in his drive to propagate the most outstanding dairy genetics through his Comestar family for the benefit of other Holstein breeders in Canada and around the world. Marc’s accomplishments as a Holstein breeder are legendary, beginning with his famous Comestar Laurie Sheik – the cow that launched the line and continues to deliver champion genetics seven generations later. Marc Comtois lives in Victoriaville, QC and was nominated by Holstein Québec, Holstein Canada and Semex Alliance."          Congratulations to Marc, his family and everyone at Comestar Holsteins!         Click here to read the full official announcement.                         
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At Semex, we know you're facing surmounting pressure economically to reduce costs, and socially to reduce antibiotic use. And, we now are offering the best solution to help you 'Crush Disease' once and for all!
"Despite all of the improvements made with dairy animal husbandry there continues to be worse health performance. When all else is equal, the thing that's going to differ between two cows on your dairy is, 'How strong is their immune system? How able are they going to be to respond to that challenge?' Because no matter how well-managed a dairy is, every cow is going to encounter both bacterial and viral pathogens almost every day," says Dr. Steven Larmer, Semex Geneticist & Business Analyst.
In 2012 we launched Immunity+® bulls, an industry first, dramatically changing the way dairymen developed breeding strategies and managed herd health. Easy to use, Immunity is highly heritable, with Immune Response being 30%, well above other individual health traits. And the results confirmed this new breeding strategy, and a study of Semex sired animals from 35 commercial dairies in 2017 showed improvements in a number of areas on about 30,000 cows and 75,000 heifers tested. The reductions were seen in eight health incidences, with the most significant being a 20% reduction in mortality and 17% reduction in persistent mastitis. The improvements in immune response would have resulted in $72,330 savings for herds milking 1,000 cows during one lactation period. But, we didn't stop there!
We put genomics to work, fighting herd health, and with the advent of genomic evaluations for Immune Response, we are now able to identify cows in the herd that resist disease through our Elevate® female genomic testing platform. By looking at genomically tested cows, instead of simply using the sire status, we can see that those cows with a stronger immune system resist disease even better.
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Semex is pleased to announce two key additions to its global team in March 2019. Charlie Perotti has accepted the role of Director, Corporate Account Programs effective Monday, March 18 and Mark Carson has accepted the position of Genetic Solutions Manager, effective Monday, March 25.
Reporting to Paul Krueger, Vice President, Global Key Account & Solutions Strategies, Charlie will play a key role in furthering Semex's global corporate account strategies and sales growth within key markets including: Mexico; Russia; China; and South East Asia.
Charlie has a lifetime of experience in the global dairy industry, focusing on progressive dairy herd genetic development and management. Most recently he was the Production Director at Fonterra in Beijing, China, managing their 32,000 milking cows. Charlie's vast experience touches all facets of the dairy industry including management, sales, sales management, employee sourcing, training and development. A third-generation dairy farmer, Charlie is also a general partner in his family's century farm.
Mark will lead the support and development of new and existing genetic solutions as part of the Semex Solutions Team, reporting to Jay Shannon, Director, Genetic Programs & Solutions.
Mark has been employed with EastGen over the past 10 years, most recently in the role of Solutions Manager, leading a team of field specialists supporting Semex ai24® and Semex Solutions on key dairies throughout Ontario and Atlantic Canada. Mark has a BSc in Animal Science and an MSc in Epidemiology from the Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph.
Semex is pleased to have these two well-known dairy industry persons join our global team, delivering the best client services, support and product globally.

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Semex is excited to announce the launch of FastStart sires, genomic sires delivered at the fastest pace possible!   “Genomics and the new release high genomic young sires are driving the genetics business,” comments Brad Sayles, Semex Chief Operating Officer. “At Semex, we want clients to have access to our highest-ranking sires just as fast as possible. FastStart helps them do that. By signing up for this program, clients everywhere can have the hottest young sires available, and be the first to do it!”   FastStart represents the best, high-ranking Holstein and Jersey sires from diverse pedigrees. Released monthly, FastStart sires will be high ranking GTPI, PTAT, JPI, JUI and excel in health traits.   “Signing up for FastStart is easy,” says Sayles. “Clients will see that we’re offering the most elite genetics to them first at extremely competitive pricing, and with the option for Semex to have access to the resulting genetics there is no financial risk. Once you’re on board you will be the first to get the very best 200 code sires!”   For more information on Semex, FastStart sires or our solutions portfolio please visit www.semex.com      
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This week, the Honourable Kirsty Duncan, Canada's Minister of Science and Sport, announced $56 million in funding to support 37 research projects. This includes Semex's new joint project with the University of Guelph's Dr. Bonnie Mallard, the Angus Genetics Inc and Canadian Angus Association dedicated to fighting Bovine Respiratory Disease (BRD) in Angus Beef cattle. This project received over $500,000 in funding from Genome Canada's Genomic Application Partnership Program. 



 

"We've already done this for dairy cattle with our partner Semex," says Dr. Mallard. "It will provide three major benefits. The first is to the animal, because healthier animals are better off all the way around. The second is to the producer. They save time and money because they don't have to spend time treating sick animals with antibiotics or other therapeutics as much as they would under normal circumstances. And the third benefit is to the consumer, of course, because you (the consumer) can sit with confidence when you eat that steak, knowing that it came from naturally healthy animals, that were produced in a healthy and sustained environment."

 

BRD is the most common and costly disease affecting feedlot cattle in North America, with estimates to be as high as $1 billion annually. Unfortunately, pharmaceuticals are temporary solutions, with antimicrobial resistance growing and antibiotics are becoming less effective over time. Additionally, the meat industry is facing mounting pressure to phase out antibiotic use, with supply chains responding to consumer demand.

 

"Semex is taking our Immunity+® technology to the beef industry," says Dr. Michael Lohuis, Semex Vice President Research & Innovation. "With Dr. Mallard, the Angus Genetics Inc and Canadian Angus Association, we're developing a High Immune Response test for Angus cattle. BRD is a costly disease, and we think we ... Read More...