Elevate™ wins the best new product award at UK Dairy Day 2018
Semex's new genomic testing program Elevate™ has won the best new product award at UK Dairy Day in Telford.
Elevate offers female genomic rankings for all commercial traits, plus one that is unique to Semex –immune status. Females are classified as High, Average or Low Immune genomic status, with those animals classified as High receiving IMMUNITY♀ designation. Farmers can then improve the health status of their herd by keeping the top animals and gradually culling out the lowest ones.
On a practical front using Elevate is quick, easy, and seamless, explains Fearghal Gallagher who presented Elevate to the judging panel at the event ( 12 September 2018).
“All a farmer using Elevate needs to do is take an ear tissue sample from each animal and post it to the lab. A specific Semex App collects and identifies the genomic samples and minimises labour and time spent on the test. No paperwork is involved, and there are no hairs to pull. The transfer of information is all automated between the App, the Elevate test, and the firm’s genetic sire selection and mating programs SemexWorks™ and OptiMate™, making the whole process seamless, accurate and very quick.”
Elevate moves away from the need for reams of spreadsheets of data that farmers initially look at but then generally file away. The objective of the testing and integrated IT solutions suite is to ensure the farmers make best use of the data to move the genetics of their business forward. Elevate and the Semex programs do this by taking the data and by facilitating corrective matings for each female with the appropriate sire to ensure genetic gains are made, and that the farmers receive a return in investment.
“Just recommending that the top females be mated to the highest index sires ignores reams of data on the linear side,” adds Mr Gallagher. “There’s more to a genomic test than indexes and Elevate ensures that the linears are correctively mated whilst giving farmers the power to predict and protect their herds health.”
Immunity+ and Elevate are the result of a significant investment by Semex over the last 25 years to bring the best of the best genetic solutions to dairy farmers, says Michael Dennison, National Sales Manager for Semex UK says, “With Elevate and its Immunity female genomic test, producers no longer have to guess which cows are their healthiest,” he says. “Instead, they’re able to tailor their breeding program with both genomic information as well as the Immunity results. As a result they are able to make faster genetic progress towards better, fitter cows and a stronger, more disease resistant herd, which reduces losses and drug use.
The early adopters of Elevate are already identifying the High Immunity females in their herds and are planning to build on these results to ensure future generations are more disease resistant. This will tick all of the right boxes for animals, farmers, retailers and consumers.
To this end the judges were unanimous in their decision to present the award to Elevate, commenting, “Although genetics has the potential to revolutionise the Dairy Industry, a simple manageable system to present information has always been a challenge. We feel the application created by Semex addresses the challenge and taps into the existing and future benefits of genomics. This application is practical with huge potential to harness the benefits of genomics. The benefit of genomic testing to the dairy sector is massive and facing the same people across the world. This is an innovative application to funnel it at a farm level.”
ENDS
Photograph from l-r Euryn Jones – HSBC, Paul Coyne – IDEXX, Willie Tait - Semex UK, Fearghal Gallagher - Semex UK, Rachael Fawkes - IDEXX
Notes to Editors
For further information contact Fearghal Gallagher on 07990 535613 - email: fgallagher@semex.com or Jill Sloan on 07725 629181 - email: jillbsloan@outlook.com
Semex UK, Head Office, Maple Park, Monkton, Prestwick, Ayrshire KA9 2RU
Semex is world renown for delivering high quality bovine genetics, Semex has been solving problems and satisfying producers through its distributor network for over 40 years. Working shoulder-to-shoulder with their clients, Semex's staff is the best trained in the industry, offering profitable genetic solutions for producers worldwide. With a successful history as its foundation, Semex is committed to ensuring success for its clients, owners, employees and partners for generations to come.
