Company News

The world is grappling with an issue of enormous scale and human impact, and our hearts go out to all who have been affected by the outbreak of coronavirus (COVID-19).   At Semex, we believe it is our role and responsibility during this time to prioritize the health and well-being of our global staff and clients. We have advised all of our locations and the entire Semex Family to follow the recommendations provided by their local health officials and government leaders working to contain this virus.   Right now, we’re working as normally as possible to ensure there is little to no disruption of services to our clients and partners worldwide. We are closely monitoring any changes and will continue to make decisions with vigilance and courage, informed by the latest science-based information and guided by Our Mission and Values.   For more information about COVID19 visit World Health Organization.
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Gordon Miller, Sr. Vice President, Sales & Business Development, will retire after a storied career with Semex on April 2, 2020.
 

Gordon says, "Thirty years ago a very green city boy joined Semex UK as company accountant from the accountancy firm EY. I was this young man and I knew a bit about Semex as I had been involved in their audit for three years. It was the charismatic leadership of the Semex UK's owner Drew Sloan that attracted me to the company."
 

"When I joined I was not disappointed. Semex UK was a vibrant, forward-thinking company that was punching way above their weight with marketing ideas well ahead of their time. It was not a genetics company but a marketing company that just happened to sell genetics. The dairy industry was on a high, milk prices were strong and there was lots of margin in the semen business, not just in the UK but around the world."
 

"In September 2000 I left Semex for a good job in banking with RBS (Royal Bank of Scotland) and went on to manage the high-risk team for RBS dealing with distressed companies. It was a great experience and really taught me about what it took to run a successful business. Seven years later Paul Larmer asked me to rejoin Semex as Managing Director of Semex UK. It was a big decision to leave the bank, but I had unfinished business at Semex. I knew there were still great people at Semex UK and that Semex still had a great product. And, so it has proved! Under the leadership of Paul Larmer, Semex has changed dramatically."
 

"Six years ago I was asked by Paul to take on the leadership of our Global Sales Team first as VP, and then as Sr VP of Sales and Business Development. It has been an honour and a privilege to lead the Global Sales Team, seeing growth in each of these ... Read More...

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 ... 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 ... 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. Winners need not be present to win.
For more information on Semex, Elevate or Immunity visit ... Read More...

Semex is pleased to announce that Stephen Sheppard has accepted the position of US National Key Account Manager effective July 15.

Stephen will work with Semex’s sales force in the Great Lakes area, sourcing new clients, cultivating relationships and promoting Semex’s suite of solutions while ensuring the highest level of customer service possible.

Most recently, Stephen was a Territory Sales Manager at Perdue Agribusiness. This role saw him working with dairy nutritionists to best utilize products efficiently, and coordinating with academia to stay at the forefront of dairy nutrition. Prior to that he was a National Account Senior Specialist at Genex CRI, consulting with large dairies and serving as a team leader. He managed a sales team and breeders in eight states, increasing sales by 400% and also conducted breeding schools in both English and Spanish.

Upon graduation from the Bicton College of Agriculture with a four year agriculture management and dairy science degree, he became the Dairy Manager at Rathmourne Dairy, in Michigan. managing all personnel, building a team, establishing protocols and continues to consult with this dairy that he assisted in growing from 700 to 20,000 cows.      

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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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Semex's Paul Trapp was featured recently in Holstein International.

Click here to download the full article.
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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.
In fact, ... Read More...