Company News

More than 435 4-Hers compete for top honours at EastGen’s 2023 youth events
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It began with a simple text and an eye-catching photo. “Hey Jamie. Hope all is well. Feeding calves and caught this shot of our oldest Lemagic. Approx. 50 days old. Have 3 and all are stunning. Not the best photographer but I try!” Charlie Lupton’s message to EastGen Director of Sales Jamie Howard prompted a recent visit to Up-Ridge Holsteins, Embro, Ontario, to see the calf behind the comment, and her hutch mates. “Lemagic and Actionman are probably our best young calves right
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Tout a débuté avec un simple texte et une photo accrocheuse. « Salut Jamie. J’espère que tout va bien. En nourrissant les veaux, j’ai pris cette photo de notre fille de Lemagic. Âgée d’environ 50 jours. On en a trois et elles sont toutes exceptionnelles. Je ne suis pas le meilleur photographie, mais j’essaie! »
Le message de Charlie Lupton à Jamie Howard, directeur des ventes d’EastGen, a motivé une récente visite à la ferme Up-Ridge
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Objectifs atteints grâce à Elevate® - Une récente séance de photos de Semex avec des filles de 0200HO11385 Westcoast River nous a incités à examiner la façon
dont ces vaches noires soyeuses ont commencé à exister dans deux troupeaux du territoire de service d’EastGen en Ontario. Pour ceux et celles qui ne connaissent pas bien River, il est considéré comme un taureau peu
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Rivers Flow From Elevate® - A recent Semex photo shoot with 0200HO11385 Westcoast
River daughters prompted us to delve into how these silky black cows came to exist in two herds across EastGen’s Ontario service area. For those not familiar with River, he’s considered an outcross sire being a Guarantee x Montana x Supershot. With Immunity+® (one of our very highest at 115), Calving Ease and A2A2 on his side, he’s a +3464 GLPI, +3132 PRO$ proven sire included on EastGen’s latest
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The North American industry has identified a new Holstein genetic defect, Calf Recumbency, where an otherwise healthy calf cannot stand and survive, either at birth or within its first few weeks of life. Though the origin animal has yet to be confirmed, the oldest known suspected carrier is the bull SOUTHWIND. The disorder has primarily been transmitted through the sires ROBUST and SUPERSIRE. An industry position paper has been released by the National Association of Animal Breeders (NAAB), Council on Dairy Cattle Breeding (CDCB) and the Holstein Association USA. Click here to read.     Semex worked diligently with industry researchers to help identify this genetic defect. Semex recognized the urgency of this matter and for corrective measures to be put in place quickly to reduce and eventually eliminate this mutation. In so doing, Semex has worked aggressively with our lab partner Neogen to test all our sires as listed below. This list will be updated as new bulls are tested or released to market.     This development demonstrates the industry’s ability to not only discover debilitating disorders but also activate world-leading genetic researchers that use a comprehensive genomic database to untangle a complex disorder and quickly develop a diagnostic tool that proficiently addresses the problem.     Genetic recessives such as BL, BY, CVM and HCD have been identified in the past. In all cases, the industry responded quickly by identifying carriers and providing breeders with the tools that effectively minimize these disorders in the population. Calf Recumbency will be no different.     The industry is working on coding/labeling and plans to develop a haplotype test that effectively identifies recumbency without needing the mutation test. Semex is currently making changes to its OptiMate™ mating program, enabling its clients to proficiently breed around recumbency and reduce its potential impact.     Semex’s genomic testing ... Read More...

Semex and Holstein Canada are pleased to announce their collaborative support of the 2023 Young Breeders School (YBS).

Held since 1999, YBS is an annual educational event designed to help train young people aged 13-25 regarding the Holstein breed. The three-day training includes courses on animal preparation, nutrition, judging, showmanship, marketing, genetic selection and leadership. Participants stay with families from the host region, fostering cultural understanding and life-long friendships. The event culminates with a multi-day competition in which participants put their learnings into practice, with awards given to top individuals for showmanship, conformation and country.  

This year’s event will be held in Battice, Belgium August 30-September 3.

Congratulations to the individuals who will be representing Canada at the 2023 YBS:


Grace Hughes, Atlantic Canada
Felix Lemire, Quebec
Kolton Crack, Quebec
Emma Finch, Ontario
Sarah Dean, Ontario
Ethan Nienhuis, Western Canada


These individuals were selected through their provinces' requirements based on individual merit, achievements and experience. If you are interested in applying for YBS in 2024, please contact your provincial Holstein branch.
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Meet EastGen's New President - EastGen is pleased to announce that Amanda Jeffs of Stirling, ON was elected president of the company following EastGen’s first board of directors meeting of 2023, held on March 30th. Amanda farms with her parents, Fred and Taleana Jeffs, and her brother Andrew Jeffs. The family milk approximately
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Rencontrez la nouvelle présidente d’EastGen - EastGen a le plaisir d’annoncer qu’Amanda Jeffs de Stirling, Ont., a été élue présidente de la compagnie à la suite de la première assemblée du conseil d’administration d’EastGen de 2023 tenue
le 30 mars. Amanda pratique l’agriculture avec ses parents, Fred et Taleana Jeffs, et son frère Andrew Jeffs. La famille trait environ
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Showbox Sires LLC will be available exclusively from Select Sires and Semex

ENOSBURG, Vermont and RUDOLPH, Wisconsin, April 28, 2023 – Showbox Sires LLC, a new genetic venture backed by trusted industry leaders, will be collaborating with Select Sires and Semex to bring a high-type, show-focused sire development program to dairy breeders. The team at Showbox Sires includes Tim and Sharyn Abbott and Mike and Julie Duckett. Both couples have had tremendous success in the industry and have combined their experiences and sheer passion for genetics to launch this new venture. Showbox Sires will leverage the industry’s many tools, including genomic evaluations as well as pedigrees that are proven winners on the tanbark. At this time, Showbox Sires will offer elite Holstein and Red & White genetics with tentative plans to release the first sire in late 2023.

“Whether you want to improve your herd, compete at the county fair or exhibit a winner at national shows, Showbox Sires is built from families that have done just that! Our vision is to acquire and develop bulls to meet the needs of any passionate dairy breeder,” said Tim Abbott, Showbox Sires LLC. “The team at Showbox Sires is thrilled to work with two companies that have set the pace for high-type cattle through industry-leading genetics over the past several decades: Select Sires and Semex. We believe our thought process and goals are closely aligned, and we look forward to working with their teams to bring our product to this sector of the global market.”

Cooperative collaboration

All bulls from Showbox Sires will be branded with a single, unique NAAB identifier. While Select Sires and Semex are the program’s exclusive marketing and distribution channels, no individual sire will be marketed by both companies. Select Sires and Semex will house the sires assigned to their lineup and carry out collection, ... Read More...