Company News

With the August 2010 genetic release, Semex is pleased to introduce several new Holstein sires to its Repromax™ lineup. Repromax™ sires are those Semex sires that are both highly reliable and high fertility with no genetic sacrifices. Semex scientists have gathered SCR, ATA and Non-Return data to develop the world's first international fertility evaluation. Known as Repromax™ sires, these sires are Semex's highest-ranked fertility sires. These bulls improve the fertility performance of cows and increase your profitability, representing the best of the best, with no genetic sacrifices. With dozens of numbers to analyze and problems to solve in a day, dairymen are looking to simplify processes and find easy solutions to their dairy's problems. Semex’s Repromax™ sires are the answer to their fertility issues. Semex’s new Repromax™ sires are easily identified with the Repromax™ brand in all Semex materials and are listed below. These sires are included in ProMate™, Semex’s global custom selection index: 0200HO05592 CRACKHOLM FEVER 0200HO05575 GILLETTE JORDAN 0200HO05567 R-E-W SEAVER 0200HO02137 PINE-TREE SID 0200HO02167 STANTONS ACHIEVER 0200HO07345 MAGOR EXCEPTION 98%-I 0200HO03463 LADYS-MANOR MARCELO For more 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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With the August 2010 genetic release, Semex is pleased to introduce the following new sires to its Health$mart™ lineup. Semex identifies Health$mart™ sires as those that sire the most valuable and profitable cows on the dairy. These sires excel for qualities that dairies can easily quantify in their ledgers. Dairymen can trust that a Semex Health$mart™ sire will have a positive financial impact, saving on vet bills, medications and staff time, as well as lost breedings and lost production. Since its release one year ago in August 2009, the Health$mart™ lineup has been under tremendous demand, as dairymen around the world are looking to reduce expenditures and increase their profitability. The selection criteria for a Semex Health$mart™ sire is based on: • Health Traits: Herd Life, Somatic Cell Score, Daughter Calving Ability, Milking Speed, Daughter Fertility • Production: Milk, Fat and Protein • Durability Traits: Final Conformation, Mammary System and Feet & Legs Semex’s new Health$mart™ sires are easily identified with the Health$mart™ brand in all Semex materials and are listed below. These sires are included in ProMate™, Semex’s global custom selection index: 0200HO02167 STANTONS ACHIEVER 0200HO02147 SANDY-VALLEY COLFA 99%-I 0200HO02087 SANDY-VALLEY DEPUTY 99%-I 0200HO07345 MAGOR EXCEPTION 98%-I 0200HO05592 CRACKHOLM FEVER 0200HO02122 PARADISE-D GILMORE 0200HO03516 GINARY JACK 0200HO05577 GILLETTE JERRICK 0200HO05575 GILLETTE JORDAN 0200HO05588 COMESTAR LAUTHORITY 0200HO05565 REGANCREST LONGTIME 0200HO03463 LADYS-MANOR MARCELO 0200HO03485 LADYS-MANOR MONKTON 0200HO05567 R-E-W SEAVER 0200HO02137 PINE-TREE SID For more a complete listing or more information on Health$mart™ 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, leading the industry and working closely with both Canadian and USA officials to develop the very best options for dairymen everywhere. The main goal in using genomic selection and offering our Genomax™ product has been to increase both the number and diversity of elite bulls available to our clients. This will allow Semex customers worldwide to make the most genetic progress and ultimately profit within their own herds. Through a careful selection process Semex offers the best genomic tested young sires available today. These sires are those that top the rankings, whether you’re looking for LPI or TPI and feature young sires that are the best for: Net Merit; TPI; LPI; Type; Calving Ease. Semex additionally offers sexed genomic bulls known as Genomaxx™ sires. These newly released Genomax™ sires are truly standouts with unlimited potential, ready to give you tomorrow’s genetics today: 0200HO06043 COMESTAR LOTHARIO 0200HO03630 DIAMOND-OAK J S NEPTUNE-ET 0200HO02553 DUCKETT-SA FEDERAL-ET 0200HO03721 FLY-HIGHER MUCHO-ET 0200HO06131 GEN-I-BEQ LOOK 0200HO02543 HOWARD-VIEW LEXSTAR 0200HO00566 MARKWELL DUCKETT-ET 0200HO02574 MISTY SPRINGS BRENDAN 0200JE00149 BRIDON VINCENT-ET 0200JE00467 MOLLY BROOK FREEBOARD Additionally, Semex offers a Genomax™ Health & Fertility Bull Team: 0200HO02366 WEST PORT ARRON DOON MITEY P 0200HO00528 SILDAHL JETT AIR-ET 0200HO02308 SANDY-VALLEY GLORFINDEL 0200HO03608 VELTHUIS SOLSTICE 0200HO03630 DIAMOND-OAK J S NEPTUNE Contact your local Semex representative today for additional information!
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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 these progeny proven sires: 0200HO05592 CRACKHOLM FEVER 0200HO05577 GILLETTE JERRICK 0200HO05575 GILLETTE JORDAN 0200HO05588 COMESTAR LAUTHORITY 0200HO02137 PINE-TREE SID 0200HO05567 R-E-W SEAVER 0200HO05606 RALMA CONFIRM Genomax™ sires added to the program include the following four sires. These Genomax™ sires bring star-studded pedigrees to the Designer Series™ line-up. 0200HO02600 O-BEE KRUSADER 0200HO03721 FLY-HIGHER MUCHO 0200HO06131 GEN-I-BEQ LOOK 0200HO02553 DUCKETT-SA FEDERAL 0200JE00149 BRIDON VINCENT 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 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...