EastGen Timeline

First Calf Born Through A.I.

In February of 1936, the very first calf born with Artificial Insemination is born at the Central Experimental Farm in Ottawa, Ontario. Eastern Ontario breeders syndicated the notable sire Montview Rag Apple Ajax and worked with the Central Experimental Farm to collect semen and inseminate females.

1936

The First A.I. Organization Is Formed

Waterloo District Jersey Club A.I. organization was formed.

1941

More A.I. Associations Are Formed

Maple Cattle Breeders Association was formed. Elgin County Holstein Breeders Association was formed.

1945

One More Local A.I. Association Is Formed

Oxford Holstein Breeders Association was formed.

1946

A.I. Starts in Eastern Ontario & PEI

Eastern Ontario Cattle Breeders Association was formed. Prince Edward Island Central Artificial Breeding Unit was formed.

1947

Expansion Of A.I. Continues

Waterloo Cattle Breeders Association, Quinte District Cattle Breeders Association, Hamilton District Cattle Breeders Association and Essex Cattle Breeders Association were formed.

1948

A.I. Associations Continue To Spread

New Brunswick Livestock Breeders Co-op, Toronto and District Cattle Breeders Association and Lambton Cattle Breeders Association were formed.

1949

Frozen Semen Commercialized

Prior to frozen semen, fresh semen was delivered daily to technicians to use within a limited territory. The discovery of the freezing process opened many possibilities as frozen semen will last indefinitely with proper storage; therefore, it could be shipped around world.

1953

First Canadian Semen Export

The first Canadian frozen semen was exported to Germany.

1958

The First Merger Results In EBI

Quinte District Cattle Breeders Association & Eastern Ontario Cattle Breeders Association merged to form Eastern Breeders Inc. (EBI)

1962

UBI Is Born

Central Ontario Cattle Breeders Association (Maple), Waterloo Cattle Breeders Association and Lambton Cattle Breeders Association merged to form United Breeders Inc. (UBI).

1968

WOBI Becomes Reality

Oxford Cattle Breeders Association, Hamilton Cattle Breeders Association and Essex Cattle Breeders Association merged to form Western Ontario Breeders Inc. (WOBI)

1969

Semex Canada Formed

Records show that eight years after the first Canadian frozen semen export was made, 17,016 doses were shipped to nine countries under the guidance of Roy G. Snyder, Secretary-Manager of Ontario Association of Animal Breeders. Every year, sales doubled and due to the increasing international demand for Canadian genetics, Roy G. Snyder's vision was to create an export company. He convinced A.I. organizations across Canada to sign an agreement to form Semen Exports Canada in 1974. The name was later shortened to Semex Canada. Its first fiscal year reports sales totaling 209,354 doses to 31 countries.

1974

Boviteq Established Specializing In Embryo Transfer And R&D

Located in St. Hyacinthe, Quebec, Boviteq became world renowned for its embryology laboratory focusing on in vitro fertilization, embryo freezing and genomics and its research on semen quality, sperm fertility and cryopreservation. Boviteq is a division of Semex.

1986

N.B. Joins Eastern Breeders Inc.

New Brunswick Central Artificial Breeders Cooperative joined Eastern Breeders Inc.

1989

Gencor Is Formed

Western Ontario Breeders Inc. and United Breeders Inc. merged to form Gencor, The Genetic Corporation.

1996

Formation Of Semex Alliance

Joining forces in leadership and partnership, four Canadian A.I. organizations formed one genetics and marketing organization, Semex Alliance.

1997

Sexed Semen Commercialized

Commercialization of sexed semen in the United States was initiated with a 2003 license granted to Sexing Technologies (ST).

2003

PEI Joins Eastern Breeders Inc.

Prince Edward Island Artificial Breeders Association joined Eastern Breeders Inc. (EBI)

2008

First Official Genomic Evaluations

The publication of the August 2009 dairy genetic evaluations marked a new era for bull "proofs," when the majority included genomic information. It has brought about revolutionary change in dairy cattle selection and breeding decisions with a rapid increase of genetic improvement.

2009

EastGen Is Launched

Eastern Breeders Inc. and Gencor, The Genetic Corporation merged to form EastGen Incorporated.

2011

Immunity+® Launched

After 20 years of research Dr. Bonnie Mallard of the Ontario Veterinary College at the University of Guelph, devised a patented test system to identify cattle as a high, average or low immune responder. Semex partnered exclusively with Dr. Mallard and the U of G to introduce the High Immune Responder (HIR) technology to producers as Immunity+ sires.

2012

New EastGen Headquarters

EastGen moved its administration staff to its new head office at 7660 Mill Road, Guelph, Ontario, Canada.

2015

Elevate® Launched

EastGen's Elevate program gives you fast, easy access to vital female genomic information that increases genetic gain, corrects parentage errors, manages inbreeding and helps you make confident mating decisions and valuable genetic progress. Elevate identifies your best females through a fast, easy genomic testing program that works with the Semex Solutions app to deliver results right to the palm of your hand. And, an exclusive to Elevate clients, Semex now offers an Immunity genomic test for your females... Immunity genomics and Elevate make your herd the healthiest, most profitable possible!

2018

Boviteq Grows Globally

Boviteq opens lab in Syracuse, New York, USA and expands with global licensees in UK, France, Switzerland, Italy and Western Canada.

2022

Barn and Sexed Semen Lab Expansion

With a commitment to enhanced animal care, maximum bull comfort and increased capacity, Semex makes a major investment in its facility expansion at the Global Headquarters in Canada.

2022

World’s First Methane Index Introduced

Semex collaborates with LactaNet to create a methane index. Elevate users receive a methane index on all genomic tested females to monitor and reduce methane in herds in association with methane efficiency ratings on all Semex sires.

2023

TODAY

At EastGen, we challenge ourselves to constantly advance the dairy industry. EastGen has the best-trained, most knowledgeable staff in dairy genetics. We lead the dairy industry with unmatched genetic innovation, leading-edge technology and advanced reproductive solutions. Partnering with EastGen gives you the products and programs to meet or exceed your specific genetic goals. Treating customers with respect and integrity is the foundation of our business. EastGen is accountable to farmers first. You can trust your herd�s future to EastGen.

TODAY