The Westgen Bullseye

Westgen - Western Canada’s Genetics Centre

Box 40, Milner, BC V0X 1T0

Phone: 1-800-563-5603 Fax: 604-534-3036

JUNE - 2010JUNE - 2010 112

Western Canadian & Farmer OwnedBULLSEYE

WESTGENTheJUNE 2010

NEWS • IDEAS • HOT TOPICS AND TRENDS

www.westgen.com

Congratulations! Alldairy producers whopurchase semen are

entered into themonthly draw.

Monthly ShirtMonthly ShirtWinnersWinners

Den Oudsten Dairy, ABJim Ross, SK

It is a thousand times bet-ter to have common sensewithout education than tohave education without

common sense.-Robert G. Ingersoll

From the FarmFrom the Farm

The Semex Alliance and Holstein Canada are proud to once again sponsor

a young adult exchange program along with their Australian counterparts,

Semex Pty. Ltd and the Victorian Branch of the Holstein-Friesian Association

of Australia. This program offers a young Canadian the opportunity to expe-

rience the Australian dairy industry firsthand, and an Australian or New

Zealand youth to travel to Canada and gain insight into our Canadian dairy

industry.

The 2011 exchange program to Australia will involve exciting travel and edu-

cational opportunities for a young Canadian dairy enthusiast between the

ages of 18 and 25. The Canadian trip recipient will spend approximately three

months working on leading Holstein farms and artificial breeding centers in

Australia beginning in January 2011 at Australia's International Dairy Week,

and continuing through March.

Applications are available at www.semex.com and www.holstein.ca for

a Canadian youth, with a firm application deadline of July 15, 2010. The

successful candidate will be contacted in August and publicly announced at

the 2010 Royal Agricultural Winter Fair.

For additional information please contact Brenda Lee-Turner at Semex Al-

liance or Alain Lajeunesse at Holstein Canada.

Semex Alliance and Semex Alliance and Holstein Canada Holstein Canada

Sponsor Canada-AustraliaSponsor Canada-AustraliaYoung Adult ExchangeYoung Adult Exchange

Springbrook Farm is located about 45 minutes northeast of Regina, and justa short 5 minute drive from Fort Qu'Appelle in the beautiful Qu'Appelle Valley insouthern Saskatchewan. Jayden Cobb along with his brother Jeff and father-in-law Stan Sinclair own and operate the 6300 acre farm which was started 65 yearsago by Stan's father. They milk just over 100 cows, have a beef herd of 200 headand grow a variety of crops including barley, wheat, durum, canola, peas andcorn.

As a Genetic Leader Silver herd they use 25% young sires on the herd aswell as a group of six bulls with strong emphasis on Feet & Legs, Mammariesand solid type. Their goals are to breed functional, efficient and profitable cows.Jayden switched to the Westgen young sire program two and a half years ago sothe first daughters will be calving in late fall. In the past, some of the bulls theyused with success were September Storm, Stormatic, Talent and Final Cut. Cur-rently they are using Ashlar, Teeoff, Denison and Buckeye.

For the last 20 plus years the herd has been classifying and on milk record-ing. Only first lactation animals are scored. They have been enrolled on West-gen's Repromark report for a year. Jayden likes the fact that it gives a snapshotof how the herd is performing reproductively. The G-Mate is very important to thefarm. Jayden and longtime herdsman Peter Haywood do all the breeding.

Jayden appreciates not only the service that Westgen provides but also theproduct and bull selection for his specific needs. In the spring of 2009, Jayden pur-chased the Heatime Activity Monitoring System from Westgen. The system waseasy to install and use. He enjoys breeding on natural heats and since the sys-tem has been in, he has seen a reduction in the use of hormone synchronizationprograms on farm. He is pleased with the accuracy and labour that the Heatimesystem has provided.

2 JUNE - 2010 JUNE - 2010 11

Reproduction: AI Refresher Courses

Brian Shaw,ReproductiveServices Manager

Correctingyour herd’sRepro Pro-gram can goa long wayto improv-ing yourbottom line

Am I all the way through the cervix?Can I use sexed semen on Ovsynch cows?

Why should I consider using double rods or double sheaths?When do I use GnRH?

Do I handle repeat breeders the same way as first timers?What’s an acceptable conception rate?

My Ovsynch results are inconsistent, what’s up with that?#425 was bred 3 days ago and is now in heat again, do I rebreed her?Does sticking the AI gun down my back provide adequate warming?

If any of the above questions have ever crossed your

mind you are not alone. These concerns and many more

have all been expressed by dairymen and their employees

during Westgen’s ongoing “on farm” AI Refresher Courses.

As part of Westgen’s commitment to the reproductive per-

formance of our western Canadian dairy farms, we are

proud to offer the opportunity to review, discuss and imple-

ment the basics of good semen handling and ”in cow” tech-

nique. This is often done in conjunction with the farm’s Dairy

Comp records or the Repromark report.

Analyzing the herd’s reproductive data helps to identify

areas of concern and then corrective action can be taken.

Criteria such as days open, days to first breeding and serv-

ices per conception as well as conception of sires and in-

seminators can all be reviewed and evaluated. Combining

the herd’s repro information with good basic AI technique

can go a long way to improving a herd’s bottom line.

These refresher courses can be done with a group of

neighbours or customized to suit a particular herd. Repro

tracts, practice semen and equipment are provided by

Westgen. Usually these programs take between 2 and 3

hours. With the ongoing economic importance of getting

cows pregnant on time, this is time well spent. If you are in-

terested or have questions regarding getting a program

going on your farm or in your neighbourhood contact your

local Westgen Dairy Sales Rep.

The abundant and ever changinggenetic information available todairymen can be overwhelming; yetto stay current, you, as a herdowner, need to incorporate this in-formation into your breeding plan. Amating program is the logical tool ofchoice to sift through all of this infor-mation, but can a mating programapply the preferences you value toproduce the genetic improvementyou desire in the offspring of yourherd?

Every dairyman I ask tells methey want cows with good feet andlegs and good udders. In as muchthey are inferring cows that will stickaround for several lactations and beproblem free. It sounds like you allhave the same goals and the samepriorities when it comes to yourbreeding strategies. Yet when I dig alittle deeper, differences in breedinggoals become apparent quitequickly. The relative emphasis to beplaced on production traits versustype traits is an example. Healthtraits are viewed as being very im-portant to some dairymen and lessimportant to others. As I walkthrough the herd or look over theclassifier’s recent report, conforma-tion faults may begin to reveal aherd weakness that needs extra em-phasis or a trend that needs correc-tion. So, can one computer matingprogram fit all breeder profilesand accommodate such individ-ual preferences? Westgen's G-Mate II can. The ability to customizea profile that best represents an in-

dividual dairyman's breeding objec-tives is a key asset of G-Mate II.

You determine the appropriateweightings assigned to the varioustraits. For some, this may weighheavily towards health traits whilefor others high classification is thegoal. Production, Type, and Healthtraits are given relative emphasis inG-Mate II. Examples of actualweightings vary from 100% empha-sis on type, to 50% emphasis onproduction, 30% on type, and 20%on health. You decide the degree ofemphasis for each component.

Within each of these major com-ponents, individual traits can be cus-tomized accordingly. Relativeemphasis on milk yield, fat yield andprotein yield is determined and ap-plied to the matings. Greater em-phasis can be placed on specificConformation traits such as chestwidth, pin set, or rear teat place-ment. These are just a few exam-ples of targeted trait selection tomaximize impact on trait improve-ment. Note that all traits in Canadiangenetic evaluations are consideredand their importance can be empha-sized or minimized as you see fit.This means that G-Mate II considerstraits that are not included in U.S.evaluations, such as udder texture,heel depth, bone quality, loinstrength and rear attachment width.The fault level (the level below whicha proposed mating result receives apenalty) of any trait can also be ad-justed to place further selection in-tensity on that trait.

Bob Massie,BC Team LeaderCompletely Customizable!Completely Customizable!

JUNE - 2010 JUNE - 2010 310

cont’d from page 2Within the health component, SCC or daughter

fertility are examples of traits that can be given ahigher priority. You can choose the minimum calv-ing ability rating to be allowed on heifer matings.Inbreeding limitations can be set to reduce or con-trol the level of inbreeding that is acceptable to you,using precise inbreeding calculations from Cana-dian Dairy Network (CDN).

Regular updates from CDN and Holstein Canadaensure that your herd's genetic indexes are cur-rent. If you do not participate in DHI or Holstein Canada's classification pro-gram, your cows can be manually entered and scored by your WestgenRep.

Once your herd profile is entered, G-Mate II calculates the genetic andeconomic merit for all bulls according to your profile. This can provide as-sistance in sire selection in addition to a thorough discussion with yourWestgen Rep about the sires to include in your program. You should re-view your profile periodically, adjusting it if your goals change. It reallycomes down to what you want. If your current mating program is designedfor the AI company providing it, consider G-Mate II as the mating programdesigned for you. The ability to completely customize G-Mate II to meetyour breeding objectives is as easy as talking to your Westgen Rep.

Recently, Semex sire 0200HO04779 R-E-W Buckeye reachedthe pivotal Millionaire Sire mark at Semex, joining 10 other elite Semex sires thathave each produced over one million doses of semen.

Semex continues to lead the industry in delivering sires that are the ‘best-sellers’ of their time, the truest testament of breeder satisfaction and approval. AsSemex’s 11th Millionaire, Buckeye is joining an elite fraternity of industry iconsincluding: Ladino Park Talent *RC; Hanoverhill Inspiration; Madawaska Aerostar;Startmore Rudolph; Comestar Lee, Leader, Outside and Lheros; Stouder Morty;and Oliveholme Aeroline. These sires represent Semex’s unique ability to com-bine genetics, production, sales and customer demand into one package. With-out a doubt, Buckeye is the complete package sire.

Proven in August 2005 through the USA Premier™ young sire program, Buck-eye’s popularity was instantaneous, arriving as one of the world’s most popularBW Marshall sons and ranking #4 TPI. In February 2006, he climbed to the #2 TPIposition, com-manding inter-national respectfor his desirablep r o d u c t i o n ,solid type andi n - d e m a n dhealth traits.

“Buckeye’sarrival as a highTPI and LPIsire made himattractive to allbreeders world-wide,” saysPierre Lalib-erte, Semex Alliance Senior Vice President, Genetics & Research. “High milk,feet & legs, great calving ease and low somatic cell scores make Buckeyes thetrouble-free cows that spell profitability everywhere.”

The Buckeye daughters have always been known for their exceptional feet &legs, mobility and flatness of bone. Their tremendous udders are silky and aredesigned to handle the large volumes of milk that his pedigree dictates. But itwasn’t just Buckeye’s type and production that allowed him to appeal to so manybreeders; the addition of his easy calving scores put him in line with the needs ofmany commercial dairymen.

Selling every dose he produces, Buckeye semen has been sold in over 50countries worldwide, with the USA, Japan, Canada and Spain each selling wellover 100,000 doses.

6 Buckeye Daughters on display at World Dairy Expo 2009

R-E-W BuckeyeJoins the Millionaire Club!Joins the Millionaire Club!

The Westgen Endowment Fund has made

provision for well over $800,000 in funding to

various dairy industry projects and research.

The committee deciding on these projects in-

cludes Westgen Board members, producers

and dairy professionals and Westgen staff.

After 5 years of excellent service to the

committee, Holger Schwichtenberg has relin-

quished his seat to another producer, Tim

Knull, from Millet, Alberta. We thank Holger for his dedication to the WEF

responsibility and welcome Tim to the committee. Also new to the com-

mittee is longtime Westgen staff member Bob Massie. Other committee

members include chairman, Henry Gisler; Westgen President, David

Janssens; recording Secretary and WEF Admisintrator, Lynne Bishop;

Ron Barker and Paul Meyer.

WEF Committee Welcomes Alberta Producer

Tim Knull of Millet, AB

JUNE - 2010 94 JUNE - 2010

Our sincere congratulations to all breeders and owners of these fine Semex sired cows.

WINNER’SC I R C L E

WESTGEN

Very Good - First Lactation(cont’d.)

Rommenbutte G Final Cut NevadaVG-85Hubert & Wally Rommens, AB

Skycrest Mailing Alligator VG-85Skycrest Holsteins Ltd., AB

Trigon Outside Seera VG-85Trigon Dairy Ltd., AB

Vermilion Final Cut Trudy VG-85Lakeland College, AB

Viking Goldwyn Anabelle VG-85Cottonwood Holsteins Ltd, AB

First Time Excellent

Kennydale Goldwyn Quinta EX-92Don Chalack, ABDardel Holsteins, AB

Reimer Terrason Keri EX-92Don Chalack, AB

Reimer Terrason Kara EX-91Don Chalack, ABReimer Holsteins, AB

Garedon Stormatic Denise EX-90Garedon Holsteins, AB

Lavender Talent Savanna EX-90Lavender Farms Ltd., BC

Pol Butte Stormatic Dixy EX-90Van Den Pol Dairy, AB

Sunetz Lee 203 EX-90Srise Farming Co. Ltd., AB

*Tenhove Tonic EX-90Aspenridge Farms Ltd., AB

Wendon Outside Teppa EX-90Don Chalack, AB

Super 3 Awards

Cadilac James ButtercupBCAs: 263 294 291Kawartha Holsteins, SK

Hyljon Charge LadieBCAs: 274 336 280John Hylkema, BC

Muirton Lyster GiselleBCAs: 277 301 279Morsan Farms Ltd., AB

PDF Gibson SonataBCAs: 304 321 331Prairie Diamond Farm, SK

Rinsma Lheros MelanieBCAs: 329 306 322Rinsma Holsteins Ltd., AB

Longtime Production

Wendon Skychief Joanna124,655kg 4.0%F 3.3%PReusken Dairy, AB

Kawartha Cousteau Christy122,329kg 4.0%F 3.3%PKawartha Holsteins, SK

Willowflat Sissy Rudolph113,522kg 3.4%F 2.9%PWetoka Holsteins, AB

Robella Rudolph Lynn112,314kg 3.1%F 3.0%PRobella Holsteins, SK

Benbie Storm Clementine105,537kg 4.4%F 3.5%PBenbie Holsteins Ltd., SK

Rockport Twomar Flora102,795kg 2.9%F 2.9%PRockport Colony Farming Company, AB

Star Brood Cows

Benner Progress Jacinda 17*Benner Holsteins Ltd., MB

Rainyridge Buck Dolly 8*Ronald Boerchers, MB

Becarl Lindy Adelaide 7*J. William Wikkerink Farms Ltd., BCStanhope-Wedgwood, BC

Scotchman Skychief Wacco 7*Bernalta Dairy, AB

Willswikk Charles Muffin 5*J. William Wikkerink Farms Ltd., BC

Patons Prelude Vibeke 4*Springbend Farms, BC

Saanwood Rudolph Nikel 4*Viewfield Farms Ltd., BC

Successful reproductive perform-ance is the result of many manage-ment factors being done well. Astruggling result seldom can beblamed on any one particular factorbut the combination of many. Whenit comes to reproductive perform-ance on a farm, the group that re-ceives the most attention is theanimals that are eligible to be bred.While the management of yourbreeding females is key, even morecrucial is the management of transi-tion animals. Poor transition from drycow to milking cow can have majorramifications on fertility severalmonths later. Most fertility issues canbe linked back to events that hap-pened to the cow weeks or monthsearlier. Calving and transition is themost vulnerable time in a cow’s yearso limiting the stresses that are puton the herd during this time is an im-portant strategy that requires plan-ning.

Environmental stresses are thelargest components to consider. In-cluded are factors like group size,frequency of pen changes, housingdesign, diet, and temperature. Whileall of these factors are important,some are easier to manage thanothers. For example, group size iscompletely in your hands. Ideally,your close up cows should have aminimum of 30 inches of bunkspace per cow. If your close up

cows are in a free stall environment,an 80% stocking rate should applyand if your cows are housed on abedded pack, 80-100 square feet ofbedding pack per cow should begiven. Your close up cows should beon a diet that is preparing their gutfor a diet that is much higher in con-centrates. It is best to come up withan appropriate feeding plan withyour herd nutritionist or veterinarian.Temperature should also be moni-tored. Heat stress will affect a closeup cow by reducing her DMI and el-evating her chances of metabolicdisorders post calving.

Social stresses have also beenfound to have an effect on cows.Proper stocking rates are key in min-imizing dominant cow and submis-sive cow interactions. Cows intransition undergo many groupchanges in a short period of time.One way to reduce social stress inthe close up group is to only addnew cows once every 7 days ormore. This way there aren't new in-troductions into the group on a dailybasis disturbing the social order ofthe group constantly. This practicewill make a big impact on submis-sive cows.

Management Marker:Transition Cows

JUNE - 2010 58 JUNE - 2010 5

Very Good - First Lactation

Carrousel-I Duchess VG-87Van Ruinen Dairy Ltd., ABMorsan Farms Ltd., AB

Bernalta Goldwyn Dahlia VG-86Bernalta Dairy, AB

Reusken Goldwyn Domino VG-86Reusken Dairy, AB

Skycrest Mailing Lima Bean VG-86Skycrest Holsteins Ltd., AB

Standean Stormatic Maple VG-86Rockymountain Holsteins, AB

Stanhope Lheros Ellie VG-86Garry & Dianne Lovich, AB

Westliberty SS Tanisha VG-86Morsan Farms Ltd., AB

*Allynn Rainbow Marina VG-85Mike Wildeboer, AB

Barkhof Salto 254 VG-85Barkhof Holsteins Inc., AB

Bernalta Goldwyn Joy VG-85Bernalta Dairy, AB

Bernalta Terrason Peace VG-85Bernalta Dairy, AB

Black and White Stormatic 655VG-85Kees & Annie Muilwijk, AB

Buffalorock Buckeye Credence 2VG-85Ridder Dairy, AB

Chubanna Goldwyn Aliyah VG-85Chubanna Holsteins Ltd., AB

Detimdale Dorry Terrason VG-85Tim Hofstra, AB

Detimdale Jules Gibson VG-85Tim Hofstra, AB

Dewynel Bam Bam Emmie VG-85John Wassink, AB

Hillridge Salto 1096 VG-85Hillridge Dairy, AB

Hylac Goldwyn Sophia VG-85Hylac Holsteins, AB

Lacross Talent Delora VG-85August Luymes, AB

*Larson Lancaster Lynn VG-85Larson Holsteins, BC

*Marsfield Albatros Amber VG-85Gert & Sonja Schryver, AB

Marsfield Dolman Tia VG-85Gert & Sonja Schryver, AB

Marylander Goldwyn Sarena 238VG-85Marylander Holsteins, AB

Macintosh Goldwyn RH GemsVG-85Royal Hill Farm Ltd., AB

Morsan Gold Ingot VG-85Morsan Farms Ltd., AB

Mosnang Elmo Goldwyn VG-85Mosnang Holsteins Ltd., AB

Mountain Lady Survivor 490 VG-85Dijkstra Dairy, AB

ND Goldwyn Mariet 756 VG-85Northdale Dairy Farms Ltd., AB

New Mars Goldwyn CompanyVG-85New Mars Dairy, AB

New Mars September CandleVG-85New Mars Dairy, AB

Peetrijp Final Cut May VG-85Peeter Van Trijp Farm, AB

Peetrijp Final Cut Sassy VG-85Peeter Van Trijp Farm, AB

Perrilea Fran Spirte VG-85Willowridge Holsteins, AB

Perrilea Goldwyn Silver VG-85Willowridge Holsteins, AB

Pol Butte Dolman Maretta VG-85Van Den Pol Dairy, AB

Pol Butte Dolman Marilla VG-85Van Den Pol Dairy, AB

Rayverley Prelude Rosalee VG-85Ray Brown, MB

Reusken Titanic Genie VG-85Reusken Dairy, AB

55

Our sincere congratulations to all breeders and owners of these fine Semex sired cows.

WINNER’SC I R C L E

WESTGEN

The third annual Westgen Endowment Fund Dairy 4-H Fundraiser was a greatsuccess. With a portion of the revenue from proven and Genomax semen salesduring March and April being designated for 4-H, producers stepped up theirpurchases to help contribute to this worthy program. As a result of your support,$21,847.25 will be distributed directly to dairy 4-H clubs across western Canadaover the next month. The funds raised this year bring the 3 year donation totalto over $67,000.The mission of the Fund is to facilitate the improvement of western Canada’s cat-tle industry through support of extension efforts, targeted researchand development, and other special projects. We believe that sup-porting the 4-H program, which has a strong reputation for devel-oping the next generation of industry leaders, benefits us all.

Registered trademark of

Canadian 4-H Council

2010 WEF 4-H Fundraiser2010 WEF 4-H Fundraiseris a Successis a Success

cont’d from page 4While there are many factors that af-fect reproduction in the dairy herd,the transition cows represent a criti-cal group that are at a very vulnera-ble stage, making propermanagement crucial. It iseasy to see how manage-ment of the close up groupcan quickly become diffi-cult if your breeding pro-gram is not managedproperly. For example, it iscommon for dairies to fallbehind on their breeding inthe summer when highertemperatures tend to de-press conception rates andmany farmers are busy in the fields.Following this time in early fall a pe-riod of catch-up usually takes placewith an excess of cows being bred.Eight and a half months later andyou have a close up group of cows

that is over-crowded and subjectedto increased stress. Two monthslater when these cows are eligible tobe bred they have poor conceptiondue to a poor transition. The prob-

lem actually dates back afull year to a time when re-production was not a mainpriority on the farm. Thisbreeding pattern causedmajor pressure on theclose up group facilitiesand cows in that periodwhich then lead to fertilityproblems of those cowswhen they were eligible tobe bred. Every dairy farmwill experience such a

scenario at some point. The key is tounderstand the dynamic which willplay out 9 months later. An over-crowded close up pen is more thanjust the precursor to many new freshcows.

JUNE - 2010 76

Westgen is pleased to offer the top new Canadian provenWestgen is pleased to offer the top new Canadian proven

bull in April 2010. Canyon-Breeze Alaska graduated with anbull in April 2010. Canyon-Breeze Alaska graduated with an

LPI of 2039 ranking him overall number 12 on the CanadianLPI of 2039 ranking him overall number 12 on the Canadian

LPI list. Alaska is a great combination of outcross geneticsLPI list. Alaska is a great combination of outcross genetics

from a proven superior cow family. Alaska is a son of Laufrom a proven superior cow family. Alaska is a son of Lau--

dan (Lukas x Raider), who is best known for his ability todan (Lukas x Raider), who is best known for his ability to

sire long lasting (HL 109), well balanced, medium sized cowssire long lasting (HL 109), well balanced, medium sized cows

with strong mammary systems, and low SCS (2.60). Onwith strong mammary systems, and low SCS (2.60). On

Alaska's maternal side he hails from the same family thatAlaska's maternal side he hails from the same family that

produced the former #1 Type sire Allen. Out of a VG-85-2YR-produced the former #1 Type sire Allen. Out of a VG-85-2YR-

USA 2* BW Marshall dam, then a VG-88 Storm, back toUSA 2* BW Marshall dam, then a VG-88 Storm, back to

Allen's full sister, Ashley EX-94-3E-USA DOM (by Emory). Allen's full sister, Ashley EX-94-3E-USA DOM (by Emory).

Alaska is a true balanced breeding bull; he has 1039kgAlaska is a true balanced breeding bull; he has 1039kg

milk, 50kg fat, 49kg protein, with a +9 for conformation. Makmilk, 50kg fat, 49kg protein, with a +9 for conformation. Mak--

ing Alaska more appealing are his strong ratings for funcing Alaska more appealing are his strong ratings for func--

tional traits with above average daughter fertility (103),tional traits with above average daughter fertility (103),

calving ability (101), daughter calving ability (105), herd lifecalving ability (101), daughter calving ability (105), herd life

(106), and a low SCS of 2.78. Alaska provides an opportunity(106), and a low SCS of 2.78. Alaska provides an opportunity

to incorporate new bloodlines into your herd. With no majorto incorporate new bloodlines into your herd. With no major

weaknesses Alaska is an excellent package of desirableweaknesses Alaska is an excellent package of desirable

traits. Dairy farmers want their cows to be productive, structraits. Dairy farmers want their cows to be productive, struc--

turally correct, long lasting, and easy to milk and work with,turally correct, long lasting, and easy to milk and work with,

Alaska is a new sire who has proven he can accommodateAlaska is a new sire who has proven he can accommodate

all of these requests. all of these requests.

Alaska is best suited for cows needing improved milk proAlaska is best suited for cows needing improved milk pro--

duction and components, dairy character, and mammary sysduction and components, dairy character, and mammary sys--

tems. He is currently rated above breed average for calvingtems. He is currently rated above breed average for calving

ease making Alaska a good option when breeding yourease making Alaska a good option when breeding your

heifers. When making mating decisions for Alaska, he shouldheifers. When making mating decisions for Alaska, he should

be protected for width of chest, pin width and rear leg set. Hebe protected for width of chest, pin width and rear leg set. He

is best suited for typical daughters of FBI, Samuelo, Spirte,is best suited for typical daughters of FBI, Samuelo, Spirte,

and Outside, as well as Damion, Bolton, and Blitz.and Outside, as well as Damion, Bolton, and Blitz.

Magnetic Magda Alaska VG-85-2YR-CANMagnetic Magda Alaska VG-85-2YR-CAN

Magnetic Farms Inc., ONMagnetic Farms Inc., ONCedarpark Alaska Bonnie GP-82-2YR-CANCedarpark Alaska Bonnie GP-82-2YR-CAN

Dennis & Brenda Lichty, ONDennis & Brenda Lichty, ONGreenway Alaska Silvia GP-83-2YR-CANGreenway Alaska Silvia GP-83-2YR-CAN

Greenway Farms, ONGreenway Farms, ON

NorthALASKA

for Genetic Gold!

to

JUNE - 2010 58 JUNE - 2010 5

Very Good - First Lactation

Carrousel-I Duchess VG-87Van Ruinen Dairy Ltd., ABMorsan Farms Ltd., AB

Bernalta Goldwyn Dahlia VG-86Bernalta Dairy, AB

Reusken Goldwyn Domino VG-86Reusken Dairy, AB

Skycrest Mailing Lima Bean VG-86Skycrest Holsteins Ltd., AB

Standean Stormatic Maple VG-86Rockymountain Holsteins, AB

Stanhope Lheros Ellie VG-86Garry & Dianne Lovich, AB

Westliberty SS Tanisha VG-86Morsan Farms Ltd., AB

*Allynn Rainbow Marina VG-85Mike Wildeboer, AB

Barkhof Salto 254 VG-85Barkhof Holsteins Inc., AB

Bernalta Goldwyn Joy VG-85Bernalta Dairy, AB

Bernalta Terrason Peace VG-85Bernalta Dairy, AB

Black and White Stormatic 655VG-85Kees & Annie Muilwijk, AB

Buffalorock Buckeye Credence 2VG-85Ridder Dairy, AB

Chubanna Goldwyn Aliyah VG-85Chubanna Holsteins Ltd., AB

Detimdale Dorry Terrason VG-85Tim Hofstra, AB

Detimdale Jules Gibson VG-85Tim Hofstra, AB

Dewynel Bam Bam Emmie VG-85John Wassink, AB

Hillridge Salto 1096 VG-85Hillridge Dairy, AB

Hylac Goldwyn Sophia VG-85Hylac Holsteins, AB

Lacross Talent Delora VG-85August Luymes, AB

*Larson Lancaster Lynn VG-85Larson Holsteins, BC

*Marsfield Albatros Amber VG-85Gert & Sonja Schryver, AB

Marsfield Dolman Tia VG-85Gert & Sonja Schryver, AB

Marylander Goldwyn Sarena 238VG-85Marylander Holsteins, AB

Macintosh Goldwyn RH GemsVG-85Royal Hill Farm Ltd., AB

Morsan Gold Ingot VG-85Morsan Farms Ltd., AB

Mosnang Elmo Goldwyn VG-85Mosnang Holsteins Ltd., AB

Mountain Lady Survivor 490 VG-85Dijkstra Dairy, AB

ND Goldwyn Mariet 756 VG-85Northdale Dairy Farms Ltd., AB

New Mars Goldwyn CompanyVG-85New Mars Dairy, AB

New Mars September CandleVG-85New Mars Dairy, AB

Peetrijp Final Cut May VG-85Peeter Van Trijp Farm, AB

Peetrijp Final Cut Sassy VG-85Peeter Van Trijp Farm, AB

Perrilea Fran Spirte VG-85Willowridge Holsteins, AB

Perrilea Goldwyn Silver VG-85Willowridge Holsteins, AB

Pol Butte Dolman Maretta VG-85Van Den Pol Dairy, AB

Pol Butte Dolman Marilla VG-85Van Den Pol Dairy, AB

Rayverley Prelude Rosalee VG-85Ray Brown, MB

Reusken Titanic Genie VG-85Reusken Dairy, AB

55

Our sincere congratulations to all breeders and owners of these fine Semex sired cows.

WINNER’SC I R C L E

WESTGEN

The third annual Westgen Endowment Fund Dairy 4-H Fundraiser was a greatsuccess. With a portion of the revenue from proven and Genomax semen salesduring March and April being designated for 4-H, producers stepped up theirpurchases to help contribute to this worthy program. As a result of your support,$21,847.25 will be distributed directly to dairy 4-H clubs across western Canadaover the next month. The funds raised this year bring the 3 year donation totalto over $67,000.The mission of the Fund is to facilitate the improvement of western Canada’s cat-tle industry through support of extension efforts, targeted researchand development, and other special projects. We believe that sup-porting the 4-H program, which has a strong reputation for devel-oping the next generation of industry leaders, benefits us all.

Registered trademark of

Canadian 4-H Council

2010 WEF 4-H Fundraiser2010 WEF 4-H Fundraiseris a Successis a Success

cont’d from page 4While there are many factors that af-fect reproduction in the dairy herd,the transition cows represent a criti-cal group that are at a very vulnera-ble stage, making propermanagement crucial. It iseasy to see how manage-ment of the close up groupcan quickly become diffi-cult if your breeding pro-gram is not managedproperly. For example, it iscommon for dairies to fallbehind on their breeding inthe summer when highertemperatures tend to de-press conception rates andmany farmers are busy in the fields.Following this time in early fall a pe-riod of catch-up usually takes placewith an excess of cows being bred.Eight and a half months later andyou have a close up group of cows

that is over-crowded and subjectedto increased stress. Two monthslater when these cows are eligible tobe bred they have poor conceptiondue to a poor transition. The prob-

lem actually dates back afull year to a time when re-production was not a mainpriority on the farm. Thisbreeding pattern causedmajor pressure on theclose up group facilitiesand cows in that periodwhich then lead to fertilityproblems of those cowswhen they were eligible tobe bred. Every dairy farmwill experience such a

scenario at some point. The key is tounderstand the dynamic which willplay out 9 months later. An over-crowded close up pen is more thanjust the precursor to many new freshcows.

JUNE - 2010 94 JUNE - 2010

Our sincere congratulations to all breeders and owners of these fine Semex sired cows.

WINNER’SC I R C L E

WESTGEN

Very Good - First Lactation(cont’d.)

Rommenbutte G Final Cut NevadaVG-85Hubert & Wally Rommens, AB

Skycrest Mailing Alligator VG-85Skycrest Holsteins Ltd., AB

Trigon Outside Seera VG-85Trigon Dairy Ltd., AB

Vermilion Final Cut Trudy VG-85Lakeland College, AB

Viking Goldwyn Anabelle VG-85Cottonwood Holsteins Ltd, AB

First Time Excellent

Kennydale Goldwyn Quinta EX-92Don Chalack, ABDardel Holsteins, AB

Reimer Terrason Keri EX-92Don Chalack, AB

Reimer Terrason Kara EX-91Don Chalack, ABReimer Holsteins, AB

Garedon Stormatic Denise EX-90Garedon Holsteins, AB

Lavender Talent Savanna EX-90Lavender Farms Ltd., BC

Pol Butte Stormatic Dixy EX-90Van Den Pol Dairy, AB

Sunetz Lee 203 EX-90Srise Farming Co. Ltd., AB

*Tenhove Tonic EX-90Aspenridge Farms Ltd., AB

Wendon Outside Teppa EX-90Don Chalack, AB

Super 3 Awards

Cadilac James ButtercupBCAs: 263 294 291Kawartha Holsteins, SK

Hyljon Charge LadieBCAs: 274 336 280John Hylkema, BC

Muirton Lyster GiselleBCAs: 277 301 279Morsan Farms Ltd., AB

PDF Gibson SonataBCAs: 304 321 331Prairie Diamond Farm, SK

Rinsma Lheros MelanieBCAs: 329 306 322Rinsma Holsteins Ltd., AB

Longtime Production

Wendon Skychief Joanna124,655kg 4.0%F 3.3%PReusken Dairy, AB

Kawartha Cousteau Christy122,329kg 4.0%F 3.3%PKawartha Holsteins, SK

Willowflat Sissy Rudolph113,522kg 3.4%F 2.9%PWetoka Holsteins, AB

Robella Rudolph Lynn112,314kg 3.1%F 3.0%PRobella Holsteins, SK

Benbie Storm Clementine105,537kg 4.4%F 3.5%PBenbie Holsteins Ltd., SK

Rockport Twomar Flora102,795kg 2.9%F 2.9%PRockport Colony Farming Company, AB

Star Brood Cows

Benner Progress Jacinda 17*Benner Holsteins Ltd., MB

Rainyridge Buck Dolly 8*Ronald Boerchers, MB

Becarl Lindy Adelaide 7*J. William Wikkerink Farms Ltd., BCStanhope-Wedgwood, BC

Scotchman Skychief Wacco 7*Bernalta Dairy, AB

Willswikk Charles Muffin 5*J. William Wikkerink Farms Ltd., BC

Patons Prelude Vibeke 4*Springbend Farms, BC

Saanwood Rudolph Nikel 4*Viewfield Farms Ltd., BC

Successful reproductive perform-ance is the result of many manage-ment factors being done well. Astruggling result seldom can beblamed on any one particular factorbut the combination of many. Whenit comes to reproductive perform-ance on a farm, the group that re-ceives the most attention is theanimals that are eligible to be bred.While the management of yourbreeding females is key, even morecrucial is the management of transi-tion animals. Poor transition from drycow to milking cow can have majorramifications on fertility severalmonths later. Most fertility issues canbe linked back to events that hap-pened to the cow weeks or monthsearlier. Calving and transition is themost vulnerable time in a cow’s yearso limiting the stresses that are puton the herd during this time is an im-portant strategy that requires plan-ning.

Environmental stresses are thelargest components to consider. In-cluded are factors like group size,frequency of pen changes, housingdesign, diet, and temperature. Whileall of these factors are important,some are easier to manage thanothers. For example, group size iscompletely in your hands. Ideally,your close up cows should have aminimum of 30 inches of bunkspace per cow. If your close up

cows are in a free stall environment,an 80% stocking rate should applyand if your cows are housed on abedded pack, 80-100 square feet ofbedding pack per cow should begiven. Your close up cows should beon a diet that is preparing their gutfor a diet that is much higher in con-centrates. It is best to come up withan appropriate feeding plan withyour herd nutritionist or veterinarian.Temperature should also be moni-tored. Heat stress will affect a closeup cow by reducing her DMI and el-evating her chances of metabolicdisorders post calving.

Social stresses have also beenfound to have an effect on cows.Proper stocking rates are key in min-imizing dominant cow and submis-sive cow interactions. Cows intransition undergo many groupchanges in a short period of time.One way to reduce social stress inthe close up group is to only addnew cows once every 7 days ormore. This way there aren't new in-troductions into the group on a dailybasis disturbing the social order ofthe group constantly. This practicewill make a big impact on submis-sive cows.

Management Marker:Transition Cows

JUNE - 2010 JUNE - 2010 310

cont’d from page 2Within the health component, SCC or daughter

fertility are examples of traits that can be given ahigher priority. You can choose the minimum calv-ing ability rating to be allowed on heifer matings.Inbreeding limitations can be set to reduce or con-trol the level of inbreeding that is acceptable to you,using precise inbreeding calculations from Cana-dian Dairy Network (CDN).

Regular updates from CDN and Holstein Canadaensure that your herd's genetic indexes are cur-rent. If you do not participate in DHI or Holstein Canada's classification pro-gram, your cows can be manually entered and scored by your WestgenRep.

Once your herd profile is entered, G-Mate II calculates the genetic andeconomic merit for all bulls according to your profile. This can provide as-sistance in sire selection in addition to a thorough discussion with yourWestgen Rep about the sires to include in your program. You should re-view your profile periodically, adjusting it if your goals change. It reallycomes down to what you want. If your current mating program is designedfor the AI company providing it, consider G-Mate II as the mating programdesigned for you. The ability to completely customize G-Mate II to meetyour breeding objectives is as easy as talking to your Westgen Rep.

Recently, Semex sire 0200HO04779 R-E-W Buckeye reachedthe pivotal Millionaire Sire mark at Semex, joining 10 other elite Semex sires thathave each produced over one million doses of semen.

Semex continues to lead the industry in delivering sires that are the ‘best-sellers’ of their time, the truest testament of breeder satisfaction and approval. AsSemex’s 11th Millionaire, Buckeye is joining an elite fraternity of industry iconsincluding: Ladino Park Talent *RC; Hanoverhill Inspiration; Madawaska Aerostar;Startmore Rudolph; Comestar Lee, Leader, Outside and Lheros; Stouder Morty;and Oliveholme Aeroline. These sires represent Semex’s unique ability to com-bine genetics, production, sales and customer demand into one package. With-out a doubt, Buckeye is the complete package sire.

Proven in August 2005 through the USA Premier™ young sire program, Buck-eye’s popularity was instantaneous, arriving as one of the world’s most popularBW Marshall sons and ranking #4 TPI. In February 2006, he climbed to the #2 TPIposition, com-manding inter-national respectfor his desirablep r o d u c t i o n ,solid type andi n - d e m a n dhealth traits.

“Buckeye’sarrival as a highTPI and LPIsire made himattractive to allbreeders world-wide,” saysPierre Lalib-erte, Semex Alliance Senior Vice President, Genetics & Research. “High milk,feet & legs, great calving ease and low somatic cell scores make Buckeyes thetrouble-free cows that spell profitability everywhere.”

The Buckeye daughters have always been known for their exceptional feet &legs, mobility and flatness of bone. Their tremendous udders are silky and aredesigned to handle the large volumes of milk that his pedigree dictates. But itwasn’t just Buckeye’s type and production that allowed him to appeal to so manybreeders; the addition of his easy calving scores put him in line with the needs ofmany commercial dairymen.

Selling every dose he produces, Buckeye semen has been sold in over 50countries worldwide, with the USA, Japan, Canada and Spain each selling wellover 100,000 doses.

6 Buckeye Daughters on display at World Dairy Expo 2009

R-E-W BuckeyeJoins the Millionaire Club!Joins the Millionaire Club!

The Westgen Endowment Fund has made

provision for well over $800,000 in funding to

various dairy industry projects and research.

The committee deciding on these projects in-

cludes Westgen Board members, producers

and dairy professionals and Westgen staff.

After 5 years of excellent service to the

committee, Holger Schwichtenberg has relin-

quished his seat to another producer, Tim

Knull, from Millet, Alberta. We thank Holger for his dedication to the WEF

responsibility and welcome Tim to the committee. Also new to the com-

mittee is longtime Westgen staff member Bob Massie. Other committee

members include chairman, Henry Gisler; Westgen President, David

Janssens; recording Secretary and WEF Admisintrator, Lynne Bishop;

Ron Barker and Paul Meyer.

WEF Committee Welcomes Alberta Producer

Tim Knull of Millet, AB

2 JUNE - 2010 JUNE - 2010 11

Reproduction: AI Refresher Courses

Brian Shaw,ReproductiveServices Manager

Correctingyour herd’sRepro Pro-gram can goa long wayto improv-ing yourbottom line

Am I all the way through the cervix?Can I use sexed semen on Ovsynch cows?

Why should I consider using double rods or double sheaths?When do I use GnRH?

Do I handle repeat breeders the same way as first timers?What’s an acceptable conception rate?

My Ovsynch results are inconsistent, what’s up with that?#425 was bred 3 days ago and is now in heat again, do I rebreed her?Does sticking the AI gun down my back provide adequate warming?

If any of the above questions have ever crossed your

mind you are not alone. These concerns and many more

have all been expressed by dairymen and their employees

during Westgen’s ongoing “on farm” AI Refresher Courses.

As part of Westgen’s commitment to the reproductive per-

formance of our western Canadian dairy farms, we are

proud to offer the opportunity to review, discuss and imple-

ment the basics of good semen handling and ”in cow” tech-

nique. This is often done in conjunction with the farm’s Dairy

Comp records or the Repromark report.

Analyzing the herd’s reproductive data helps to identify

areas of concern and then corrective action can be taken.

Criteria such as days open, days to first breeding and serv-

ices per conception as well as conception of sires and in-

seminators can all be reviewed and evaluated. Combining

the herd’s repro information with good basic AI technique

can go a long way to improving a herd’s bottom line.

These refresher courses can be done with a group of

neighbours or customized to suit a particular herd. Repro

tracts, practice semen and equipment are provided by

Westgen. Usually these programs take between 2 and 3

hours. With the ongoing economic importance of getting

cows pregnant on time, this is time well spent. If you are in-

terested or have questions regarding getting a program

going on your farm or in your neighbourhood contact your

local Westgen Dairy Sales Rep.

The abundant and ever changinggenetic information available todairymen can be overwhelming; yetto stay current, you, as a herdowner, need to incorporate this in-formation into your breeding plan. Amating program is the logical tool ofchoice to sift through all of this infor-mation, but can a mating programapply the preferences you value toproduce the genetic improvementyou desire in the offspring of yourherd?

Every dairyman I ask tells methey want cows with good feet andlegs and good udders. In as muchthey are inferring cows that will stickaround for several lactations and beproblem free. It sounds like you allhave the same goals and the samepriorities when it comes to yourbreeding strategies. Yet when I dig alittle deeper, differences in breedinggoals become apparent quitequickly. The relative emphasis to beplaced on production traits versustype traits is an example. Healthtraits are viewed as being very im-portant to some dairymen and lessimportant to others. As I walkthrough the herd or look over theclassifier’s recent report, conforma-tion faults may begin to reveal aherd weakness that needs extra em-phasis or a trend that needs correc-tion. So, can one computer matingprogram fit all breeder profilesand accommodate such individ-ual preferences? Westgen's G-Mate II can. The ability to customizea profile that best represents an in-

dividual dairyman's breeding objec-tives is a key asset of G-Mate II.

You determine the appropriateweightings assigned to the varioustraits. For some, this may weighheavily towards health traits whilefor others high classification is thegoal. Production, Type, and Healthtraits are given relative emphasis inG-Mate II. Examples of actualweightings vary from 100% empha-sis on type, to 50% emphasis onproduction, 30% on type, and 20%on health. You decide the degree ofemphasis for each component.

Within each of these major com-ponents, individual traits can be cus-tomized accordingly. Relativeemphasis on milk yield, fat yield andprotein yield is determined and ap-plied to the matings. Greater em-phasis can be placed on specificConformation traits such as chestwidth, pin set, or rear teat place-ment. These are just a few exam-ples of targeted trait selection tomaximize impact on trait improve-ment. Note that all traits in Canadiangenetic evaluations are consideredand their importance can be empha-sized or minimized as you see fit.This means that G-Mate II considerstraits that are not included in U.S.evaluations, such as udder texture,heel depth, bone quality, loinstrength and rear attachment width.The fault level (the level below whicha proposed mating result receives apenalty) of any trait can also be ad-justed to place further selection in-tensity on that trait.

Bob Massie,BC Team LeaderCompletely Customizable!Completely Customizable!

The Westgen Bullseye

Westgen - Western Canada’s Genetics Centre

Box 40, Milner, BC V0X 1T0

Phone: 1-800-563-5603 Fax: 604-534-3036

JUNE - 2010JUNE - 2010 112

Western Canadian & Farmer OwnedBULLSEYE

WESTGENTheJUNE 2010

NEWS • IDEAS • HOT TOPICS AND TRENDS

www.westgen.com

Congratulations! Alldairy producers whopurchase semen are

entered into themonthly draw.

Monthly ShirtMonthly ShirtWinnersWinners

Den Oudsten Dairy, ABJim Ross, SK

It is a thousand times bet-ter to have common sensewithout education than tohave education without

common sense.-Robert G. Ingersoll

From the FarmFrom the Farm

The Semex Alliance and Holstein Canada are proud to once again sponsor

a young adult exchange program along with their Australian counterparts,

Semex Pty. Ltd and the Victorian Branch of the Holstein-Friesian Association

of Australia. This program offers a young Canadian the opportunity to expe-

rience the Australian dairy industry firsthand, and an Australian or New

Zealand youth to travel to Canada and gain insight into our Canadian dairy

industry.

The 2011 exchange program to Australia will involve exciting travel and edu-

cational opportunities for a young Canadian dairy enthusiast between the

ages of 18 and 25. The Canadian trip recipient will spend approximately three

months working on leading Holstein farms and artificial breeding centers in

Australia beginning in January 2011 at Australia's International Dairy Week,

and continuing through March.

Applications are available at www.semex.com and www.holstein.ca for

a Canadian youth, with a firm application deadline of July 15, 2010. The

successful candidate will be contacted in August and publicly announced at

the 2010 Royal Agricultural Winter Fair.

For additional information please contact Brenda Lee-Turner at Semex Al-

liance or Alain Lajeunesse at Holstein Canada.

Semex Alliance and Semex Alliance and Holstein Canada Holstein Canada

Sponsor Canada-AustraliaSponsor Canada-AustraliaYoung Adult ExchangeYoung Adult Exchange

Springbrook Farm is located about 45 minutes northeast of Regina, and justa short 5 minute drive from Fort Qu'Appelle in the beautiful Qu'Appelle Valley insouthern Saskatchewan. Jayden Cobb along with his brother Jeff and father-in-law Stan Sinclair own and operate the 6300 acre farm which was started 65 yearsago by Stan's father. They milk just over 100 cows, have a beef herd of 200 headand grow a variety of crops including barley, wheat, durum, canola, peas andcorn.

As a Genetic Leader Silver herd they use 25% young sires on the herd aswell as a group of six bulls with strong emphasis on Feet & Legs, Mammariesand solid type. Their goals are to breed functional, efficient and profitable cows.Jayden switched to the Westgen young sire program two and a half years ago sothe first daughters will be calving in late fall. In the past, some of the bulls theyused with success were September Storm, Stormatic, Talent and Final Cut. Cur-rently they are using Ashlar, Teeoff, Denison and Buckeye.

For the last 20 plus years the herd has been classifying and on milk record-ing. Only first lactation animals are scored. They have been enrolled on West-gen's Repromark report for a year. Jayden likes the fact that it gives a snapshotof how the herd is performing reproductively. The G-Mate is very important to thefarm. Jayden and longtime herdsman Peter Haywood do all the breeding.

Jayden appreciates not only the service that Westgen provides but also theproduct and bull selection for his specific needs. In the spring of 2009, Jayden pur-chased the Heatime Activity Monitoring System from Westgen. The system waseasy to install and use. He enjoys breeding on natural heats and since the sys-tem has been in, he has seen a reduction in the use of hormone synchronizationprograms on farm. He is pleased with the accuracy and labour that the Heatimesystem has provided.