Holstein World:  Share with us the reasoning behind your decision to work with SepX – gender selected frozen semen.  What have been your experiences thus far working with this technology?

Gary Tubolino:  We belive that over the years, pregnancies are very critical.  If a cow is open, you are looking at $4.00 to $6.00 per day and if she is carrying a calf that equals $500.00.  Our technology has proved to be very successful in a greater number of pregnancies and we are working to ensure a higher rate of female offspring.

Last week we had a flush by M-Leader enhanced semen that resulted in seven #1 embryos and four #2 embryos!

Holstein World:  M-Leader recently came out very strong on the November 2006 proof run – #1 Type, #1 F&L and #4 TPI Overall.  What are M-Leader’s strengths and how should he be used in a dairyman’s breeding program?

Gary Tubolino:  As we review the ancestry of M-Leader, we are not surprised by the fine performance this bull offers to the dairymen of the world.  Use this animal to improve your herd’s dairyness, height and openness of rib.  M-Leader has a superb flat-boned leg, along with a wide rump, thurls and rear udders.

M-Leader crosses well with animals that need 2)tall, 1)dairy, and 3) open rib.

Holstein World:  For more information about M-Leader, visit www.fieldofdreamsgenetics.com!

Holstein World:  What traits do you look for and emphasize when selecting bulls for your program?  Are there any specific attributes that bulls from Field of Dreams provide?

Holstein World:  What are the current stats of Field of Dreams Genetics?  When did you first begin proving bulls?  How many bulls are you currently working with?  Where are the bulls housed?  Who comprises the staff of Field of Dreams? 

Gary Tubolino:  I began proving bulls over thirty years ago.  With our proven bulls and young rookie animals, we have over 80 bulls in our program.  Our bulls are housed in New York, Wisconsin, Illinois, Virginia and Canada.

My staff is comprised of myself, Gary, my wife, Janet, and our two daughters, Tammy and Terri.  We do have 15 independent dealers and are always interested in more independent dealers across the world. 

Holstein World:  Stay tuned for more of our interview with Gary to be posted each day this week.  Want some more?  Visit the Field of Dreams Genetics website at www.fieldofdreamsgenetics.com!

Holstein World: The Great Lakes Dairy Conference is a very successful meeting held each winter in Michigan.  Do you think it’’s worth your time to attend conferences like that?  Did you go away with any useful information from GLDC last year?

Long: The people that organize the Great Lakes Dairy Conference do an outstanding job of bringing in quality speakers on various topics.  It is also a nice way to get together with other breeders from our state to get ideas, and see what works well for other people.  At last year’s conference there was also a large group of breeders from the UK.  It was very interesting listening to them speak about dairying in that part of the world. 

Holstein World: With the price of milk being a constant struggle this year, did it help to have a marketing plan and also to have Registered Holsteins as your “main commodity?”

Long:  It definitely helps having registered Holsteins.  Being able market from good, deep pedigreed cow families makes it more fun and very rewarding, financially and personally.  Also, being able to go to shows is another nice way to showcase our animals.  Being able to sell a nice show animal, and watching someone else develop them is quite rewarding as well.  With the struggling milk prices, and only milking about 60 cows, it would be very difficult to make it without having registered animals as our main commodity.