Our Thursday Reproductive Moment on DairyLine Radio features a conversation with Dr. Ray Nebel of Select Sires. The topic today focuses on the next step after an early pregnancy test.

Current statistics tell us that approximately 60-65% of the cows bred on first service will remain open. To increase the chances of settling on the second service, a couple of different strategies are recommended:
1. Give GnRH one week before the early pregnancy exam. Upon being found open at the exam, prostaglandin is then administered followed by the final GnRH injection 2 days later. Breeding is recommended 16 hours later, in other words, 3 days after they were found open on exam.
2. If declared open on the early pregnancy exam date, begin the Ovsynch program. GnRH injection followed by prostaglandin 7 days later, GnRH 2 days later and then breed 16 hours later. This results in breeding 10 days after they were found open on exam.

To listen to Dr. Nebel share more info about these strategies and how to proceed, click the play button below!

This Reproductive Moment is sponsored by:

Our subject for Wednesday’’s second half broadcast of DairyLine Radio is Success Strategies with John Ellsworth. The topic is: Every business should develop a disaster agenda.

Does your farm or business have a plan in place for when a crisis hits? A consultant to the dairy industry for over 25 years, Ellsworth recommends listing the three worst things that you could think of happening to your business and then answering the questions of what you will do and how you will do it, if that crisis becomes a reality. Not sure where to begin? Click the play button below to hear the examples he shares and some real-world experiences where having a disaster agenda came in very handy.

Ellsworth has served the dairy industry in numerous capacities over the last 25 years. As a consultant for the Holstein Association, he has worked with hundreds of dairies throughout the US & Europe. He has also served as Director of Operations for NASCO International, Inc., responsible for developing their corporate strategy.

This segement is sponsored by:

Today I’m excited to begin a new feature in our All Breeds Blog. DairyLine Radio, a fellow member of the DairyBusiness Communications family, dedicates the second half of their daily radio show to a certain topic each day. We will now be providing links from the blog to these daily topics for your listening pleasure five days a week. Tuesday’s second half is Udder Health Talk, featuring Dr. Allen Britten, an udder health specialist from Bellingham, WA, who is recognized by the National Mastitis Council.

The 12/18/07 edition of Udder Health Talk asks the question: Will your processor accept the milk from your bulk tank? In order to receive the highest price possible for your milk, its of the utmost importance to make sure you’re sending the highest quality milk possible to your processor. Implementing a diversion policy - separating the milk of fresh and sick cows - is a great way to make this happen. Learn more about Dr. Britten’s advice for an effective diversion policy and what it means for your operation by clicking the play button below:

Udder Health Talk is sponsored by Immvac and Udder Health Systems Inc.

Even if it was cold and snowy (which it definitely was) there was no way I was going to miss seeing the herds on the tour last Thursday: Lindale Holsteins, Luck-E Holsteins, and Lenkaitis Holsteins! I was a little unfamiliar with the territory, but, not to worry! A fun group of Holstein breeders from the southern part of the state had rented a fifteen passenger bus,and they invited me to tag along, so off we went on the snow caravan!

First~a word about what all three of these herds had in common-they are multi-generational and have enthusiastic family members just getting their own Holstein careers really rolling. As a result, just like the industry, they””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””re never standing still! New barns, new practices, and new ways of thinking only insure the future sucess of these great breeding establishments and add to the superb foundations they have already built!

Lindale Holsteins-Dale, Linda, Jeff and Julie Drendel are the principals in this operation along with the Team Holsteins partnership of Jeff Drendel, Kevin Kriegel, and Tyson Pace. As you go through this barn, there is one good cow right after another, but commanding your attention always is the massive and beautiful Supreme Champion of the Illinois State Fair, Lindale Mac Dynasty (EX-94) It”””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””’’s hard to take your eyes off her, but if you do, you””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””ll find plenty to capture your fascination including the always lovely EX-93 Irwindale Leduc Molly, Reserve Grand Champion of the Mid-East Fall National and Winner of the 5-Year-Old Futurity at the Illinois State Show. Two EX-93 Durhams also grace the powerhouse herd at this time, along with an EX-92 Eland, EX 91 Brent, and and EX-91 Forbidden. Another really nice milking Forbidden had recently arrived in the herd also and was making the adjustment nicely. Younger members of the cow herd that are rising in prominence are sired by Durham, Ito, Hi Metro and Dante.

Next, it was on to the Luck-E Holsteins herd. Dennis, Beth, Matt and Joe Engel are the owners. The statistics on this herd are the stuff legends are made of-64 EX cows call the herd home at this time. In the heifer pens, 121 Head are from EX dams that average 93 points. Emphasis in the herd is to stay cutting edge with the deepest pedigrees, fancy show type heifers and cows, and the latest in genetic elite trends such as extreme components and Red and Red Factor animals. Some cow families that are in prominence at this time are: 1) Klassy (3E-94,EX-97-MS) which has produced the popular Excalibur sire Advantage and Kalotta, the Reserve Intermediate Champion, 2006 Mid-East Spring Show, along with many other high profile family members 2)the Bobbis-whose most recently high profiled members include Blackice Blizzard (EX-95,EX-95-MS), along with Bizar Talent (VG-88, VG-88-MS) who was 1st place and BU, IL State Show ””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””07, and Talent Blizzard (VG-86,EX-MS) 3)the Ashleys, which produced the Arizona cow w/56,280M 2872F 1855P, and from which the popular bull mother Blitz Australia (VG-87, VG-87-MS) gets her foundation for greatness. 4)Trust Bardholm Trust Lee (EX-93) heads up this family, which includes family members Linjet Tizzle(EX-91), Linjet Twizzle (VG-89-2Y0 Trinity Charles (EX-94) and EX daughters of Lee and Leduc, as well. These and many others (you can lull yourself into thinking 50,000M records and EX-93+ cows are the norm here) are also the source for an aggressive flushing program at Luck-E. You can see much, much more on this herd at www.holsteinworld.com/Luck-E

The Lenkaitis family, Al Jr, Andy, Albert and Mary Etta, daughter Liz Dorn, and Vicky and Ryan Stohlquist are involved with the Lenkaitis Holsteins herd. Joe Mills is the manager. Herd size is 46 cows and 26 heifers with more animals housed at Stohl-Len Holsteins, (Vicky and Ryan) Major families represented in the small quality herd include Elgin-Vue Regal Arlene (2E-90) (a VG-88 Glen-Drummond Dragon) Pine-Shelter Lucina Fargo (3E-95-DOM) (a VG-85 C-J Button Mickey w/ 1000F) and the 2E-92 Arsenio Jasmine w/1434F. Other important members of the herd are sired by Talent, Red Marker, Cousteau, Charles, Kite, Jordan (from the Enhancer Scarletts) Bacculum, Advent and Shottle. The Lenkaitis herd has been noted for their Red and Red Factor Specialty genetics, and will continue this tradition, from the looks of things!

Every farm had refreshments and a welcoming place for visitors to warm up before heading back to the historic Stratford Inn in Sycamore. It was a real treat for all involved!

Last week, I went to Sycamore, IL for the Illinois Holstein Association Annual Meeting. Wednesday morning, it was 45 degrees when I left South Central Missouri, and had fallen to the single digits by the time I reached Sycamore, about an hour west of Chicago. On Thursday, I was one of four speakers which included Emily Miller,Director of Sales, Trans Ova Genetics, Sioux Center, IA, Robyn Rastani, Dairy Technical Specialist,MSC, Dundee, IL and Chris J. West, P.E., Vice President of Frank and West, Springfield, IL and myself, Julie Brown, Livestock Ad Sales Manager, Holstein World. The general theme for this year’’s convention program was “Tools for the Future” and topics presented included the latest in IVF technology and reverse sorted semen, accelerated growth programs for calves, permitting for new or expanding dairy operations, and using print and internet advertising together for maximizing marketing and merchandising efforts. The afternoon brought an opportunity for all those in attendance to see three fine local herds: Lindale Holsteins, Luck-E Holsteins, both of Hampshire, IL and Lenkaitis Holsteins, St Charles, IL. Look in the next post for much more on this fun (if cold!) tour!

Welcome to the long-lost Day Three of the World staffers trip to the Royal! This day brings another pre-dawn start as the Holstein cow show was scheduled to begin at 7:30am and the crowd arrives early to get the good seats. It was a full house watching the final day of the National Holstein Show.

Judge Martin Roberge and Associate Judge Claude Lafrance began the day with a nice Milking Yearling class and really got rolling in the Junior Two-Year-Olds with their class winner, Blondin Lyster Beauty.

She’’s a remarkable young cow who only got better throughout the day. Beauty arrived on the grounds owned by her breeders, Simon Lalande and Kim Cote of Ferme Blondin, but during Royal Week she acquired new owners in the Hoese family of Glencoe, MN. She eventually was named Intermediate Champion and HM Grand Champion of the show.

The Four-Year-Old class marked the beginning of the Senior cow classes and these classes saw plenty of famous show cows circling the ring. Landing the first-prize red ribbon was Tomalynn Leduc Della. No stranger to Canadian tanbark, EX-95 Della already has claimed All-Canadian Junior Two-Year-Old and All-Canadian Junior Three-Year-Old titles. She went on to be named Reserve Grand Champion of the Royal for her owners, Morsan Farms of Ponoka, AB and Huddlesford Holsteins of Lichfield, Staffordshire, UK.

As always, the staging area was full of cows, barn crews and interested observers.

Organizers and volunteers were busy and efficient in keeping the show moving smoothly.

Another well-known Canadian campaigner took home top honors in the Five-Year-Old class as the recently fresh Silverridge Leduc Noleta used her tremendous height and length of body to move to the top of the line.

A 6th generation VG or EX, Noleta has a show record as long as your arm. She has been nominated All-Canadian every year of her life from 2002 as a Senior Calf through 2006 when she was named Reserve All-Canadian Four-Year-Old. It doesn”t look as though her streak will end this year as she carried on through the day to be named Grand Champion Holstein of the 2007 Royal Agricultural Winter Fair for her owners Chilliwack Cattle Co. of Chilliwack, BC and R & F Livestock Inc. of Warman, SK.

Noleta with the roses! Grand Champion Noleta and Reserve Grand Champion Della are both Lystel Leduc daughters and put him well on his way to claiming Premier Sire honors.

Noleta gets the star treatment while Della and Beauty wait for their turn.

The judges placed 340 head of Holsteins over the two-day show and both days the show was done by the noon hour giving plenty of time for spectators to make their way through the barns and exhibits. As always, Semex presented their Walk of Fame group of daughters.

The Ayrshire Show was also held on Friday in the Ring of Excellence and there were many attractive Ayrshires in the barn. Premier Breeder and Exhibitor of the show was Vieux Village of Piopolis, QC.

The Vieux Village line-up on one of the busier aisles in the barn.

The Jersey heifer show in the Ring of Excellence began quite soon after the Holstein show concluded.

A patient Jersey heifer waits on deck.

Trips to the Royal always seem to go by in a blur and this one was no different. Cheers to the Holstein exhibitors who, in spite of a Tuesday arrival on the grounds, had their animals in tip-top shape on Thursday and Friday.

If you”ve never been to the Royal, make the effort to attend sometime. You”ll find, as we did, great cattle, a few cocktails, and, as always, fantastic Canadian hospitality!

One more tip of the hat to Noleta at the end of her Big Day…

For more complete coverage of the Holstein Show - both class placings and class photos - please visit the 2007 Fall Show Results section of www.semex.com.

Next: Toronto without cows…really?

Many across the country are facing their first real blasts of winter this week, with snow, ice and cold temperatures. Accelerated Genetics has just released an informational update on how to care for baby calves during this very tough season. The article was published in the Fall 2007 issue of Genetic Trends.

Click here or paste this link into your web browser:

http://www.holsteinworld.com/Classified/uploaded/nov07.6.pdf