DairyBusiness

Reynoldsburg, OH (July 22, 2010)—Young Jersey breeders who have exhibited unique leadership qualities and achieved success in their Jersey businesses now have the opportunity to gain further knowledge and industry contacts at the 19^th International Conference of World Jersey Cattle Bureau (WJCB).

The WJCB’s Jersey Educational Travel Award (JETA) provides scholarships for five individuals to participate in the upcoming conference, Hooked on Jerseys, scheduled for Feb. 9-14, 2011 in Hamilton, New Zealand.

Individuals ages 18 to 40 in the conference year who can demonstrate an involvement in dairy farming, enthusiasm for breeding and developing Jersey cattle, and who have a genuine interest in an international education experience are invited to apply.

Awards will cover the cost of travel documents, roundtrip air fares and ground transportation, registration and all other conference fees for the week of the conference. The recipients will also be awarded lifetime membership of the World Jersey Cattle Bureau.

Award recipients agree to attend all conference sessions and make a short presentation (approximately 20 minutes) while at the conference during a Young Breeders focus session. Following the conference, they are expected to report on their experience and what they learned, both in a written report submitted to the WJCB President, and through speeches to Jersey, dairy and other agriculture-related groups in their home country. A final report on activities is to be submitted to the WJCB President no later than six months after the conference.

Previous JETA winners are Lyna Beehre, Northland, New Zealand; Henrik Dalgaard Christensen, Sjostrup, Aars, Denmark; Robin Denniston-Keller, Byron, N.Y., U.S.A.; Waweru Gatheca, Tigoni, Kenya; Rubén Darío Galvis Góez, Antioquia, Colombia; Eduardo Kashiwagi, São Paulo, Brazil; Mark Shaw, Ohaupo, New Zealand; Aaron Ray Tompkins, Ennice, N.C., U.S.A.; Wikus van der Merwe, Brandhof, South Africa; and André van Weerdenburg, Rodding, Denmark.

Applications consist of a résumé, clearly summarizing work experience in dairy farming, experience with Jersey cattle, and formal education, and an essay of 750 words describing personal ambitions in the dairy industry with Jersey cattle, and stating reasons for attending the conference. Two letters of recommendation must also be submitted.

Details on the application process for U.S. residents are posted at www.usjersey.com/News/JETA_2011_USApplication.doc. Monday, Sept. 20, 2010 is the deadline to submit materials to the American Jersey Cattle Association, by mail to 6486 E. Main Street, Reynoldsburg, OH 43068-2362, or by email to info@usjersey.com.

Applications will be evaluated on the established record and leadership qualities of the candidate, and also potential for future success in the dairy industry. The AJCA will submit no more than two (2) candidates to the WJCB office by Sept. 30, including a letter of recommendation for each candidate submitted for consideration. An anonymous selection committee appointed by the WJCB President shall review the applications and select up to five recipients. These individuals will be notified directly by the WJCB Secretary and potential recipients must accept or decline the award within two weeks of such notification.

The complete program for the 2011 International Conference, hosted by Jersey New Zealand, is published at www.worldjerseyconference.co.nz.

The World Jersey Cattle Bureau is made up of national Jersey cattle associations, individuals and other organizations, that has four main strands of activity in support of the Jersey breed of dairy cattle: communication, world Jersey events, youth programs and knowledge transfer. For more information, visit its web site, http://wjcb.wildapricot.org.

William Norman Vincel has been named general manager for Select Sire Power, Inc., a cooperative member of Select Sires, Inc. He will assume his duties effective Jan. 1, 2011, and succeeding Wayne Dudley.

Vincel, a native of Newport, Va., grew up on a beef farm and received his Bachelor of Science degree in animal science from Virginia Tech in 1973. Vincel joined VA/NC Select Sires Inc. (now Select Sire Power, Inc.) as beef coordinator in 1974. He occupied that position for 17 years, during which time beef semen sales grew nearly 20% annually. He was promoted to Director of Marketing and Development in 1991, responsible for sales and service for both dairy and beef. Vincel continues to maintain that position today, boasting a 135% increase in semen unit sales during that period.Vincel will continue to reside in Salem, Va.

Vincel  has served as chair of the National Association of Animal Breeders (NAAB) Beef Development Committee, director of the National Beef Improvement Federation, advisor to Virginia Beef Cattle Improvement Association (BCIA) and member of the Virginia Tech Animal Science Advisory Board.

Select Sire Power markets bovine semen and reproductive products in 15 states along the east coast of the U.S., employing approximately 130 sales and services professionals.

Milking equipment and management company, DeLaval, organized a “Profound Productivity Tour” featuring parlors and herd management systems in Pennsylvania, July 7-9.

The tour started out in Harrisburg, Pa., where dairy producers gathered to learn more about the equipment, herd management tools and aftermarket products they would see over the next two days.  DeLaval product specialists Dr. Adam Jackanicz, Brady Catob and John Baker presented information on  herd management, animal nutrition, milk quality and DeLaval’s Voluntary Milking Systems (VMS).

The first day of touring dairies took the producers to see a 4-unit VMS barn, milking 240 cows 3X.  In addition to adopting robotic milking technology with the VMS, the Garber family utilizes DeLaval’s Alpro automated heat detection to find cows ready to breed.  The touring dairy producers also saw how Smart Selection Gates automatically helped sort cows as they come to be milked; and how Cow Comfort has become a large part of Spring Lawn Farm’s daily commitment to creating a better herd.

The next stop, Meadow Lane Dairy, featured a double-16 Fastback All-Exit Herringbone Parlor, milking 475 cows 3X, and was built to minimize labor.  The Rohrers use DeLaval’s Germania Herd Management automated heat detection.  The tour group also saw DeLaval sort gates, crowd gates and the heated floors, designed for cow comfort.

After a picnic by the Rohrer’s pond, the tour group traveled to Gettysburg for an entertaining afternoon tour of the Civil War battlegrounds that surround the city.  The evening ended with dinner at the Historical Fairfield Inn.

The second day of tour included Mason Dixon Farms, the largest VMS installation in the world, with 20 VMS units milking 1,000 cows.  The freestall barn is equipped with cooling misters to maintain a comfortable environment for the cows.

The tour headed to Shippensburg, Pa., to see the Musser family’s double-8 Cascade Parallel parlor, and Locust Grove’s double-8 Drop Rail Parlor.  After lunch the group visited the final dairy, a double-16 GE/GI (Gang Exit/Gang Index) Parallel basement parlor milking 500 cows.  Hard Earned Acres uses DeLaval’s Germania Herd Management system, boasting outstanding internal growth by breeding every cow solely with heat detection.  The Keefer’s use instant cooling, and are achieving approximately 90 lbs. of milk per cow.

Each tour stop gave dairy producers another view of how these Pennsylvania dairies are managing in today’s dairy environment.  To join a future DeLaval Profound Productivity Tour, or for more information about upcoming tours, visit www.profoundproductivity.com or call Sybil Birmingham at 816-891-1688 for details.

ABS Global, DeForest, Wis. named Kaleena Westaby as research technician and Brenda Gilbertson as advertising and promotions manager.

Westaby’s primary responsibilities will be assisting in data acquisition and analysis of product fertility, reporting results to field staff.  She will also support the development of educational pieces related to fertility and product performance. Westaby recently graduated Magna Cum Laude from Iowa State University (ISU) with a Bachelor’s Degree in Dairy Science.

Gilbertson will be lead the advertising and promotions team in developing marketing materials for ABS’ products and services, aiding the ABS North American business in implementing strategic marketing plans involving print collateral, advertising and electronic media channels. Gilbertson is an alumnus of the University of Wisconsin-River Falls, and remains active with her husband on a 45-cow registered Holstein farm in Hollandale, Wis.

ABS Global, a division of Genus plc, markets bovine genetics, reproduction services, technologies and uddercare products in more than 80 countries.

PLAIN CITY, Ohio, July 14, 2010 — Twenty-seven professional technicians, Select Mating Service™ (SMS™) evaluators, Select Reproductive Solutions™ (SRS™) specialists, and sales and marketing staff participated in Select Sires’ employee orientation held on June 8-9, at the Select Sires headquarters office in Plain City, Ohio. Employees from seven member cooperatives, Select Sires Canada, and Select Sires Inc. were present for the two-day event where they received advanced education in serving Select Sires’ customer-owners. Fifteen of the attendees met for an added two days on June 10 and 11, 2010, for extensive sales training.

“At the end of these conferences, our skilled Select Sires’ staff departs with the latest information and knowledge to better serve their customer,” said Lyle Kruse, vice president of U.S. market development for Select Sires.

The participants received in-depth information about Select Sires’ programs including the Program for Genetic Advancement™ (PGA™), SRS, Program for Fertility Advancement™ (PFA™) and SMS. They also received advanced training on the topics of reproductive solutions, fertility research, beef and dairy sire programs, cattle evaluation, herd management products and Select Sires’ gender SELECTed™ process.

Attendees included: All West/Select Sires—Erik Klugkist, Red Deer County, Alberta; and Jake VanVliet, Riverbank, Calif.; COBA/Select Sires—Dan Kimmel, Boswell, Pa.; Tad Chapman, Muleshoe, Texas; Logan McWilliams, Muleshoe, Texas; and David Rodriguez, Portales, N.M.; East Central/Select Sires—Dean Kroning, Soldiers Grove, Wis.; and Garrit Goldsmith, Westfield, Wis.; KABA/Select Sires—Brady Core, Salvisa, Ky.; Minnesota/Select Sires—Kate Kious, Plainview, Minn.; Matt Rosenfield, Monticello, Minn.; and James Koltes, Melrose, Minn.; NorthStar Cooperative—Mike Aldrich, Charlotte, Mich.; Mary Hayes, Mason, Mich.; and Trish Hibschman, Sturgis, Mich.; Select Sire Power—Aaron Kilmer, Peach Bottom, Pa.; Larry Spencer, Addison, N.Y.; Steve Bowker, Towanda, Pa.; Brian Young, Cortland, N.Y.; and Stacia True, Perry, N.Y.; Select Sires Canada—Jon Karn, Woodstock, Ont.; Kyle Martin, Tweed, Ont.; Emilee Schipper, Aylmer, Ont.; Kim Rietveld, Mt. Forest, Ont.; and Sandy MacGillivary, Guelph, Ont.; Select Sires Inc.—King Smith, Stephenville, Texas; and Chelsea Brander, Spring Green, Wis.

Based in Plain City, Ohio, Select Sires Inc., is North America’s largest A.I. organization and is comprised of 10 farmer-owned and -controlled cooperatives.

AntelBio’s expertise in developing milk sample diagnostic tests was key in the USDA’s recent decision to award a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I grant. The funding will be used to investigate novel Bovine Tuberculosis (bTB) detection methods in bulk milk samples. With new clinical bTB cases emerging in cattle in a number of states; and control and eradication programs running in the millions of dollars, identifying  new cost effective screening methods would be a tremendous benefit.

Dr. Preetha Biswas, AntelBio research scientist, and principle investigator for the study commented, “Design and development of a real-time PCR assay effective for use in milk could have a tremendous impact on early intervention and prevention strategies for bTB, and minimize the threat it poses to food supplies. Tests of this type would be particularly efficient when employed by milk marketing organizations as well as governmental agencies.”

Improved detection methods could facilitate development of a simple, cost effective screening tool for bTB which would have a significant impact on the dairy industry nationwide. At the conclusion of the first phase of the research, results will be evaluated by USDA to determine if subsequent research and funding is warranted to continue development of a product that could – be commercialized.

Approximately 10 years ago, AntelBio developed a test to detect Johne’s disease in milk samples collected routinely through the Dairy Herd Information (DHI) system. This accomplishment was the start of activities that created a milk diagnostic market in the United States. In 2009, over 200,000 Johne’s ELISA tests were run by AntelBio and DHI labs across the country. In addition to Johne’s, AntelBio now offers milk tests for Bovine Leukosis Virus (BLV), Bovine Viral Diarrhea (BVD), and Progesterone, with a goal to develop additional tests for this unique sample platform.

AntelBio is an innovative animal testing center devoted to the development and implementation of novel diagnostics for agriculture. A subsidiary of NorthStar Cooperative Inc, a Midwest US agricultural organization, AntelBio is working to implement disease testing into the infrastructure of traditional animal recording through Dairy Herd Improvement (DHI). By assimilation of health, genetic and reproductive information, NorthStar Cooperative and AntelBio are providing impetus and innovation to generate comprehensive solutions for producer results.

For more information, visit antelbio.com.

E.I. Medical Imaging, a leader in portable ultrasound systems for veterinary use, named Radincon X-Ray as the new authorized Ibex distributor in Australia and New Zealand.

Radincon X-Ray www.radincon.com.au/main/, was established in 1979 by Reg Black. Radincon has grown over 28 years to become a specialist imaging supplier to the Veterinary, Chiropractic and Medical markets in Australia, New Zealand and many other overseas countries. Their range is now primarily x-ray and ultrasound equipment, consumables and accessories plus the knowledge to make theis equipment work.

Service, repair and education are an important part of Radincon’s business. They support this with a team of affiliated technicians across the country with online access to some of the more advanced products.

For more information, contact E.I. Medical Imaging at info@eimedical.com.

DeLaval announced it has hit the 30,000 sales mark for its swinging cow brush, a self-grooming device that “keeps cows happier, healthier and more productive.”

“The swinging cow brush is very popular among dairy farmers thanks to its many customer benefits. Definitely a DeLaval success story,” DeLaval Vice President Business Area Aftermarket & Services Tim Nicolaï said.

Cows using DeLaval swinging cow brush SCB are cleaner, calmer and therefore more balanced, according to DeLaval Vice President Business Area Aftermarket & Services Tim Nicolaï. A study conducted by Cornell University in 2009 on DeLaval SCB showed better animal health due to an increase in blood circulation. It concluded that clinical mastitis was 34% lower for cows in second and higher lactation using the SCB. The research team also reported increased milk production of up to +1kg per day (3.5%) for cows in second lactation in a pen using the swinging cow brush, compared to a reference group kept under the same conditions without access to the SCB.

“A cow that grooms herself with the swinging cow brush can produce more milk from the exact same resources and input. That is one of the reasons why it is so popular among dairy farmers. Improved general health leads to less treatment and culling costs so cow health is improved and farmers’ profits boosted,” DeLaval Director Portfolio Farm Supplies Barbara Strunk explained.

The SCB is one of DeLaval’s Sustainable Dairy Farming (SDF) solutions an initiative that aims to reduce the environmental footprint of farms while improving milk production, farm profitability and the well-being of the people and animals involved.

DeLaval SCB starts to rotate on contact at an animal-friendly speed. It swings freely in all directions, smoothly up, over and alongside the cow. The bristles have the right length and hardness to stimulate the blood circulation while helping the cow to keep clean and calm. The unique patented design is approved by the DLG (Deutsche Landwirtschafts- Gesellschaft – German Agricultural Society). Click on the following links: swinging cow brush images and cow grooming herself video.

Pfizer Animal Health and its partners contributed more than $830,000 to help support FFA programs and fund American Association of Bovine Practitioners (AABP) Foundation/Pfizer Veterinary Student Scholarships this spring. Since its inception in 2008, the total amount donated through the Pfizer Animal Health FFA/AABP support program is more than $2.38 million.

More than 1,100 veterinarians, animal health suppliers and dealers from across the country participated in the program, which offered a 1% rebate on Pfizer Animal Health cattle products purchased from Jan. 1-Mar. 31, 2010. Participating partners were able to direct the funds to any local FFA chapter(s) or the AABP Foundation/Pfizer Veterinary Student Scholarship Program.

As a result, the FFA chapters received $732,316 to help support their activities and the AABP scholarship fund received $97,865 in 2010 alone.

“The first few years of practice can be extremely difficult for a new graduate,” says M. Gatz Riddell, Jr., DVM, executive vice president, AABP. “Most veterinarians are still trying to establish their practices, become a part of their communities and even start families, so when we can help reduce their debt load with a scholarship from the AABP Foundation/Pfizer Veterinary Student Scholarship Program, it may help them reduce some of the early year worries.”

“Most FFA chapters have used the additional funds to supplement travel to leadership conferences, National FFA Convention or their state conventions, and others have used it for scholarships and community service projects,” says Will Fett, regional director, National FFA Foundation. “These donations are one helpful addition to the fundraising that many chapters have to do anyway to help support these activities that are a central part of the FFA experience.”

Allowing local veterinary clinics, animal health suppliers and dealers to be a part of the process also allowed clinics and FFA chapters to make important and beneficial connections that just can’t be quantified, Fett adds.

“Every veterinary clinic, retailer and animal-health distributor we work with understands the importance of supporting tomorrow’s agricultural leaders,” says Julian Garcia, group director, Pfizer Animal Health. “We are honored to help support our partners and the organizations that are the lifeblood of our industry.”

Pfizer Animal Health, a business of Pfizer Inc., is a world leader in discovering and developing innovative animal prescription medicines and vaccines, investing an estimated $300 million annually in animal health product research and development. For more information on how Pfizer Animal Health works to ensure a safe, sustainable global food supply from healthy livestock and poultry; or helps companion animals and horses to live longer, healthier lives, visit www.pfizerah.com.

[Lexington, KENTUCKY]- Alltech, a global leader in natural animal nutrition, headquartered in Nicholasville, Ky., will present 37 papers in conjunction with the 2010 Annual Meetings of the American Dairy Science Association (ADSA), Poultry Science Association (PSA), Asociación Mexicana de Producción Animal (AMPA), Canadian Society of Animal Science (CSAS), American Society of Animal Science (ASAS), and ASAS Western Section (WSASAS) in Denver, Colo.

The president and founder of Alltech, Dr. Pearse Lyons remarked, “This achievement is a result of our primacy in science and demonstrates our commitment to lead the pack in research. The numbers of papers being presented next week are just a small representation of the research behind all of our cutting-edge products.”

Kate Jacques, Alltech’s director of nutrition, stated “We’re excited about the work that will be presented in Denver. It represents a cross-section of the range of projects we are funding in animal science across the world and moves our understanding of the science behind our products to a new level.

Topics to be presented include:

·         Practical uses of nutrigenomics and gene expression patterns to develop and evaluate nutritional strategies

·         Effect of NuPro supplementation on intestinal Clostridium perfringens levels in broiler chickens

·         Effect of dietary selenium yeast (Sel-Plex) and vitamin E supplementation to broilers on meat quality characteristics of raw and marinated breast fillets

·         Effect of organic and inorganic trace mineral source and preslaughter deletion on tissue mineral content of pigs

·         Selenium fed in inorganic and organic forms differentially and commonly alters liver gene expression profile of growing beef heifers

·         Dietary starch level and dose response of Saccharomyces cerevisiae for limit fed-dairy heifers

·         Effect of in ovo selenium injection on chick embryo viability and tissue selenium levels

·         High dietary inclusion of dried distillers grains with solubles in broiler chick rations in combination with Allzyme SSF enzyme— Effects on yield and endogenous enzyme levels

·         Effect of distillers dried grains with solubles and enzyme supplementation on production performance and egg quality of laying hens through 36 weeks of egg production

·         Investigation on the effects of antibiotic growth promoters alternatives on broiler performance

·         Effects of a bacterial inoculanton fermentation of barley or corn silage and on the growth performance of steers fed the ensiled crop

·         Allzyme SSF increased AME_n of the corn-soy diet and improved performance of boilers.

·         The effect of management on corn silage quality

·         A survey of molds and yeasts in Canadian corn silage

·         A survey of mold count and identificati on in Pennsylvanian dairy feed ingredients

·         Effect of mineral source and mannan-oligosaccharide supplementation on mineral metabolism on young growing pigs

·         Effects of Fibrozyme on in vitro ruminal digestion and fermentation of a corn and wet distillers-based finishing beef diet with and without monensin

·         Performance of lactating crossbreed cows on tropical pasture fed by supplements with soybean meal and Optigen or urea

·         Application of near infrared spectroscopy to estimate composition of NuPro

·         Hyphenated mass spectrometry investigations applied to the characterization of organic chelates

·         Growth and organogenesis of progeny chicks from dams fed different sources of trace minerals

·         Mannan oligosaccharide (MOS) modulates ileal gene expression in pigs experimentally infected with porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV)

·         Effect of distillers dried grains with solubles and an enzyme supplement on performance and egg quality of brown egg layers

·         EconomasE decreases sterol carrier protein-2 (SCP2) gene expression levels in breast muscle from 6-week old chickens

·         T246 Effect of supplementing the diet of sows with a source of yeast-derived proteins during lactation on performances of sows and piglets

·         Pre- and post weaning performance and health of calves fed milk replacers and calf starters with or without yeast supplementation (Nupro) and growth performance from 9 to 25 weeks of age.

·         Effects of a microbial fermentation product on milk production and blood metabolites on commercial dairies in eastern Canada

·         Effect of soluble yeast protein extract and dietary fermentable carbohydrate on fermentation, digestion, and N flow in rumen simulating fermenters.

·         Effect of soluble yeast protein extract and culture feed rate on fermentation, digestion, and N flow in rumen-simulating fermenters.

·         Partial replacement of soybean meal by encapsulated urea in commercial dairy herds

·         Detection of mycophenolic acid and roquefortine C mycotoxins in Canadian corn silage

·         Digestibility of fresh sugarcane-based diets with slow-release non protein nitrogen addition for limit-fed dairy heifers in the tropics

·         Effects of Actigen supplementation on mRNA levels of mucin and markers of gut health in the jejunum of broiler chicks

·         Effect of organic trace mineral sources on production and egg quality of white egg laying hens

·         Layer excreta mineral content: organic versus inorganic dietary trace mineral sources

·         The effect of selenium source and supplementation level on vitelline membrane strength and glutathione peroxidase activity in the liver and shell gland of laying hens

·         Evaluating trace mineral level and form in diets fed gilts: Effects on ovulation rate, embryonic survival and mineral composition of conceptus products