Beef Embryos in Dairy Cows can be Profitable for Dairies

Beef Embryos in Dairy Cows can be Profitable for Dairies  By Heather Smith Thomas.  Some dairies seeking new ways to increase profitability find that purchase and implanting of beef embryos, utilizing lower-end-genetic animals in the dairy herd as recipients, can produce more valuable offspring. Genetically...

ProCROSS Dairy Genetics Experiences Rapid Growth

 ProCROSS Dairy Genetics Experiences Rapid Growth. By Heather Smith Thomas. ProCROSS is a crossbreeding concept that rotates Holstein, VikingRed and Montbeliarde.  The combination of these breeds has proven to be the most profitable because they are a good fit for many types of U.S. management...

Linear Measurements Can Help Dairy Goat Breeders

Linear Measurements Can Help Dairy Goat Breeders. By Heather Smith Thomas - From an Article by Mark Baden A few years ago Mark Baden (ADGA Board of Directors member, Licensed ADGA Judge and Linear Appraiser) wrote an article for the American Dairy Goat Association about the ADGA’s Linear Appraisal...

Semen Handling for Maximum Fertility

 Semen Handling for Maximum Fertility By Jaclyn Krymowski A good part of your pregnancy rate hinges on the individual bull and quality of semen you use. It takes two to tango, after all. While a simple procedure in principle, A.I. is filled with numerous intricacies. It requires a certain gamble putting...

GENDER PURITY YOU CAN TRUST

GENDER PURITY YOU CAN TRUST  In a recent study (Evans et al., 2019), STgenetics® proved their commitment to gender purity in their sex-sorted product. After analyzing 9,447 calvings between 2016 and 2018, STgenetics® concludedthat their sex-sorted semen with a reported female purity of 91% in the lab...

Best Practice for Frozen Semen Handling

 Best Practice for Frozen Semen Handling. By Michael Cox. Using artificial insemination straws as part of a herd’s breeding program is a wonderful way of rapidly improving the quality and genetic merit of the herd. But the benefits of A.I. can only be achieved if the straws themselves are...

Breeding Decisions: IVF or ET?

 Breeding Decisions: IVF or ET? By Jaclyn Krymowski for American Dairymen What constitutes “elite cows” differs from herd to herd. For some it comes down to genomic merit, for some its production traits and profitability, yet others it’s all about type. Regardless of what category your...

To Freeze and to Thaw

 To Freeze and to Thaw  Handling Semen and Embryos  By Jaclyn Krymowski for American Dairymen  Semen handling is such a common routine for herdsman and A.I. technicians. As monotonous as the process can get, it is important to remember that semen handling and storage is the most basic part of the A...