Livestock Briefs - Holstein Association USA adds traits

BRATTLEBORO, VT

Holstein Association USA adds new traits to official Holstein pedigrees

Association USA has announced that three new traits have been added to Official Holstein Pedigrees. Feed Efficiency, Fertility Index, and Sire Calving Ease are now displayed on all versions of the pedigrees for the subject animal, sire and dam.

“Feed Efficiency and Fertility Index are two newer traits which are both included in the TPI® formula, and we wanted to make them widely available for anyone to see for any registered Holstein,” said Lindsey Worden, Executive Director, Holstein Genetic Services. “Sire Calving Ease is another trait which many breeders requested to have added to pedigrees, so we are happy to be able to make all of that information publicly available and easily accessible.”

Official Holstein Pedigrees may be ordered online at www.holsteinusa.com, or printed pedigrees may be ordered by calling Customer Service at 800.952.5200. Holstein COMPLETE™ members receive free internet pedigrees, up to the number of cows they have enrolled in the program.

KANSAS CITY, MO

Herefords poised to set records in Denver   

The Hereford breed will set a record at the National Western Stock Show in Denver Jan. 12-14.   

Two hundred and eighty-four females are entered in the National Hereford Junior Heifer Show, 538 females are entered in the National Hereford Female Show and 220 bulls are entered in the National Hereford Bull Show, reaching a total of 1,045 Hereford cattle to be shown on the Hill at the NWSS, the largest number in Hereford history.

Ten carloads, 36 pens of heifers and 53 pens of bulls will be exhibited in the Yard show.

"The Hereford breed continues to grow and dominate on the national stage," said Bailey Clanton, AHA national shows coordinator and youth activities assistant. "We are looking forward to another great year at the National Western with record numbers."

The National Hereford Bull Show will begin at 8 a.m. on Jan. 12 with the National Hereford Junior Heifer Show immediately following. The Hereford Pen of Heifers Show will begin at 8 a.m. followed by the Hereford Pen/Carload Bull Show at 9:30 a.m. on Jan. 13. The National Hereford Female show will begin at 8 a.m. on Jan. 14.

CENTENNIAL, CO

Webinar: Expectations for cow-calf producers in 2017

Have the lows been established for the cattle industry? With the magnitude of the break that we have experienced across the entire cattle industry thus far that question is on everyone’s mind. An upcoming free CattleFax webinar will address that question as well as provide an outlook for the cow-calf and entire beef industry for 2017.

The CattleFax Trends+ Cow-Calf Webinar will air 4:30 p.m. Jan. 25, 2017. To participate in the webinar and access program details, producers and industry leaders simply need to register online at https://www.cattlefax.com/#!/about  
 
CattleFax analysts will discuss a variety of topics in the one-hour session, including: Cattle and feedstuff market projections for the next 12 to 18 months; Supply expectations for the cattle and beef industry as well as competing meats and Margin expectations and profit/risk management strategies for the cow-calf producer.

LANSING, MI

WI dairy producers recognized in annual DHI performance summary

Over 1,340 dairy operations and 455,000 cows were evaluated in ranking herds and cows for Milk Production, Dollar Value, and Somatic Cell Count (SCC) in the NorthStar Cooperative Dairy Herd Information (DHI) Services Annual Performance Summary. Dairy producers throughout Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, and Wisconsin topped lists in this comprehensive report which summarizes records for the 2016 testing year.

Heiman’s Holsteins of Marshfield earned the 2016 NorthStar Cooperative DHI Services Progressive Dairy Producer of the Year award which is presented to the herd with the greatest dollar value increase over the past five years. The 482-cow dairy increased Dollar Value by $976 over the last five years. Today the herd has a Rolling Herd Average (RHA) of 29,158 pounds of milk, 1,018 pounds of fat, and 881 pounds of protein.

Three producers topped breed specific lists for High Dollar Value Herd Average reports. The High Dollar Value Ayrshire Herd Average report was led by Tim Busch of Cecil, while Bill Seller of Fond Du Lac earned the top ranking on the High Dollar Value Red and White Herd. Floyd and Calvin Brandt of Bryant, led the High Dollar Value Mixed Breeds Herd Average report.

Kinnard Farms, Inc. of Casco own the top animal on the Holstein Lifetime Cows for Milk Production report. An eighth lactation Windbreaker daughter earned this spot with lifetime credentials to date of 408,022 pounds of milk, 11,928 pounds of fat and 10,663 pounds of protein. Tim Busch of Cecil earned the top ranking on the Ayrshire Lifetime Cows for Milk Production report with a ninth lactation Tuxedo daughter with 220,721 pounds of milk while Grass Ridge Farm, LLC of Pittsville, led the Jersey Lifetime Cows for Milk Production report with an eighth lactation GORDO daughter with 252,952 pounds of milk.