What is JPI™?

JPI™: What is it? How is it used? What goes into it? These are all important questions when you look at the Genex Jersey lineup. First off, JPI stands for Jersey Production Index. JPI is a breed-specific selection tool. Updated in 2010, the current JPI formula has the largest emphasis on production traits – a 57% emphasis on those traits. Of that 57%, PTA Protein makes up 42% while the remaining emphasis (15%) is placed on PTA Fat. The remainder of the JPI formula is a combination of four fitness and longevity traits. At 15% is the Functional Trait Index (FTI). This index is designed to separate the impact of production and type traits on lifetime profitability. FTI is composed of a sum of the PTAs for the linear traits times their respective economic values. FTI is not published separately because it needs to be combined with production traits to be interpreted correctly. FTI was introduced in 1992, updated in 1998 and most recently updated in 2006. The FTI calculation has the highest weight on udder traits (54%), followed by body traits (41%) and finally foot angle (5%). Udder depth is the single largest contributor to FTI. Coming in at a 12% weighting, Productive Life makes up the next portion of the JPI formula. Productive Life is defined as “time in the milking herd before removal by voluntary culling, involuntary culling or death.” Rounding out fitness and longevity traits, Daughter Pregnancy Rate (DPR) is defined as the percentage of non-pregnant cows that become pregnant during each 21-day period. The DPR weight in the JPI formula is 10%. The final trait is Somatic Cell Score (SCS). SCS is an indicator trait for mastitis based on the direct measure of somatic cells in milk samples. JPI puts a 6% emphasis on SCS. The graph below is a great visual break-down of the JPI formula.

Reference: “2010 Jersey Performance Index™ (JPI).” American Jersey Cattle Association. www.usjersey.com/Programs/JPIIntro.pdf

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Author Leah James is our U.S. Jersey Marketing Manager.  James grew up on a family dairy farm and graduated from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls with a bachelor’s degree in agriculture education. She has since worked within the artificial insemination industry and for the American Jersey Cattle Association. Today, she and her husband also operate a 125-cow dairy consisting of registered Holsteins, Jerseys and Milking Shorthorns.

Summer at Genex Hawkeye West - Billings, Montana

I have the privilege of calling Genex Hawkeye West, located in Billings, Montana, my "Genex Home."  Throughout the fall, winter and spring it is a bustling place, full of both Genex Beef and custom collection bulls that customers have brought in for us to produce high quality semen.  In fact, for most of March, April, and May the facility was full to capacity, housing nearly 180 bulls on the property! During the summer months a majority of our usual residents leave Hawkeye West to spend a couple of months out on pasture breeding cows.  During this time the staff at Hawkeye West spends a lot of time performing maintenance projects, cleaning bull pens and runs, and mowing grass.  In general, preparing for bulls to start arriving back at Hawkeye West in just a few short weeks.

However, in the last couple of weeks we have had the opportunity to showcase our facility to three awesome tour groups!

First, we hosted the 2013 National Red Angus Junior Association Round-up.  It was so exciting to get the chance to meet nearly 60 youth from across the USA that are so passionate about the beef industry.  The group joined us for lunch and then had the opportunity to see our semen processing routine from bull collection to the lab.

 Next, we hosted groups of beef producers from Argentina and Brazil.  Nearly 45 Argentines and 35 Brazilians had boarded tour buses nearly two weeks before and had spent several days touring farms and ranches across the west, viewing many popular bulls from the Genex Beef line-up and their progeny.  One of the last stops for both tour groups was Genex Hawkeye West.  Highlight bulls that both groups were extremely excited to see included Cole Creek CEDAR RIDGE 1V (1AN01224) and Trotters STRONGHOLD 156 (1AR00948).

 

Now that the tours are over, things have returned back to normal here at Hawkeye West.

If you are ever in the Billings area and would like a tour, please stop by, we love to have visitors!

If you would like to learn more about the services that we offer at Genex Hawkeye West, and at our other custom collection facilites (Genex Alabama - Fort Payne, Alabama, Genex Baton Rouge - Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Genex Dakota Sire Service - Mitchell, South Dakota, Genex Strafford - Strafford, Missouri) please take a minute to view this short video.

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Author, Sarah Thorson, is our Beef Education Manager.  Sarah grew up in Eastern Montana on her family's ranch.  She is a graduate of Montana State University and has been a member of the Genex team since 2004.  Sarah works closely with the Genex Beef Marketing Staff, providing training to the cooperative's nearly 200 Independent Contractors.  She also provides Artificial Insemination training for Genex members and customers and reproductive consulting.

Improve Efficiency with the DeLaval Activity System

Achieving success in any breeding program depends on a lot of different factors.  One of those factors is breeding the animal when she is in optimal heat.   The DeLaval Activity System can help any dairyman determine when that time is.  It can be considered the dairyman’s 24/7 eyes on the cows (or heifers) system. 

A neck mounted meter records each animal’s individual movement and activity.  This collected information is then transmitted every hour, 24 hours a day via a wireless link.  The herd management software provided with the system analyses the data and alerts the dairyman of increased activity, ultimately determining which animals are in heat.  With heat detection rates of up to 95%, the reduced reproduction costs and increased conception rates can make the initial cost of implementing very feasible. Plus not only will the DeLaval Activity System provide alerts for increased activity, it will also detects decreased activity sending a notice that an animal may be ill and needs attention. 

Genex Representatives across the United States have been trained on the DeLaval Activity Systems and are ready to help answer any questions you may have.  You can also check out our website for more information. http://genex.crinet.com/page4425/DeLavalActivitySystem

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Author Katie Wolf is our Product Program Manager.  She has been a member of the Genex team since 2002.  Katie graduated from the University of Wisconsin - Platteville, where she studied Agricultural Business.

My Genex Employee Training Experience

My name is Callie Griffin and I am the Beef Research Support intern working under Sarah Thorson, the Beef Education Manager, this summer.  Growing up on a cow/ calf operation in Eastern Montana, I acquired a tremendous amount of interest and passion for the beef industry and agriculture.  I am majoring in Animal Science at Montana State University and hope that this internship will help guide me toward the career path that is right for me.  This summer, I am going to be working with progeny test herds to help gather information.  I am also going to be taking pictures and doing some linear scoring on beef bulls. 

I recently got the opportunity to go to Wisconsin for two weeks to attend the employee training session.  I met so many unique individuals and had an amazing time.  It was refreshing to see so many people my age with that much drive and interest in agriculture.  My knowledge was tested and I got to answer a lot of questions that they had about the beef industry – hopefully I’ll get some of them out to Montana sometime! As I’m sure you already realized, my emphasis is on beef cattle!  I had never seen so many dairy cows in my life and no one believed me when I said that I had never set foot on a dairy.  Needless to say, I learned a lot during the first few days of the training class.  The advancements that have been made in dairy genetics are to be admired.  I can’t help but look forward to the advancements that will be made in my lifetime within the dairy and beef industries. 

I enjoyed the diversity the training course had to offer.  The other trainees and I learned about everything from marketing and the goal of the company to synchronization protocols.  I feel that I left Shawano with a better overall understanding of everything Genex has to offer.  I also enjoyed the A.I. training.  My classmates had a pretty good time teasing me about my height – the stool and I became pretty close over those few days!  I guess I never realized how big some of those dairy cows are!  It was great to see everyone get so much more comfortable with their technique each day. 

I feel so fortunate to have been able to meet so many terrific people and learn so much about Genex and CRI.  I am excited to see where all of my classmates are in 10 years and will always remember my experience in Shawano.  Being back in Montana, I hope that I will be able to use some of the knowledge I gained at the training to become a successful intern!

 

The 2013 May/June Genex Cooperative, Inc. Basic Training Class

 

 

 

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Author Callie Griffin is our Beef Research Support intern this summer. She will be beginning her junior year at Montana State University in the fall and expects to graduate in the spring of 2015 with a degree in Animal Science and minor in Agricultural Business. She grew up on a ranch in Eastern Montana where her family raises Simmental/ Angus cattle and grows alfalfa and corn. 







Artificial Insemination – Not As Easy As They Make It Look!

As a kid, I used to watch our “technician”, Orville, quickly and easily breed cows.  Actually, I admired him.  At a time when other little girls dreamed of growing up to be princesses, I wanted to be Orville!  I wasn’t  exactly sure what he did, but I observed him doing his job efficiently and effectively.  He came into our barn, discussed what was happening in our community, opened the breeder box, read my father’s notes and went to the tank to get the correct semen.  Dad would follow him to the milk house, still chatting about the things farm men talk about, as he prepared the thaw box and his equipment.  Then it was to the cows, where the real magic happened.  Again, I didn’t fully understand what he was doing, but now that I do – I’m even more amazed.  I’m amazed that people figured out how to mimic natural reproduction.  I’m amazed that we discovered a way to collect, package and freeze semen so it can be shipped across the globe. And I’m amazed by the swift and expert hands that are able to produce reliable results.  No, I never became Orville, but I did try an A.I. class once.  I discovered that it is a difficult job.  I could not find the cervix, which for those of you that know A.I. know, is pretty important.  I am not giving up though.  I am planning to take another class, this one much more involved and informative. 

Perhaps you dreamed of growing up to be like the “Orville” on your farm, or maybe you would just like to add another tool to your herd management toolbox. You are in luck, and so am I!  Genex offers just the class to help you become the A.I. Technician you always dreamed you could be.

For additional information you can head to our webpage! http://genex.crinet.com/page393/AITrainingClasses

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Author Brenda Brady is our Communications Specialist.  Brenda graduated from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls with a degree in Agricultural Education.  She went on to teach high school agriculture for 13 years.  She recently joined the Cooperative Resources International team.  Brenda grew up on a small Registered Holstein farm in central Wisconsin and now farms with her husband and in-laws.

"Reveal"ing Your Livestock Marking Solution

When it comes to heat detection, there are many different products available and Genex Cooperative carries a variety.  One heat detection aid that we are very excited about is the new Reveal™ Livestock Marker, which is a water-based, brush on tailpaint.  Now, you may be asking yourself – didn’t Genex already carry a brush on tailpaint?  The answer is yes; Reveal is replacing the paint previously marketed and the new paint is being exclusively produced and marketed by Genex and its subsidiaries. 

So what makes Reveal Livestock Marker so special? 

                -Made in the USA!

                -Contains a bittering agent to deter curious pen mates from licking.

                -Minimal touch-ups needed if animal has not been ridden.

                -Available in four fluorescent colors – red, yellow, blue and green.

                -Not only a heat detection aid.

                                -“Reveal” treated quarters to the next shift of milkers.

                                -“Reveal” breeding dates by writing it on the animal.

                                -Shot Cows?  “Reveal” them with a specific color for easily designation.

                                -“Reveal” cows that need to be sorted.

                -Available from your Genex Representative.

                -Available 24/7 on the Genex Profit Shop website.

Whatever your management style, there is a heat detection aid that will fit into your program.  Let your local Genex Representative help “Reveal” which options might fit best.

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Author Katie Wolf is our Product Program Manager.  She has been a member of the Genex team since 2002.  Katie graduated from the University of Wisconsin - Platteville, where she studied Agricultural Business.

FREDDIE still Fabulous

With 1HO08784 FREDDIE %-I ranking number 3 on the April LPI list after earning his first Canadian domestic proof, staff from Canada’s Holstein Journal requested information about FREDDIE from Genex Dairy Procurement Manager Paul Haskins.

Here’s what Paul had to say about the sire:

Schmidts Ponderosa Freddie 4660

FREDDIE continues to impress breeders with the April sire summaries by adding over 1,900 new milking daughters while maintaining or improving on his evaluation in all areas.  As the product of an O Man x Diehard pedigree combination, he is a fitness trait specialist siring trouble-free cows ideal for today’s modern and progressive dairies; daughters are medium-sized with plenty of width and dairy strength throughout, tracking well on ideal feet and legs. Mammary systems are pleasing and better than expected. His USA Udder Composite continues to climb as he adds more classified daughters. The udders are shallow and moderate in every other sense: smooth enough in the fore udder with plenty of height and width in the rear udder. Udder cleft is adequate but not extreme, and moderate teat size, shape, and placement are ideal for today’s breeding needs. This is a bull that can help moderate the current trend of teats that are too short and too close to be practical for milking in conventional and robotic milking operations. FREDDIE’s all-around performance in fitness, yield and conformation makes him appealing for many kinds of breeding programs, and his influence will continue through already extensive use of high-ranking sons, grandsons, daughters and granddaughters.

Second Lactation FREDDIE Daughters