Bull Sorting - We Have an App For That!

So by now you may have heard GENEX has a dairy bull search app. If you haven't had a chance to download it yet, I'm here to tell you to get on it. While, I may work for GENEX, I did not have any input into the app's creation. I did download it a week before the public release, so I have had a little more time to explore its features, and I will tell you, I am excited. I will admit, I don't have a lot of extra apps on my phone other than kids' games and the radar, but I have seen and read about my fair share. The convenience of this app makes it well worth the download time and space used on my devices.

DOWNLOAD

So let's first talk about download. The app downloads pretty fast compared to the games I have to get for my kids. It does take a few extra moments to get the bull information once the initial download is complete. But again, it is pretty speedy and it tells you the progress it is making along the way. I was expecting it to take longer considering it has 40,000 bulls in the database.

Once you have the app and bull database downloaded, you can use the program anywhere; no internet required. This is a wonderful feature considering I will probably be using it either in the far-reaches of the barn or as time permits while waiting for the next wagon, load, etc. in the field or at the mill.

The app says updates will be available on the bulls, and it will notify you when you can receive those updates.

FEATURES

The 40,000 bull database of the GENEX Dairy Bull Sort App includes all six major dairy breeds. This is important to me, as I personally use Holstein, Jersey and Milking Shorthorn genetics on my farm. After you select a breed, you can sort based on the ICC$™ index, or any of the other most popular indexes. Then feel free to use the filter button (shown below) to narrow your search. 

Once you have a bull you are interested in learning more about, you can use the icons at the top (shown in the red box below) for additional information. A feature I found particularly helpful was being able to click on the bulls in the sire stack. The app then takes you to the sire or grand sire's page. What a time saver!

When you have the bull or bulls you are interested in, you are able to export the data to a Microsoft Excel or CSV file, or you can make a pdf of individual bulls like shown below.

While this app is already very functional, the best part is that it is new and developers are interested in making it work for you. Let us know if you have ideas on how it can be improved.

GET THE APP

So what are you waiting for? Download the Bull Search app today!

Sometimes We Just Need to Look

I was really searching this week. Searching for inspiration. Maybe it was this summer cold I picked up, maybe it was the kids being done with summer school and driving me a little crazy. Whatever it was, time had come for me to take a deep breath, slow down and look at the beautiful world around me. This life is certainly not easy, but there are so many reasons we love it, sometimes we just need to spend a little time looking.

We were blessed with twin heifers to add to our little Jersey herd on Wednesday. The kids have had fun getting them out. Jess calls them her "little sweeties."

 Anyone who knows me knows I am not a cat fan, but I can appreciate their antics when I take the time to appreciate them.

 If you raise Jerseys, you know, they are always in some type of trouble, or looking for attention!

Today's much needed rain added beauty to the spinner,

and moisture to our knee high third crop

 and tasseling corn.

The rain also gave the bees a rare vacation day,

but it didn't stop the neighbor's turkeys from needing to be herded home. Good thing I have a little man who is up for the task.

Life is good indeed! That doesn't mean it isn't still hard, just that I remember why I chose this lifestyle. I am thankful that from time-to-time, when I need a pick-me-up, I am able to find the inspiration I need just by taking the time to look.

5 Bad Habits of A.I. it is Time You Break

Let's face it, we all do our jobs in a certain way, often without even thinking about it. Sometimes we develop habits that allow us to get the job done faster, but not really effectively. Recently, I had the opportunity to ask two members of our A.I. training team for bad habits they commonly see on farms.

Javier Cheang, A.I. Training Instructor

Carlos Marin, A.I. Training Instructor Manager

Here are their top five.
1) Over confidence. Once you have a lot of experience breeding cows, it is easy to try to skip steps. Don't! Every step is important to achieving good results.

2) Pulling the gun out instead of pushing the plunger when depositing semen. This is very common, and we see it a lot. To properly deposit semen, plunge the gun half way, then double check the tip of the gun for proper placement. If it is in the right place, deposit the second half of the semen.

3) Depositing frozen semen. Pocket thawing is easy to do, but sometimes not enough time is given to allow the semen to thaw properly. If the cow is really close to where the gun is being loaded, better to opt for the water thaw method.

4) Dirt, grime and slime. This is a combination of several instances where a little extra time and effort can yield big results.

• Not wrapping the loaded A.I. gun in a clean breeding sleeve. We see guns go into the technician's shirt, and whatever we put in the cow's tract is going to stay there. If the gun wasn't wrapped, it could mean way more than just semen: sweat, lint, dust, manure, deodorant.
• Dirty water in thawing vessels or incorrect temperatures. It is not rare to find slimy water thaw vessels. This is a good source of contamination for semen straws and A.I. guns. Also check to see that your thermometers are working properly. Water must be at 95 to 98° F.
• Gunky pockets of A.I. gun warmers. If using a warmer, make sure to clean and wash the inside pocket often.
• Contaminated A.I. guns. Clean your guns at least once a week with warm water, but never add detergent. Let them dry standing upright. Spray them with alcohol to help with disinfection.
• Manure on the vulva. Clean the vulva with a paper towel prior to A.I. gun insertion to prevent contamination.

5) Raising the canister above the semen tank frost line. Lifting the canister above the frost line exposes remaining semen straws to room temperatures and starts the thawing process, thus the possibility for sperm damage.