Genex/CRI Markets MOET Embryos
Genex/CRI is marketing embryos from their Multiple Ovulation Embryo Transfer (MOET) Program. The MOET program is designed to speed up genetic progress and Genex/CRI is the only AI organization to offer embryos from a MOET program back to its members, according to a Genex/CRI report.

Embryos range in price from $200-$400 and all embryos are sold with a "buy back" contract for bulls to sample and females for the next generation of MOET. To date, CRI owns 20 MOET heifers that are milking in five cooperator herds, according to the report. Heifers not selected for the MOET herd are sold at the GENESIS sale. Genex/CRI expects to have more than half of the bulls in their lineup coming from the MOET program and embryo purchases. Anyone interested in the program should contact a Genex/CRI representative.

 Starbuck Dies
Hanoverhill Starbuck (EX-Extra) died Sept. 17, 1998 at over 19 years of age, according to a report from the Centre d’insémination artificielle du Québec (CIAQ). He has more than 200,000 daughters on five continents, many with show championships. He holds the record as all-time sire of All-Americans with 41 All-Americans from 32 offspring. His most recent accolade: he sired the 1998 International Holstein Show’s Grand and Supreme Champion, Acme Star Lily.

Although Starbuck was not used much as a sire of sons in the U.S., several of his sons sampled by Canadian AI companies have been popular with U.S. breeders, including Aerostar, Prelude, Raider and Astre. Currently 49 Aerostar sons are active in the U.S.

Starbuck was a product of U.S. genetics: by Elevation and out of an Astronaut. He was bred by Hanoverhill Holsteins, Port Perry, Ont. and entered CIAQ at Saint-Hyacinthe, Que., in 1979 at just over 7 months of age. A monument will be installed at CIAQ in his honor, according the CIAQ report. For more about Starbuck check out CIAQ’s website at http://www.ciaq.com.

Book Chronicles 50 Years of Reproduction Research
Dr. Robert H. Foote, Cornell University professor emeritus, has written a book which summarizes 50 years of the animal reproduction research performed at Cornell University under his direction. The book, Artificial Insemination to Cloning, covers the early days of artificial insemination, through embryo transfer and cloning. Cornell cloned their first rabbits a decade ago and their first Holstein calf in May 1992.

One of Foote’s objectives was to combine all these studies into one reference book in order to make it more accessible, believing much of the important research done prior to the 1980s is ignored because it isn’t included in computer databases. Dairy cattle reproduction has been the main subject of his research over the years.

The cost of the book is $25, plus shipping. All proceeds above expenses will support Cornell’s animal science programs. Copies can be obtained by contacting Cornell University Resource Center, #7 Cornell Business and Technology Park, Ithaca, NY 14850.

Increase Your Heifer Calf Crop
Advanced Bovine Technologies, Corrales, NM, is currently marketing Ovatech, an electronic breeding instrument which measures the estrogen levels in vaginal mucus and translates it into a numerical reading. The vaginal probe can accurately identify the stage of estrus the animal is in and pinpoint the ideal time for insemination, according to promotional literature about Ovatech. Producers can achieve 80 to 90 percent first-service conception rate, according to Jim Johnson, president of Advanced Bovine Technologies, who offers a money-back guarantee on the $2500 instrument. Ovatech can also detect silent heats and low-level infections which inhibit conception.

In addition, by closely tracking Ovatech readings, producers can breed for heifer calves or bull calves with an 80 percent success rate, according to the product literature. "Twenty to 30 percent of the time you have to breed even before standing heat in order to get a heifer," says Johnson, explaining that Y chromosome sperm die sooner. So if you inseminate prior to ovulation most male sperm will be dead when ovulation occurs.

Dr. Glenn Wehner of Truman University in Kirksville, MO, has been involved with 11 years of research on Ovatech using the university’s beef herd. Results were published in the international medical journal, Animal Reproduction Science (March 1997, volume 46). There has been confirming research done in England, France and Spain, according to Wehner.

"People are skeptical, but those who are skeptical have never tried it. It does work," says Wehner, who believes it is a technology that fits into any size operation. He is currently researching the instrument’s potential with embryo transfer technology.

Dean Boyd, a third generation registered Holstein breeder in Ottawa, Canada, purchased the Ovatech probe 14 years ago from Les Smith of Corfu, NY, who invented the instrument. Originally, he used it to improve conception and claims he increased first-insemination conception from 60% to 85%. He then discovered the instrument was useful in detecting infections so he began using the probe on cows 35 to 40 days fresh to make sure the reproductive track was clean. He also claims to average 75-80% heifer calves.

 

Holstein Foundation Internships Available
Two internships are available for the summer of 1999 through the Holstein Foundation, according a Foundation announcement. The positions open are Junior Programs Intern and Member Communications Intern. For more information or to receive an application contact Kelli Devino at the Holstein Foundation, 800-952-5200, ext. 2124. The application deadline is Dec. 1, 1998.

 

Agway Begins Contract Heifer Raising
Agway Agricultural Products and CY Farms, Elba, NY, have entered into a joint venture to raise dairy heifer replacements in Western New York. The facility, located on 85 acres leased from CY Farms, is slated to open in early November and will house 3600 to 4000 heifers and employ six to eight full-time people, according to an Agway Agricultural Products announcement. In a separate agreement, CY Farms will supply the operation with forage and use the manure produced at the site to fertilize their 5000 acres of crop land.

The Agway TSPF (Test Specific Pathogen Free) Heifer Raising Program’s major focus is to reduce the heifers’ exposure to disease pathogens and thereby produce healthier animals that will eventually improve the overall health and performance of the home herd. Agway will make specific height, weight and health guarantees and will warrant against death loss, failure to grow and failure to breed while the heifers are in the operation, according to the Agway announcement.

Dairy producers contracting with Agway to raise their dairy heifer replacements, will have their calves picked up at the farm at 3-days-of-age and returned to the herd approximately eight weeks before they are due to calve - around 21-months-of-age. While at the facility the heifers will be raised in a biosecure environment with limited access to outside visitors. Employees and visitors will be required to shower at the premises before entering and leaving and a strict protocol on handling and moving animals will be adhered to.

A contract costs the producer $1075 per animal, which averages $1.71 per day or around $1 per pound of weight gain, according to program director, Dr. Mark Gardner. As of early October, Dr. Gardner reports that the program is at 78 percent capacity with interest growing. Producers signed up to participate range from 75-cow to 900-cow herds with the average herds numbering between 200-500 cows.

Sales &Shows
The SUNY Morrisville Autumn Review Sale, held September 18 at the SUNY Morrisville campus, Morrisville, NY, averaged $1543 on 88 lots. Jack and Colleen Button, Troupsburg, NY consigned six members of the Beachlawn Dutchoe Bell*BL family and several frozen embryos. An April 1997 Celsius heifer from Beachlawn Bell Mas Mitz-ET*BL (VG-86 GMD-DOM) topped the sale at $10,000, purchased by Applouis Holsteins & Bill Askew, Richland Center, WI. Mitz is a Mascot daughter of Dutchoe Bell who was the number one CTPI cow following the August 1998 genetic summaries.

Sharpson Farms Complete Dispersal averaged $1536 on 133 head September 26 at the Edward Sharps and Sons dairy in Byron, NY. Show cows and heifers commanded active bidding and the highest prices for the herd which has enjoyed tanbark success on the local and state level. Sharpson Broker Linda (VG-86), who had just turned three and was dry, due to Mansion-Valley Delaware, topped the sale at $6,000. The daughter of Broker from a VG-85 Elmcroft Conquest was Grand Champion at the Western New York Regional Show in August. Shelly Woodmansee, Lake Como, PA, purchased the cow for a 4-H project. The Sharpson herd was developed by Dean Sharp, who was honored as New York’s Outstanding Young Breeder two years ago.

The Agriprize Protein Profiles Sale finished with an average of $11,938 on 55 lots on October 1 at Arlington, WI. The 1998 edition of this annual consignment sale featured a $100,000 top seller, Sikkema-Star-W Elt Maycy-ET *TL (VG-88), offered by Crockett Farms Holsteins, Inc., Coldwater, OH. Sired by Elton, she finished with 2-3 365d 2X 36,920 milk 4.1% 1524 fat 3.6% 1314 protein and has PTAs of +114P +112F +2800M (8/98). Her dam is a VG-DOM Mascot with 24,110 milk 3.9% 945 fat 3.6% 860 protein; the next dam is VG-87-GMD-DOM with 26,570 milk and the third dam is VG-GMD-DOM with 33,260 milk. The buyers are Floyd & Lloyd Baumann, Twin-B-Dairy Farms, and Fred Lang, Marathon, WI.

This sale is held each year at the time of World Dairy Expo and is hosted by Russ and Kris Schroeder, Agriprize Holsteins, Horicon, WI.

A first-choice Manfred female brought $14,200 to top the Stars of the Silent Screen Sale. The dam is a VG-88 Elton with 8/98 PTAs of +87P +110F +2528M; the second dam is an EX Melwood with 30,270 milk, while the next dam is Snow-N Denises Dellia (2E-95-GMD-DOM) with 35,610 milk. Offered by Regancrest Farm, Waukon, IA and Barry England, the buyer was the First Daylight Syndicate, c/o Barbi-Lyn Holsteins, Pocomoke, MD. Also held at the time of World Dairy Expo, this two-day annual silent sale was concluded on October 3 with 46 female lots averaging $5056.