Company News

Submitted by Jenny Butcher As the winner of the 2008 UK Jersey Exchange, sponsored by Semex and Jersey Canada, I was treated to first class rural hospitality for 21 days as I travelled to Jersey farms throughout beautiful England and Wales. I was greeted by Charles Reader of Barnowl Jerseys at the airport and it was the home of Charles and Frances Reader that I spent most of the next week. Their 80 cow Jersey herd was rich in history with many of the cows in this herd were descending from Barnowl Fanfare, their EX 97 Royal Show winner. Vindication, Excitation, Senior and Comerica heifers all looked promising here. The Readers had a very well run operation with a great balance between high production and herd health. They are located only ½ hour from Oxford so I was able to catch some tourist activities during my stay. Next it was off to the Nicola herd of Helen, Hugh and Nicola Evans. This was a newly established herd in the beautiful rolling pastures of South Wales where they were hosting the Jersey Young Members weekend. Teams were formed that included youth, 8 years and older and each team drew their showstring out of a hat. In teams of eight they worked with the "Nicel" cattle to wash, clip and prepare cattle for a show on Sunday afternoon. They also prepared flyers for their showstring. At the summation of the weekend awards were presented for items such as most improved and best leadership and best fitter. Then I was off to Rhys and Fiona Jones farm. Rhys is the coloured breeds specialist for Semex and both him and Fiona are avid Jersey breeders, operating under the Salfach prefix. Over my four day stay, we both enjoyed non-stop conversation about past, present and future Jersey matings. Along with enjoying their own "show herd", Rhys and Fiona took me to some of the best herds in Wales. This area was very type focused and I was impressed by the large framed, quality uddered cows, many sired by Canadian ... Read More...

Semex is pleased to announce that Brian Behnke has been hired as Sire Analyst for Midwest USA effective October 6, 2008. Born and raised on a registered Holstein farm, Brian graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a Bachelor of Science degree in Dairy Science. Brian has over 20 years of dairy cattle industry experience including an in-depth knowledge of dairy cattle genetics, sales and farm management. His vast industry experiences include dairy cattle sire procurement for Landmark Genetics, as well serving as herdsman at the 1200 head Roylane Registered Holstein herd in Warden, Washington as well as the 2400 head Wilcox Farms Inc at Roy, Washington. Brian joined Semex USA in April 2003 and most recently was a Regional Manager responsible for the sales, marketing, growth and profitability of Semex USA's Central Region, including over 20 representatives in 12 states. An accomplished cow-man, Brian has also had the opportunity to judge numerous dairy cattle shows both domestically and abroad, including the 2005 Grand International Red & White Show, Western Spring National and Wisconsin State Fair. Most recently he placed Canada's largest 4-H dairy cattle show, the Scotia Bank Classic at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. ... Read More...

The Semex Alliance is pleased to announce the winners of its third annual photo contest. Over 250 photographs from 13 different countries were vying for top honours in the three categories: People and their Semex Cows, Landscapes with Semex Cows and People's Choice. Winners in each category were awarded $500, with second prize winning $250 and third prize in each category taking home $100. Winners in the People's Choice category received Semex watches. The winners in each category are: People with their Semex Cows 1 "Milking Day is Done" - Terri-Lyn Love, Ontario, Canada 2 "Buckeye & the Boys" - Hiroshi Fujita, Tokyo, Japan 3 "Silhouette" - Jenny Fenton, Ohio, USA 4 "Morning Chores" - Carl Saucier, Québec, Canada 5 "Jerseys on the Grass" - Nelson Eduardo Ziehlsdorff, Santa Catarina, Brazil Landscapes with Semex Cows 1 "Early Morning Breakfast" - Fred Aafjes, Tonder, Denmark 2 "At the County Fair" - Lisa Russell, Kentucky, USA 3 "Heading Home" - Kevin R. Klages, Ontario, Canada 3 "Break Time" - Philippe Boivin, Québec, Canada 5 "Our Jerseys" - Lindsay Fischer, Pennsylvania, USA 5 "Sunday Morning" - Jen Christie, Ontario, Canada People's Choice 1 "Learning to Show" - Deanna Laity, British Columbia, Canada 2 "Gavin Gets the Cows" - Conny Quail, Ontario, Canada 3 "Best Buds" - Terri-Lynn Waterston, New Brunswick, Canada 4 "Jasper's Hope" - Joanne Gunning & Whitney Cole, CT, USA 5 "Keeping Watch" - Lisa Russell, Kentucky, USA Click here to view the photos. ... Read More...

Semex has once again teamed up with the Holstein World to bring the North American fall show results right to your door through our online show coverage! Just tune in for the following shows at www.semex.com and click, "2008 Fall Shows" or click here! * September 12 - Northeast Fall Showcase * September 17 to 18 - All-American Dairy Show * September 30 to October 1 - Central National Jersey Show * October 2 to 3 - Grand International Red & White Show * October 3 to 4 - International Holstein Show * November 7 to 8 - Exposition International Holstein Québec (QC) * November 7 to 16 - Royal Agricultural Winter Fair Semex - bringing the world's greatest shows to your door! ... Read More...

At the 2008 World Dairy Expo, Semex invites you to “Run With the Bulls” and enter in a draw for a trip to Spain to see for yourself how Semex Works Everywhere.

Register to win this once in a lifetime, all-expenses paid trip for two to Spain to see how Semex Works in Spain, traveling through the Spanish countryside seeing the Spanish dairy industry while taking in amazing scenery and of course, the opportunity to run with the bulls!

“Spain is an amazing country with a vibrant dairy industry,” says Joan Lau, Semex Alliance Vice President Marketing. “Spain’s dairymen are interested in the same things as their North American counterparts… long-lasting, profitable cows. Semex Spain is looking forward to sharing their culture, their beautiful scenery and their dairy industry with the world. To see the ‘Running of The Bulls’ would be the icing on the cake.”

Entry into the contest is easy, just visit the Semex Walk of Fame tent or Semex booth EH 2705-2709 in the Exhibit Hall at World Dairy Expo in Madison, Wisconsin held September 30 – October 4, to get your free e-shot photo taken and be automatically entered to win. Winner will be announced October 27, 2008. ... Read More...

With the release of the new Sire Conception Rates (SCR) by USDA, replacing Estimated Relative Conception Rates (ERCR), Repromax and Semex sires rank well above breed and industry averages for conception rates, proving Semex Works Everywhere! The SCR evaluation is proven to be better than ERCR as it is a more accurate measure of a bull's ability to actually get a cow in calf, than just non-return rates. Repromax, Semex's lineup of high fertility sires, benefits from this new system, as the SCR evaluation is now included in developing the world's only international fertility information. "The new Sire Conception Rates are certainly a better model (than ERCR)," says Nicolas Caron, Semex Alliance Geneticst. "Semex sires rank well above average for SCR, adding to the confidence breeders can have in using our Repromax lineup." Semex sires scored extremely well in the new ranking, which places fertility on a scale with being average. This means that a sire ranking +1 or -1 will offer conception rates of either 1% higher or lower than the average bull. 60% of Semex sires scored above average for SCR, with high-ranking TPI sires such as 0200HO01584 Diamond-Oak Frosty, 0200HO07317 Magor Allen Bolivia and 0200HO04740 Bofran Lucky Star among them. All Repromax sires offer a tremendous package of an average SCR rankings and minimum genetic requirements, making Semex's Repromax sires valuable for getting cows in calf with exceptional results. One Semex high fertility sire blew away the competition. 0200HO07030 Ladino Park Talent *RC, a highly regarded Repromax sire, leads all ... Read More...

With each genetic evaluation Holstein Canada recognizes sires who reach elite standards in production, conformation and also genetic indexes through their Superior Production (SP), Superior Type (ST) and Class Extra (EXTRA) programs. Seven Semex sires have been recognized in August 2008 as Superior Production sires having combined genetic indexes for Fat and Protein in the top 5% of the Canadian sire population. Sires must have a reliability of at least 85%. CANM9498163 BEAVER RAY HARMONY (MORTY X SKYCHIEF) USAM61174201 BROWNKING BRADEN-ET (BRANT X CONVINCER) CANM101670270 JEANLU JAZZMAN (CHAMPION X LEE) CANM8278738 KILDARE CELEBRATION (CHAMPION X AARON) USAM133573930 MORNINGVIEW ASHLAR-ET (AEROWOOD X FORMATION) CANM7374281 MOSNANG WILD (CHAMPION X LEE) CANM9501437 STANTONS SVEN (MORTY X RUDOLPH) Five Semex sires have been recognized as Superior Type in August 2008. Sires winning this award are within the top 5% of the sire population for their type proof (Conformation, Mammary System, Feet & Legs, Dairy Strength, Rump) and with a reliability of at least 85%. CANM101011031 LESPERRON AUTOMATIC (STORMATIC X AEROLINE) HUNM3250510837 MAGOR BAROQUE ALLEN ET (ALLEN X STORM) CANM8836014 PETHERTON RODNEY (STORMATIC X IGNITER) CANM9408180 QUALITY FRUROR (GIBSON X CHARLES) CANM101346721 SESSINK CHAMPLAIN (CHAMPION X COUSTEAU) Two Semex sires have been recognized as Class Extra, which requires elite standards for both production and conformation. CANM8852003 FREUREHAVEN ROGER (MORTY X AEROLINE) Read More...

August 2008 proofs saw Semex sires take 12 of the top 100 International TPI Sires listings, all over 1700 TPI, and 76 of the top 100 Canadian LPI rankings, showing that Semex sires and stud code 200 can and do Work Everywhere! Semex's 12 Top 100 International TPI Sires:  NAAB   TPI  Name   PTAM   PTAF   PTAP   PTAT   UDC   FLC   PL   SCS   NM  200HO05217 2014 VIEUXSAULE MALICIEUX-ET 2071 49 64 2.89 2.93 Read More...

Christopher Studer, Semex Alliance Ayrshire Coordinator Every four years the Ayrshire World Federation holds its conference in a different part of the world. This year the conference was held in Finland, home to the largest population of Ayrshire cows worldwide. Delegates from around the world congregated to hear conferences about the future of the breed and visit multiple herds. The visitors also had the pleasure to view a great junior handler show, a sale and the International Ayrshire Show. Semex was very well represented at this show, as we were proud to display a daughter group of six cows. The main goal of the exhibit was to show breeders the result of using Semex Ayrshire bulls in the Finnish population. Daughters of Shady Walnut Conn, Kildare Jerry, Woodlawn View Pardner and Birghdale Copper were represented in the display. Semex sired Ayrshires dominated every class in the Show who saw 161 head pass before Judge David Mayo of Semex Australia/New Zealand. Junior Show Results: · Junior Champion - Joukolan Vaavikki by 0200AY00546 Margot Calimero · Honorable Mention - Hokon Modem Lyly by 0200AY00564 Lagace Modem Senior Show Results: · Grand Champion - HH Tia Marie Sue by Woodlawn View Pardner · Reserve Champion - Kuortin Tilli by Kildare Jerry and featured in the Semex display · Honorable Mention - Majaniemen Unelma by 0200AY00002 Birghdale Copper and featured in the Semex display Semex's Ayrshire bulls have been doing well in Finland in the past few years, showing that Semex Works Everywhere! ... Read More...

The Semex Alliance is pleased to introduce their 2008-2009 Board of Directors. Elgin Craig (Gencor) will serve as President & Chairman of the Board, assisted by Gary Bowers as 1st Vice-President (Centre d'insémination artificielle du Québec, CIAQ) and by Tim Hofstra (Westgen) as 2nd Vice-President. Other members of the Board of Directors include John De Vries (Eastern Breeders Inc, EBI), Guy Lavoie (CIAQ), Norm McNaughton (Gencor) and Normand Barriault, Semex's newest board member from Carleton, Québec (CIAQ). ... Read More...