One of the objectives of the Semex genetic program is to develop bulls that will meet the needs of our clients all around the world, without sacrificing our balanced breeding philosophy, utilizing top proven sires and great cow families.
The February 2005 genetic evaluation shows that
Semex offers bulls with diversified pedigrees that can excel for production, type and health traits.
Balance Spring 2005
If you look at top 40 LPI bulls in Canada you find that Semex owns 80% of those bulls. These 32 sires are from 16 different bulls, assuring our clients multiple bloodlines to choose from.
More than ever the Semex balanced breeding philosophy is recognized around the world by having our elite sires heavily used as international sires of sons.
These sires not only excel for production and type, but also come from great pedigrees.
Semex has what the breeder is looking for, no matter what your criteria.
Whether it be high milk (Kick-It-Up Amo, La Presentation Windows, Regancrest-
LH Modest); high percentages (Braedale Goldwyn, Maco Scotty, Deslacs
Milkstar); type (Wilcoxview Jasper, Comestar Lheros, Regancrest-LH Modest); show winners (Innwood Terrason, Oseeana Astronomical, Silky Gibson); low somatic cell score (Deslac Milkstar, Rietben Charge, Benner Joah); or daughter fertility (Maco Scotty, Vieuxsaule Royalty, La Presentation Jenus), Semex has the bull that fits.
Year after year we aim to develop top proven sires that generate the daughters you’ll like to milk.
Page 3
All The Talk
Braedale Goldwyn Creates Chatter
Page 4-5
Semex Around The World
Bulls Sold & Issues Raised
Page 6
The Semex Cow: Feet & Legs
Important For Everyone
Page 10-11
Part of a Bigger Picture
Semex Young Sire Program
Page 12-13
Her Comfort Is Your Profit
Univeristy of British Columbia Tackles
Feed Bunk Issues
Page 14
Building Better Cows
Holstein USA Scorecard Changes
Pierre Laliberté
Semex Alliance Senior Manager, Genetics
Balance is a quarterly magazine designed to promote Canadian dairy genetics, technology and management. The magazine is published by the Semex Alliance.
The Semex Alliance is focused on global leadership in the genetics marketplace.
Semex Alliance
Canadian Partnerships:
Milner, BC
(604) 530-1141
Guelph, ON
(519) 821-2150
E-mail: info@semex.com Web Site: http://www.semex.com
130 Stone Road West, Guelph, ON N1G 3Z2
Kemptville, ON
(613) 258-5944 (450) 774-1141
Saint-Hyacinthe, QC
Comments or submissions to the editor should be forwarded to Brenda Lee-Turner, Semex Alliance, 130 Stone Road West, Guelph,
Ontario, Canada N1G 3Z2. tel: 519-821-5060, fax: 519-821-7225; email: bturner@semex.com
Saint-Hyacinthe, QC
(450) 774-1141
Page 15
Start Her On The Right Foot
Reduce Lameness In First Lactation Heifers
REALLY?
Bits & Pieces We’ve Collected Along The Way
C E N T E R S P R E A D
T H E P O W E R O F B A L A N C E D B R E E D I N G ®

Julien Chabot, Semex Alliance Sire Analyst
Two years ago a wave of maternal brothers took the top LPI list by storm. No less than five sons of the great Braedale Gypsy Grand VG-
88 32* appeared on the top 100 LPI list.
Since 2001, a total of seven different sons of
Gypsy Grand have made the top 100 LPI list.
Five of them achieved Class Extra status, one
Superior Type and one Superior Production.
Semex owns six by six different sires.
• Bold VG Extra by Mason
• Goodluck Extra by Megabuck
• Spy VG Extra by Storm
• Freeman GP Extra by Storm
• Freelance VG Extra by Aeroline
• Rainmaker SP by Rudolph
The new “big talk” in the Holstein breed is the
Shoremar James son from Gypsy Grand’s
VG-86 8* Storm daughter, Braedale Baler
Twine, 200HO3205 Braedale Goldwyn.
Goldwyn had his first proof in October 2004, with a limited number of daughters, but now we have his complete proof to review.
▲ Rolf Klocker
Semex Germany His daughters are stylish, with a very feminine head and neck and a high chine. They are strong-loined and most of them show enough slope to their rumps, with a medium width in their pins. They have clean bones and a good foot angle.
I had the chance to see 21 daughters from
Braedale Goldwyn in 19 herds and I was very very impressed. The old cow Gypsy Grand seems to put her stamp on the daughters, as they show lots of quality in their mammary systems and dairy character.
Goldwyn’s best feature are his mammary systems. They have high and wide rear udders, nice center support and a great teat placement. The udders show a very attractive shape and display great quality.
Goldwyn has the best of Chief Mark through
Grand and the best from Storm in one package. Another great bull from a great
Canadian cow family!
The Goldwyn daughters are tall, long-bodied, stylish, refined dairy cows. They have long necks and attractive feminine heads. Their high chine and well-blended front ends should fit well into the modern needs of the show ring.
Goldwyn daughters have beautiful udders with phenomenal texture and median suspensory ligaments. They have high, wide rear udders and well-blended fore udders with nearly ideal teat placement.
They have a clean-boned leg with really good foot angle and heel depth.
To sum it up, Goldwyn is primarily a source of height, stretch and refinement with great udders and feet and legs. He will be best used on wide, deep-ribbed, massive cows. Goldwyn will be a great mating on the typical daughters of
Stouder Morty, Canyon-Breeze Allen, Silky
Gibson, the stronger Comestar Lees,
Summershade Igniter, Pennview Income,
Ricecrest Emerson and Shoremar Mason.
▲ Brugline Goldwyn Emily VG-85-2YR-CAN
Owned by: Brugline Farms Ltd., Chesterville, ON, Canada
3

The Semex lineup and product are the best in the business. Around the world we are the organization others look to as a leader in the industry. My customers look to Semex for what is coming next.”
TOP BULLS SOLD
• Brigeen Givenchy
• Braedale Freeman
• Stouder Morty
• Cotopierre J R Belero
• La Presentation Virgile
“The biggest challenges facing my dairymen right now are environmental issues. In the
Northwest United States we get a lot of rain and when you are farming, in particular with large dairies, you have a lot of issues with runoff and waste disposal.
4
Government regulations are costing farmers more time and money, but they are necessary if we’re to sustain ourselves long-term.
TOP BULLS SOLD
• Comestar Laser
• Benner Aerowood
• Duncan Progress
• Summershade Igniter
• Silky Cousteau

“This region is a very commercial region, but has been improving because of the bulls used over the years.
I have worked as a geneticist and consultant for many years for my customers. Over the past 15 years the Semex lineup has nearly sold itself based on the daughters. My customers know the
Semex bulls are going to give them the cows that will last for generations and will make them lots of money. Competitors work to get my clients but Semex is #1 here. People trust us.”
The future for European dairy farms is not always that bright. The role of Semex, delivering dairy cows without problems in big free stall operations and in the milking parlor, becomes more important every day.”
TOP BULLS SOLD
• Canyon-Breeze Allen
• Silky Gibson
• Braedale Goldwyn
• Pennview Income
• Shoremar James
• Comestar Lheros
• Pursuit September Storm *RC
• Comestar Stormatic
• Ladino Park Talent *RC
• Hartline Titanic
“Today Belgian farmers face a lot of challenges, like decreasing milk and beef prices, expensive quota prices and strict environmental laws that make a high quality herd even more important.
In my job, I don’t just sell semen, but I also assist farmers in improving the quality level of their herd. In my personal opinion we sell our
Balanced Breeding philosophy every day.
TOP BULLS SOLD
• Hartline Titanic
• Pursuit September Storm *RC
• Canyon-Breeze Allen
• Stouder Morty
• Terrick Reggie
• Ladino-Park Talent *RC
• Walkerbrae Logistic
• Braedale Freelance
• Comestar Stormatic
• La Presentation Aerocerf
“Today, we must listen to our clients to understand their needs and to allow them to obtain the objectives for their herd. Breeders, with new demands for fat and protein ratios, want a cow capable of producing high quantities of milk with a desirable ratio. Other important traits include longevity, sound mammary systems, quality feet & legs, and a desirable rump angle.
These qualities contribute to a cow that will produce for many lactations.
Our young sire proving program represents the future. Our first generation bulls are our big sellers and our 2nd generation bulls with high reliability have satisfied many types of breeders including fanatics of the show ring. Semex
Alliance Delivers.”
5

The
Cow
Mike West, Semex Alliance Product Support Specialist
Traveling the globe we find the Semex Cow in many different housing environments. Each of these environments offers its own unique stresses and asks different things of her foot and leg.
The traditional tie-stall barn requires cows to get up and down in the same space all day, every day. The cow stands in the same space when she eats, ruminates and produces milk.
Animals in a loose housing or free-stall setup must have strong feet and legs to allow them to maneuver throughout the facility and to the feedbunk and parlour.
Pastures require cows to be able to walk long distances over varying terrain to get their feed, water and to be milked.
Although each of these environments may be a little more or less forgiving on the feet and leg, the bottom line is that all cows must possess the proper structure in their foot and legs to be functional and profitable.
Traditionally when people think of feet and legs they
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Rear Leg
Rear View
Heel Depth
Height
Angeline Desna Titanic EX-90-3YR-USA
Rear Leg
Side View
Bone Quality
At Thigh & Hock
Foot Angle
60º Angle Off The
Front Of the Foot

▲ Comestar Outside Group at Ards Holsteins, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
Jane Steel often concentrate on the leg only, but in many environments the foot is actually more important. In
Canada, the foot score makes up 50% of the foot and leg component on the scorecard. while others prefer her leg to be more curved over more straight. Ideally we like to see the set of the leg be somewhere inbetween those two descriptions. The ideal side view angle is one that gives her leg enough curve for her joints to flex, while not becoming so curved that her weight distribution and mobility are compromised.
Ideally the foot should have a 60° angle off the front of the foot when the foot is properly manicured and maintained.
In addition to foot angle, a proper foot requires a deep heel. Ideal heel depth is between 1.5” and 2”.
These angles and depths allow the foot to maintain its proper shape and keep the bottom area of the foot up and out of the dirt and any contaminants that may cause injury and/or infection to the foot.
Rear leg rear view is the trait that is important in all environments. A cow needs to walk and stand with her legs being perfectly straight when viewed from behind. A cow’s foot should be pointed straight forward, and the point of the hock should be straight back. This position will allow her walk on a straight line and evenly distribute her weight on her feet when she is standing still.
Having a correct foot angle and heel depth allows for the proper weight distribution across the foot’s claws.
This equal weight distribution allows the cow to be more comfortable on her feet and increases her mobility. This increased mobility means the cow will walk through all environments with ease, will have no problem standing at the bunk, walking through the pasture or getting up and down in the tie-stall.
After assessing the cow’s foot we look at her legs.
Her bone quality is measured throughout her entire structure, but we pay special attention to the bone in her leg. We like to see a bone that is fine and flat throughout the leg. The cow’s hock should be smooth, showing no roundness or extra bone, without showing frailness. A fine bone quality is desirable, and considered a sign of dairyness and her ability to milk.
The set of the leg from the side view is a trait many producers disagree on. Some breeders prefer a leg that is more straight rather than curved or sickled,
These traits all work together, allowing the cow to maintain ideal mobility and comfort levels. When she is mobile and comfortable on her feet and legs she will walk across a pasture, to the feed bunk and will stand comfortably in her stall, making more milk and more money.
Semex recognizes the importance of feet and legs in the Semex Cow and offers a strong sire lineup that meets the dairy producer’s needs and makes the kind of cow that is durable and built to last.
200HO4144 Comestar Stormatic, 200HO3121
Hartline Titanic, and 200HO4626 Mr. Chestnut Hyll
Jackman rise to the top of the feet and leg numbers at
+14. 200HO4421 Terrick Reggie, 70HO1137 TCET
Lyster, 70HO0969 STBVQ Rubens *RC and
200HO1406 Emerald-Acr-Sa T Derek *TV are all great options when looking for superior feet and legs in the Holstein breed.
7

Braedale Goldwyn Daughte

® ers • Photo by Patty Jones

Dann T. Brady, Semex Alliance Prroduct Support Specialist
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The backbone of the Canadian proving system are the dairymen who support young sire programs.
These breeders study pedigrees, pictures and breeding values, knowing that their choice to participate in young sire programs benefits breeders around the world. They are the future of the Semex Alliance lineup and are proud to be part of a much larger genetic picture.
One of these farms is the third generation farm owned by
Raymond and Judy and Kevin and Nancy Briggs, in Woodstock,
New Brunswick. The Briggs operate their herd under the
Bullsbrow prefix in a 55 cow tiestall barn, averaging 8,839 kg milk.
The Briggs are supporters of the
“Vantage Program,” a young sire program provided by the Semex
Alliance’s partner Eastern
Breeders Inc., using young sire semen on 50% of the herd. Kevin sees the Semex Alliance young sires as the best in the business; they are by proven sires from deep cow families.
▲ Kevin Briggs & Family
▲ Bullsbrow Jenus Polly EX-CAN
“I believe in the Semex genetics,” comments Kevin. “It’s all about
Semex’s solid genetics. Their proven and test bulls have gotten us to where we are today.”
“She was our first EX cow and her dam was our second,” comments
Kevin.
Jenus worked well at Bullsbrow and on Polly’s dam. In fact,
Polly’s dam was just successfully Kevin and Nancy Briggs are proud of their herd that has made great genetic strides using Semex sires with 2 EX, 10
VG, 34 GP and 17
G cows in the stalls.
A model example of the young sire program, flushed to Jenus again at nine years of age.
The Briggs look for a test bull’s parent average conformation number to be +10 or higher with a solid milk production index.
Bullsbrow is home to Bullsbrow
Jenus Polly an EX first crop daughter of 200HO4118 La
Presentation Jenus.
“I’d love to milk a whole barn full of cows like Polly!” says Kevin.
“She does everything we ask her to do… She’s an EX cow, a high producer and she shows!”
“It’s an economical choice as well.
Young sires are affordable, fertile and they work on the cow families
I’ve already established. They’ve been an asset to my herd,” says
Kevin. “Polly put us on the map!”

Milking 55 Holsteins three times per day, this family farm has deep roots… tracing back to
1912. One of the top producing herds in the
Atlantic Provinces, Ravenwood Holsteins in
Irishtown, New Brunswick averages 12,852 kg of milk on a total mixed feed ration, using mainly top proven Semex sires, with a young sire program that is strictly Semex.
Over the years Alex Henderson and his two sons, Chris and Scott, have had much success choosing Semex test sires to use in their herd.
Chris, who makes a large amount of the breeding decisions, says he chooses the best mating for the cow. He also mentions he has no problem using a young sire, “No matter how good the cow.”
Chris studies the young sire offerings and bases his breeding decisions on pedigree, inbreeding level, production and solid type. He says he likes to try unique pedigrees from solid cow families. Dam pictures also weigh heavily on his decision-making. He likes the dam’s picture to show a good snug udder that has the will to milk and last for a long time. He also likes to see a solid pedigree with a milk index over
+600 kg.
Ravenwood has had exceptional first crop daughters by Renaissance Triumphant, Granduc
Tribute, La Presentation Jenus, Futuraland Zone,
Sunnylodge Joei, Cherry Crest Frontier and
Gillette Cashier, just to name a few. These bulls were all used as young sires at Ravenwood and have contributed to their outstanding production awards and classification scores and have been improvements over their dams.
“They fit in well with our breeding program,” says
Chris regarding young sires. He says his Semex sired cows last longer than ever with well-attached, snug udders. The latest round of calvings have all been very impressive, and they have all been by
Semex proven sires or young sires. The proven bulls he says are today’s genetics while the test bull
▲ Alex Henderson and sons Chris & Scott daughters he is calving out are the next generation of bulls that the world will be using.
“There’s satisfaction in knowing that we contribute to the Canadian testing program,” Chris says. “Proving new bulls continues genetic progress in my herd and around the world. We believe in the Canadian system and Semex young sires.”
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12
With the mission statement of being a “Worldleading centre for dairy research and technology,” the University of British Columbia
(UBC) Dairy Research Centre in Agassiz, British
Columbia has been a leader in genetics and research for decades.
The UBC herd traces back to the Experimental
Farm that was one of the original recipients of the Master Breeder Award in 1929. UBC was home to the 1965 Canadian Champion Milk
Producer with a 7 year old record in 305 days,
2X of 32,764 lbs. of milk and 939 lbs. of fat.
In more recent times UBC has hosted many
HER
Brenda Lee-Turner, Semex Alliance Communication Specialist daughter tours for the Semex Alliance through its
Canadian partner, Westgen, to inspect young sire daughters of Cedarwal Skyhawk, Canyon-Breeze
Allen and most recently Regancrest-LH Modest.
Not only are they a 30% Semex young sire herd, but UBC conducts numerous trials and studies at their 500 head research facility under their
Animal Welfare Program. This program aims to improve animal production and longevity through improved housing, feeding and milking conditions.
Realizing the importance of cow comfort while feeding, recent research by UBC Animal Welfare
Program researchers has focused on designing better environments for cows while eating.
According to their research, lactating dairy cows consume an average of 7.3 meals per day and spend approximately six hours at the feed bunk in a 24-hour period. Therefore, finding out what management practices influence this behavior would be beneficial to dairymen everywhere.
Worldwide there is a growing concern regarding feet and legs and their durability on different types of flooring. Concrete flooring is among the most common flooring in modern day housing facilities, and is known to contribute to hoof injuries and lameness. In addition, these problems affect the cow’s comfort, reducing her time eating and displays of estrus.
▲ Agnes Riverdene Magic, Canadian Champion Milk Producer 1965
7Y 305 2x 32,764 lbs. milk 939 lbs. fat

Over a three-week period the UBC staff tested an alternative rubber flooring in the area where cows stand at the feed bunk. Four groups of 12 cows each were tested with both 1” solid rubber flooring and grooved concrete. requirements would allow the subordinate or less aggressive cows to spend more time at the feed bunk, which would influence their production levels.
Individual cow behavioral responses were recorded with time-lapse video equipment.
Results showed that providing rubber flooring did not affect the amount of time spent eating, but the cows on rubber mats did show a slight increase in time standing without eating. Other research has shown that providing rubber-standing surfaces can reduce the risk of hoof injuries leading to lameness.
In this study, UBC researchers increased feed bunk space from .5 meter to 1 meter per cow.
Twenty-four Holstein cows were tested under those conditions and observed with time-lapsed video, and an electronic feed alley monitoring system.
Results showed that when animals had more access to space, 57% fewer aggressive interactions were observed during feeding.
Because there were fewer fights for space, feeding activity increased throughout the day.
Dairy cattle are known to synchronize their behavior, meaning that many animals in a group will all engage in the same behavior. This is most obvious during feeding times, but cows also ruminate and lie down at the same time.
As expected, subordinate cows were most affected by the change in bunk space, as they were allowed more time at the bunk without harassment from the more dominant cows.
Group-housed dairy cattle are no exception to this rule, and often the act of one cow moving to the feed bunk will stimulate the others cows to also feed.
Researchers observed these cows increasing their time at the feed bunk by 24%, particularly in the
90 minutes after fresh feed is given.
The research concluded that providing more space at the feed bunk will increase your cows’ time feeding by reducing competition and making the cows more comfortable.
In these situations competition is expected, and unless properly managed, subordinate cows will not be able to freely access the feed during peak feeding times.
UBC researchers focused on space requirements of dairy cattle while feeding in a separate study.
A study was conducted to see if increasing space
1
2
0
3
4
5
6
0:00
While not directly linked, an obvious conclusion can be made that increasing the cow’s comfort at the feed bunk will result in an increase in feed intake and the milk in your tank.
1.0 m space
0.5m space
3:00 6:00 9:00 12:00
Time (24 Hour Period)
15:00 18:00 21:00
▲ Feed bunk attendance with two levels of feeding space (from DeVries et al., inpress)
0:00
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14
Five Major Holstein USA
Brenda Lee-Turner, Semex Alliance Communication Specialist
Scorecard Breakdowns
“We want to make the
Holstein cow better,” says
John Connor, Director, Type
Evaluation Holstein
Association USA, Inc.
“She needs to be more competitive.”
“The Semex philosophy fits this model,”
Connor comments. “This is balanced breeding.”
New Breakdowns
Front End/Capacity
Dairy Strength
Rump
Feet & Legs
Udder
20
20
5
15
40
On December 1, 2004
Holstein USA classifiers began using a new and improved scorecard. The changes focus on
▲ John Connor rewarding the cow that possess both dairyness and strength, and aims to making her better able to deal with stress, fertility and calving ease problems.
Keeping dairy strength in mind, the Holstein
Association believes these changes will propel the breed forward, resulting in a better cow because as
Connor puts it, “Nobody wants a special needs cow, because she’s just not practical.”
The objectives in changing the scorecard were to
improve low fertility, improve productive life, review the importance of breeding a balanced cow and implementing commercial dairyman’s concerns… stature, show type vs. functional type and crossbreeding.
A committee of dairymen from diverse backgrounds reviewed these objectives and implemented the following changes to the scorecard:
The new Dairy Strength category replaces the Dairy
Character category with the same weighting of 20%.
“We want flat bones with bone quality and open ribs.
These qualities combined with strength exhibit what we’re looking for,” Connor says.
Connor explains that this Dairy Strength allows the heart and lungs to expand and work in the body, allowing the cow to deliver oxygen to the vital organs in order to sustain life and produce large volumes of milk. Dairy strength traits in order of priority are: ribs; width of chest; spring of fore rib; thighs, withers; neck and skin.
Front End and Capacity replaces the Frame breakdown of old and now holds 20% of weighting.
“Basically this category takes in all the skeletal parts of the cow with the exception of her feet and legs and rump,” Connor comments.
The Front End is now given six points of the overall
Front End & Capacity, an increase of two and a half points. Chest is evaluated here as it is still part of the
Body Capacity and is considered vital to evaluating the front end. Barrel and back and loin are also part of this component as they show the capacity throughout the cow.
Stature when referenced as “tall” is no longer a prioritized trait in this breakdown, keeping in mind that tall cows will not be penalized or rewarded and that the model cow is 58” at the hip and approximately 1500 lbs. in milking form.
Breed characteristics are also considered here because as John puts it, “We want a Holstein to look like a
Holstein.”
Although not a heavily weighted category, the Rump now has its own spot on the scorecard. According to
Connor this is a logical change with the increased focus on fertility, “We need to find out why the
Holstein doesn’t have better reproductive performance.
How do we improve her fertility?”
When looking at the rump the new scorecard asks that the Holstein’s rump be long and wide throughout with the correct angle, and that the thurls be centrally placed to enhance mobility. In addition, Thurls will be evaluated as a research project to identify where, on a
North/South plane, does an animal achieve the best productive life.
Feet & Legs and
Mammary System did not receive changes in the new scorecard.
Recognizing the changing needs of the breed, Holstein
Canada has proposed adjustments to their classification program in an effort to better serve their evolving breed.
Integrating an all breeds classification program, and a simplification of the scorecard will be at the center of the changes. Holstein Canada is very enthusiastic about the upcoming changes and is ready to head into 2005 to fully develop and implement the proposals.
In upcoming issues of Balance we will showcase Holstein
Canada’s proposed improvement to the classification program.

First lactation heifers are the most at-risk animals on your dairy for lameness problems. And once lame, these animals are at greater risk of becoming lame again.
These first-lactation animals need to have maximum cow comfort and care from us to prevent lameness problems,” says Jan Shearer, veterinarian at the
University of Florida. “Once they have significant damage caused by laminitis or significant damage to the digital cushion, they are highly susceptible to ulcer problems for the rest of their lives.” www.dairyherd.com
“Today’s profitable cows are the ones that have high production for several years with no problems. With this kind of cow I’m sure farmers would have more milk, less replacements, less vet expenses and therefore more money at the end of the day.”
Alfonso Ahedo, General Manager Semex Spain
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Univeristy of British Columbia Animal Welfare Program, Advances in Dairy Technology (2004) Volume 16 32
John Connor, Director of Type Evaluation, Holstein Association USA, Inc.
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