Company News

We know you are facing surmounting pressure economically to reduce costs, and socially to reduce ....
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At Semex, we know you're facing surmounting pressure economically to reduce costs, and socially to reduce antibiotic use. And, we now are offering the best solution to help you 'Crush Disease' once and for all!
"Despite all of the improvements made with dairy animal husbandry there continues to be worse health performance. When all else is equal, the thing that's going to differ between two cows on your dairy is, 'How strong is their immune system? How able are they going to be to respond to that challenge?' Because no matter how well-managed a dairy is, every cow is going to encounter both bacterial and viral pathogens almost every day," says Dr. Steven Larmer, Semex Geneticist & Business Analyst.
In 2012 we launched Immunity+® bulls, an industry first, dramatically changing the way dairymen developed breeding strategies and managed herd health. Easy to use, Immunity is highly heritable, with Immune Response being 30%, well above other individual health traits. And the results confirmed this new breeding strategy, and a study of Semex sired animals from 35 commercial dairies in 2017 showed improvements in a number of areas on about 30,000 cows and 75,000 heifers tested. The reductions were seen in eight health incidences, with the most significant being a 20% reduction in mortality and 17% reduction in persistent mastitis. The improvements in immune response would have resulted in $72,330 savings for herds milking 1,000 cows during one lactation period. But, we didn't stop there!
We put genomics to work, fighting herd health, and with the advent of genomic evaluations for Immune Response, we are now able to identify cows in the herd that resist disease through our Elevate® female genomic testing platform. By looking at genomically tested cows, instead of simply using the sire status, we can see that those cows with a stronger immune system resist disease even better.
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St-Lo VIDEO is the second Jersey addition and he will undoubtedly be a �home run� with our Jersey breeders. The ultra-stylish VIDEO is the #1 Conformation (+16) and #1 Mammary System (+14) sire in Canada! Unlike many high Jersey Conformation sires, VIDEO daughters
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As we all finally say goodbye to this harshest of winters, it is fair to say that we are all ready for a lift. We have a sensational new group of proven sires, from the first proof round of the year, that will be �just the ticket� to give our Holstein breeders something to get excited about. Breeders continue to strive for a herd of problem-free cows
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Semex is pleased to announce two key additions to its global team in March 2019. Charlie Perotti has accepted the role of Director, Corporate Account Programs effective Monday, March 18 and Mark Carson has accepted the position of Genetic Solutions Manager, effective Monday, March 25.
Reporting to Paul Krueger, Vice President, Global Key Account & Solutions Strategies, Charlie will play a key role in furthering Semex's global corporate account strategies and sales growth within key markets including: Mexico; Russia; China; and South East Asia.
Charlie has a lifetime of experience in the global dairy industry, focusing on progressive dairy herd genetic development and management. Most recently he was the Production Director at Fonterra in Beijing, China, managing their 32,000 milking cows. Charlie's vast experience touches all facets of the dairy industry including management, sales, sales management, employee sourcing, training and development. A third-generation dairy farmer, Charlie is also a general partner in his family's century farm.
Mark will lead the support and development of new and existing genetic solutions as part of the Semex Solutions Team, reporting to Jay Shannon, Director, Genetic Programs & Solutions.
Mark has been employed with EastGen over the past 10 years, most recently in the role of Solutions Manager, leading a team of field specialists supporting Semex ai24® and Semex Solutions on key dairies throughout Ontario and Atlantic Canada. Mark has a BSc in Animal Science and an MSc in Epidemiology from the Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph.
Semex is pleased to have these two well-known dairy industry persons join our global team, delivering the best client services, support and product globally.

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Pro$ was introduced in August 2015 as a selection tool to maximize genetic response for daughter lifetime profitability. Since that time, producers, A.I. companies, breed associations and other industry organizations have been quick to embrace this index. Over the course of the last
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Semex is excited to announce the launch of FastStart sires, genomic sires delivered at the fastest pace possible!   “Genomics and the new release high genomic young sires are driving the genetics business,” comments Brad Sayles, Semex Chief Operating Officer. “At Semex, we want clients to have access to our highest-ranking sires just as fast as possible. FastStart helps them do that. By signing up for this program, clients everywhere can have the hottest young sires available, and be the first to do it!”   FastStart represents the best, high-ranking Holstein and Jersey sires from diverse pedigrees. Released monthly, FastStart sires will be high ranking GTPI, PTAT, JPI, JUI and excel in health traits.   “Signing up for FastStart is easy,” says Sayles. “Clients will see that we’re offering the most elite genetics to them first at extremely competitive pricing, and with the option for Semex to have access to the resulting genetics there is no financial risk. Once you’re on board you will be the first to get the very best 200 code sires!”   For more information on Semex, FastStart sires or our solutions portfolio please visit www.semex.com      
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MEETING LOCATION: Mapleton Meadows Farm, Courtney & Josh Pranger, 11383 Belmont Road, RR # 8, St. Thomas, ON EastGen’s AI School is designed to understand and manage reproduction in your herd. EastGen’s experienced staff will moderate a diverse and intense agenda of reproductive management subjects. Improve your knowledge and learn
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Since 2009, CanWest DHI has published reproduction benchmarks based on the previous years herd performance. To help look at how we�ve progressed, we are comparing the average reproductive performance in 2018 to herd performance in
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This week, the Honourable Kirsty Duncan, Canada's Minister of Science and Sport, announced $56 million in funding to support 37 research projects. This includes Semex's new joint project with the University of Guelph's Dr. Bonnie Mallard, the Angus Genetics Inc and Canadian Angus Association dedicated to fighting Bovine Respiratory Disease (BRD) in Angus Beef cattle. This project received over $500,000 in funding from Genome Canada's Genomic Application Partnership Program. 



 

"We've already done this for dairy cattle with our partner Semex," says Dr. Mallard. "It will provide three major benefits. The first is to the animal, because healthier animals are better off all the way around. The second is to the producer. They save time and money because they don't have to spend time treating sick animals with antibiotics or other therapeutics as much as they would under normal circumstances. And the third benefit is to the consumer, of course, because you (the consumer) can sit with confidence when you eat that steak, knowing that it came from naturally healthy animals, that were produced in a healthy and sustained environment."

 

BRD is the most common and costly disease affecting feedlot cattle in North America, with estimates to be as high as $1 billion annually. Unfortunately, pharmaceuticals are temporary solutions, with antimicrobial resistance growing and antibiotics are becoming less effective over time. Additionally, the meat industry is facing mounting pressure to phase out antibiotic use, with supply chains responding to consumer demand.

 

"Semex is taking our Immunity+® technology to the beef industry," says Dr. Michael Lohuis, Semex Vice President Research & Innovation. "With Dr. Mallard, the Angus Genetics Inc and Canadian Angus Association, we're developing a High Immune Response test for Angus cattle. BRD is a costly disease, and we think we ... Read More...