A2 Genotyping Assay
Beta-casein makes up 30 percent of milk protein and comes in two forms; A1 and A2 beta-casein. The difference between A1 and A2 beta-casein is determined by the genetics of the animal. Reports indicate that A2 beta-casein proteins are potentially more favorable to...
Three essentials your dairy won’t get far without
Dr. Kelly Sporer, CentralStar Records Analysis Consultant Every time my husband leaves the house, he says out loud, “keys, wallet, cell phone.” Why? These are essential items he won’t get far without, but with them, he can get anywhere and accomplish anything. On your...
CowManager® presents awards to Select Sires consultants
CowManager® honored several Select Sires consultants and one South Dakota dairy with awards. Bekah Meller from COBA/Select Sires Inc. was named the 2023 Up and Coming CowManager Specialist of the Year. Meller lives in Kenton, Ohio and joined the COBA team in August...
CentralStar and Zoetis partner to provide genomic testing
CentralStar Cooperative recently partnered with Zoetis to bring dairy producers more convenient access to CLARIFIDE®, CLARIFIDE® Plus, and Herdity™ genomic testing. “Partnering with Zoetis to help facilitate easier implementation of genomic testing aligns with...
Stetzer and Hyde awarded specialists of the year by Select Sires
Carla Stetzer, CentralStar Cooperative, and Tim Hyde, Select Sires MidAmerica, were honored at Select Sires’ annual Trusted Advisor Conference in late April. The 2023 conference was held in Fresno, California and hosted by All West/Select Sires. Stetzer was named the...
The first step to managing BLV
This BLV Herd Profile shows low prevalence in first lactation, with an increase in later lactations. From this you can surmise the majority of ongoing transmission is happening in the milking herd. With USDA estimating 94% of all dairy herds in the United States are...
Avoid these (costly) mistakes
Lessons learned from 40 years in the industry Julie Ainsworth, Retired CentralStar Records Analysis Consultant I’ve had the privilege of working with many dairies during the past 40 years. Throughout this time, a few key lessons routinely emerged, and still exist as...
New Transfer of Passive Immunity Standard
There has been a long-standing definition of successful transfer of passive immunity, stated as 10 grams of IgG per liter of serum, 24-36 hours post colostrum feeding. The United States Department of Agriculture has raised the standard. A recent publication citing...
Prioritize, Execute, Repeat
Doug Moyer, Integrated Dairy Solutions The progress made during the past 10 years in reproductive performance on dairies is truly impressive. Today, it’s more commonplace to find herds with pregnancy rates over 30%. While this is the outcome of multiple factors, high...
CentralStar Cooperative hires nine 2023 summer interns
CentralStar Cooperative, serving dairy and beef producers in the upper Midwest, will host nine interns, this year, in their genetics, laboratory, and research and development business units. Six students will join the genetics and artificial-insemination (A.I.) team...
Seven dairy herds recognized for reproductive efficiency
Seven herds with 12‐month pregnancy rates of 38 percent or higher were recently recognized with the CentralStar Cooperative ReproStar Award. Towns Farms, Inc., Janseville, Wis.; Hillside Dairy, LLC, Mt. Calvary, Wis.; Horning Farms, LLC, Manchester, Mich.; Kenealy...
Mark Adam selected CentralStar Pioneer Award recipient
The CentralStar Cooperative Board of Directors recently announced Mark Adam of Eaton Rapids, Mich., as the 2022 Pioneer Award recipient. Established in 1977, the Pioneer Award recognizes individuals who, through selfless and dedicated service and leadership, have...
How many heifers should you raise?
Cole Mark, Director of Consulting and Profit Strategies, CentralStar Cooperative Growing up on a 60-cow dairy, I remember being ecstatic if we had a run of three or four heifer calves in a row. But times have changed. Historically, the main goal of reproduction was to...Award-winning CentralStar employees honored in recent ceremony
CentralStar Cooperative, serving dairy and beef producers in the upper Midwest, hosted their annual CentralStar Team Member Awards Program on Oct. 23, 2022. The event recognizes and honors employee team members who’ve gone above and beyond during the recent fiscal...
Reaching for Genetic Potential
Larry Roth,, Ph.D., PAS Vice President of Nutrition Whatever happens to a calf day 1, week 1 or month 1 of its life determines if it will live up to its genetic potential. This statement is true for both replacement heifers with tremendous milking potential and steer...
PCR Is a Game Changer for Mastitis Management
Originally published: https://www.thermofisher.com/blog/behindthebench/pcr-testing-mastitis-diagnosis-management/ PCR Testing for Mastitis Diagnosis and Management By Behind The Bench Staff Dairy Herd Health Information Fast and Easy CentralStar Cooperative – PCR Is a...
Eight students receive CentralStar $1,000 scholarships
The Board of Directors for CentralStar Cooperative, serving dairy and beef producers in the upper Midwest, is awarding eight college and technical-school students with $1,000 scholarships to help pay for post-secondary education. In addition to being children of...
Ramaker hired as new CentralStar Cooperative CFO
Troy Ramaker, New Holstein, Wis., has been hired as CentralStar Cooperative’s new Chief Financial Officer (CFO). Ramaker is responsible for forecasting and managing the cooperative’s financial position, as well as overseeing all finance and accounting operations, team...
Understanding indexes takes the guesswork out of genetic selection
by Julie AinsworthDairy Records & Consulting Coordinator Aside from the obvious goal of generating a pregnancy, what else do you want from the genetics you buy? Are you looking to increase milk production, improve solids, reduce mastitis, better calving...
Yager and Klevgard named CowManager® Specialist of the Year
Select Sires Inc. honored Trevor Yager and Darin Klevgard at the federation’s recent Trusted Advisor Conference in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Yager and Klevgard provide unmatched support to herds that utilize CowManager’s innovative activity monitoring system throughout...
Brian Kelroy and Susie Martin recognized for their excellent work as genetic consultants
Select Sires Inc. awarded Brian Kelroy and Susie Martin as Select Mating Service® (SMS®) Genetic Consultants of the Year at the federation’s recent Trusted Advisor Conference in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Both Kelroy and Martin are vital members of the CentralStar...
Zoetis, CowManager and Select Sires Form Global Collaboration
Sensor technology, genetics and genomics brought together to improve individual cow health Zoetis, CowManager® and Select Sires Inc. today announced the launch of a strategic collaboration to integrate genomic tools and predictive sensor systems. The goal of this...