February 2021
Polled breeding and the goal of bringing the polled segment to the peak of the conventional top lists are among the main tasks that breeding...
March 2021
From Avatar to Power, Rambo to Mauro, Redalex to Unstopabull, Noah to Rager, Manana to Go Fast and Swingman to Solitair; here are the most...
March 2021
Since the breakthrough of genomics in 2008, the situation in the breeding industry has clearly changed. Our regular guest writer, An American Dairyman, is taking...
March 2021
Many of you will know at least one of Mark Comfort’s businesses – like “Udder Comfort”, “Comfort Holsteins”, or his former semen distribution company “Transfer...
March 2021
Holstein breeding is a truly international industry. Thousands of bulls enter AI studs around the globe every year. How do you know which ones are...
March 2021
That Denmark recently welcomed the 13-year-old Bojer daughter Frida as an ultra-young 200,000 kg cow is no coincidence. The Danish dairy industry has progressed tremendously....
March 2021
The surge in use of beef bulls on lower genetic merit dairy cows continues to grow, and part of the evolution in this market is...
March 2021
Indeed! The starting shot of HI’s unique tournament of the world’s most influential cow families has been given. Here is the first preliminary round; on...
February 2021
In North America the heifer programs established by the major bull studs are a core part of the bull breeding industry. Most bull studs now...
February 2021
Each proof run HI explores the highest index sires worldwide, but unfortunately we do not always have space and time to investigate who leads for...
February 2021
Raising calves is an indispensable part of dairy farming. HI spoke to four international players with tremendous expertise in this area. They passionately share about...
February 2021
The use of beef sires on the bottom end of the herd (Beef-on-Dairy) has become a popular concept on dairy farms. In this series of...
February 2021
Just three Holsteins were able to become a World Champion twice in their career: Thrulane James Rose, RF Goldwyn Hailey and Decrausaz Iron O’Kalibra. Precisely...
January 2021
For HI’s 3rd instalment of the “herdbook series” we visit Holstein UK – who continues to bolster its position as the pivotal British herdbook by...
January 2021
Partially thanks to the arrival of genomics, there are fewer and fewer bulls from which the descendants are born with difficulty, or from whom the...
January 2021
Sound System, Sinus, Burley, Bosman, Empire, Uranus, Louxor, Perks, Sunlight… all names of sires that are positioned as Nr. 1 in December, and in the...
January 2021
The wide array of breeding values offers young Holstein bulls the possibility of tremendous indexes. High production and fitness values often turn out to be...
January 2021
The use of beef bulls on lower genetic merit dairy cows has become a worldwide phenomenon. With continued growth in dairy-beef demand, Holstein International will...
January 2021
The stability and the consistency which the December evaluations showed in almost all leading Holsteins countries rubbed off on the section for polled and red...
January 2021
Bovec began in February 1971: Initially as a consulting firm for larger dairy farms, and since 1974 also an importer and distributor of American Holstein...
December 2020
Who were the most sold Holstein bulls during the past six months? HI posed this question to breeding companies world-wide. The answers resulted in the...
December 2020
Canadian veterinarian Dr. Gordon Atkins is renowned internationally for his presentations on functional type in dairy cattle. He has been a practicing vet for more...
December 2020
In his 5th contribution to Holstein International, our guestwriter An American Dairyman is focusing on sire selection. As the headline says: changing your goals too...
December 2020
Lively London to leisurely Lincolnshire: Why Matthew Winter left his big-league job in the city to return to the family farm… and what he wants...
December 2020
A new IVF lab in Dumfries, Scotland, will enable Vytelle to make available its hormone-free IVF technology to dairy and beef cattle breeders in the...
December 2020
Most health problems with the dairy cow occur when giving birth or within the first 2 months of lactation, when her body is dealing with...
December 2020
Since the August evaluations, Germany’s dairy farmers can look at the new economic index RZ€ in addition to the RZG. However, the RZ€ is not...
November 2020
Last year it was Cookiecutter Halo who claimed the Global Cow title. This year two of her daughters Hanker and Has fought a duel for...
November 2020
‘Teats must definitely not become any shorter!’ We are hearing this statement more and more frequently – and world-wide. Especially now that the number of...
November 2020
This is the third installment in our series featuring the major Holstein herdbooks around the globe. Did you know that the same foundation animals that...
November 2020
Black Silver is a new name in the world of international Holstein genetics. Founded by some passionate young Holstein breeders from Canada, Black Silver has...
November 2020
There was already a small earthquake that rattled through the German breeding branch in mid-September when 6 German breeding companies at once announced that as...
November 2020
Dairy-beef has become a worldwide trend. European bull-studs report that up to 40% of dairy cows are now bred to beef bulls. In North America...
November 2020
In my experience as a US dairyman the issues with stature today are more regionalized than worldwide. I am located in the Southeastern US. It’s...
October 2020
Programs that give recognition to outstanding brood cows have been implemented in various Holstein countries worldwide. In the US two different awards are given to...
October 2020
It is a beautiful drive from downtown Madison. There, in the centre, is the “State Capitol”, a remarkable building. But breeding enthusiasts know about a...
October 2020
No, we don’t want to draw the devil on the wall and we do not want to give inbreeding, which was helped the breed with...
October 2020
No, there is no special topic for this interview. This interview is not only a general review of Holstein breeding, but also a view towards...
October 2020
Through its LG brand, Limagrain Europe is a leader in animal nutrition and is known for its expertise and ability to offer varieties that meet...
October 2020
The costs incurred for treatment and from lost production due to mastitis have made it one of the biggest challenges facing the average dairy producer....
September 2020
He’s back: An American Dairyman. Since November 2019, our guest author has already written three articles for HI, packed with practical tips for dairy farmers...
September 2020
With its green rolling hills and vales, Ireland has earned itself the title of the Emerald Isle. Since emeralds and diamonds are the most precious...
September 2020
Jonathan Lamb is no stranger to the dairy business. In partnership with his parents and brother Matthew, Jonathan and his wife Alicia, along with their...
September 2020
With 1.5 million registered cows, France is one of the global Holstein giants. In total, 4,800 French Holstein breeders are associated with the independent herdbook...
September 2020
Sound System, Helix, Louxor… many of the big leaders from the April release retained their top positions in August. Does that indicate little news with...
September 2020
In April, many countries had a base adjustment. In order to then immediately be able to truly judge the new indexes at their value requires...
September 2020
Dynamic! That was the word to describe the August evaluations which rewrote the international rankings, particularly in the polled sector. There were exciting debuts on...
August 2020
Those who love Holsteins normally also love pretty Holsteins. The same is obviously true for those who are interested in Red Holsteins as well. As...
August 2020
‘From my former work before joining the genetics industry I was very familiar with the concept of return on investment,’ comments Italian Luca Santuari. ‘The...
August 2020
Every birth demonstrates it again: fertility is an essential aspect of dairying. Heat detection plays a critical role in this. Cows and heifers, first of...
August 2020
This year it is 50 years ago that the first Koepon dairy farm was started in Garnwerd in the Dutch province of Groningen. The very...
July 2020
The club has 24 members world-wide– with numbers 25 and 26 now standing on the threshold – and is considered an elite group of absolute...
July 2020
Holstein breed associations around the globe are a significant force in directing the breed progress worldwide. In this series, Holstein International will introduce many of...
July 2020
She could be the highest index cow in her country, have the most stars, the highest classification, production, lifetime production, or best health. No problem:...
July 2020
The bull that spent much of the last two years as the Nr.1 udder bull in the breed – Luck-E Awesome-Red – was a major...
June 2020
Last year, she was overwhelmingly the readers’ favourite and finished second. As such, from the outset, Luck-E Advent Asia-RC EX-94 was a big favourite for...
June 2020
Are you overlooking the passive improvement you could gain in your herds’ fertility?
June 2020
Which traits receive the most attention in sire selection? What is the contribution of DNA and polled sires on your farm? Which bulls have you...
June 2020
Do-It-Yourself Artificial Insemination (DIY AI) has made significant gains in recent decades. World-wide, millions of Holsteins are being bred by farmers themselves or by employees...
June 2020
No matter whether your breeding goals are aimed at producing a cow for commercial milk production, a high-type show animal, or if you are trying...
June 2020
From quick processing of daily administration to complete overviews of herd performance; it is hard to imagine modern dairy farming without a well-functioning management program....
June 2020
Established in 2012, Global Ag Alliance (GAA) initially sold fresh semen to large commercial herds in California. ‘The goal was higher conception rates but it...
May 2020
Canadian Holsteins with several breeding stars often appear in HI. British Holsteins with several stars were placed in the spotlights in the March 2020 issue....
May 2020
Whether or not we are speaking about an economically relevant trait here has no bearing. The fact is that that hardly any distinction is tied...
April 2020
“Fresh Cow YMCP® is a proven product of twenty plus years in my dairy practice. It is a convenient, well balanced, and ready to use...
April 2020
Dairy farming is a wonderful job like no other. But it also presents its fair share of challenges. There’s peace of mind knowing you have...
April 2020
Scientists around the world have been searching for ways to reduce agriculture’s contribution to greenhouse gas emissions. Perhaps the most exciting discovery comes from Australia...
April 2020
The use of beef sires on lower-end genetic-merit cows has become a widespread trend in dairy herds around the world. Extensive use of sexed semen...
April 2020
Avoiding heat stress for cows and the associated decreases in production and fertility is a main management topic in dairy farming, and this by now...
March 2020
That heat and humidity cause stress for cows and reduce production is nothing new. But it is a phenomenon whose economic impact even in moderate...
March 2020
Throughout the 70s, 80s and 90s, the global popularity of the Holstein cow continued to climb in line with her improved performance. Heavy selection emphasis...
March 2020
In this investigative article HI explores the UK’s Star Brood system and discovers more about its leaders, as well as some select position holders.
March 2020
Widely known: in Italy, there is a lot of passion for Holsteins. A whole lot. This is likely the result of the early arrival of...
February 2020
HI traditionally keeps a close eye on breeding developments and reports on new trends which can be reasonably expected to make a positive contribution to...
February 2020
The success of the Ferme Blondin herd in Quebec, Canada is world-famous. Many great type and index cows have passed through its barn including Blondin...
February 2020
We all know that cattle breeding and genetic selection can be complex, but have you ever considered the process outside the Holstein arena? Here we...
February 2020
Notable. During the Dutch December release, Double W Ranger plummeted to 288 gNVI (-117). With 110,000 first inseminations during the past two years, he was...
January 2020
In modern farming, environmental regulations controlling farming practices are becoming more and more restrictive in many regions of the world. Climate change and the contribution...
January 2020
In 2017 Australia became the first country to publish genetic evaluations for Heat Tolerance. At first glance it would seem that a trait such as...
January 2020
Picture a glass of JERSEY milk… rich & creamy! Picture a glass of GUERNSEY milk… golden & flavorful! Now, picture a glass of HOLSTEIN milk…...
December 2019
The beauty of the Holstein breed is that it offers so much diversity. Here we investigate the breeding tactics of four breeders with differing goals.
December 2019
Anyone who interprets breeding in a traditional manner thinks of the selection of one sire for one cow. Of course, this approach is not outdated....
December 2019
Of the current top-15 progeny proven bulls in Spain, ten are owned by Xenética Fontao. In the DNA list, they even have a share of...
December 2019
Vander Woude Dairy is based at Merced, California, and for the last seven years they have been using beef semen on part of their Holstein...
December 2019
We all know colostrum and pre-weaning nutrition is important for calf vitality, but how much does it impact a cow’s long-term milking career? Here we...
November 2019
It’s time to dry cow #374, a Supershot daughter that’s still milking 88lb (40kg). But, it feels wrong. Why? For generations, we have carefully coordinated...
November 2019
The idea of writing about micronutrients in our management series is not something that came on a whim. The current discussion about climate change and...
November 2019
It started as a boyhood dream. Cousins Lowell and Jared Martin went to school and church together, and regularly shared ideas about their passion of...
November 2019
Beef-on-Dairy, the use of beef sires on (part) of the dairy herd, is a global phenomenon. In North America, Beef-on-Dairy has been the most significant...
October 2019
This month our management series looks at different equipment now available for the on-farm handling of milk. Under many circumstances, the chilling of milk before...
October 2019
The industry is on the cusp of a new revolution in dairy cattle breeding – the selection for feed conversion efficiency. While this trait has...
October 2019
One judge, one vet, one classifier and one breeder help us understand what their ideal cow looks like, and the problems the breed needs to...
October 2019
Clinical and subclinical milk fever are very costly. They incur not only direct economic losses, but also open the “door” to other illnesses. Health and...
October 2019
A keen eye for development in the dairy industry: That is one of the most prominent core qualities of the Dutch company Bles Dairies. With...
September 2019
Progressively, more and more breeders are paying attention to management traits. The reason is the impact they have on farm profitability. Chief among these traits...
September 2019
At the Genetics Conference 2019, Dr. Mike Lohuis, Vice President of Research and Innovation at Semex, based in Guelph, Canada, presented a 10-Year report card...
August 2019
For generations the breed has been working to reduce calving interval length. The quicker a cow becomes pregnant again, the better the economics. There is...
August 2019
In the article “The Background and Future of the Most Significant Red Holstein Populations” in HI’s Red Review issue 08/2018, the decreasing number of Red...
August 2019
The topic of “intelligent barns” flags up many questions. With milk price struggling, is the investment worth it? How will automated technology affect my workforce?...
July 2019
Since the recent April release, Natural is the proud owner of the two highest Czech Holstein bulls: Zetor and Zologram-P, while their colleague Attila also...
July 2019
Several years have passed since the last calculation of the worldwide breeding index (2013), which Holstein International did regularly since 1996. Enough time, which national...
June 2019
As herds get larger and livestock handling systems become more mechanized, time spent on heat detection for each individual cow continues to dwindle. However, next...
June 2019
Problems with hoof health (lameness in cows) is among the biggest irritations of dairy farmers – the costs of lost milk production, additional labour, veterinarian...
June 2019
Soon the stifling heat of summer will be with us and that can adversely affect the production levels of high yielding dairy cows. Here we...
June 2019
With a unique selection criteria, that includes the requirement of all bulls to be A2A2 and have no haplotypes, a look into Jetstream Genetics’ ethos...
May 2019
Over the forecast period of 2017-2023, the robotic milking market is projected to grow at an annual growth rate of 9.78%. Yes: We can expect...
May 2019
Canada has two main total merit indexes. The Lifetime Performance Index (LPI) has been the recognized measure of Canadian genetics for decades, while the Pro$...
April 2019
In HI’s February issue (pgs. 10-11) you became acquainted with the phenomenon Beef-on-Dairy: the breeding of dairy cows to beef bulls. As the result of...
April 2019
Antibiotic resistance and reducing the amount of antibiotics used in livestock production – it’s a topic all livestock producers have heard over and over during...
March 2019
Theoretically, a breeding value for somatic cell score (SCS), as is routinely calculated in most countries around the world, could continue to serve as a...
February 2019
In HI, we seldom or never write an article about the beef breeds. Nevertheless, there is a good reason to do that now, because the...
February 2019
Use of genomics in official genetic evaluations has transformed the dairy cattle breeding industry over the past decade. Now genomics is being used to offer...
January 2019
The breeding of tall, impressive looking cows has been the goal for many a breeder down through the years. Now, slowly the tide of opinion...
January 2019
With US Holstein genetics playing a major role on the international scene, the TPI is widely recognized and has become a common language understood in...
December 2018
Improved cow comfort is often listed as a major contributor to increased milk production. Improved barn design, increased air flow and ventilation, better access to...
December 2018
France has two large breeding companies: Evolution and Gènes Diffusion. At the latter, Frédéric Lepoint has already been employed for 28 years and thus is...
November 2018
Timely pregnancy of heifers and cows is critical to the economics of dairy farms. That is the reason why during the past number of years,...
October 2018
‘Stress reduces the resistance of cows, causing the likelihood of infections to increase. And the number of stress moments is quite high actually; cows are...
August 2018
It is now almost 10 years since the arrival of the genomics. In that time it has evolved into the biggest revolution the cattle breeding...
August 2018
A common sight on many farms around the world is the arrivial of the AI technician to breed cows. Now the number of farmers with...
July 2018
A daily production of 40 kg/cow; Pieter Karst Bouma wants to reach this goal within two years. ‘After raising the roof on the old barn,...
June 2018
Elevated somatic cell counts not only cause production losses, but also increase the likelihood of mastitis, with all the associated problems and costs. To prevent...
June 2018
“The Program for Healthy Cows”: That is how the ProFitPlus program is described on the websites of the German AIs RinderAllianz (RA) and Rinderzucht Berlin...
May 2018
Average daily milk production per robot for all Lely milking robots world-wide reaches 1628 kg, while the top farm is now above 3000 kg! ‘The...
May 2018
In August 2011, the Nordic Total Merit (NTM) index – used in Denmark, Sweden and Finland – became the first total index worldwide to include...
February 2018
Whether or not to use dry cow treatment, housing in one or two groups, a dry period of six weeks or is eight weeks better?...
December 2017
Whether you are thinking about enhancing your existing barn or building a new one –integrating milk-boosting tools will most likely be an advantageous goal. Here...
September 2017
The name Pine-Tree is synonymous with the Rudolph Missy family. Bulls such as Supersire, Mogul, Balisto – the most dominant bulls of the genomic era...
August 2017
One of these busy mornings when you are lamenting the fact that you have so many calves to feed, spare a thought for Ty Fullmer...
August 2017
Selection emphasis on fitness traits over the last 15 years has arrested the declining genetic merit for health in the dairy cow that had developed...
August 2017
Recently, Holstein International reported about the top management of three herds that reached record numbers of 100,000kg-220,000lb cows (HI 06/2017: Sandisfarne, Kellercrest & Iden). But:...
July 2017
It is amazing how breeding and trait selection can transform and alter a breed.In Holsteins, over the decades we have seen alterations in size, fertility,...
June 2017
The combination of good genetics and good feed should lead to a high producing herd. However, seeing to all the smaller details that create an...
March 2017
Can fertility be improved through breeding? Or is it simply down to management? Here we investigate the impact you can make by selecting for fertility.
January 2017
Did you know that 20% of semen sold in Norway is in the form of SpermVital? It’s a technology that prolongs the life of sperm...
December 2016
Heat detection is an important aspect of fertility management. In the past, it primarily involved visual observations, whether or not supported by tail chalking. In...
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