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Strategic plans and your loyalty make fiscal 2009 successful
We recently closed the books for fiscal 2009 and while we saw decreased sales and revenues; we have many bright points notable of sharing. Consolidated sales revenue of $19.85 million, was slightly below the record levels of 2008. We posted a Net Margin of $618,060 and as such, the board approved a patronage distribution to common stockowners as well as a .35 cent per share dividend for preferred stock. Read on.
How DCRC award winners achieve near 30 percent pregnancy rates
This fall 58 dairies were nominated by industry professionals to receive the first ever Dairy Cattle Reproductive Council (DCRC) Reproduction Award. Eighteen dairies were recognized for their herd’s reproductive efforts; including three dairies owned by NorthStar Cooperative stockowners. We caught up with Autumn Vista Dairy, McBain, Michigan and Cary Dairy Farm, Battle Creek, Michigan to learn more about what they are doing to achieve near 30 percent pregnancy rates. Read on.
Is there anything we can’t learn from a DHI milk sample?
Parentage is the latest information AntelBio has been able to extract from a DHI milk sample. Although many in the scientific arena had suggested that this was a hopeless task, AntelBio’s recent successes in developing milk-based tests for Johne’s, leukosis, BVD, and progesterone led us to believe investing effort and resources could add additional value to the DHI testing platform. Click to learn more about parentage testing in DHI milk samples.
What’s new in timed A.I. programs for heifers?
Replacement heifers represent the future production of the dairy herd. At times producers choose natural service sires over A.I. due to ease, convenience and efficiency. The only way natural service bulls add convenience is when A.I. is performed with the time and effort of daily estrous detection. At the most recent DCRC Conference a successful timed A.I. protocol for heifers was presented that makes A.I. very convenient, allowing producers to take advantage of the long-term economic benefits A.I. has to offer. Click to read about the modified 5-day CIDR-CoSynch 72h protocol.
Reid Dairy Farm named 2009 Progressive Dairy Producer
Maximizing opportunities best describes how Jim Reid approaches dairying. Over the past five years, the Reid Dairy Farm has nearly tripled in herd size and increased milk production by 6,267 pounds. As a result, the herd’s dollar value increased $1,020; earning Reid Dairy the NorthStar Cooperative Progressive Dairy Producer Award. Click to learn more about the management practices used on this Jeddo, Michigan dairy.
January 2010 Base Change
Every five years the USDA updates the base used for genetic evaluations and the next base change is set to take effect in January 2010. The practice of a Base Change is to keep PTA’s from growing larger over time and it also assures that PTA values for A.I. sires provide realistic expectations. Read on.
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