GMS® Mating Program
GMS...
Giving you the tools to build a profitable business
Since 1968, the Genetic Management System® has been providing the tools to help customers achieve their production, genetic, and financial goals. GMS is a comprehensive management system that optimizes genetic progress and simplifies the breeding process. GMS offers sound, unbiased mating selections based on economically important production and type traits for longer-lasting cows, as well as a heifer Genomate program based on pedigree and/or body traits. The long-term benefits of GMS include higher profitability through improved herd production averages, increased longevity, and more valuable offspring. It also allows for more efficient management of time and breeding dollars, allowing the customer greater control of their breeding program. In our 40 years of service, over 3 million cows have been mated in over 40 countries with GMS!
The Genetic Management System contributes to the overall herd success, much like herd health and nutrition programs. GMS allows customers to profitably take advantage of the sires and services ABS offers, saving time and making money for customers to focus on other aspects of their dairy business.
For more information contact your ABS Representative, call ABS at 1-800-ABS-STUD and ask for the GMS Department, or E-mail the GMS Department: gms_dept@absglobal.com
Blue Print
The future of your business
ABS wants to work with your dairy and plan for the future. A GMS evaluator will help develop a comprehensive and personalized genetic improvement blue print for your dairy.
• What type of housing and milking facility do you have?
How does this determine the type of cow you want to develop?
• Where do you market your milk? Is it a Cheese, Fluid or Organic Market?
Are there production changes needed?
• Which type of on-farm record keeping system/software is being utilized?
Is individual cow information available?
• What makes the most profitable cow for your operation?
Where do you expect your herd to be in 5, 10 and 15 years?
Philip Baldwin, Denham Springs Farm, GMS since 1998
Brindle, Cheshire, UK
“Ten years ago I wanted to put some organization into our breeding policy and decided that GMS was the best system to do this. I wanted to breed cows that produced well, were built to last and suited our system. With the help of GMS, every generation that comes into the herd are closer to my goals. GMS has done a great job breeding consistent cows that suit our farming system.”
Sire Selection
Use the right tool for the job
• GMS pre-evaluation reports will be provided based off of your herd’s pedigree information
• Your GMS evaluator will score 15 linear traits on each animal
• As a team, your GMS evaluator, ABS Representative and you will meet to analyze the current genetic level of your herd
By combining these three steps, your evaluator will then be able to create a unique MasterPlan tailored just for your herd. A customized bull group is developed from your criteria rather than the “most popular” bull. Inbreeding, recessives and the individual cow’s strengths and weaknesses are all combined together to produce the most beneficial mating.
Jonhy Leendert Los, Chacara Florentia, GMS since 1998
Carambei, Parana, Brazil
“There is a big variety of bulls in the market today, ABS comes and does the matings and I’ve seen improvement in type, production and now have stronger cows with more longevity.”
Inventory Management
Let GMS do the heavy lifting!
• Utilizing the Monthly Semen Needs Report will reduce overhead and improve efficiency when
Month to Breed data is provided to your GMS Evaluator from existing records
• When using one of the three mating recommendations independently, you will easily be able to
clean up and manage existing inventory
• Avoid running your inventory too tight because that could limit your herd’s growth and potential
Mark Johnson, Co-Owner of Johnson’s Rolling Acres, 700 cow herd, GMS since 1979
Peterson, Minnesota, United States
“We have been expanding quite a bit over the last few years, buying cows from various herds that are not on a mating program. You can tell the difference between the cattle that have been mated using the GMS program from those that have not.”
Professional Results
GMS is not a do-it-yourself tool kit…We are here to HELP!
• GMS utilizes Certified, professional GMS Evaluators evaluating herds for 15 economically-important traits - Plus an entire team of dedicated professionals running reports and maintaining quality
• Weighted economic and longevity indexes are used for consistency in the herd
• Decisions are easier because of Herd Percentile Ranking (HPR) – a ranking within herdmates using production, type and health & fitness data based on your goals developed through customer controlled breeding options from the GMS MasterPlan
• GMS fixes what needs fixing and protects what needs protecting on each cow
• Using the common ancestor information from the maternal and paternal side (controlled inbreeding and recessive protection) helps to manage fertility, calf vigor and growth traits
• GMS is conscious of current economics, and develops indexes to meet all market needs
Mike Hayes, Pendra Branca, GMS since 1998
South Australia
“With roughly 50% of our herd being GMS replacements, we have GMS cows that produce an average around 1,000 litres more over a lactation than non-GMS cows in an already high producing herd.”
Teamwork
Lawrence Schroeder, JR., 120 cows, GMS since 1984
Windthorst, Texas, US
“I feel that if you run a business you have to surround yourself with quality people and let them do the job they are trained to do. Running a family dairy, I don’t have time to sit down and study the bulls and mate the cows. I put complete trust in GMS and my GMS consultant and I think the results speak for themselves.”
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