We realize that the best genetics or tools for your herd aren’t always what the industry is telling you.
That’s why we shifted our focus to providing a range of balanced genetics that produce healthy, profitable cows, enabling you to prioritize the traits that matter most to your dairy. Additionally, we’ve developed specialised tools and programs designed to help producers profit from genetic progress.
But don’t just take our word for it. Hear how dairy producers like yourself, are maximizing profits, improving efficiency, and enhancing sustainability through a partnership with ABS.
SLOWEY FARMS – seeing great results
Slowey Farms, located in central Wisconsin, started in 1912 with just 7 cows. With 100+ years of being in operation, the farm is in its 5th generation and currently milking 1,700 cows three times a day. Alby, with his wife Dawn, manage the day-to-day daily operations with the help of their son, Alex and his wife Mattie. They are the 5th generation of the farm. The farm has been 100 percent ABS since 1995 and uses the Genetic Management System to mate their cows with ABS sires to meet the herd’s genetic goal: consistently creating medium sized, feed efficient cows that stay in the herd a long time. The Slowey’s have put the Winning Game Plan to work and have seen great results.
The Game Plan
- All heifers get bred to ABS sexed semen product, Sexcel, supporting future expansion with the new rotary parlor they’re building.
- About 40 percent of the milking herd is bred to sexed dairy semen to make females.
- The other 60 percent of the cows are bred Beef InFocus.
The Results
Because of their game plan, the cows average 96 pounds of milk a day, with 4.63% butter fat, and 3.37% protein, totaling 113.70 pounds for an energy corrected milk. In 2024, the herd averaged over eight pounds of combined fat and protein, which is exceptional..In addition to dairy production, the farm also raises beef animals and sells the finished products to local consumers.
Slowey Farms trusts ABS for the right genetics, tools, technology, and team to profit from genetic progress!
TOM BLECHER
Dairy farmer Tom Blecher, who lives in North Wales, just outside of Mold, has been partnering with Genus ABS for more than ten years to develop a breeding program that meets the long-term requirements of his operation. Tom has reshaped his herd’s performance for years to come by using technologies like genomic testing, a Custom Index, and a forward-thinking approach to bull selection, all while focusing on genetic progress, milk contract targets, and overall efficiency. Tom’s primary goal for genetic selection has always been to create a cow that fits his specific system and milk contract, rather than settling for what the industry deems important by using an industry index like £PLI. For Tom, a customized index created with assistance from Richard Bostock, his Genus ABS distributor, has been crucial.
“We’ve not been scared of using bulls a little lower on £PLI if they’re right for what we need.” -Tom Blecher
The Best Plan Is Yours, Not the Industry’s
By choosing bulls with the correct profile rather than just the greatest £PLI, Tom has been able to make decisions that advance his dairy in a manner aligned with his herd’s goals. For example, Tom used a bull he previously would have discarded as a prospect based on his £PLI but ranked well on his Custom Index. While the bull didn’t rank the highest against industry indexes, his daughters have since proven to be excellent performers in Tom’s herd, particularly in second lactation.
4 CORNERS DAIRY
The De Boer family owns and operates 4 Corners Dairy in the Central Valley of California. On the dairy, they view their cows as part of their team and care for them like they would anyone else. Because the dairy industry is always changing, they are constantly looking to advance their genetics.
The 4 Corners Dairy Herd Goals
- Create healthy cows by incorporating proper management protocols and selecting genetics that reduce feet and leg issues and improve udder health.
- Produce the highest quality product for consumers to enjoy by choosing genetics that meet the needs of their milk market which is primarily cheese market and focused on fat and protein production.
- Increase dairy’s revenue by retaining ownership of their high-quality beef cross calves.
Partnering with ABS
4 Corners Dairy partners with ABS because of the relationships they’ve made with our team members. They value the tools and services we offer to help them profit from genetic progress. Today, they incorporate products like Sexcel and Beef InFocus into their breeding program, while using GMS to help manage inbreeding.
Most importantly to the De Boer family, the ABS Custom Index and Genetic Services team has proven most valuable in their ability to profit from genetic progress. Our team has assisted them in improving genetic selection effectiveness by using their genomic data to drive better decisions. Genetic audits performed by our team has allowed the dairy to determine what traits keeps cows in their system longer, limit their days open, and increase the number of lactations they have in the herd. Combining that with a Custom Index, 4 Corners Dairy has been able to influence and rebalance the traits that are economically important to their operation. They have been about to identify genetics with their Custom Index that excel for Fat and Protein, Productive Life, Livability, and fertility as well as ones that work well in their free stall environment. Using a Custom Index has allowed them to find more younger bulls that meet their selection needs but still advance their Holstein population.
Their Custom Index in Action
Recently, they performed an exercise comparing and ranking bulls from three different studs based on the dairy’s Custom Index. When the numbers were run, bulls from each of the studs ranked well, but ABS was an outlier, having the greatest number of sires that met the direct needs of 4 Corners Dairy. This is a true testament to the genetic diversity we can offer customers but also the genetic quality needed to progress herds forward. The beauty of a Custom Index is its ability to identify a range of 20 balanced sires that meet a dairy’s needs to choose from verses only five.
With an ABS Custom Index, genetic audits, GMS, Sexcel, and Beef InFocus, 4 Corners Dairy continues to advance their herd and profit from genetic progress.
For us, it’s not just about the genetics. It’s about tools like GENEadvance and Sexcel we can provide customers.
The future of ABS isn’t just about creating the next high-ranking product. It’s about a well thought out plan for our customers’ future profitability, sustainability, and success. It’s about us being with you every step of the way.
Do you want to profit from genetic progress on your dairy? Contact your ABS Genetic Representative or complete the form below.
