Extension Communications 3614 Administrative Services Building Ames, Iowa 50011-3614 (515) 294-9915
6/15/99 Contacts: Marjorie Faust, ISU Extension Dairy, (515) 294-2793 Laura Sternweis, ISU Extension Communication Systems, (515) 294-0775 Looking for Top Dairy Genetics - Here are Iowa's Elite AMES, Iowa -- Dairy expansions in Iowa and other Upper Midwest states have highlighted the ever-increasing need for top quality dairy genetics, said Marjorie Faust, extension dairy specialist at Iowa State University. The Elite Cow and High-Ranking Grade Cow Evaluations are published cooperatively by USDA and the Dairy Herd Improvement Association (USDA-DHIA) to identify superior dairy genetics. The evaluations released recently list 197 Iowa dairy farms accounting for 644 high genetic merit dairy cows. Of these, 556 registered dairy cows from all six dairy breeds were named to the USDA-DHIA Elite Cow List: 10 Ayrshire, 53 Brown Swiss, 22 Guernsey, 430 Holstein, 36 Jersey, three Milking Shorthorn, and two Red and White. Also, 88 Iowa cows qualified for the list of genetically superior grade dairy cows. The USDA-DHIA list for High Ranking Grade Cows in Iowa included two Ayrshire, two Brown Swiss, one Guernsey, 79 Holstein, one Jersey, and five Red and White. "Recent waves of herd expansions in the Upper Midwest and western states have increased dramatically the demand and prices for quality dairy replacements," Faust said. "Prices for springing dairy heifers have been at all-time highs. These record high prices and tight supplies have caused some dairy producers to consider sacrificing quality when purchasing herd replacements. "Some of our work at Iowa State University shows that paybacks for high quality dairy genetics are cost effective for all dairy herds, including herds that are expanding," Faust continued. "For example, investments in cattle are 35 to 40 percent of total expansion investments (excluding land), and, quite obviously, cattle must provide the income stream necessary to pay for the entire expansion project. For expansions, we have found that purchasing high genetic quality and healthy animals from a reliable source is justified due to its favorable net effects for profitability and lowered biosecurity risk. Our estimates suggest that purchasing healthy, high quality heifers can net an additional $800 or more per heifer over average quality heifers. The newest USDA-DHIA Elite Cow and High-Ranking Grade Cow Evaluations identify for breeders and commercial dairy producers potential sources for top genetics &endash; one key component for profitable dairying today." The USDA-DHIA Elite Cow and High Ranking Grade Cow lists are published in February, May, August, and November of every year. Cows included on these lists must meet a very stringent set of criteria for genetic merit based on Net Merit Dollars (NM$). Net Merit Dollars is an economic index that is computed for the USDA-DHIA genetic evaluations, and is the best single genetic measure available for predicting the profit potential of future progeny. The NM$ for a cow predicts the economic value of her combined contribution to progeny of genetic superiority for milk, fat and protein production; linear somatic cell score; and length of productive life. Elite and High Ranking Grade Cows are in the top 1 to 3 percent of their breed nationally for NM$. Daughters from May 1999 Elite Cows are expected to be more profitable for each lactation than daughters from cows born in 1990 by more than $126 for Ayrshire (top 2 percent), $152 for Brown Swiss (2 percent), $145 for Guernsey (2 percent), $181 for Holstein (1 percent), $163 for Jersey (1 percent), $142 for Milking Shorthorn (3 percent), and $114 for Red and White (3 percent), Faust said. -30- USDA-DHIA Top Ranking Elite Cows In Iowa May 1999 Owner, Address Net Merit Dollars State Rank Ayrshire Langmont Inc., Brooklyn 189 1 Langmont Inc., Brooklyn 184 2 Garry Zumbach, Monticello 162 3 L & L Ayrshire Farm, Stockport 151 4 J-Darryl and Teresa Keehner, Guttenberg 142 5 Brown Swiss Oak Forest Farm, Clarence 274 1 Dennis Mashek, Calmar 268 2 Walt Vander Waal, Orange City 254 3 Dennis Mashek, Calmar 248 4 Oak Forest Farm, Clarence 246 5 Guernsey Eldon Moss, Iowa City 186 1 Eldon Moss, Iowa City 175 2 Donald Sywassink, Letts 174 3 Richard Drackley, Decorah 174 4 Sunnydale Guernseys, Iowa City 172 5 Holstein Trent Henkes, Luana 322 1 Mike, Tom and Keith Sullivan, Osage 321 2 Mike, Tom and Keith Sullivan, Osage 307 3 Trent Henkes, Luana 306 4 Gerald Nurre, Dyersville 305 5 Mike, Tom and Keith Sullivan, Osage 298 6 Trent Henkes, Luana 290 7 Regancrest Farm, Waukon 280 8 Regancrest Farm, Waukon 277 9 Gary and Darlene Kregel, Guttenberg 272 10 Jersey Mark Metzger, Larchwood 192 1 Art Metzger, Summit Farm, Inc., Lester 189 2 Mark Metzger, Larchwood 184 3 Art Metzger, Summit Farm, Inc., Lester 183 4 G. Joe Lyon, Toledo 183 5 John and Edwin Maxwell, Donahue 182 6 Mark Metzger, Larchwood 181 7 G. Joe Lyon, Toledo 181 8 Multi-Rose Jerseys Inc., Rock Rapids 178 9 Art Metzger, Summit Farm, Inc., Lester 178 10 Milking Shorthorn Maurice and Bonnie Meyer, McGregor 176 1 Maurice and Bonnie Meyer, McGregor 162 2 Iowa State University Dairy Farm, Ames 146 3 Red and White Top-Deck Holsteins, Westgate 124 1 Steven and Marlene Otte, North English 118 2 USDA-DHIA Top Ranking Grade Cows In Iowa May 1999 Owner, Address Net Merit Dollars State Rank Ayrshire Kevin Deboer, Ellsworth, MN 145 1 Lehmann Brothers, Elgin 130 2 Brown Swiss Lloyd Rolfs and Sons, Castalia 167 1 Herbert Kleve, Calmar 159 2 Guernsey Chad Winke, Waukon 157 1 Holstein Arden Fischer, Manchester 245 1 Kent Research Farm, Muscatine 233 2 K and K Pitzen, Stacyville 217 3 John and Jerry Renes, Rock Valley 215 4 Mark Davelarr, Maurice 211 5 Chris and Nancy Wonderlich, Waterville 206 6 Terry VanMaanen, Rock Valley 206 7 Randy and Judy Riniker, Guttenberg 205 8 Jim Willis, Aplington 204 9 Chuck Kaas, Worthington 204 10 Jersey Roger Rubendall, Waukon 166 1 Red and White Marv and Patty Errthum Family, Holy Cross 194 1 Rick Hovey, Lime Springs 126 2 Robert Dunleavy, Ardara Holsteins, Waverly 125 3 Hesse's D H Farm Inc. 120 4 Rick Hovey, Lime Springs 115 5
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