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Volume 19, No. 15
TPI adjustments aims to make a more proďtable Holstein By Jennifer Coyne jenn@dairystar.com
RICE, Minn. â For years, the Genetic Total Performance Index (GTPI) formula has evaluated Holstein animals and their potential to impact the breed, taking into account 14 traits that reďect production, health and fertility, and conformation. In July, Holstein Association USA approved changes to the formula suggested by the associationâs genetic advancement committee. These changes positively reďect the direction breeding has taken to produce the modern Holstein cow. âThis formula is the industryâs gold standard and it puts a more proďtable cow in that barn, and thatâs what every dairy producer strives to breed for,â Spencer Hackett said. âThe sole purpose of us tweaking the formula is to help improve the way genetics are going for the breed â for everyone, not just the registered herds.â Hackett milks 140 cows near Rice, Minn., in a partnership with his wife, Stacey, and parents, Melvin and Darlene, at Melarry Farms. Hackett recently completed his second year serving on the genetic advancement committee. As of Aug. 5, the GTPI formula reďects a greater emphasis on fat and feed efďciency, and less on protein; emphasis on productive life is reduced and a new trait, cow livability, measures the animalâs time alive on the farm; and adjustments made to both udder composite and foot and leg composite decouple them from stature. âThis committee sits down and ďgures out what the breed needs, and these changes are examples of what weâre constantly doing as a committee,â Hackett said. âWith rBST going away, producers are looking closer at genetics. We need a better racehorse to put in a stall and make more milk Turn to TPI | Page 5
âAll dairy, all the timeââ˘
September 23, 2017
Weckland Farms beneďts from new facilities Weckerly herd now housed under one roof after eight years of switching cows By Danielle Nauman danielle.n@dairystar.com
MONROE, Wis. â The saying, âgood things come to those who wait,â is true for Dillon and Amanda Weckerly. After eight years of switching cows, the Weckerlys moved into a new parlor and freestall barn on their dairy, Weckland Farms, about one year ago. On Aug. 24, they opened their new facility to the public as part of the Green County Dairy Modernization Tour. They milk 250 cows near Monroe, Wis. The new parlor is a double-12 parallel, with the Turn to WECKERLY | Page 6
DANIELLE NAUMAN/DAIRY STAR
Amanda and Dillon Weckerly stand in the new double-12 parallel parlor they built and started using one year ago. The couple milks 250 cows near Monroe, Wis.
Bur-Wall Holsteins suffers barn ďre
Former world production leader one of nearly 40 animals that perished By Danielle Nauman danielle.n@dairystar.com
BROOKLYN, Wis. â A barn ďre of undetermined cause broke out just before midnight on Sept. 18 at the Bur-Wall Registered Holsteins farm just outside of Brooklyn in Dane County, Wis. The farm, owned by Wallace and Donna Behnke, along with their son, Bob, was home to a milking herd of nearly 70 head of high-end registered Holsteins, including Bur-Wall Buckeye Gigi EX94-3E-GMD, who was a former world milk production record holder and was Holstein USAâs Star of the Breed in 2013. The herd has been recognized with Holstein USAâs Herd of Excellence award multiple times, including in 2017. The ďre call was dispatched at 11:58 p.m. on the night of Sept. 18. When ďre Turn to BUR-WALL | Page 7
PHOTO PROVIDED BY RACHEL POMEROY
The members of Bur-Wall Holsteins pose with Bur-Wall Buckeye Gigi who set a NaĆonal Milk ProducĆon record at 74,650 pounds. The crew is pictured (front row, from leĹ) Rebecca Murphy, Al Murphy, Brenda Murphy, Sterling Evert, Keri Evert, Carter Murphy; (back row, from leĹ) Lisa Behnke, Taylor Behnke, Roger Behnke, Morgan Behnke-Conard, Donna Behnke, Bob Behnke, Denise Behnke, Tori Evert, Tami Behnke, Brian Behnke.