PLAIN CITY, Ohio, July 31, 2007 — The mission of Select Reproductive Solutions™ (SRS™) is to do "whatever it takes to increase the production of pregnant cows." Its Portfolio of Reproductive Solutions™ includes reproductive troubleshooting, professional technician service, estrus-synchronization programs, professional A.I. training, English and Spanish training resources, heat detection training and aids and nutritional supplement. The most important component of SRS is the unmatched level of service that is provided by Select’s highly trained reproductive specialists. In order to continually elevate the reproductive expertise of every person on the Select Sires service line, Select Sires provides a number of training sessions each year. The most recent was a "Train the Trainer" conference hosted by Cache Valley/Select Sires in Loveland, Colo.

"Reproductive expertise has always been an important feature of Select Sires," says Dr. Ray Nebel, senior reproductive specialist for Select Sires. "The training that occurred at this year’s Train the Trainer conference will further enable Select’s reproductive specialists to serve dairy producers throughout the country by improving reproduction within their herds. This year’s conference was an outstanding mixture of classroom presentations from university professors and allied-industry leaders and on-farm training at two large, well-managed Western herds."

More than 40 primary reproductive specialists from across the country – representing all of the Select Sires member cooperatives, Select Sires Canada, World Wide Sires and Select Sires Latin America – attended the three-day conference. The agenda consisted of industry-renowned experts in their respective fields including Bill Wailes, Colorado State University, on "Statistics on Colorado Dairy Industry"; Jeff Kearnan, Arm and Hammer Animal Nutrition, on "Cows and Facilities: What are They Telling You?"; Kevin McSweeney, D.V.M., Bovine Reproductive Specialists Inc., on "A Turnkey Ultrasound-Based Reproductive Program"; George Siedel, Colorado State University, on "A History of Sex-Sorted Semen."

The conference incorporated both classroom training and herd visits. The group toured Bella Holsteins Inc., owned by Gary Hendrickson, Platteville, Colo., and Longs Peak Dairy LLC, owned by Rick Podtburg, Pierce, Colo. On the farm, the Reproductive Solutions team was divided into work groups to apply their knowledge, including the topics of body condition and locomotion scoring, as well as feed bunk and records evaluation.

The SRS Specialists participating in the symposium are now multiplying the impact by training other personnel in the Select Sires supply line. The majority of Select Sires’ sales force is tested and "certified" in their reproductive knowledge biennially. Advanced level exams are administered for certification of SRS Specialists.

Based in Plain City, Ohio, Select Sires Inc., is North America’s largest A.I. organization and is comprised of 10 farmer-owned and -controlled cooperatives. As the industry leader, it provides highly fertile semen as well as excellence in service and programs to achieve its basic objective of supplying dairy and beef producers with North America’s best genetics at a reasonable price.

™Select Reproductive Solutions, SRS and Portfolio of Reproductive Solutions are trademarks of Select Sires Inc.