PLAIN CITY, Ohio, Aug. 7, 2007 — In August, Select Sires will grant $65,054 to fund seven research projects that are expected to positively impact the A.I. industry. In addition, COBA/Select Sires has contributed $5,000. Select’s eight-person research committee reviews each research proposal and grants funds based on both scientific merit and significance of results to Select Sires and the A.I. industry.
"Select Sires is a leader in investing in innovative research for the benefit of dairy and beef producers. Our commitment to research is so important, it is one of our core values," said Dave Thorbahn, general manager for Select Sires. "For more than 30 years, Select has allocated in excess of $60,000 every year in competitive research grants to universities from coast to coast. With total contributions now approaching $2 million, these funds have been largely directed to the study of new technologies to improve the efficiency and profitability of dairy and beef production."
Increasing Conception Rates in Dairy and Beef Cows and Heifers
Dr. R. C. Chebel, University of California - Davis, is investigating the effects of reducing the interval from follicle development to luteal regression in lactating dairy cows. "It is anticipated that an increase of approximately 6 percentage points in conception rate will be observed for cows inseminated following the Modified CoSynch protocol," Chebel said.
Chebel is conducting an additional project which seeks to create new reproductive management strategies to offset dairy cattle infertility due to heat stress. "Reproductive performance of lactating dairy cows exposed to heat stress is dramatically compromised, with some herds experiencing reduction in pregnancy rates of more than 15 percent," Chebel said. "This experiment is expected to improve the overall economy of dairy production."
Dr. J.C. Dalton, dairy extension specialist for the University of Idaho, is seeking more information regarding estrous behavior that may lead to management practices that increase reproductive performance. "Further development of knowledge regarding the early postpartum period may lead to new management techniques that help Select Sires personnel increase the reproductive performance and profitability of their customers lactating dairy cows," Dalton said.
In addition, two studies related to conception rates in beef animals will be granted funds. Dr. Mike Day of the department of animal science at The Ohio State University will research the 5-day CO-Synch plus CIDR program, that currently includes two prostaglandin injections. This program was developed at Ohio State with the support of Select Sires Inc. and COBA/Select Sires and on average, has increased timed-A.I. pregnancy rates in beef cattle by 11 percent. Day is now further investigating the consequences of using just one PGF injection. "An increase of this magnitude of the success rate of timed A.I. would promote an increased implementation of A.I. programs in the beef industry," Day said.
Developing a successful fixed-time insemination program for beef heifers is the goal of Dr. D.J. Patterson of the department of animal science at the University of Missouri. "Despite the recent development of estrous synchronization protocols that facilitate successful use of fixed-time A.I. in postpartum beef cows, this same degree of success has not been realized in beef heifers," Patterson said. "This experiment would support an increase in the adoption rate of A.I. in the U.S. beef industry."
Minimizing Cow Death Rates and Pregnancy Losses
Dr. G.W. Rogers, department of animal science at the University of Tennessee, is exploring a better understanding of the cow death rate in U.S. dairy herds and how genetic evaluations such as Productive Life should and should not be used in breeding programs. "This information should help U.S. dairy producers better manage their herds and be more competitive producing milk in our global market and also result in a better understanding of how genetics plays a role in cow health and death," Rogers said.
Investigating the reason why the majority of first inseminations in timed-A.I. protocols result in pregnancy loss is the purpose of Dr. J.S. Stevenson’s research project at the department of animal sciences and industry, Kansas State University. "Although timed-A.I. protocols have benefited the industry, the proportion of cows becoming pregnant at first services ranges from 25 to 40 percent. Therefore, the majority of these first inseminations did not produce a pregnancy," Stevenson said.
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.
