Select Sires

CSS Health Certified Semen
Transcript of Select Sires' Reproductive Moment Program
on DairyLine Radio Which Aired Nov. 6, 2003
With Dr. Don Monke, vice president of operations,
Select Sires Inc.

Today we have Dr. Don Monke, vice president of operations at Select Sires and the chairman of the National Association of Animal Breeders, to tell us about Certified Semen Services Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of the NAAB. Dr. Monke, let’s start with why CSS was formed and briefly explain its purposes.

Thanks, Bill. NAAB delegates formed CSS in 1975 to establish a program of self-regulation in the animal breeding industry. Its mission is to reduce the risk of disease in bulls producing semen for A.I., to reduce the risk of disease that may be transmitted via semen that is used for A.I. and to prevent the misidentification of bulls and their semen. In this regard CSS has been very successful in dispersing information concerning the handling and processing of semen, in establishing uniform labeling of semen packages and in establishing procedures for the certification of businesses that process livestock semen.

There are usually about three dozen A.I. organizations that have an agreement with CSS. The success of the program has enabled the national animal breeding industry to regulate itself without direct government involvement.

What does it mean for an A.I. company to have an agreement with CSS?

The agreement means that the A.I. company is in compliance with the NAAB Uniform Coding System for bulls and semen packaging. It also means the A.I. company is in compliance with the CSS Minimum Requirements, which state specific health testing procedures for bulls and mount animals before they enter an isolation interval, during the isolation period and throughout their residency at an A.I. center. There are six diseases specifically tested for in the CSS Sire Health Program, and they are: tuberculosis, brucellosis, BVD virus, trichomoniasis, campylobacteriosis, otherwise known as vibriosis, and leptospirosis. The CSS service director makes an annual, unannounced audit visit to each facility in the program. He reviews procedures and records related to semen identification and sire health. He then determines compliance. Semen from bulls maintained under conditions complying with the CSS Minimum Requirements may be designated as CSS "Health Certified Semen."

How can dairy producers benefit from purchasing CSS Health Certified Semen and how does one make sure they are purchasing Health Certified Semen?

Because all A.I. health programs are not equal, and not all A.I. companies are in the CSS program, breeders need to carefully choose their supplier. Producers can eliminate the guesswork and take their herd-health program one step further by selecting Health Certified Semen from CSS-participating companies. There are three things producers can do to make sure they are purchasing Health Certified Semen. First, they should ask the genetics company from which they buy their semen whether they participate in the CSS program. Second, they can look for the registered CSS logo trademark on the straws. Only those packages of semen that have met CSS requirements have the logo printed on them. And third, look for the CSS logo on the company’s business materials, and advertisements.

Select Sires Inc., 11740 U.S. 42 North, Plain City, Ohio 43064 / Phone: (614) 873-4683 Fax: (614) 873-5751