“Where we are located, we need pounds of milk and components,” says Walter Graves. “In an ideal world, I’d love to have a herd of cows that averages 30,000 pounds of milk and has national showring-winning type, but that’s not a realistic goal for most commercial herds. We strive for a cow that moves freely, has a well-attached udder, is trouble-free, breeds back easily, milks well, and remains in the herd for multiple lactations. Longevity really is key for us. It just makes sense. If we can get more milk out of cows that last longer and stay healthy, we’re ahead of the game.”
Clover Farms utilizes whole-herd genomic testing to identify genetically superior animals. Capturing this data enables Graves to easily select animals to include in their IVF and embryo transfer program, as well as determining which animals are mated to sexed semen and which will receive beef semen.
Graves works closely with Premier Select Sires Regional Marketing Manager Brad Barham to make mating decisions. “We try to limit their young sire usage to no more than 100 units per sire,” notes Barham. “Refraining from going too in depth on one specific sire not only ensures a broad sampling of sires, but it also often means we are creating the first significant group of milking daughters by several of our young bulls, generating those first data sets.”
“While we do focus on a lot of new genetics in our breeding program, we will come back and reuse a proven sire that has worked well in the herd,” notes Graves. “There’s something to be said for a tried-and-true sire, especially when we know exactly what to expect with those matings. 7JE1758 JX THRASHER {6} and 7JE5004 CHROME are prime examples of the kind of sire we have continued to utilize after they gained a proof.”
Graves has also made investments in outcross genetics from other herds to add diversity to their breeding program. “We purchased Ahlem Alcan Cora 64209 (VG-84%) out of the Decades of Dupat Sale. Sired by 7JE1913 ALCAN out of a Very Good (84%) 7JE1699 JX PINE {6} daughter, I liked the outcross and JX THRASHER {6} and 7JE1789 JX CHATHAM-free pedigree.” Cora 64209 has two sons currently in the active lineup at Select Sires – 7JE2347 DIZZYDEAN and 14JE2345 MCGWIRE.
Another investment by the Graves Family, Yosemite Princeton Vnfoken 38827 (VG-85%), has left a lasting impact at Clover Farms. A 7JE1544 PRINCETON daughter, Vnfoken 38827 has two notable grandsons at Select Sires - 507JE2351 OZZIE-P, the No. 1 JPI™ Polled PJA 100 sire, and 14JE2346 JX ROLEN {5}.
“They may be milking over 1,000 head, but the Graves Family really does treat their herd like a 100-cow herd,” says Barham. “Walter and Tony are behind the cows daily and make the investments to improve their genetics. They may not
have started with a significant number of high-ranking cows, but they have done the work to improve the herd and truly have a passion for breeding good cows.”
Victory Farms, LLC
In terms of registered Jersey genetics, Victory Farms could be considered a bit of a newcomer, however the impact their genetics have had on the breed is immense. Located in Revillo, South Dakota, Victory Farms milks over 5,900 cows with a production
average of 68 pounds of milk with 5.2% fat and 4.0% protein. The herd has a classification average of Very Good (80%).
Utilizing an intensive IVF program, approximately 25% of Victory Farms’ calves are the result of embryo transfer. “We strive for increased milk production, solid functional type and healthy cows,” says Kevin Souza. “High genomics and high type can live in harmony. There’s no reason an animal with impressive numbers can’t look good as well.”
As with any producer, the goal at Victory is to improve the overall herd generation after generation. “Kevin truly grasps the value of utilizing genomic data to make better decisions about which sires work best for which cows rather than using a blanket approach to mating,” says Barham. “By focusing on health and fertility traits, production and components, and really utilizing a balanced breeding approach, Kevin has been able to make impressive genetic strides in a relatively short amount of time.”
Victory Farms utilizes an equal distribution of genomic and proven sires. “We try to limit any young bull to no more than 200 units of semen. Doing so allows us to increase the number of young sires we can sample. If we find one of those young bulls really excelled, we’ll come back and utilize him as a proven sire,” says Barham. “JX CHATHAM and JX THRASHER {6} worked quite well, but they also came back to 14JE1921 JX CRISPIN {5} and OVERALLS.”
Any proven sires brought back into the breeding program are primarily utilized on mature cows. “Using proven sires on the cow herd gives us a solid genetic base to work from, while focusing young sires on the virgin heifer population helps Kevin advance his genetic returns quickly.”
JX Victory Pogba Suzann 51583 {5} (VG-81%), a 7JE1505 JX POGBA {4} daughter, has been a standout foundation cow for Souza. She is the dam of 7JE1933 JX ELS {6}, one of the first sires from Victory Farms to graduate into the Select Sires proven lineup. JX Victory 51583 Thrasher 58551 {6}-ET (VG-81%), a full sister to JX ELS {6}, is also leaving her mark at Victory. “She’s proven herself to be an excellent bull mother and will have more than 200 offspring in the herd at Victory,” says Barham. “Those two cows are ideal examples of the kind of cow Kevin strives to develop. They freshen, get bred, get vet checked and then get dried off. Rinse and repeat kind of cows. And, they milk above herdmates.”
Another influential cow at Victory Farms LLC is JX Victory Listowel 60495 {5}-P-ET (E-91%). Her grandson, 614JE2353 JX WYNDHAM {5} is the top Cheese Merit $ (CM$) and Net Merit $ (NM$) GForce™ sire offered by Select Sires, as well as the No. 2 GJPI and Productive Life (PL) sire, and No. 3 Herd Health Profit Dollars® (HHP$®) sire. Her son 7JE2181 JX UPCYCLE {6}-P, by 7JE1985 GEPPETTO {6}, is in the top five of the Select Sires GForce lineup for Dairy Wellness Profit Index® (DWP$®) and top 10 for NM$ and CM$.
Developing solid commercial cow families into top genetic pedigrees has been a priority. “A lot of Victory’s great cow families didn’t come from what we think of as traditional genetic giants. They have been bred from good commercial cows that stand the test of time,” says Barham.
“We’re proud of what we have been able to accomplish with our breeding program,” says Souza. “It’s fun to see the investments pay off.”
Wickstrom Jersey Farms Inc.
As one of the founding herds of Jerseyland Sires, Wickstrom Jersey Farms Inc. has a longstanding history with the Jersey breed. Located in Hilmar, California, the herd averages 72 pounds of milk with 4.9% fat and 3.8% protein on 2,600 cows. Eighty
percent of their matings are to sires offered through Select Sires.
“We try to limit our young sire usage to six or seven genomic sires at a time, so as not to put all our eggs in one basket,” says Brent Wickstrom. “We strive for production and components from sound cows. Our goal is to have 95-100 pounds of energy corrected milk (ECM). CM$, Fat, Protein and pounds of Milk are all key players in our sire selection process, along with fertility traits.”
The Fearless cow family has had an immense impact both at Wickstrom Jersey Farms Inc. and the Select Sires genetic lineup. Dupat Fearless 15549-ET (E-93%) is a 100 Percent Jersey Ancestry (PJA) cow that easily set herself apart from her herdmates. “What initially drew us to her was her exemplary type,” says Barham. “She’s more than just a pretty face though. She’s an efficient, healthy cow that outperforms her herdmates. The family has immense longevity. Prior to making 15549 a permanent donor, there were four generations of the cow family in lactation at Wickstrom Jersey Farm, including 15549 and multiple daughters.”
“She has 60 daughters on the farm currently, with more pregnancies coming,” says Wickstrom. “This family is the whole package. Their depth of pedigree and ability to milk well and score well, coupled with their efficiency and trouble-free nature makes the family a no-brainer to breed from.”
Fearless 15549 currently has two sons and a grandson available from Select Sires: 7JE2102 FIRSTCUT, 7JE2258 FORREAL, and 7JE2196 JX KASKADE {5}. Of her 54 classified daughters, 39 are scored Very Good or Excellent.
“I really enjoy seeing the Wickstrom Family reach their goals,” says Barham. “When they find a female they truly believe in, they aren’t afraid to utilize and build from those genetics. They are making the investments and put their money where their mouth is. Even if a mating is intended to create a sire, it’s a mating they have to believe in, because they have to milk the heifers that result from that flush.”
Pedigree-proven is the hallmark of Select Sires’ Jersey program. By partnering with these progressive herds it creates an opportunity to strengthen and broaden the impactful genetics available to Jersey producers nationwide.