World Dairy Diary

New Directors on World Dairy Expo Board

Congratulations to Angie Coburn, Mike Hellenbrand, Steve Larson and Bryan Voegeli, the new members of the World Dairy Expo’s Board of Directors.

Angie Coburn serves as Procurement Manager for Genex Cooperative, Inc./CRI of Shawano, Wis. She has been with the company for fourteen years, and is currently responsible for all bull and embryo acquisitions while overseeing their GENESIS nucleus program. With a degree is Dairy Science from Virginia Tech, she has been active on the NAAB Dairy Sire Evaluation Committee, AJCA Type Advisory Committee, and the Virginia Tech Dairy Science Alumni Association. Coburn has also been involved with the Pennsylvania All-American and WDE’s Intercollegiate Dairy Judging Contests.

Mike Hellenbrand and his wife Linda, own and operate City Slickers Farm in Cross Plains, Wis. With a degree in finance from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, Hellenbrand began his career in the banking business in Madison. He later ran the Mortgage Securities Group for a Wall Street firm in New York City for 10 years and also developed a consulting firm while there, providing services to a number of financial firms throughout the country. Following the events of September 11, 2001, he and Linda decided to reenter the agricultural industry. They now manage an intensive embryo transfer business, currently implanting approximately 1,000 dairy embryos annually. City Slickers’ Farming operation consists of 250 recipients and 350 ET animals that are primarily owned in partnership arrangements.

Steve Larson has been with Hoard’s Dairyman in Fort Atkinson, Wis. since 1969. Since 1998, he has served as Managing Editor, and now directs the editorial content and production of the international dairy magazine. Besides his editorial responsibilities, Steve also prepares Washington News and the magazines’ coverage of milk marketing and dairy policy, dairy product promotion, feeding and nutrition, and mastitis and herd health. In addition, he works with the Hoard’s Dairyman Farm, consisting of 350 registered Guernseys and Jerseys on 530 acres. Larson serves on a number of industry advisory boards. He holds degrees from Kansas State University and the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He and his wife, Leota, have five children.

Bryan Voegeli is the fifth generation to operate Voegeli Farm, Inc., in Monticello, Wis. Registered Brown Swiss cattle have been on the farm since 1895. Today, Voegeli manages a milking herd of 200 registered Brown Swiss and works about 1,100 acres of cropland. A 1981 graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, with a degree in Dairy Science, he has served on the Wisconsin State Brown Swiss Board of Directors for sixteen years. He also served as State Brown Swiss President for five years and as a National Director for the Brown Swiss Cattle Breeders Association of the USA for six-years. Currently, Voegeli is a member of the Equity and Cheese Committee for the Brown Swiss Association and a member of the WDE Dairy Cattle Exhibitors Committee.

Source: World Dairy Expo

World Dairy Expo Names Judges

World Dairy Expo 2010 may be more than six months away, but today, the official judges for the world class dairy show were appointed. This year’s event theme is: “Crowning Achievements – Golden Opportunities,” and will take place at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison, Wisconsin from September 28 through October 2.

The individuals who will be responsible for placing over 2,500 head of dairy cattle during the five-day show are:
International Junior Holstein Show: Adam Liddle, Argyle, New York
International Ayrshire Show: Norm Nabholz, West Union, Iowa
Ayrshire Associate: Randy Franck, Dewitt, Iowa
International Milking Shorthorn Show: Ronnie Mosser, Geneva, Indiana
Central National Jersey Show: Kelly Barbee, Concord, North Carolina
Jersey Associate: Dennis Patrick, Woodbine, Maryland
International Brown Swiss Show: Callum McKinven, Canton De Hatley, Quebec, Canada
Brown Swiss Associate: Richard Landry, Ste-Brigitte des Saults, Quebec, Canada
International Guernsey Show: Lynn Harbaugh, Pine River, Wisconsin
Guernsey Associate: Paul Trapp, Taylor, Wisconsin
Grand International Red & White Show: Brian Carscadden, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
Red & White Associate: Quim Serrabassa, Spain
International Holstein Show: Brian Craswell, Civic, Prince Edward Island, Canada
Holstein Associate: Tyler Doiron, Cap Sante, Quebec, Canada

Source: World Dairy Expo

Friends of World Dairy Expo Honored

Four “Friends of Expo” were recognized at a special, baseball-themed volunteer appreciation dinner recently at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison, Wisconsin. Nearly 150 volunteers gathered to acknowledge their contributions and celebrate a successful 2009 show.

Honored for their years of support and outstanding service to World Dairy Expo, these individuals were selected from among the nearly 400 volunteers who help run the cattle shows, commercial exhibits, youth contests, school tours and Purple Cow Gift Shop during the annual, five-day show. The 2009 honorees include: Connie Kolpin, Gary Kolpin, Lynda Yates and Gordon Marquart.

Read all about them here.

World Dairy Expo Seeks Nominations

world dairy expo 2010The World Dairy Expo is seeking nominations for its annual recognition awards. Nominate the outstanding dairy leaders from your life!

Nominations will be accepted through February 1, 2010 in the four following categories: Industry Person of the Year, Dairyman of the Year, Dairy Woman of the Year, and International Person of the Year. Individuals will be honored at the Dinner with the Stars during World Dairy Expo, September 28 – October 2, 2010, in Madison, Wis.

The Industry Person of the Year award is presented to an individual in recognition of excellence in research, development, education, marketing or other fields that are part of the dairy industry.

The Dairyman and Dairy Woman of the Year awards are presented to individuals who are active dairy producers and whose primary source of income is derived from their dairy operation. His/her farming operation needs to demonstrate and excel in efficient production and breeding of quality animals. Progressive management practices, along with involvement in community, government activities, breed organizations and other aspects of the dairy industry, will also be considered.

The International Person of the Year will be recognized for significantly contributing to international relations, business development, trade or cooperation in the dairy industry.

Source: World Dairy Expo

Dairyland Seed’s Second Generation Hybrid Alfalfa

WDXBack in 2001, Dairyland Seed released the world’s first hybrid alfalfa, HybriForce-400. This year, they took that up a notch and introduced the next generation – HybriForce-2400 Gen-2.

WDX“It’s giving us a five percent yield advantage over generation one,” said Dairyland Seed Forage Product Manager Chad Staudinger during an interview at World Dairy Expo. “Through the hybrid breeding system we are able to commercially place F1 generation with 100 percent yield potential on-farm.”

Chad says this provides a definite yield advantage for producers and the hybrid system brings with it a uniformity of crop, which ultimately means more uniformity of feed for the animals.

Listen to my interview with Chad here:

Alpharma Helps Producers Protect Investment

2009 World Dairy Expo coverage sponsored by:
Novus Charleston Orwig

World Dairy Expo Photo Album

With today’s economic situation in the dairy industry, it is very wise for producers to do all they can to protect the investment they have made in their animals.

WDXAt World Dairy Expo, I talked with Lance Fox of Alpharma about maximizing disease protection in the first critical weeks of a calf’s life.

AS700, or Aureo S 700®, is a management tool, a medication that goes in the feed,” Lance told me. “Transitioning calves, weaning calves, can be a very tough time in their lives, lot of stress going on. It’s a tool to use to help those calves get through that transition a little smoother, maintain their weight gains and ultimately their performance.”

Aureo S 700® is a combination of Aureomycin® (chlortetracycline) and sulfamethazine. Lance says this product has been on the market for 35 years, and Aureo itself is about 58 years old. “So the products have been around a long time and they work just as well today as they did when they were first released.”

What about return on investment? “If you look at the cost of feeding the product for a 28-day feeding period, it’s about $2.50 per head for the entire period,” Lance said. Keeping the calves healthy, preventing disease is the key and that helps the animals perform better and make more milk for the dairyman.

Listen to an interview with Lance below or watch this YouTube interview from World Dairy Expo:

Professional Dairy Producers at World Dairy Expo

2009 World Dairy Expo coverage sponsored by:
Novus Charleston Orwig

World Dairy Expo Photo Album

Providing education and information for dairy producers is the goal of the Professional Dairy Producers of Wisconsin (PDPW), which kept them busy at the 2009 World Dairy Expo last week.

WDXWhile Wisconsin is in the name of the organization, Executive Director Shelly Mayer says they actually have grown into a network of 1,600 members from eleven states who represent every type and size of dairy operation. “We have producers that are members from Pennsylvania, the Dakotas, California, Arizona – all over the country – because they seek the information that PDPW is providing,” Shelly says.

The organization provides information about topics that are vital and timely for the dairy industry, including animal welfare, environmental and labor issues. They also offer an annual Managers Academy, which will be held January 19-21 in Seattle, that helps producers focus on the business side of their operation.

In addition, PDPW sponsors several workshops, training seminars and tours throughout the year on various topics. For example, coming up October 20-21 is the Dairy Calf & Heifer Tour which visits innovative operations around the state of Wisconsin. A couple of sponsors for that tour are also sponsors of our World Dairy Expo coverage – Charleston Orwig and Novus International.

Listen to my interview with Shelly here:

A Legend Places Second at World Dairy Expo 2009

Frosty may have been crowned the supreme champion at World Dairy Expo 2009 on Saturday night, but it was the legendary Snickerdoodle who stole the show.

WDXThe sweet 11-year-old Brown Swiss is an eight-time class winner, six-time World Dairy Expo Champion, and was named Supreme Champion in 2003 and Reserve Supreme Champion in 2008. At six years and nine months of age, she produced 33,426 pounds of milk, 1,405 pounds of fat and 1,176 pounds of protein. Snickerdoodle has produced 315 good embryos in her lifetime. She is a seven time All-American and was also named All Time All-American as a 2-, 4- and 5-year old. Snickerdoodle has over 100 registered offspring in the U.S. with seven nominated All-American and one named All-American. Eighteen sons are currently being sampled in the A.I. industry and fourteen of her son’s daughters have been nominated All-American.

The Supreme Champion was Harvue Roy Frosty, a five-year-old Holstein cow from Rudolph, Wisconsin,exhibited by Mike and Julie Duckett, Jim and Nancy Junemann and Scott Armbrust. Currently classified EX-95, Frosty was bred by Dave and Debra Hardesty of Berryville, Va. Frosty was the 2007 All-American Senior 3-Year-Old, was Intermediate and Reserve Grand Champion and 1st Senior 3-Year-Old of the 2007 International Holstein Show and was nominated All-American Senior 2-Year-Old in 2006.

The photo is from the Hoard’s Dairyman Expo Blog. Check it out to see more show shots and news. Information on all the World Dairy Expo competition winners is available here on the expo website.

Other photos from World Dairy Expo can be found here: World Dairy Expo Photo Album

Thanks to our sponsors of the 2009 World Dairy Expo coverage on World Dairy Diary:
Novus Charleston Orwig

“Frosty” is the “Hot” Pick at 2009 World Dairy Expo

The most exciting part of World Dairy Expo – is the “Parade of Champions” and the crowning of the Supreme Champion title! The 2009 World Dairy Expo Supreme Champion is Harvue Roy Frosty, a Registered Holstein owned by Duckett, Junemann and Scott of Armbrust, Wis. The 2009 Reserve Supreme Champion is Old Mill E Snickerdoodle, a Registered Brown Swiss owned by Allen Bassler, Jr., Va. Congratulations to the owners of these beautiful animals – and congratulations to all of the dairy cattle showmen for a memorable Expo!

Thank you to the Holstein World for providing video coverage of the Supreme Champion. Visit their youtube channel to view the rest of the 2009 Holstein shows from the World Dairy Expo.

World Dairy Diary coverage of World Dairy Expo is sponsored by:
Novus Charleston Orwig

Good News for Dairy Producers

World Dairy Expo Photo Album

World Dairy Diary coverage of World Dairy Expo is sponsored by:
Novus Charleston Orwig

With all the bad news in the dairy industry, it was nice to hear some positive news for producers at World Dairy Expo.

WDXPaula Meabon, a producer from Pennsylvania who serves on the Dairy Promotion and Research Board, was happy to share some very good news about new dairy products being offered by major restaurant chains. “As a dairy farmer I am really proud of what our dairy checkoff is doing,” Paula says. “Right now we are partnering with McDonalds with the McCafe drinks, which are 80 percent milk-based coffee beverages. So, not only are they good tasting, but they are also good for you with all the dairy that’s in it.” Paula says McDonald’s new Angus burger is also a first for the dairy industry because it has two slices of cheese “not only are they using American slices, but also Swiss.”

In addition, Paula says the checkoff is partnering with Domino’s Pizza on their six new American Legend pizzas with more cheese. “This is 40 percent added cheese on six new cheese pizzas,” she said. “By adding one ounce of cheese to a pizza, that’s 2.6 billion pounds of milk equivalent used in a year.”

Paula notes that the economic situation in the dairy industry right now could be much worse if it were not for the dairy checkoff helping drive demand for dairy products.

Listen to or download my interview with Paula here:

More from the World Dairy Expo Trade Show

World Dairy Expo Photo Album

World Dairy Diary coverage of World Dairy Expo is sponsored by:
Novus Charleston Orwig

There were a record 755 companies exhibiting at World Dairy Expo this year, which made it difficult to visit them all, but we did what we could!

WDXOne booth I visited was Arm and Hammer Animal Nutrition where I talked with president Curt Siverling who says it has been a challenging year for them along with the rest of the dairy industry, since they are primarily a dairy nutrition focused company. Curt says the economic situation has forced many producers to make some “irrational ration decisions” that will eventually have to be reversed. “What’s encouraging to us, however, is even in this very difficult time, we continue to get dairymen to begin using some of our products for the first time,” Curt said. AH offers seven different branded products, starting with the original sodium bicarbonate buffer where the company started, all of which they back up with university studies that prove return on investment for producers.

Listen to my interview with Curt here:

WDXI also stopped by the Novartis Animal Health booth to talk about Healthy Heifer™, a new heifer management program designed to maximize the long-term value of dairy replacement heifers through established health and management protocols. Director of Veterinary Services Dr. Doug Scholz says they just launched this program last month. “We try to take a full management approach,” Doug says. “They need to use reproductive vaccines, vaccines to prevent calf scours, but really the program is much deeper than that. Doing the proper nutritional management, proper animal husbandry management, proper deworming – its really an encompassing program.”

Novartis feels that veterinarians need to be the knowledge source for producers, so the program requires the involvement of the herd veterinarian for enrollment. Listen to Doug explain more about Healthy Heifer here:

BouMatic Can Make Your Dairy Smarter

World Dairy Expo Photo Album

World Dairy Diary coverage of World Dairy Expo is sponsored by:
Novus Charleston Orwig

WDXBouMatic has been a global leader in innovative dairy farm products and now they can even make your dairy farm smarter.

At World Dairy Expo this week, BouMatic was introducing its brand new Smart Dairy management systems to producers. I talked with Senior Marketing Director John Mansavage about Smart Dairy.

WDX“This is an automation control system for dairy operators,” Mansavage says. “We’ve developed a modular system where all areas of control on the dairy can be managed through a single control access point and the dairyman can do it from his kitchen table, from the parlor itself, from the beach in Miami – wherever it suits him.” He says it just allows producers to be that much more efficient in challenging economic times when efficiency means productivity.

Mansavage is also on the board of directors for World Dairy Expo and he says they were very pleased with the turnout for this year’s event, despite the economic situation for the industry. “Bar none, this is the dairy show – maybe on the planet,” he told me. “we’re real happy with the response we’re getting and the people we’re talking to in the booth – they’re upbeat. This is probably the toughest I’ve ever seen it in 20 some years of being in the dairy business but it’s kind of an amazing optimism that remains and everybody is just getting through it.”

Listen to my interview with John from World Dairy Expo here:

World Dairy Expo is Natural Fit for Novus International

World Dairy Expo Photo Album

World Dairy Diary coverage of World Dairy Expo is sponsored by:
Novus Charleston Orwig

WDXA global event like World Dairy Expo is a natural fit for a global company like Novus International. “It really fits with the vision of Novus,” says Stephanie Gable, Novus Global Marketing Manager. “One of the things we concentrate on at Novus is actually feeding the world. We want to make sure that we can provide the ingredients to help our customers do a better job of feeding protein to the world. So, we’re here talking about a variety of products that help to increase milk protein, milk fat, milk volume, can help with immunity issues – all for the dairy producers.”

WDXNortheast U.S. sales manager Suzy Demeester says they have a “three legged stool” of products for dairy producers. “ALIMET is the foundation of our products, it is a methionine analog that increases milk production, improves components and also has some health effects,” Demeester says. “We’ve got AGRADO Plus, which is a blend of dietary antioxidants that really helps keep the cows in balance with their oxidative stress, and then MINTREX, a chelated brand of minerals that has a special methionine component to it that also helps contribute to the improvement in component production.”

Demeester says they recently conducted a trial with all three products that resulted in an increase of 10 pounds of milk per cow, plus improvement of components, decrease in somatic cell count and overall profitability improvement for the producer.

Listen to my back-to-back interviews with Stephanie and Suzy from World Dairy Expo here:

McEvoy Awarded Klussendorf Trophy

IMG_2718-726349Congratulations to Charlie McEvoy of Marathon, N.Y, for being named the 68th winner of the Klussendorf Trophy, the highest recognition given to a dairy cattle showman in the United States. The award is made in memory of Arthur B. Klussendorf, considered the outstanding showman of his time and a model for all those who have followed him. McEvoy received the award during the 2009 World Dairy Expo.

McEvoy’s selection was made by members of the Klussendorf Memorial Association, formed in 1937, at its annual meeting held earlier this week in Madison, Wis. He received the silver trophy designed by Tiffany Jewelers of New York City from the 2008 winner and this year’s Holstein judge of the International Holstein Show, Mark Rueth, Oxford, Wis.

This year’s Klussendorf winner has a long and distinguished history with the dairy cow. McEvoy was born into a farm family who raised registered Holsteins and began showing at a very young age, and has since been part of the show-ring for every season of his 74 years. At age 16, he moved to Marathon, New York with his mother and father, and for nearly 60 years has resided at the same farm which he now owns in partnership with his youngest son.

Photo courtesy of Hoard’s Dairyman

World Dairy Expo Photo Album

World Dairy Diary coverage of World Dairy Expo is sponsored by:
Novus Charleston Orwig

Alpharma Reaches Out to Teach Youth

World Dairy Expo Photo Album

WDXWorld Dairy Diary coverage of World Dairy Expo is sponsored by:
Novus Charleston Orwig

Alpharma Animal Health
is reaching out to teach young people more about agriculture through a grassroots educational program called “Reach Teach and Learn.”

WDXThe company launched the program earlier this year at the 2009 Agriculture in the Classroom Conference in St. Louis, Missouri. The program supports local school districts and colleges through initiatives that encourage students to learn more about agriculture and how their food is produced, and to share their insights and knowledge about what they learned. I talked with Dr. Lance Fox, Alpharma’s Director of Technical Services, at their exhibit during World Dairy Expo about the purpose of the program.

“Essentially the program is designed to reach out to our youth – elementary, high school, college-level students – our future leaders of tomorrow, to promote agricultural awareness,” Lance told me. “It’s not about products, it’s just about reaching out to the youth.”

It’s also about motivating young people to reach their own personal and professional goals, something Lance has done in his own life and he shares that story when he talks with young people of all ages. He grew up in the Wisconsin dairy industry, became a veterinarian, joined Alpharma as a technical services manager, and earlier this year achieved the personal goal of climbing to the top of Mt. Everest. “If you believe, you can achieve,” Lance says.

Find out more about the Reach Teach and Learn program, which features an essay and video contest for different age level students, at reachteachlearn.com.

Watch my interview with Lance here – listen to or download the audio version below.

Legendary Snickerdoodle is Six Time Champion

World Dairy Expo Photo Album

World Dairy Diary coverage of World Dairy Expo is sponsored by:
Novus Charleston Orwig

WDXThe legendary Snickerdoodle became a six time Grand Champion today in the Central National Brown Swiss Show at World Dairy Expo.

This 11-year old owned by Allen Bassler, Jr. of Upperville, Virginia added one more title to her barn full of ribbons and plates. Old Mill E Snickerdoodle OCS has been named Grand Champion of the Central National Brown Swiss Show in 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, and 2008. Last year, Snickerdoodle was also named Reserve Supreme Champion of the World Dairy Expo. This amazing animal is also a seven-time All-American Brown Swiss and was Supreme Champion of the All-American Dairy Show for the second year in a row.

What a cow! Read more about Snickerdoodle’s historic achievement here from World Dairy Expo.

Photo courtesy of World Dairy Expo. See more photos from World Dairy Expo here.

Milking Parlor Podcast from World Dairy Expo

World Dairy Expo Photo Album

World Dairy Diary coverage of World Dairy Expo is sponsored by:
Novus Charleston Orwig

WDXThis edition of the Milking Parlor podcast focuses on the Dairy Price Stabilization Program proposed by Holstein Association USA as a way to address the current dairy industry economic situation and minimize milk price volatility for the long term.

I spoke with John Meyer, executive secretary and CEO of Holstein Association USA, about the plan during an interview at World Dairy Expo. “One of the beauties of this program is that nothing has to be affected,” Meyer says. “The Dairy Price Stabilization Program does not require the Farm Bill to be opened, nor does it affect any of the current dairy programs. It’s a very simple thing to be implemented and it can be done very quickly.”

Meyer says they are getting good industry support for the plan and hope to get a bill written and considered by Congress, possibly as early as the end of this year.

Listen to this podcast here:

Subscribe to the Milking Parlor podcast here.

Listen to or download this podcast here:

World Dairy Expo Honors Leaders

World Dairy Diary coverage of World Dairy Expo is sponsored by:
Novus Charleston Orwig

WDXLegenday dairy industry leaders were recognized for their contribution at a Wednesday evening “dinner with the stars” at World Dairy Expo. This year’s recipients are: the 2009 Dairy Woman of the Year- Daphne Holterman, Watertown, Wisconsin; the 2009 Industry Person of the Year – Maurice Core, Columbus, Ohio; the 2009 World Dairy Expo Dairyman of the Year – David Hileman, Tyrone, Pennsylvania; and the 2009 International Person of the Year – Dr. Jan Philipsson, Uppsala, Sweeden.

“These four legendary leaders have been hitting home runs for the world-wide dairy cattle industry,” says World Dairy Expo General Manager Mark Clarke. “They have created dairy records that will be hard for future producers to beat. We are proud to honor them for being the vision and support that keep this industry strong.”

Thanks to Lisa Behnke for the photo!

World Dairy Expo Photo Album

Dairy Expo Stronger Than Ever

World Dairy Diary coverage of World Dairy Expo is sponsored by:
Novus Charleston Orwig

WDXThe economic situation in the dairy industry has had no impact on exhibitors or attendance at the 2009 World Dairy Expo. According to expo officials, they have a record number of exhibitors this year with 755 companies, including more than 140 new exhibitors.

Commercial exhibitors are from 24 countries including: Argentina, Canada, China, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Northern Ireland, Norway, Pakistan, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom and the United States. Also represented are 6 Canadian provinces including Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec and Saskatchewan. Companies from within the US are coming from 44 states.

Attendance is good as well, although final figures will not be available until after the show is over. We do know that about 40 % of all attendees come from the upper mid-west.

Check out all the action on the World Dairy Expo Photo Album

Novus Trains Nutrition Consultants

World Dairy Expo Photo Album

World Dairy Diary coverage of World Dairy Expo is sponsored by:
Novus Charleston Orwig

WDXNovus International treated some of the top dairy nutrition consultants from the upper Midwest to lunch and a seminar today at the Sheraton next to the World Dairy Expo. One of the presenters was Dr. Tom Overton of Cornell University who talked about the biology behind a couple different ration software programs for dairy nutrition modeling.

“The dairy nutrition modeling effort has been going now at Cornell for more than 30 years and that has led to the development of these programs,” Tom says. “Cornell Penn Miner (CPM Dairy) is a partnership of Cornell with the University of Pennsylvania, Miner Institute, and then a sister program, the Cornell Net Carbohydrate and Protein System (CNCPS).”

Tom says both programs are the result of an on-going effort to “better define the biology of cows and how we might be able to put diets together in order to make them more productive and efficient and help our producers be more profitable.”

Find out more about CNCPS at cncps.cornell.edu and about CPM at cpmdairy.net.

Listen to or download an interview with Dr. Overton here from World Dairy Expo:


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