Guelph, Ontario – Regardless of herd size or management style, dairymen want a healthy herd of profitable and efficient cows. The path to breeding and developing this kind of herd got easier when Semex launched its patented Immunity+TM sires. These sires have a naturally high immune response (HIR) and with a 25% heritability, they can help improve the overall herd health and longevity.
Based on the HIR technology developed by Dr. Bonnie Mallard and her colleagues at the University of Guelph, the research surrounding this technology spans decades. The research also shows that HIR cows have 19-30% lower disease incidence compared to herd averages. Also, these cows respond better to commercial vaccines and produce higher quality colostrum. As a result, they are more profitable by bringing in more revenue, lowering costs and wasting less of the dairyman’s time.
“The discovery of HIR was a game changer,” says Jay Shannon, Semex Global Dairy Solutions Manager. “It revealed that high immunity is passed on from parent to progeny at rates much like production and some conformation traits. Compared to most health traits with low heritabilities of <10%, immune response is considered moderately to highly heritable at 25%. This means it can be selected for and improved upon with each generation.”
Joining the proven Immunity+ lineup following the April 2014 genetic evaluation are:
0200HO03730 FLY-HIGHER MANCHILD JEEVES x BOLTON
0200HO06198 GEN-I-BEQ HALAK PLANET x GOLDWYN
0200HO06161 SCHILLVIEW GRANDPRIZE PLANET x SHOTTLE
The following GenomaxTM bulls are also designated Immunity+:
0200HO02981 BENNER SANTANA MOGUL x PLANET
0200HO06584 BRYHILL SCIENCE P NUMERO UNO X SHOTTBOLT
0200HO10000 COMESTAR LINEMAN MOGUL X MAN-O-MAN
0200HO10003 GILLETTE SGO MYSPACE MOGUL X PLANET
0200HO03968 GINARY SUNSHINE NUMERO UNO X BOLTON
0200HO03931 HAMMER-CREEK KARTOON NUMERO UNO X GOLDWYN
0200HO03933 LEADERWIN MAKEMORE NUMERO UNO X JEEVES
0200HO02961 MR CHACHING CENTRIC NUMERO UNO X PLANET
0200HO10007 NO-FLA RAINBOW NUMERO UNO X RUSSELL
0200HO10038 SANDY-VALLEY EMERO NUMERO UNO X ROBUST
0200HO03999 SANDY-VALLEY TEMPEST MCCUTCHEN X DOMAIN
0200HO02958 L-L-M-DAIRY PYRO MOGUL X JET STREAM
0200HO10040 SIEMERS KINGKONG MCCUTCHEN X EXPLODE
0200HO06592 SILVERRIDGE V ENVIOUS MCCUTCHEN X SNOWMAN
0200HO10024 STE ODILE PURE MOGUL X MAN-O-MAN
0200HO03944 VELTHUIS B ATHLETE SUPERSONIC X MAN-O-MAN
0200HO06594 VIEUXSAULE MONTREAL MOGUL X FREDDIE
0200HO10012 WA-DEL-DH CONTEXT NUMERO UNO X BOOKEM
0200JE00399 MISSISKA VITALITY DAVID x RENEGADE
For more information on Semex, Genetics for Life, Immunity+ sires or any of Semex’s brands visit: www.semex.com