Select Sires recently renovated the John Hecker Production Center to honor the cooperative’s historical commitment to high-quality semen processing. The refreshed entryway and lobby include callouts to Select Sires’ improvements in semen processing, handling and storage. A new observation area was created overlooking the laboratory and the space was named in honor of retired Vice President of Semen Processing and Research Mel DeJarnette, and John Daniel, the first chairman of the Production Review Committee.

Mel DeJarnette joined Select Sires as a reproduction specialist in 1990 and in 2012 he was named vice president of semen processing and research. His contributions to Select Sires included the development of propriety semen extender formulations, assistance in the commercialization of sex-sorted semen, and the development of Select Sires’ Composite Fertility Index (CFI). CFI combines data from various systems as weighted means based on number of services and is updated weekly to allow Select Sires to make production decisions on a timelier basis.

John Daniel was the inaugural chairman of the Production Review Committee; a subcommittee of the Select Sires board of directors that is composed of board members who have a veterinary or reproduction background. Daniel helped to ensure the goals of the board, for both semen quality and production, were met and was instrumental in coordinating third-party reviews of semen production, historically partnering with world-renowned reproductive physiologists.

“The completion of our newly renovated DeJarnette-Daniel Global Processing Laboratory represents a major investment in innovation, efficiency, and quality,” said Lucas Helser, vice president of research and quality control. “This state-of-the-art facility enhances Select Sires Inc. and World Wide Sires’ operational capabilities, streamlines production processes, and upholds the highest standards of precision and consistency, while remaining true to industry leaders Mel DeJarnette and Johnny Daniel. It reflects our ongoing commitment to advancing reproductive technologies and continuing to deliver exceptional semen quality to our farmer-owners.”