DMincatter Farming, Saturday, January is, 1994
GEORGE F.W. HAENLEIN
Extension Dairy Specialist
University of Delaware
NEWARK, Del. —ln recent
years, black-and-white Holstein-
Friesians, or their red-and-white
genetic alternatives have become
the preferred dairy breed in this
country and increasingly in the
world.
Among the primary reasons are
dairy production economics and
consumer preference for the low
fat milk these cows produce.
Before 1970, composition of the
dairy cow herdin the United States
was quite different.
Guernsey, Jerseys, Ayrshires,
Brown Swiss, and even Milking
Shorthorn made up the dairy cow
populations commonly known as
colored breeds, but having a red
Holstein calf was tantamount to
treason.
Such a calf was hidden, as
though it somehow had something
to do with our then “Red” political
enemy.
This particular concern over
COLUMBIA, Mo. A num
ber of awards were presented dur
ing the recent 47th National Asso
ciation of Animal Breeders
(NAAB) convention held at the
Chula Vista Resort, in Wisconsin
Dells, Wis.
The 1993 NAAB Research
Award, which included a check for
$l,OOO, was presented to Dr. H.
Duane Norman, supervisory
research geneticist at USDA-
Animal Improvement Programs
Laboratory, Beltsville, Md.
At the same time, the NAAB
also made recognition of the
efforts of others involved in the
dairy cattle breeding industry.
Dr. Norman’s major contribu
tion to the industry was the formu
lation and implementation of the
Modified Contemporary Compari
son (MCC) procedures used by
USDA for sire evaluation from
1974 to 1989.
This was a simple yet accurate
ranking of sires applied to the large
database of US dairy records, and
allowed the US to emerge as a
world super-power in dairy
genetics.
Many features of the MCC pion
eered by Dr. Norman, are still used
in today’s animal model proce
dures. These include use of all
location records, including a sire
by-herd interaction effect and cal
culating dollar value indexes.
While the advantages are clear,
these features have only recently
been incorporated in a few leading
dairy countries.
Dr. Norman’s research played a
key role in the adoption of a uni
form linear type trait system for
calculating genetic evaluations for
these traits, and laying the ground
work to determine their value in
predicting lifetime profitability.
He also represented the United
States on FAO’s technical advis
ory committee for ‘Testing of Dif
ferent Strains of Friesian Cattle in
Poland.”
Recently, Dr. Norman coordi
nated acquisition of an in-house
computer which has allowed AIPL
to continue their level of research
without the need for greatly
increased funding.
Others received recognition as
well.
Distinguished Service
George Miller, dairy sire analyst
and recently retired director of
marketing and development at
Select Sires Inc., Plain City, Ohio,
was this year’s recipient of the
Cow Color Preference Is More Than Personal
cow color has, of course,
disappeared.
There are, however, some bio
logical differences between cow
colors and the cow’s ability to
cope with environmental stress
from heat, humidity and solar
radiation. Cow color isn’t just per
sonal taste or aesthetics as, for ex
ample, in the case of a Holstein
whose individual coat color is
more black or more white. Earlier
research pointed out that there
were physiological differences in
adaptation and productivity, de
pending on the amount of black or
white in the hair coat.
A recent study from Florida has
added new evidence (Journal of
Dairy Sciences, August 1993:
2286-2291) that the percentage of
black or white coat color in Hol
steins influences milk production.
DHIA production and reproduc
tion records and registration certi
ficate drawings from 110 Florida
herds (a total 0f4,293 cows) were
analyzed for a seven-year period.
The results are important because
NAAB Recognizes Improvement Efforts
NAAB Distinguished Service
Award.
Miller’s career in the artificial
insemination industry began in
1956 with Virginia Artificial
Breeders Association, now
Virginia/North Carolina/Sclect
Sires.
As a result of his originality and
resourcefulness, the organization
was among the first to adopt a
direct-herd, do-it-yourself breed
ing program, and young sire pro
ving and sampling program.
The most far-reaching and last
ing impact of Miller’s contribution
to the AI industry is the direct
result of his “roots” at Round Oak
Farm.
His experienced eye and expert
advice caused a bull calf named
“Round Oak Rag Apple Eleva
tion” to be produced which lata:
found its way to Select Sires.
In 1973, Miller was promoted to
director of marketing and develop
ment where he continued his suc
cessful pattern of recruiting, hir
ing, and developing the talents of
high caliber people.
Under his leadership, the vol
ume of semen marketed by his
organization increased threefold.
He saved with distinction for
eight years on the NAAB Interna
tional Marketing Committee. He
was instrumental in arranging a
distributorship agreement with
World-Wide Sires fa internation
al marketing, and helped open up
the Latin American market. His
sharp vision brought the interna
tional marketing effort from virtu
ally non-existent, to a dramatic
wald-wide use of the product.
Although retired as directa of
marketing and development, Mill
er continues to serve the industry
as Select Sires’ dairy sire analyst
fa Virginia and West Virginia. He
also serves as a consultant to
enhance the marketing program in
Canada.
Member Director
The 1993 NAAB Member
Director Award recipient was
David C. Slusser, immediate past
president of Atlantic Breeders
Cooperative, Lancaster.
Slusser attended Penn State
University and graduated in 1963
with a bachelor of science degree
in dairy science. While at Penn
Stale lie was employed by their
dairy research farm, and was also
football manager for the Penn
State Nittany Lions.
In 1970, Slusser purchased
every year Florida suffers months
of adverse subtropical weather
that affects dairy cows and their
production efficiency.
What they found in another
Florida study has already helped
dairy fanners here in the mid-At
lantic region, where muggy
90-plus-degree days are no longer
unusual. We’ve ‘ learned from
Florida dairy farmers how to kjeep
cows cool by hanging irrigation
sprinklers upside down in the
holding and under-roof areas so
that the water “rains” down. This,
combined with fans to force air,
cools the animals so they are less
affected by the heat.
Climatic stress especially
from excessive heat and solar
radiation decreases milk pro
duction, changes milk composi
tion and lowers reproductive per
formance. Solar radiation is a sig
nificant factor since it increases
body temperature directly.
A few years ago here in the
University of Delaware’s dairy
herd, we tried temperature sensors
Orange Bucket Farm, a 270-acre
farm in Crawfad County with 100
head of registered Holsteins. The
rolling had average is currently
about 21,000 pounds of milk.
He is a member of the Federated
Genetics Council, a former mem
ber of the National Council of
Dairy Cattle Breeding, and was
chairman of the 1983 State Hols
tein Convention.
Slusser has taught computer
seminars fa regional farmers, a
financial workshop for bankers,
and has held programs about
careas in agriculture for high
school students.
The Slusser farm family fre
quently has also extended itself by
opening its home to foreign
exchange students, as well as fore
ign visitas interested in the dairy
industry.
He served on Atlantic Breeders
Cooperative Board of Directors
from 1973 to 1992 and on the
NAAB Board of Directors from
1984-1990.
Pioneer Awards
Dr. W.H. Dreher, retired pro
duction managa for 21st Century
Genetics, Shawano, Wisconsin,
was this year’s recipient of the
NAAB Pionea Award.
Dr. Dreher was a true pioneer in
applying research to the produc
tion and distribution of semen,
according to NAAB. He was
instrumental in developing
methods for semen collection,
extension, and preservation to
obtain optimum fertility and dis
ease free semen.
He worked for early adoption of
university research on buffers and
extenders, while conducting his
own extensive in-house research.
He studied repeat breeding cows
and early etnbryonic death, and
researched leukosis transmission
in bulls.
Drehcr trained the first non
veterinarian AI technicians. At a
later point, he was instrumental in
developing a swine AI trial that
was able to achieve good litter size
and conception rates. In the
1960’5, he helped a Mexican firm
advance their semen collection and
processing program.
When frozen semen became a
reality, Dreher found a more effi
cient tool with which to freeze
extended semen the pipette.
Tagged as the “Magic Wand”, it
was used until the conversion to
straws in the 1970’5.
on the teat cups of our milking
machines to find differences in the
temperature of milk as it leaves
the udder. We theorized that this
would give us early indication of
mastitis. What we found was
something else entirely. On 90-de
gree days, the warning lights on
the cows’ temperature sensors be
gan to blink, ITte cows didn’t have
mastitis: they just had higher body
temperatures. This finding was
contrary to most textbooks that
stated a cow’s body temperature
doesn’t vary in relation to the en
vironment as a reptile’s or amphi
bian's does. Thus we learned we
must take seriously the effects of
hot days on the physiology and
productivity of our cows, and on
our incomes from milk produc
tion.
This is why the Florida study
examining the relationship of coat
color to climatic stress is so inter
esting, especially given the large
number of cows and data set in
volved. The heat load on the
cow’s body comes from absorp-
Quality control was of para
mount importance to Dr. Dreher.
He worked with other staff mem
bers to develop a nonreturn rate
reporting system to estimate con
ception rates. He also supported
further research to determine the
accuracy of nonreturn rates to
actual pregnancies.
As world markets for US germ
plasm opened, Dreher was instru
mental in bringing early health
testing work into compliance with
foreign regulations. He traveled
world-wide marketing gw aetipapt
of health and genetic quality of US
semen. ,
Hank Dreher wait among (he
founders of NAAB Technical, Sire
Health and Research Committees
that supported research and shared
in the findings.
Also a pioneer awared recipient
was Dr. Harry A. Hetman, retired
NAAB executive secretary
emeritus.
After earning his B.S. in agricul
ture and M.S. and Ph.D. degrees he
served nearly 25 years as a teacher,
researcher and lecturer in dairy
cattle breeding, artificial insemi
nation and herd management
In July 1953, when the National
Association of Animal Breeders
was in its infancy, Dr. Herman was
appointed as the first executive
secretary, and the national NAAB
office was established in Columbi
a, Mo.
During his tenure, the AI prog
ram expanded from 40 to 97 most
ly cooperative members with one
or more AI organizations in nearly
every state which accounted for
virtually 100 percent of US AI
businesses.
Having very capably overseen
ASC Committee Elected
At Convention
LEESPORT (Berks Co.)
Richard Troutman, a Berks Coun
ty farmer, was elected chairperson
on the county Agricultural Stabili
zation and Conservation (ASC)
committee at the county ASCS
convention, held December 21 at
the agricultural center.
Leßoy Howard, farmer, was
elected vice-chairperson and
Ralph Sanner was elected a regu
tion of light and heat by the cow’s
body surface. Coat color is direct
ly related to different heat absorp
tion from solar radiation. A solid
black Holstein cow absorbs about
92 percent of solar radiation
through her hair coat, while a solid
white cow absorbs only half as
much.
The Florida research found
greater milk production of 4.S
pounds for each 1 percent more of
white coat color in Holstein cows.
More white coat color also result
ed in better reproductive efficien
cy under heat stress. This confirm
ed older Australian and Arizona
studies (though with fewer cows)
that white cows produce more
milk than black cows, are of lower
age at first parturition, have fewer
days open and experience shorter
calving intervals.
Economic studies of these End
ings are still needed. But this re
search does give us ammunition
for new ideas in our next dairy cat
tle breeding plans, which should
lead, of course, to greater profits.
NAAB and the AI industry
through those very formative and
successful years, he retired in Sep
tember of 1972. He had passed the
established retirement age by over
two years, and was given the title
of NAAB executive secretary
emeritus.
In addition to dairy activities at
the state and national level. Dr.
Homan has made many contribu
tions to animal research, authoring
more than fifty bulletins and over
ISO scientific papers.
He is author or co-author of
three textbooks. He served for
many years as chairman of the
research committee of the
Purebred Dairy Cattle
Association.
He assisted in developing short
courses for training technicians
beginning in 1941. He also organ
ized and taught one of the first
college-level courses on AI in the
United States.
He wrote the artificial breeding
column for Hoard’s Dairyman for
more than 25 years and is a contri
butor to other farm papers.
Other awards made during the
convention include:
• 150,000 Cow Award: William
Sylla, Tri-State Breeders Coopera
tive, Baraboo, Wis.
• 100,000 Cow Award: Adelbert
Bravener, William Flatten and
Leon Jilk, American Breeders Ser
vice. Deforest, Wisconsin; Ray
mond Greene and Ford H. Smith,
Eastern AI Cooperative. Ithaca,
New York; Joe Schumer,
Minnesota/Select Sires, St. Cloud,
Minn.
• 500,000 Unit Sales Award:
Jim Armstrong, MABC/Select
Sires. Lansing, Mich.
lar member. These persons will
serve for the coming year.
The county ASC committee is
responsible for local administra
tion of government farm programs
such as the wheat and feed grain
program, the wool program, the
dairy refund payment program,
the price support program, and the
agricultural conservation
program.