Farming, Saturday, July 1, 1995
k 'National Holstein
Convention
(Continued from Pag. AZ7) Holstein programs and activities at
the grass toots level should be joint
committee on the value of regis- programs sponsored by state and
lend cattle. This is an exciting national Holstein, other breed
prospect The committee, board, organizations, AI, DHIA, and any
and staff have collaborated to pro- other dairy organization or busi
dueft the system now being tested ness with a vested interest Dairy
by 280 DGDR herds.” cattle improvements, farm profita-
The association reported a net bility, and quality of farm life
income of $704,000 for 1994 with should be a common goal. And
a net worth Of over $l6 million, let’s be sure to give special atten-
Kerr said the Association neith- don to our youth,
cr promotes nor discourages the “My hope before leaving the
use of foreign genetics, but they do board was total electronic calf
aggressively promote the sound registry, computer to computer via
understanding of pedigrees and modem. Wc ate close. Recently we
performance df those genetics, registered a groupof calves by dis-
This means working with foreign kette. Registering calves is now
herdbooks to convert their genetic speedier than coming up with a
evaluations to U.S. terms so that new name! Regular registry should
breeders can make the necessary be an even simpler process with no
comparisons. human effort at Brattleboro.
PRESIDENT SELT REPORTS
President John Selz, daily far
mer from Humbird, Wisconsin,
said the Association is on track and
coming in ahead of schedule.
While admitting some mistakes in
the past, Selz said, “We need to
position ourselves for the future.”
“Future challenges will be no
less (than challenges of the past),”
Selz said. "The trends of a shrink
ing member base, the need to
address tighter profit margins, the
demands to avoid duplicate cost
and time efforts must continue to
be addressed. For our Association
to remain strong and competitive,
we must further develop grass
roots involvement, volunteer lead
ership, and cement a stronger state
and national association
relationship.
“It’s time to put in place a com
bined state and national member
ship program with automatic
renewal and one billing system.
Pennsylvania Holstein officials play host to farmers from Australia. Here they are
ready to board the bus for the farm tour to Somerset County.
Molly Aylsworth Sandi Hurtgen Shelly Lammers Christopher McCullough Jason Sheehan Michael Stebbins Candi Taylor
Shreve, Ohio Oakdale, California Brandon, Wisconsin Juda, Wisconsin Rochester. Minnesota Homell, New York Wendall, Idaho
“Flexible classification options
have reduced the time and cost of
classifying for huger herd owner.
These same types of flexible
options need to be available in our
production testing programs. Why
do we continue to bear the cost of
monthly testing on older cows
whose genetic merit was estab
lished in her first two lactations?
We must let dairymen production
test a selected core herd or be in
danger of losing the whole herd.”
Selz was not eligible to be
reelected president so he com
pleted his term later during the
convention when John Cope was
elected.
“I leave this week feeling very
good about Holstein Association
USA.” Selz said, “Not totally feel
ing good about the dairy industry,
but your association is in good
hands. What a good time to say
‘thank you’ and ‘good bye,’
because all is well that ends well.”
4*
& * **
The 1995 Distinguished Junior Members
Up on Mt. Washington, those dairy fanners took the opportunity to get a better view
of Pittsburgh. They are from left, Diane and Reid Hoover; Juliet and Vincent Wagner,
and Barbara and Gary Lentz.
Laszlo Mozes, president, left, and Lewis Berkley, immediate past president, Pen
nsylvania Holstein Association, talk cows.
' 's** "
Amy Milter feeds the calf at Mlshlers’.
SJMWRr' jjMBH