The American Simmental Association (ASA) has announced a population-specific DNA profile offering genomic-enhanced expected progeny differences (GE-EPDs) that also includes parental validation. In partnership with GeneSeek, a Neogen Corporation Company, the ASA GE-EPDs are powered by the GeneSeek Bovine 50K. The evolution in ASA genomic technology is a result of a multi-year collaborative effort between ASA, Carcass Merit Project cooperators, the USDA, University of Illinois, University of Missouri, Montana State University, Iowa State University, National Beef Cattle Evaluation Consortium (NBCEC) and GeneSeek.

Chobani is hosting a grand opening celebration at its new Twin Falls, Idaho production facility on Dec. 17. The grand opening ceremony takes place almost exactly a year after Chobani’s Dec. 19, 2011, groundbreaking ceremony. Since then, contractors have built the approximately 950,000-square-foot production facility in southeast Twin Falls. It’s the company’s second facility in the U.S.

Semex sire Braedale Goldwyn continues his march into the history books with the classification of his one thousandth Excellent (EX) daughter in Canada. Holstein Canada has determined that his one thousandth EX daughter is Donar Pally Jo Goldwyn, who scored EX-90-CAN in her fourth lactation by Holstein Canada Classifier Bruno Jubinville.

Leading edge genetics, global dairy summit broadcasting, live demos and robotics are all happening this February in Stratford, Ontario.   The Canadian Dairy XPO is a new dairy tradeshow, owned and operated by industry veteran Jordon Underhill of ROI Event Management.

The USDA, in conjunction with the National Mastitis Council (NMC) Milk Quality Monitoring Committee, monitors milk quality in the U.S. using bulk tank somatic cell count (BTSCC) data provided by four of the nation’s 10 Federal Milk Marketing Orders (FMOs). These FMOs monitored milk from 29,937 producers located in 29 states, and accounted for 46.5 percent of the milk produced in the U.S. during 2011.

Lehigh Valley Dairy Farms recently introduced its new white Pure Protect bottle, an opaque container developed specifically to protect the purity of milk by blocking light intake. The dairy cites a Cornell University study from 2002 that found the fluorescent lighting in retail display cases breaks down vitamins A and B2 (riboflavin) in bottled milk and creates flavor defects in as little as two hours.

Canadian cheese maker Saputo Inc. is bolstering its position in the U.S. by pursuing the largest acquisition in its history, a $1.45 billion deal to buy Morningstar Foods. Saputo said it is expanding its U.S. operations by adding dairy and non-dairy products to its current operations as a cheese manufacturer, distributor and exporter. The move effectively replicates the breadth of its operations in Canada, creating a U.S. division of comparable size.

On any given day at the Santa Teresa International Export/Import Livestock Crossing, hundreds and even thousands of head of cattle come through a gate in the fence that marks the border between the U.S. and Mexico. This year, Daniel Manzanares, director of the facility, said he expects to break the 400,000 head of cattle mark, the most ever. "That'd be a record,'' Manzanares said. He said more than $200 million worth of cattle passes through the crossing, which literally straddles the international border, each year.

A possible change in Japanese import policy concerning beef has the potential to create more income for Idaho beef producers, officials in Idaho said. Since 2005, Japan has allowed into the country only beef from animals that were less than 20 months old when slaughtered to protect against bovine spongiform encephalopathy, or Mad Cow Disease. But in October a Japanese government subcommittee forwarded recommendations altering the restrictions to allow beef from cattle younger than 30 months old.