Holstein Association USA has commissioned updated images of the ideal U.S. Registered Holstein cow and bull. Renowned dairy artist Bonnie Mohr is painting the images, which will be unveiled at the 2012 National Holstein Convention in Springfield, Missouri, June 27-30. Holstein Association USA President Chuck Worden said, “The last time the ideal U.S. Registered Holstein cow and bull images were updated was in the 1970s.

Junior, Penn State University Intern with Center for Dairy Excellence Based in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania Background Q. In what area are you pursuing a degree? I'm majoring in agribusiness management with an international agriculture minor. Q. What is your dairy background? I grew up helping at my grandparents’ farm, doing tasks such as feeding calves and milking. Though my immediate family does not have a farm of our own, we were (and still are) heavily involved in raising heifers as well as breeding and showing dairy cows.

Alltech Hosts 2nd Annual Gator Giveaway With more than 120 attendees, Alltech’s Gator Giveaway held on April 19 provided a chance for local producers to come together and be rewarded for their dedication to sustainability and efforts to feed the world. Attendees from all across the province came for the possibility of walking away with a 2012 625i John Deere Gator. Ty Yeast, Canadian managing director of Alltech, started the program off by expressing the importance of customer appreciation, elevating exposure and bringing excitement back to the agricultural community. This support was reciprocated by long standing relationships with customers such as those in attendance. Yeast stated, “I love the way the Alltech Gator Giveaway provides a small way for us to say thank you and helps drives agriculture forward. We want to help our technologies on farm thereby helping you.”

Genex Cooperative, Inc., bull 1HO07235 TOYSTORY has reached a level of semen production never before seen in the cattle artificial insemination (A.I.) industry. TOYSTORY has produced his 2 millionth unit of semen. TOYSTORY, a Holstein bull born at Mystic Valley Dairy near Sauk City, Wisconsin, in May 2001, first entered record books in April 2009. At that time, the Genex-owned TOYSTORY joined an elite group of bulls throughout the industry that have produced 1 million units of semen.

Cull cow prices were record high in 2011 and are on pace to set another record high in 2012. Prices for 85-90 percent lean slaughter cows in the Southern Plains started 2012 at $70 per hundredweight (cwt.) and increased seasonally throughout January and February. Since late February, prices have traded in a fairly narrow trading range of $85 to $87/cwt., and have averaged about $10 higher than last year. High prices in 2011 were in spite of relatively large cow slaughter, particularly in the last half of the year.