The 18th Annual Accelerated Genetics Intercollegiate Dairy Cattle Judging Contest was held Sept. 18 in Viroqua, Wisconsin, with the University of Wisconsin – Madison taking top honors in reasons and overall. The University of Wisconsin – Madison team, coached by Chad Wethal and Brian Kelroy, included team members: Abbey Wethal, Mitch Kappelman, Ryan O’Leary and Genevieve Dryak. They took home the coveted Brown Swiss Canton III Traveling Trophy. Placing second overall at this year’s contest was the University of Wisconsin – River Falls, coached by Sandra Sawall and Steve Kelm. Team members: Ami Cooper, Sara Larson, Labecca Johnson and Nathan Laska. Rounding out the top three teams was the University of Minnesota in third place, coached by Les Hansen, Scott Ellinghuysen and Alicia Thurk. Team members: David Hanson, Jacob Achen, Jayne Esch and Isaac Salfer.

Dairymaster, an Ireland-based manufacturer and supplier of advanced automated milking, feeding, cooling, slurry and heat detection equipment to dairy farms worldwide, announced that it has tripled its U.S. footprint by moving to a new facility in Cincinnati. The additional space equips the company to meet growing demand from U.S. dairy producers for its high-performance equipment. Fueling the growth is widespread adoption of Dairymaster’s Select Detect product by dairy producers in the U.S. and Canada. Select Detect is a detection and fertility monitoring system that is sold exclusively in the U.S. by Select Sires Inc., the largest A.I. company in North America. Today, Select Detect systems are installed in 22 states and four provinces, covering herds that range in size from 80 cows to more than 3,000.