Semen Information

Pior to 2013 and in 2018, semen was donated for this lab by ABS Global, Inc. In 2013 - 2017 and 2019 semen was donated by Alta Genetics Inc. In 2020 and 2021 semen was again donated by ABS Global Inc.

1. Instructions for using ABS Global semen:

• After breeding your cow, record all information on the straw and the cow. A uniform coding system is in place by CSS can be examined to explain what the data on the straw should look like. Then print and fill in the breeding record (additional information will be required) or you will be asked to do this in the barn after you breed your cow.
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• Above is an actual commercial straw of semen. The bull code is 014HO5525 (actually it is 14HO5525 as the first 0 is not relevant), the USA registration number is 137764194 and the bull name is Advantage but his complete name is Rosendale Advantage-Red. The bull stud (see NAAB site for current stud codes) is 14 which stands for Accelerated Genetics (now Select Sires), which is located in Westby, Wi. However you can find the bull by going to the Select Sires site, then under the quick sire search past in the bull code for the above bull.
• Using your information from the straw find the home page for the bull. In 2018 we are using ABS-global semen. So go to the ABS bull search site. You can enter the short name for the bull, the 5 digit bull number (for 29HO18323 it is 18323) and then click the search button. Note the HO indicates it is a holstein. You will now come to the home page for the bull. You should at least note the bull's NM$ (net merit dollars) and TPI (total production index) at the top right of the page. On the bull search site you can find a button with trait definitions to figure out what these mean. Now if you go back to the bull search site you will see NM$ and TPI above the data for each of the bulls listed (note you only see 25 bulls at a time but there are 186 bulls total in the ABS list in 2018). If you click on NM$, the bulls will be ordered for NM$. Where does your bull rank, at least check if he would make it into the top 50 bulls. Do the same for TPI. Use this information to answer the questions.
• It is often difficult for a non-dairy person to understand the traits or even what the abbreviations mean. Here is information on definitions of the traits as released by ABS-Global or the Holstein Association.

2. Instructions for using Alta Genetics semen.

• After breeding your cow, record all information on the straw and the cow. A uniform coding system is in place by CSS can be examined to explain what the data on the straw should look like. Then print and fill in the breeding record (additional information will be required) or you will be asked to fill in the breeding record sheet in the barn after you breed your cow. Note that you will need to know the information be sure to take an empty straw back to class.
  
  
• Above is an actual commercial straw of semen from Alta Genetics Inc. The bull code or ID number is 11HO10213, the USA registration number is 63685706 and the short bull name is AltaMOCHA but his complete name is Pine-Tree AltaMOCHA. The bull stud is 11 which stands for Alta Genetics, Inc in Watertown Wi. The collection date is August 28, 2008. Note that some bull studs use a coded Julian calendar date.
• As these websites keep changing I have located AltaMOCHA for you at this link.
  • If you have a different bull, on the right hand top conduct a Dairy Bull Search. If you have a beef bull use that search function and assume you are a dairy producer. Enter your bull's Bull ID Number. You will be brought to a page specifically relating to your bull. You need to find out the NM$ and then the TPI values for your bull. Look around on the page till you find this information. You should write these values down so you can remember them. Not sure what information the beef side gives you but you can look at what information I found on what Alta provides.
  • To see the current top bulls at alta go to this link. The bulls are ordered by TPI by default but you can click on any of the columns and reoder by that category. See where your bull would palce on the list for TPI and NM$ or JPI and NM$.
  • Take a look at what TPI and NM$ mean in the proof for that bull.

17. What does CSS stand for? (overview of CSS)
18. Since the semen we use is donated by ABS Global or Alta Genetics, it is likely the bull and/or his semen will be culled. Can you determine why?
• For ABS Global semen follow the directions under ABS Global semen and you should be able decide if you would like to use the semen on your own dairy cow.
• For Alta Genetics semen follow the directions under Alta Genetics semen and you should be able decide if you would like to use the semen on your own dairy cow.
19. What do you think are reasons a bull stud would cull a bull?
20. What kind of information might you have available on semen from a human donor?