CRV USA Continues to deliver solutions through genetics for easy-to-manage herds

Build Healthier Herds, Drive Efficient Production, Produce Premium Milk

By Amanda Wollin

CRV USA is excited to announce strong sire lineups for both the Holstein and Jersey breeds—continuing to deliver genetic solutions for producers to build better cows for a better life. Focusing on building healthier herds, driving efficient production, and producing premium milk, CRV is helping dairy producers improve their operation and assisting them with getting to the next level of success.
“I am very excited for the year ahead of us,” said Amy VanderMark, CRV USA Managing Director. “Our team is dedicated, now more than ever, to delivering breeding and management solutions to our customers that they simply cannot find anywhere else—and ultimately lightening their workload and increasing their profitability. We have the right team in place, the most data, the right genetics, and the most passion you will find in the industry—and we’re committed to being your long-term, complete-solutions genetics partner.”

Building Healthier Herds
Using Better Life Health, we will help our customers breed healthier, fertile, and longer lasting cows. The CRV lineup for Better Life Health is better than ever at 5 percent—making reducing mastitis, preventing lameness, and improving fertility easier than ever.
• New sire 097HO41786 DIRK, is a health leader at 7 percent Better Life Health. He is great for the heifer pen at 6.1 SCE and will make healthy, trouble-free daughters with values of 103 for Hoof Health and Ketosis.
• Another new sire, 097HO41812 GOLD MEDAL, is worthy of his name with his 7 percent score for Better Life Health. He is an elite sire of HerdBuilder Traits Udder Health (106) and Hoof Health (103).
• Current sires 097HO41722 FINN and 097HO41721 SOLAR, are also leaders for Better Life Health. FINN is an exceptional 110 for Udder Health and 106 for Hoof Health—as well as a 2.63 Somatic Cell Score. Solar is another health specialist at 6.7 SCE and 107 for Udder Health.

Driving Efficient Production
Using Better Life Efficiency, we will help producers breed more efficient and profitable herds. The CRV lineup averages an extreme ten percent for Better Life Efficiency—moderating stature, improving feed to milk conversion, and increasing longevity.
• A new addition to the CRV lineup, 097HO41811 FANNING, is among the leaders for Better Life Efficiency at 12 percent. His 125 pounds of CFP combined with high fat (+0.13%) and protein (+0.05%) and moderate body size allow him to excel in efficient production of premium milk.
• Current sire, 097HO41793 NOVEL, is a model of efficiency with 1946 pounds of Milk, 146 pounds CFP, and negative stature. These traits combined with his 108 for Lactation Persistency allow him to come in at 12 percent for Better Life Efficiency.

Producing Premium Milk
Using CRV proprietary milk component traits, we will help dairy farmers breed cows that produce more valuable milk. In uncertain milk market trends, CRV can help you make your milk more valuable and increase you milk check without growing your herd.
• New this April, 097HO41864 TRACE is a great example of a premium milk sire with his high percentages of fat (+0.07%) and protein (+0.05%), and A2A2. He combines these excellent premium milk traits with low stature and a 5.5 SCE also making him a great option for the heifer pen.
• Current bulls, 097HO41773 BECKHAM and 097HO41774 HOTLINE, continue to be great sires of premium milk as well. Beckham combines over 1500 pounds of milk with big components to come in at 140 pounds CFP. Hotline, along with his excellent SCE of 6.3, provides great solids percentages of +0.17% Fat and +0.07% Protein.

Precision Breeding For A Better Herd
Another way CRV is helping add value to our customers’ milk and building better herds is through HerdOptimizer—a precision genetic management program. Launched at World Dairy Expo in October 2016, HerdOptimizer combines genomic testing, customized breeding goals, careful trait selection, easy-to-use test results, and breeding recommendations to deliver faster and more reliable herd improvement. This elite genomic herd management program is for any producer looking to easily customize their breeding goals—no matter what they may be.
Not only does HerdOptimizer capture traditional U.S. dairy genomic traits, it also delivers results on more than 20 proprietary CRV HerdBuilder Traits such as breeding values related to hoof health, udder health, premium milk components, fertility and efficiency. As you look at CRV’s lineups and browse our sire directories, look for the HerdBuilder Traits for each bull indicated in blue boxes.
To learn more about our lineups and how CRV can help you build better cows for a better life, visit our directories linked below or contact a CRV Genetic Consultant today at 1-855-CRV-COWS.
• Holstein Directory: https://issuu.com/crv4usa/docs/april_2017_holstein_sire_directory-
• Jersey Directory: https://issuu.com/crv4usa/docs/april_207_jersey_sire_directory-web

About CRV
CRV is a leading, customer focused cattle improvement organization fully committed to adding value for our farmers. With facilities in the Netherlands, Belgium, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Germany, Luxembourg, South Africa, Brazil, the United States, the Czech Republic and Spain, CRV sells semen in more than 60 countries. CRV’s U.S. office in Madison, Wisconsin, was established in 2009, and our team delivers solutions that support farmers in building more profitable and efficient herds. 

Virginia Dairy Leads Industry Towards Regenerative Manure Treatment

Windcrest Holsteins, located in Timberville, Virginia, continues to show their commitment to the long term success of their operation by becoming the first dairy in the State of Virginia to install the revolutionary First Wave Phosphorus and Nitrogen Capture System by LWR. The First Wave System, developed by the makers of the number one selling manure treatment system on the market, offers the same powerful segregation ability as the LWR System. The Second Wave module can be added at any time to start recycling the dairy’s manure into clean water.
Nestled among the rolling hills of the Shenandoah Valley, with panoramic views of the Blue Ridge Mountains to the east the North Fork of the Shenandoah River on the west, Windcrest Holsteins is known for their forward thinking when it comes to the environmental footprint of their dairy. A few years ago, the south-facing roofs of the farm’s free-stall barn and milking parlor were covered with 1,798 solar panels. Windcrest has been built around sustainability and have always looked for economic advantages by improving efficiencies around the farm. In this case, the focus was on manure handling and reducing the labor that is involved with the current manure management plan.
“I’ve been intrigued by LWR’s technology since I first heard about it” says veteran dairyman Dave Yutzy, who owns Windcrest with his wife, Jewel. “After visiting several farms with LWR systems in place, I knew that this technology could be a good fit for our dairy and fix some of the water quality issues we are having,” he adds. “Because we use recycled water to clean our barns and to clean the recycled sand which we bed the cow stalls with, improving that water quality is a great way to give our cows the best environment possible. This leads to healthier cows, and ultimately a healthier bottom line,” he says. After carefully examining the options on the market for clean manure liquids, Yutzy decided that both the capital investment and operating costs of the First Wave System made it the best fit for his dairy.
Manure is a valuable by-product from dairy farms and is used as a resource with many benefits. The First Wave System will allow the 900 cow Rockingham County dairy to strategically apply nutrients and achieve 100% nutrient accessibility which they expect will increase their crop yields.
“The life of a dairy farmer is particularly demanding, and our goal is to help them spend less time on manure” says LWR President, Ross Thurston. “It’s becoming more and more difficult for dairy farmers to stay in business, so they are always looking for ways to improve efficiencies,” he says, adding that the First Wave is a fully automated system that will reduce the labor and trucking costs currently associated with manure management. Although the First Wave System at Windcrest will be the first installation of its kind in the state, manure management is always on the minds of producers. With one now in place, more will likely follow. “Dairy producers care about the environment and strive to turn challenges into opportunities to improve their farms,” says Yutzy. Some of the most significant environmental challenges that dairy producers face are soil degradation, manure management, water quality, and greenhouse gasses emissions – all of which will be addressed by the First Wave System. It’s clearly evident that Windcrest Holsteins takes their environmental responsibility seriously, and that they are now well suited to leave a legacy for the family’s third generation that will one day take over its operation.

About LWR
LWR is a North American water treatment company focused on providing dairy, hog, and anaerobic digester operations with sustainable and cost effective manure treatment technology. With systems installed and operating throughout Canada and the US, the innovative technology has been awarded patents in Canada, New Zealand, and Russia, and is patent pending in five other countries around the world. The LWR System can significantly assist drought affected areas as it can recycle up to 75% clean, potable water from manure. The System also concentrates phosphorus, ammonia, potash, and nitrogen, allowing every part of the manure to be reused as a valuable output.  

For more information, please contact:
Lisa Fast
403-203-4972
lisa.fast@livestockwaterecycling.com
www.livestockwaterrecycling.com