The Holstein Association USA board of directors met in Chicago Nov. 14-15. President Chuck Worden presided over the meeting. The board approved the 2013 Management-by-Objective Business Plan and associated budget. The plan predicts growth in sales of Holstein Association USA’s core products and services. The Holstein Association is pleased to announce it will be participating in two dairy genetic research studies.

The first is one in which the Association will be providing type evaluation services for a feed efficiency research study being conducted by several universities.

The board also approved funding for a study that will seek to find haplotypes of elite Holstein females that are associated with their valuable and unique phenotypes. The impetus for this study was fostered by grassroots member input.

Industry updates
Considerable time was spent discussing the future of the national dairy genetic evaluation program and the proposed privatization of genetic evaluations.

Upon motion duly made and seconded, the board resolved:

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Holstein Association USA is committed to remaining in its long-standing, traditional role as custodian and steward of the Holstein breed, specifically including genetic labeling, parentage discovery and verification, and type evaluation. The direction being taken by the Council on Dairy Cattle Breeding, NAAB, and the CDDR is inconsistent with this commitment by Holstein Association USA.

Furthermore upon motion duly made and seconded, the board resolved:

The Holstein Association USA Board of Directors does not approve the Bylaws recently presented to the members of the Council on Dairy Cattle Breeding (“Council”) and continues to be opposed to the proposed Cooperative Agreement and Business Plan under consideration by the USDA and the Council in regard to a U.S. Genetic Evaluation Program.

[Note: NAAB is the National Association of Animal Breeders; CDDR is the Cooperative Dairy DNA Repository, Inc.]

Update on 2012 business plan
Registrations through Nov. 3 were 296,415, which is up a percentage point over the same period in 2011. Transfers through Nov. 3 were up nearly 10 percent from the same time last year and stood at 57,127.

Reporting through October, Holstein COMPLETE enrollment totaled 280,356 cows and 1,817 herds. This represents more than a 9 percent increase in cows and a slight decrease in the number of herds since the end of 2011.

AgriTech Analytics General Manager Bill VerBoort reported that as of Sep. 30, 903,059 animals were enrolled at the dairy records processing center. This is a 3 percent increase in the number of animals enrolled since the first of the year.

Committee reports
The board of directors heard reports from the Audit, Junior Advisory (JAC), Legislative Affairs, and Show Committees.

From the Show Committee, the board made two changes to the list of Uniform Classes for shows. For the existing class, Milking Fall Yearling Heifer, the name has been changed to Milking Yearling Heifer, therefore permitting milking winter yearlings to show in that class. The board also approved changing the 125,000 lb. Cow Class to a 150,000 lb. Cow Class, keeping it as a recommended class and acknowledging the increased production of today’s Holsteins.

The board approved the International Holstein Show at World Dairy Expo in Madison, Wisconsin, and 10 National Shows for 2013.

The list includes Spring National Holstein Shows in:

  • Columbus, Ohio
  • Stillwater, Oklahoma
  • Jefferson, Wisconsin
  • Richmond, Utah
The Summer National Holstein Show will take place in Columbus, Ohio. Fall National Holstein Shows will be held at:
  • St. Paul, Minnesota
  • Puyallup, Washington
  • Springfield, Massachusetts
  • Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
  • Louisville, Kentucky

The board reviewed the committee’s recommendations for the 2013 National and Qualified Judges Lists and approved 39 National show judges and 77 Qualified show judges.

The first 2013 judges’ conference will take place on April 18 in conjunction with the Wisconsin Spring Holstein Show in Jefferson. The second conference takes place April 24 at the time of the California Spring Holstein Show in Merced.

Other business
The board of directors reviewed member delegate reimbursement history. After deliberations, the board approved increased delegate reimbursement from $400 to $500.

The board has approved the release of 2,437 prefixes effective Dec. 31, 2012. Since its inception in 2009, the board policy allows the release for reuse of a prefix after 20 years of non-use and makes it easier for members to acquire prefixes for their herds. A proprietor may request retirement of his or her prefix for a $100 fee.

Upcoming board meetings

  • The spring board meeting will be held March 21-22, 2013, in Hartford, Connecticut.
  • The summer board meeting will be held June 7-8, 2013, in Indianapolis, Indiana, held in conjunction with the 128th Annual Meeting. PD

—From Holstein Association USA news release