Fifty-one per cent of all registrations are completed by CanWest DHI and Valacta.

Holstein Canada also experienced slight growth in classification services in 2012, classifying a total of 252,842 animals. This represents a growth of 0.7 per cent over 2011 results.

Holstein Canada has stated that it is extremely proud to work closely with its 10,950 members across Canada to achieve these impressive results.

Marketing manager Alain Lajeunesse states, “Canadian dairy producers, who are true business people, continue to recognize the value of registration and classification services and they know they are getting a return on their investment.”

To back up this statement, Lajeunesse adds, “A recent cross-Canada survey completed by nine auction markets confirmed registered Holsteins brought an average market premium of $397 versus similar quality grade animals.”

Producers who classify and use the information for genetic progress achieve more milk (+880 kg per lactation) and also have improved longevity (+0.2 lactations). This additional milk production equals a net profit of $343 per cow per year.  PD

—From Holstein Canada news release