Creating and developing elite cattle has been the focus of Tom and Kelli Cull of Budjon Farms since taking over the operation in 2000. Established by Tom’s parents, John and Mary, the Pewaukee, Wisconsin, dairy specializes in breeding and boarding some of the finest registered cattle in North America.

Dairies that rely on embryo transfer often achieve success rates similar to artificial insemination (A.I.). Plus, in times of heat stress, pregnancies resulting from embryo transfer may exceed those of A.I., with some dairies reporting pregnancy rates as much as 10 or more percentage points higher for embryos. Yet, positive outcomes are not possible without a commitment to quality ­­– of embryos and transfer techniques.

Betley Family Farms might’ve burst into the registered cattle scene like a lion, but there’s no way they’re going out like a lamb. It’s evident by the team’s commitment to creating profitable cattle that they’re just getting started.

Driven, hard-working and passionate about the dairy industry. These attributes describe many involved with dairy cattle, and siblings Logan and Lauren Silveira are no exception. The duo have made their splash in the dairy world and are here to stay.

One hundred miles north of Los Angeles, almond trees bloom, the sun shines and a Holstein cow leisurely walks back to her dry lot pen after her second of three milkings. She’s a member of Vanden Berge Dairy’s herd of Holsteins and is a product of an impressive genetic strategy.

Enrolling heifers in an IVF program is extremely advantageous for genetic advancement in any operation. Even small numbers of viable pregnancies from a prepubertal heifer can give a producer the competitive genetic edge that every dairy farmer is aiming to achieve. 

A goal to get an extra lactation out of their cows improved more than herd longevity at Doll’s Dairy Inc. in Pocahontas, Illinois. It also provided additional opportunities to diversify the farm’s revenue streams, including selling beef-on-dairy calves and excess heifer calves.

Genetics play a larger role in calf performance than whether calves are raised in a traditional beef system or within a dairy system.

Advanced reproductive technologies are exciting and effective, making it easy to jump right in when there are elite genetics that you want to replicate quickly. However, it’s important to pause and understand how to create success from start to finish.