The Select Sires Podcast

Ashton King from Michigan Farm Bureau Insurance emphasizes the importance of farm safety and how being proactive can influence insurance claims. Join Host Ethan Haywood as he engages Ashton in a discussion to establish safety protocols with farm employees. In the second segment, Melissa Nelson of Hungry Canyon will join Ethan to share how she advocates for child safety on the farm. Her product line, “Wait For Me,” includes hi-vis clothing and stickers that serve as reminders to farm workers to watch for children when using farm equipment. 

Ethan Haywood, host of The Select Sires Podcast and genetic specialist at Select Sires Inc, talks with Michigan dairy, Lew-Max LLC, about herd goals, longevity and the Herd Health Profit Dollars® (HHP$®) index. In this episode, Ethan is joined by Aaron Gasper, owner of Lew-Max LLC, and Malissa Reed, genetic consultant at CentralStar Cooperative, as they review the dairy's genetic strategy and sire selection to create the next generation of replacements. 

The George Miller Scholarship is a new initiative by Select Sires to pay tribute to a man who advanced the dairy industry by leaps and bounds in his lifetime, and called Select Sires home along the way. George Miller passed away in early 2021 at the age of 94, but his legacy lives on in the hearts of those who knew him. Jeff Ziegler, vice president of dairy cattle breeding at Select Sires Inc., and Eric Olstad of Zoetis, join hosts Leslie Maurice and Joel Penhorwood to discuss the scholarship, as well as the life and times of George Miller himself.

Select Sires Inc. Vice President of Genetic Programs Chuck Sattler joins hosts Leslie Maurice and Joel Penhorwood to discuss the complex topic of lameness in dairy cattle. While management plays a major role, more and more opportunities to make an impact on lameness are being made available through genetics. In this podcast, Chuck explains why attention should be given to new lameness traits available from Zoetis and discusses on-farm validation of those traits. That discussion and much more in this episode of The Select Sires Podcast, helping to Make Longevity Her Legacy.

Allison Ryan of MVP Dairy discusses her unique perspective as she helps educate consumers on production dairy through their Dairy Learning Center. Hosts Leslie Maurice and Joel Penhorwood talk with her about the growing gap between producer and consumer, how dairy farmers are meeting those conversations, and also how the hot topic of sustainability is being communicated. The group also discusses Select Sires' part in educating consumers about the impact of genetics in feeding the world.

We talk the global reach of Select Sires and get insight on the impact of genetics and cattle around the world with Rebekah Mast, genetic director of World Wide Sires, and Joel Mergler, director of global talent development for Select Sires Inc. Their experience highlights the different genetic needs from country to country, the quest to educate and feed our growing populations, the border-bridging power of the bovine and much more.

Join Select Sires’ Leslie Maurice and Herby Lutz as they talk with Chris Terra, manager of Red Top Jerseys, a 5,700-cow dairy in California. Chris explains how genetics have played a constant role in the herd’s growth and profit strategy. He covers management mindset and decisions, the evolution of genetic selection and trait emphasis, their recent focus on health traits, the expanding use of beef x dairy, cow comfort and a marked improvement in fertility among much more.

In this episode, listen as Chris Sigurdson and Brandon Thesing explore new strategies and diversification options. They provide an overview of Simplot SimVitro’s HerdFlex beef embryos and share about market advantages of straight-bred beef calves. From conception rates to feed conversion and considerations for technician service, Chris and Brandon answer many common questions. They also describe what types of dairies will experience the most return on investment with a HerdFlex strategy. 

Listen firsthand as Arizona Dairy Company’s Justin Stewart talks about the herd’s genetic evolution and what metrics pushed them to emphasize sire selection. He also provides an overview of their genomic testing and IVF programs as well as their involvement in NxGEN®. Lyle Kruse, vice president of U.S. market development for Select Sires Inc., guides the conversation and provides another industry perspective for listeners.

How do dairy producers make sure they are focusing on the right traits and indexes to achieve healthier, longer-living cows? In this throwback to our Q&A series, host Dr. Bo Harstine, director of research at Select Sires Inc., is joined by Chuck Sattler, vice president of genetic programs, and Dr. Dan Weigel, director of outcomes research at Zoetis Inc.