Company News

Semex is deeply disappointed to announce the cancellation of the Semex International Dairy Conference in January 2022 but the safety of our speakers, delegates and staff and that of the hotel staff are our highest concern. Whilst disheartened, we are still looking forward to welcoming you to Glasgow in brighter times. We will be back. #TheTimeIsNotNow ---------------- Semex has announced the speaker line-up for The 2022 Semex Conference, to be held in its usual home in Glasgow from Sunday 9th to Tuesday 11th January 2022. As is now customary the conference will kick start the dairy sector calendar and look ahead to what might be in store for the year. Michael Dennison, National Sales Manager, Semex UK says, “We are looking forward to hosting the 2022 Conference and we are delighted that our speaker line up is so strong. There is a lot to cover in 2 days and we have secured the industry’s top experts to inform, inspire and challenge our delegates. ‘The Time Is Now” Conference will bring together the following: All about milk: • PETER GIORTZ-CARLSEN – EVP Europe & Member of Executive Board, Arla Foods will share his insights on the trends for healthy and sustainable fast-moving consumer goods and the development in e-commerce; • CHRIS WALKLAND - Journalist, Commentator and Market Analyst, who will reveal the milk market prospects for the year ahead: good or bad; • DOMINIC BROWN - Business Unit Director at Kantar Worldpanel, shares insights in understanding consumers and their buying behaviour in the dairy sector. Dairy Trade and Industry • NICK VON WESTENHOLZ – Director or Trade and Business Strategy, NFU and manages the NFU’s policy work on international trade and farm business competitiveness; • DR JUDITH BRYANS - Chief Executive of Dairy UK, who will take a look at the year ahead from a policy perspective; • TIM RYCROFT – Formerly at the Food & Drink Federation, Tim is the newly appointed CEO at AHDB. Our Planet - Our ... Read More...

Semex tops the UK Proven Holstein lists

The August UK proof run has returned the No.1 Available UK Proven PLI bull and the No.1 proven Available UK Type bull. Semex continue to deliver on UK farms with progeny that are outperforming their herd contemporaries.

Taking the number one position on the Available UK proven PLI list is Westcoast YAMASKA at £776. His sire Sandy-Valley Afterburner holds the No.3 spot. On the Available proven UK Type lists, Gen-I-Beq ATTICO, with more daughters added to his proof, retains his number one status with +3.58 UKTM.

Turning to the Genomic lists, the Semex Genomic sires continue the legacy of their proven stablemates with Semex’s Progenesis MAHOMES and Siemers BRAVE ranking No 6 and No 9 respectively on PLI. 3 Star OH RANGER RED continues to be the No.1 genomic red bull ranked on PLI. On Type, Claynook DAILY ranks in third place with a UKTM of +2.85.

“Today’s proof results are great,” says Owain Harries, International Sales Manager at Semex. “To have the number one sire on both the Available UK proven PLI and Available UK proven Type list is fantastic. YAMASKA, however, is more than just PLI. He offers exceptional components at +0.22% BF and +0.16% Protein, with over 600 Kgs Milk and boasts a robust linear with 1.85 UKTM, 1.39 Legs & Feet and 1.52 Mammary”.

Owain concludes, “We have always been confident in our genomic program so it’s gratifying to see our bulls continue to deliver on UK farms in UK conditions.”





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Semex is deeply disappointed to announce the cancellation of the Semex International Dairy Conference in January 2022 but the safety of our speakers, delegates and staff and that of the hotel staff are our highest concern. Whilst disheartened, we are still looking forward to welcoming you to Glasgow in brighter times. We will be back. #TheTimeIsNotNow ---------------- Planning for the 2022 Semex Conference is well underway, as the company announces the dates for their annual conference. Held in its usual home in Glasgow, the event will take place from Sunday 9th to Tuesday 11th January 2022, and as usual will help set the tone for the dairy sector for the coming year. As with many events Covid-19 got the better of the 2021 Conference and due to the unrivalled mix of business and pleasure, with its renown Burns Supper, it was not replaced with a virtual version. “We are excited and optimistic about the 2022 Conference as we look forward to welcoming back new and familiar faces to Glasgow to what we hope will be a fantastic event. With the title ‘The Time Is Now” the Conference promises to bring together all the industry’s movers and shakers to enlighten, challenge and inspire ensuring our customers are in the strongest position possible to meet the challenges we face”, says Michael Dennison, Semex UK’s National Sales Manager. Stuart Roberts, Deputy President NFU, who will Chair the event says, “The Semex Conference is always a fantastic and positive way to start the New Year. After the turbulence of the last 18 months I am really looking forward to being part of the 2022 Conference and the opportunity it will give us all to catch up with friends and colleagues.” Michael Dennison concludes, “Be sure to save the dates and we look forward to being in Glasgow in January 2022.”
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The April UK proof run has returned a number of high-ranking bulls across the spectrum of lists and Semex has once again demonstrated the ability to provide a stud of wide-ranging bulls, suitable to all UK dairy producers.

Joining the Semex stud is PROGENESIS MAHOMES. With a PLI of £892, this highest ranking Genomax bull is an Elodrado son from a Milktime dam.

“MAHOMES is already in demand globally for breeding the next generation of breed influencers due to his unique genetic offering,” says Owain Harries, International Sales Manager at Semex. “It’s rare these days to see such a high index sire also score high for Type Merit, but Mahomes bucks the trend coming in at 2.04 UKTM. This is no surprise with a lineage tracing back to Gold Missy. Farmers looking to reduce stature without compromising strength or the ability to produce cows with a natural ability to milk, need to look no further than this high-ranking superstar”.

Owain continues, “MAHOMES is ideal for farmers on both constituent and liquid milk contracts, offering over 1,000 kgs milk with positive percentages. With over 10 points on Fertility Index and exceptional Lifespan figures, we will continue to see the benefits that this bull offers for many years to come”.

MAHOMES is offered to the UK market as part of the Semex Faststart Sire programme.*

On the AHDB Holstein PLI listings, Semex is now home to 40% of the top 20 available UK Proven Bulls, one of which is WESTCOAST YAMASKA, who has added more daughters, and now boasts £720 PLI, with 560 kgs milk, and extreme percentages at +0.21 fat%, +0.15% protein, together with +9.1 Fertility Index.

Owain comments, “YAMASKA is undoubtedly the star with his daughters proving to be strong and wide, with exceptional locomotion, and at 1.78 UKTM he is amongst the highest Type options within the Top 10 PLI bulls. It is gratifying to see Semex Genomax sires of yesteryear confirming their hype with high-performance daughters in ... Read More...

Semex will host a series of Webinars in early 2021 to carry on its role in setting the tone for the dairy sector for the year ahead despite having to cancel its annual Dairy Conference for the first time in 30 years. 

Titled, I Can’t Believe It’s Not The Semex Conference, the webinars will deliver on the sought-after facts and figures dairy farmers need to navigate their way through the year ahead. 

Michael Dennison, National Sales Manager, Semex UK says, “With the year we have all experienced it is important we kick start the New Year by doing what the Semex Conference does best, bringing together the industry movers and shakers with like-minded dairy farmers.

“With the industry’s most renowned pundits sharing their views, opinions and wisdom the webinars are designed to create debate, challenge beliefs and plug the information void in an entertaining way,” concludes Michael.

Chaired by former conference chairmen, the webinars, which are all free of charge, will be an hour long and be in the format of part presentation and part Q&A to the speakers.

The I Can’t Believe It’s Not The Semex Conference Webinars will take place from January through March 2021.

 

Tuesday 12th January 2021 1pm– Chewing the Cud on 2021: Walkland & Potter ruminate on the year ahead.

Chair: John Allen, Kite Consulting

Speakers: Chris Walkland,   Ian Potter

It is the first time these three knowledgeable characters will appear on the same platform to discuss milk contract legislation, the latest on Brexit, price prospects and other challenges on the milk radar.

 

Monday 1st February 2021 1pm – The Fog lifts on Brexit: What we know now and what the implications will be.

Chair: Philip Halhead, Lancashire dairy farmer & MD of Norbreck Genetics

Speaker: Ash Amirahmadi, MD of Arla UK  and Dairy Co ... Read More...

The December 2020 proof run delivers the number one slot in three of the four main Holstein UK rankings for Semex UK. On the proven rankings Gen-I-Beq ATTICO-RED tops the UK and International list on Type Merit with +3.58. The number one slot on the Genomic rankings for UKTM again goes to Claynook DAILY at +2.90. Westcoast GUARANTEE with a PLI at £697 maintains his pole position in the proven PLI rankings. From the same herd, Westcoast YAMASKA remains in second position (PLI £672) with solid figures for fat and protein percentages (+0.22% fat, +0.14% protein) and 1.9 UKTM. Michael Dennison,  National Sales Manager-Semex UK, comments, “Just like in August this proof run has reinforced the diversity in the Semex stud which continues to be second to none with sires to cater for every dairy farmer irrespective of their breeding objective.” Debuting at No. 4 in the rankings is Siemers BRAVE, the highest Genomax sire to join the Semex stud with a  PLI of £830. This Timberlake son hails from one of the strongest cow families in the breed, the Gypsy Grands and ranks highly on many global indexes. With a combination of 1,188 KGs milk and 84.5 CFP, Brave is the highest milk bull in the top 20 as well as the breed leader for protein (42KG). A Faststart* sire, he’s available both sexed and conventional. Semex have also added to their Immunity+ sire list. Michael continues, “The latest addition to our Immunity+ line up is Fairmont RIDGELINE, a son of newly proven Progenesis TOPNOTCH. This sire’s ability to pass on a higher immune status to his progeny places him in the top 10% of the breed for disease resistance. At £568 PLI and 1.91 UKTM, RIDGELINE has a no holes linear and with ample milk 671 Kgs and positive deviations and will initially be available sexed only.” Particular attention was paid to how Walnutlawn SIDEKICK would fair this proof run and this much sought-after bull did not disappoint. Having secured enough classified daughters in his ... Read More...

For 30 consecutive years Semex has organised and hosted the dairy industry’s most prestigious and informative dairy conference, with its early January time slot helping to set the tone for the sector for the coming year.

But not in 2021, alas. As with many events Covid 19 has got the better of it, with the recent escalation of the pandemic dashing hopes that life might be back to normal enough by January to host the event. Because the conference has an unrivalled mix of business and pleasure, with its renown Burns Supper, it will not be replaced with a virtual version.

“We’ve been working on the conference all year in the hope that we’d be able to host it and provide even more of an interesting and entertaining line-up that would act as a morale booster for the industry,” says Michael Dennison, Semex UK’s National Sales Manager. “We had also chosen the title "Boldly Go" in a spirit of optimism and determination post-Covid, but we always knew the odds of hosting it were even, at best.

“Unfortunately, it wasn’t to be, and we also don’t think we can replicate the atmosphere of the conference in a virtual environment so we’ve taken the decision to postpone until 2022. So it’s a case of same conference… same time… same place… same theme… but just a year later.

“On behalf of everyone at Semex may I wish everyone and their families well through these difficult times, and I look forward to welcoming people to the Conference in 2022.”
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The latest proof run delivers no less than five of the top six proven PLI sires for  Semex UK, demonstrating that the transition from a Genomic to Proven sire is still the definition of success in breeding.



On the proven rankings Westcoast GUARANTEE tops the AHDB  UK Available bull list on PLI at £737, a ranking boosted by  breed leading health and fertility traits. Second on the list is Westcoast YAMASKA with a PLI of £696.  “Yamaska is a new entrant on the PLI list and tops off a great day at the office for Semex”, says Michael Dennison, National Sales Manager, Semex UK. 



“He’s a sire that’s seen heavy usage for his components and he’s backed that up at 0.23% Fat and 0.16% Protein. We are looking forward to seeing how he goes over the next few runs”, continues Michael.



The other three bulls in the top six are the ever-present View-Home LITTLEROCK £672 with Hoanster ZANZIBAR and Progenesis UNICORN looking good options at £666.



 “It is gratifying to see our Genomax™ program paying off and that irrespective of their genomic predictions or position on a table, our sires when tried and tested under UK conditions are proving their worth time and time again hitting the heights when it matters”, explains Michael.



With farmers demanding cows that get back in calf quicker, Semex is now home to 19 of the top 50 proven Fertility Index sires with Lookout Pesce HUNGER leading the way at +21.1 and the average of all 19 sires  at an impressive +14.4. 



“We strive to breed healthy fertile cattle which over time will pay dividends to the farmers and these 19 sires reaffirm that when it comes to producing cows that breed back, Semex is the No1 stud of choice”, added Michael.



Not to be overlooked the Semex Genomic selection took the number one slot on the Genomic rankings for UKTM with newly released bull, Claynook DAILY at +3.04 and today they added another balanced sire in Progenesis METALLICA to ... Read More...

Following a day of base changes and roll backs, Semex UK genomic sires have delivered on their promise when graduating to proven bulls based on UK milking and classified daughters. Leading the UK proven Type Merit rankings at 3.43� is Gen I Beq ATTICO RED with Stantons APPLICABLE closely following at 3.12. View Home LITTLEROCK tops the UK proven PLI rankings at �677 followed by Hoanster Zanzibar at �673. These sires swap places on the ACI ranking with Zanzibar at �617 and Littlerock �591. Owain Harries, International Sales Manager at Semex comments, �After 2 or 3 proof runs with more UK milking daughters added to their proof, it is heartening to see these bulls delivering exactly what we expected them to when they were first introduced as genomic sires�. Other proof highlights include genomic Immunity+ sire Westcoast RIVER who is now No 4 in UK PLI rankings at �771 and also boasts a fertility index of +15.6 . Two new Immunity+ sires will now join the Semex stud bringing the number available to UK dairy farmers to 84: Claynook ZAZBERILLA (CASPER X DUKE X YODER ) �704 PLI and 1.72 UKTM and Claynook FORBES� (CASPER X DUKE X DOORSOPEN) �562 PLI and 2.65 UKTM. Owain continues, �With every male and female in the world experiencing changes to their numbers, the one thing that remains constant is the Immune Response level of our Immunity+ sires. �Semex have added a further six bulls to their stud with a blend of Type Merit and Production.� �Breeding genetics for life is at the heart of everything Semex does and our new sires have the perfect balance of production, health and conformation. The strength of our proven and genomic line up, coupled with our ability to breed cattle who are more disease resistant, this week has shown that Semex UK has a line-up of sires that will suit any farmer or any system� concludes Owain. The new sires are: Progenesis BANKSY (MARIUS X IMAX X DENVER )�787 PLI and 0.9 UKTM Vatland MASTERCARD (MARIUS X EXPRESSO X KINGBOY) �747 PLI and ... Read More...

Semex, the innovative genetic solutions company, invests for a seventh year in the future of young dairy farmers by renewing its principal sponsorship of Holstein Young Breeders (HYB).

The support from Semex makes a significant contribution to the advancement and success of HYB by supporting aspiring young breeders who are the future cornerstone of the dairy industry. Semex has an active presence at all major HYB events, including the Weekend Rally and the All Breeds All Britain Calf Show, as well as supporting a plethora of prestigious HYB Awards such as the Littlestar and President�s Medal Award. In addition to the sponsorship, Semex pay for the three HYB President�s Medal finalists to attend the Semex International Dairy Conference and also fund a trip for the winner to the Royal Winter Fair in Toronto.

Semex have the opportunity to sit on the judging panels for national awards and competitions, host workshops and seminars and be at the forefront of the organisation�s ethos to engage, innovate, educate and equip the future generation of dairy farmers � many of who have the potential to progress onto international cattle breeding platforms - for a prosperous future.

Michael Dennison, UK National Sales Manager for Semex said, �We are delighted to sponsor HYB for a seventh year. It is important for Semex to invest and support our young breeders who are the future of our industry. Supporting HYB enables us to engage, educate and encourage the next generation�.

Cerys Petrie, National HYB Coordinator for Holstein UK, said, �The support from Semex is a vital asset to HYB at a national and local level. Their sponsorship enables us to carry out numerous events, awards, activities and learning experiences for our members. Working in partnership helps us to support, educate and shape the future for young dairy farmers and breeders.�

HYB, part of the wider ... Read More...