Company News

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...

Semex is taking social distancing very serious and will continue to follow the Government recommendations as we all must do our part to minimise risk to customers, staff, and their families. There will be absolutely no sales farm visits � all customer contact will be done over the phone. Essential service farm visits will continue for provision of: � Liquid Nitrogen � AI � Semen Delivery All deliveries will be pre-agreed with customers where arrangements are to be made to ensure zero human contact. Where this is not possible a minimum of three metres apart will be adhered to. Disposable gloves will be worn and disposed of after each visit. Please call your Semex Genetic Consultant with any questions or concerns. The details are here.� #stayhealthy
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The December proof run sees three new sires introduced to the growing Immunity+ Semex stud. The firm’s investment in immune response technology continues to deliver through the genetic pipeline to help UK dairy farmers breed inherently healthier cows and reduce antibiotic use.
 
Westcoast RIVER Guarantee x Montana x Supershot with £861 PLI is at the top of the genomic sire list available in the UK.  With a combination of milk (+914g), 62.4 KGS CFP %, low SCC at -37, and impressive daughter fertility (+16.4), RIVER, is an ideal bull for breeding productive, fertile, profitable cows. He will sire moderate-sized daughters, and also holds A2A2 status. He is available both conventional and sexed.
 
Silverridge V EINSTEIN, Topnotch x Duke x Supershot is a Faststart sire at £783 PLI.  Einstein’s Faststart status gives UK breeders the opportunity to use this bull earlier than normal. With a blend of 957 KGS milk, 71.7 KGS CFP, Positive deviations, -28 SCC and 7.2 Fertility Index, Einstein is a sire that fits well into any breeding program. Available conventional and sexed.
    
From the same maternal line as RIVER is Westcoast ALMAMATER offering £767 PLI. An Alcove son, ALMAMATER is also an A2A2 sire. With Milk +568kg,  52.6 KGS CFP and positive deviations,  his Fertility Index (+14.5) shows his daughters get back in-calf easily. 
 
Michael Dennison, National Sales Manager, Semex UK says, “Immunity+ sires are exclusive to Semex and only gain this designation after having been tested and shown to have genes which confer the highest levels of immunity. This results in daughters of Immunity+ sires having significantly lower levels of most common diseases, compared to daughters of non-Immunity+ sires. These three new Immunity+ sires provide a good selection of high PLI, components and type, together with excellent health and fertility credentials to meet the needs of UK dairymen ... Read More...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE � October 2019

The UK is experiencing extraordinary times both within and outside of the dairy industry, and an extraordinary response will be required to make the most of the opportunities, and to mitigate the challenges, of the coming years in a new era for British agriculture.
On that note the 2020 Semex International conference � the 30th anniversary conference - captures the mood with the theme �Be Extraordinary� and will bring together speakers and delegates that will influence and shape the UK dairy industry for the next three decades.
Chaired by Ben Briggs, Editor of Farmers Guardian and from a Lancashire dairy farming background, the line-up of speakers include :
On trade, prices and the future of milk:
� PATRICK M�LLER, CEO , M�ller Milk & Ingredients (MMI);
� STUART ROBERTS, Vice President, NFU
� JOHN ALLEN, Managing partner with Kite Consulting;
� CHRIS WALKLAND, Journalist, commentator and market analyst;
� PAUL TOMPKINS, UK dairy farmer and Vice Chair of the NFU Dairy Board;
� PAUL LARMER, CEO Semex.
Talking about meeting the demands of the consumer:
� DR TAMSIN COOPER, Deputy Director of the National Food Strategy at DEFRA;
� IAN WRIGHT, Chief Executive, Food & Drink Federation;
� KEVIN WHITE, Fresh Food Editor at The Grocer.
Providing technical and practical expertise:
� KING HICKMAN, Independent global dairy nutrition and management consultant;
� CLAUS LUERSSEN, Dairy Farmer from Germany milking 850 cows;
� LYNSEY AWDE, A born and bred fell farmer from Cumbria;
Looking at our industry from a different angle:
� JANE CRAIGIE, Marketing & Communications consultant in food and farming;
� PETER HYNES, Irish dairy farmer, who together with his wife Paula, have raised over �40,000 for mental health charities.
And taking a look at the role of technology in the genetics industry:
� DR STEVEN LARMER, Semex Genomics Program Manager;
� JORDAN LEAK, COO of Double A Dairy and Twin Ridge Genetics in Idaho, USA, ... Read More...

Semex announces appointment of Owain Harries as International Sales Manager, part of the international sales and business development team of the global company. Based in the UK and working collaboratively with the global sales and marketing teams, Owain will work closely with the UK and western European markets. Drew Sloan, Senior Vice President, Sales & Business Development for Semex Alliance says, � We are�delighted to appoint Owain as International Sales Manager�who will provide leadership and support of genetic sales and solutions strategies across Western Europe.�He brings a wealth of experience and it is gratifying that Semex is able to provide global opportunities for talented people within the UK�. After completing his Bachelor of Science, Agriculture and Animal Science, at Harper Adams University College, Owain was a Dairy Sire Analyst for Cogent Breeding Ltd and spent a year in Canada before returning to the UK as a Regional Sales Manager. Owain started his new role with Semex on 1st October�2019. Commenting on his new role Owain says, �I am delighted to be joining Semex at this exciting time within the dairy industry.� Semex is strongly equipped to offer on-farm solutions right across the world and with a history of supplying world leading genetics and services, the business has cemented itself as a global leader and I am excited to be joining the team.�
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The 30th Anniversary of the Semex International Dairy Conference will be held on January 12th � 14th 2020.� Titled �Be Extraordinary� the conference promises to provide 2 days of extraordinary speakers who will motivate, challenge and inspire. Michael Dennison, National Sales Manager, Semex UK says, �We are delighted to announce Ben Briggs as our conference Chair on what will be a very special occasion for Semex. �Ben has a wealth of industry knowledge and will be well able to steer proceedings as we aim to promote debate, improve technical understanding and help drive the agenda on important areas within our sector�. The conference attracts a wide audience from the UK and International dairy production sectors, including politicians, farmers, milk processors, genetic experts, vets, nutritionists, and consumer and environmental experts. During the past 30 years the Semex Conference has had many of the industry�s domestic and global leaders in their fields address delegates and impart their knowledge and view on many different subjects. Commenting on his role as Chair, Ben says, �As dairy businesses face up to an era of increasing volatility and potentially radical changes to regulatory support, the need for farmers to �be extraordinary� is more pressing than ever. That is why I�m delighted to be chairing the 2020 Semex International Dairy Conference and exploring how innovative thinking and commercial creativity can shape the future of the dairy sector.� Jill Sloan, Marketing Consultant for Semex UK concludes, �We are excited to be going back to Glasgow, a vibrant city which has hosted us superbly over the years, for our momentous 30th anniversary conference.� We look forward to welcoming speakers and delegates from home and around the globe to help us celebrate what is sure to be an extraordinary occasion�. �
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With ever changing rankings and indexes, Semex UK�s commitment to breeding healthier cows that get pregnant easily and stay in the herd for a long time remains constant.

�We know that today�s dairy farmer wants trouble-free cows that breed back quickly�, says Michael Dennison, National Sales Manager, Semex UK. �It�s therefore testament to our genomic sire testing program Genomax, that Semex has 13 of the top 20 bulls proven in UK conditions for Fertility Index averaging +13.9, with the leader of the pack being Immunity+ sire Coyne-Farms Jabir at +21.5.

�To see these sires perform so admirably on this key fertility trait is extremely pleasing as every dairy farmer wants to get cows pregnant without fuss and daughters of these sires have proven to get back in calf quicker than many of their herdmates�.

This latest proof run sees Semex add four new Immunity+ sires to their bull stud bringing the total currently available to UK dairy farmers up to 93 including Westcoast Swingman Red, the most sought-after red sire in the breed. �Current research shows that High Immunity daughters have 30% less disease than their herdmates,� explains Michael. ��Cows that get sick less often require fewer antibiotics and in an industry that is under constant scrutiny this can only be a positive�.

This week also sees another shift in the UK Type Merit rankings with Semex UK sires topping the lists: five out of the top 10 proven sires and six out of the top 10 genomic sires call Semex home.

On PLI, sires such as Wisselview Wavelength at �804 and Sandy-Valley Batman at �799 provide dairy farmers with fault free sires with zero compromise on any key trait.

�This has been a tremendous proof run for Semex having so many of the leading Type bulls topping the rankings. The diversity in the Semex stud at the moment is second to none, we have sires to ... Read More...

Joe Forrester of Firs Farm, Barston, Solihull, W Midlands, has won the full package of two nights and two days at the Semex International Dairy Conference in Glasgow. 

Congratulations to Joe, and better luck next time to the other entrants.

The Conference is from Sunday 13th to Tuesday 15th January 2019 and features world-class speakers including Sue McCloskey of Fairlife in the USA, Giovanni Gnemmi of the University of Valencia (veterinary consultant to very large herd managers), and Charlie Perotti (of Fonterra) who manages 32,000 cows on seven dairy units. The Conference, named Agents of Change, will look at the way ahead for the dairy industry in challenging times.

 
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