BRATTLEBORO, Vt. -
The Holstein Association USA, Inc. (HAUSA) board of directors met June 30, 2018
in Acme, Michigan. The meeting, chaired by President Boyd Schaufelberger,
was held in conjunction with the 133rd Annual Meeting and convention
at the Grand Traverse Resort and Spa.
Program activity
Through June 23rd, registrations totaled 176,412
Holsteins, which is an increase of four percent over the same time last year.
The Association processed 33,173 transfers through the same time period,
ten percent lower when compared to 2017.
Holstein COMPLETE® enrollment through June 30th
stood at 351,408 animals. Members continue to recognize excellent value
for all herd sizes enrolled in Holstein COMPLETE, with participation up three
percent, representing an additional 9,361 cows, since the first of the year.
Management reported AgriTech Analytics (ATA) enrollment
stood at 949,640 through May. This represents an increase of 2,779 more
records when compared to the previous month. AgriTech Analytics, a
subsidiary of the Holstein Association, is located in Visalia, California.
In December 2017, the American Guernsey Association (AGA)
and Holstein Association USA (HAUSA) formed an agreement whereby HAUSA
classifiers will appraise Guernsey cattle throughout the United States.
The project got off the ground in January when HAUSA’s classification
team began scoring Guernseys. HAUSA’s entire classification staff are
fully trained to score Guernsey cattle along with Holsteins, and staff will
renew their skills annually during the classification conference.
Research grant program
The HAUSA-funded inbreeding research project on Holstein
cattle being conducted by Dr. Christian Maltecca of North Carolina State
University is ongoing, with a final report expected during the first quarter of
2019. The inaugural grant funding program, announced by the Holstein
Association USA, Inc. a year ago in June, invites research proposals with
expected outcomes to benefit the profitability of Holstein cattle.
Research may involve traditional production disciplines of
genetics, nutrition, or reproduction as well as dairy foods or economics.
The submission deadline for 2018 grant proposals is August 15, 2018.
Applications for funding will be reviewed, ranked, and the successful
project announced later in the year.
Committee reports
The board heard reports from the Audit, Genetic Advancement,
International, and Type Advisory committees. One recommendation came from
the Type Advisory Committee, which the board approved, making the linear trait
Rear Teat Placement a two-way trait, with intermediate being optimum.
Additionally, recommendations came from the Genetic
Advancement Committee, which the board approved, to support the industry
strengthening the accuracy of the haplotype calls by adding the causative
variant to the SNP chips, and reaffirming HAUSA's usage of the term
"haplotypes" when referring to these embryonic conditions. The
board reaffirmed its policy to welcome the introduction of new beneficial genes
into the Holstein breed by means of natural introgression.
Board related activity
During a special dinner on June 30th, the board
honored retiring Directors R. Paul Buhr of Wisconsin (Region 5) and Patrick
Maddox of California (Region 9). A reorganization meeting of the Board,
led by President Schaufelberger on July 3rd, welcomed returning
Directors John Andersen of Idaho and John Marshman of New York, and
newly-elected Directors Robert Webb of Wisconsin and Bill Genasci of
California. Directors serve three year terms.