A panel of speakers on Holstein genomics will highlight this year’s National Holstein Convention. The panel will take place at 1:45 p.m., Thursday, June 25, at the Pheasant Run Resort in St. Charles, Illinois and panelists will provide insights on practical and effective ways to benefit from genomics in herds.
The topic of the panel is, “Holstein Genomics Today, Insight on Holstein Genetics from a Panel of Dairy Industry Leaders Who Work with Genomics Every Day.”
Panelists include:
– Dr. Michael Bishop, a cutting-edge research geneticist and senior market development specialist for Illumina. Headquartered in San Diego, California, Illumina develops and manufactures chips, which are at the heart of genotyping solutions.
– Chuck Ripp, owner and partner of Ripp’s Dairy Valley LLC in Dane, Wisconsin, will detail how he incorporates genomics for herd improvement. Ripp’s Dairy Valley LLC has a herd of 1,000 cows and 900 heifers. Their rolling herd average is 31,100 pounds of milk, with 3.8% fat and 3% protein, and with somatic cell count average of 170,000.
– Dr. Dan Weigel, Holstein breeder and director of outcomes research for Zoetis, will outline genomic success stories he has been involved with. Dr. Weigel knows firsthand how producers can use genomic predictions and how well predictions work for various traits in Holstein dairy herds.
– Dr. Nate Zwald, USA general manager for Alta Genetics, rounds out the panel. Dr. Zwald has used his practical experience, through his continued involvement with his family’s Bomaz Farms, an 800-cow operation in northwest Wisconsin, to genetically impact the health and productivity of cows in competitive commercial environments.