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Seeing truly is Believing
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The Alta Advantage® program is about developing accurately tested, top quality genetics in the same kind of environments in which they are meant to be used. You may have heard it explained, read it in an ad or seen it in print somewhere, but it’s just marketing propaganda until you see it first hand. That’s where the Advantage® Showcase series comes in because seeing is believing. Imagine beautiful upper state New York – the famous “Finger Lakes” region. It’s late June, and 250 progressive-minded dairy producers from all around the world descend on region’s top notch dairies to see and learn. The nine dairies they visit are all Advantage® herds and while much learning and networking takes place, the Advantage® story takes root, because seeing is believing. |
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And that’s precisely what happened. From June 20th to 22nd a convoy of 5 large motor coaches and 3 or 4 vans made their way from Syracuse, to Auburn, to Buffalo, NY, taking in some of the most impressive dairies to be found in the US let alone the North East. These dairies are partners with Alta in developing the next generation of proven genetic leaders and the hospitality displayed at each dairy made it clear their relationship with Alta goes much beyond what would be typically be afforded just a “supplier”. That partnership starts with Alta’s Advantage® program and the people who deliver those services. That these owners speak passionately about the Advantage® program is not lost on tour participants. Progressively with each dairy visited they come to understand that there is something special about this program. It’s one of those things difficult to convey with just words – you’ve got to see it to believe it.
The people on the buses come from all across the US and Canada. There’s over 20 from Mexico, nearly 30 from the UK (England, Scotland and Wales), a dozen each from Germany and Australia, a smattering from the Netherlands, from Denmark, Italy too, from Argentina and from France. Some locals tag along for a day and when Alta staff are added to the mix the group total balloons to nearly 300 participants who all want to see it for themselves.
Each dairy has interesting innovative management details to delve into. Housing and barn structures provide additional counterpoints and bedding types also vary. On each dairy stations are set up for demonstrations on various reproductive topics, milking parlors, manure handling, methane digesters, feed stuffs, DNA collection on young calves and more. And of course Advantage® daughters from a long list of sires are on display at each dairy. Two after supper seminars round out the formal agenda, but networking, learning and socializing goes on late into the evening. To coin a phrase, they came, they saw, they believed.
The Alta Advantage® Showcase series is designed to “show” people instead of “tell’ people. But it takes an army of staff to coordinate such an event and a team of passionate Advantage® partners to make it happen on their dairies. On both fronts Alta is indebted. Still the Advantage® story is remarkable enough that it needs to be seen: great cows, tremendous management and caring owners that understand the value of genetic improvement. The old stereotypes don’t live on these dairies. Just ask anyone who took part on the tour – or better yet sign up for the next one in October. We already know the outcome. Once you’ve seen it you’ll be a believer too!
Tour Guest Group Shot
Posted Jul 5th
