Another great AltaAdvantage® Showcase tour is the unanimous verdict, with another exciting group of dairymen and women taking part from around the world. Advantage® partner Holstein dairies hosted the group throughout the week of September 30- October 2, 2008, with the tour ending at the World Dairy Expo, in Madison Wisconsin. The Fall Showcase, like the others before was a very impactful tour, providing tools, information and ideas that everyone can take back to their own dairies.

Performance Pen

With the tour starting in Minneapolis, MN, and over 250 participants flying from over 25 different countries, there was an air of excitement that permeated the hotel as people arrived. With time to enjoy a welcome drink and a toast to the week ahead there was much anticipation for the 10,000 cows on eight different dairies our guests would see - top dairies - not only in the area, but around the world.

As five – 54 passenger buses set out on the road travelling throughout the greater WI. area, they were able to get up close and personal at each dairy they visited. Try to imagine being one of the people getting off the convoy of buses and additional vehicles at one of the host dairies, along with close to 300 other people. We hear many different languages being spoken in addition to English and translations are required throughout the tour for many guests. It makes for a very unique atmosphere that underscores Alta’s globality.

Buses at Lake Breeze

Bomaz Group Talk

Each stop was an educational experience, allowing for each of the owners, family members involved on the dairy and employees to share their story and experiences as they grew to present size. It was obvious to see at each dairy visited that these are profit-minded dairyman and woman; and their motivation is not only to find low-cost solutions, but solutions that make them money!! As producers that are constantly growing, they are always looking to keep consistent or improve upon performance numbers, while increasing profitability too. With numerous talks about waste management, calf care, cow transition, cow comfort, there was one thing that these dairies all had in common; and that was an understanding that the value of genetics in their cows plays an important role in the results they can achieve.

Although each dairy selected bulls for different traits, they knew that they could count on Alta to get cows pregnant, while delivering on the traits that they were looking for. One of the stops along the way was at Bomaz Farms, located in Hammond, WI. Bob Zwald, one of the owners of the dairy described the focus they place on incorporating leading genetics into their herd, and the importance that genetics plays on marketing opportunities for their dairy.

“Genetics and Identification is something that we have always invested in. We identified certain cow families that seem to thrive under a commercial environment, and have focused on multiplying those genetics on our herd through an extensive flushing program,” Bob explains to us.

Dr. David Chalack and Mr. Pon, along with
other guest at the opening reception

Many people have this image that large commercial dairies typically can pass off genetics, thinking that the cows are disposable, but as we walked on to each of these dairies we saw impressive cows that any dairyman would be happy to own. Seeing representatives of Alta’s Past, Present and Future stars leads all on the tour to conclude that Alta’s genetic plan is in good hands. Again and again we saw that one should never underestimate the importance of genetic selection combined with top-shelf management and care. These cows were good looking cows, but in addition were able to thrive in a commercial setting, with pleasing type, high production and exemplary reproduction.

Lunch at Melichar Broad Acres

Alta Advantage Group

The AltaAdvantage® herds that we visited are a subset of the 185 Advantage® partner dairies from across the United States. Each of these herds is home to an average of 850 cows, with large contemporary groups that allow Alta to test the genetics of their bulls in the same environment as they are meant to be used as proven sires.

Bob Zwald explains the genetic programs
they run at the Bomaz Farms

Molly Florent and Chrissy Wendorf were the two consultants that work with the herds we visited on this showcase tour. These ladies are partners on the dairies, working to obtain DNA from every Advantage® heifer calf born, ensuring record keeping receives its necessary focus and that the industry’s most accurate data is captured for use in establishing proofs for our sires. With both a positively identified cow and the correct data on the bull, Alta offers - in a manner no other company can duplicate - genetics you can TRUST!!

Showcase is not only a time to look at cows and visit dairies, but is a great way to meet and network with other progressive dairymen and women and to learn and discuss a variety of dairy challenges that are different, but yet the same too, around the world. With tremendous meals served at some of our host dairies, there is time for people to visit with one another as well as to talk directly with the dairy owners. The evenings were full of excitement as well, with a chance to visit one of the most famous American football stadiums, followed by another amazing meal. The last night before the tour ended people were able to enjoy music from a live band, and have yet one more chance to visit!

Jim Melichar described his experience in being part of the showcase tour from the perspective of being a host herd and previously as a guest as “Inspiring!” explaining that it was good to be able to not only talk with other dairymen from around the world that are just as excited about the cows, but also working with people from Alta that are just as excited as they are, and with the same positive attitude that progressive dairy producers typically exude.

Performance Pen Cows on display at
Lake Breeze

Lambeau Field, home of the Green Bay Packers; American Football Team

With lots of energy and memorable experiences, this showcase proved to be a special one; as our guests were able to share in what is a very exciting time for Alta. Not only is Alta being acknowledged as the fertility leader (meaning more pregnant cows, faster!!), Alta is on a growth path that matches the partner dairies it works with. Clearly the message is that Alta intends to grow along with its progressive client base in order to serve them even better.