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On-line News Archives 2000 |
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Guelph, Ontario With five of the top five LPI sires in the November sire summary (released October 30), the Semex Alliance line-up has never been stronger.
Emerging as the #1 LPI sire is Ricecrest Monday. After making his debut in August in the #5 LPI position with low reliability, his near doubling of production daughters and more than doubling of type daughters bolstered his ratings on both sides of the ledger landing him solidly in the #1 position. A Supersire son from a Leadman daughter of Blackstar Martha, Monday emerges as one of the most interesting outcross sires available in AI. With high fat and protein yields, positive deviations for both, exceptional udders, quality legs and an easy calving rating, Monday can help start your week off the right way!
More good news for dairymen are the solid performances delivered by Summershade Inquirer and Igniter, both improving upon their LPI debut in August. Inquirer, despite his 6 kg increase in protein yield, now stands in the #2 position while Igniter, with a dramatic increase in type, stands at #4. Sandwiched between the two Juror sons is their Bellwood half brother, Summershade B Contributor. With moderate type numbers, Contributor generates his #3 LPI debut via an alternate route and in the process, setting a new standard for production by breaking the 100 kg protein barrier for the first time by a Canadian proven sire. Combined with +5 for type and +5 on udders, he is a bull that breaks new ground for Semex Alliance.
More good news comes via the addition of nearly 400 production daughters to the proof of Comestar Lee. They help to push up ratings significantly for milk, fat and protein yield. The doubling of daughters for type provide an additional boost of 4 points for conformation raising him to the top type position in Canada. With his global popularity already at an all-time high, it will serve to add even more confidence in the decision breeders have made.
In other news, Petinesca Charisma, who topped the type list in August, traded three type points for extra fat and particularly extra protein yield to improve slightly upon his LPI score and rank. In fact, with his pattern of deep, open-ribbed cows with good legs and udders, the extra production helps to make him more attractive than before.
The high reliability sires Rudolph, Storm, Aeroline and Leader remain unchanged. Really! Aeroline and Leader with exactly the same LPI score as in August and Rudolph and Storm within one point!
Other sires in the top 10 LPI list include Broad Cove Goldengate, the Lieutenant son activated in August. He moves up to #7 on the list with but minor changes to his balanced type and high protein pattern. Miley Gilbert improves his type score again, sharing the top spot with Lee at +16 as Canada's top type sire.
For Jersey breeders, it's truly becoming the Perimiter story. His LPI lead over 2nd place Berretta, his sire, now extends to almost 350 points. Exceptional protein yield and percent are now well established as his trademark, although he is also impressive on feet & leg improvement. What's exciting is that his early second lactation records suggest even better performance!
For Ayrshire breeders, it's a similar story for Roi Galant. His early second lactation records provide a 17 kg improvement over first. Along with exceptional udders, it helps to easily secure the top LPI position. Meanwhile, Woodland View Pardner remains solid with a nice balance of production and type and Cornelius benefits nicely on production and type with second crop daughter additions.
For information :
Helene Drapeau,
Head of Communication
Téléphone : 450-774-1141 Télécopieur : 450-774-9318
Guelph, Ontario The August sire summaries dealt Semex Alliance a royal flush! Four of the top five LPI sires are Semex Alliance newcomers and five of the top five LPI sires are marketed by Semex Alliance and its partners.
Making his debut and topping the LPI list is Summershade Inquirer as the new #1 LPI sire
and his full brother Summershade Igniter premiering as #4 LPI sire. Both newcomers are over +2000 kg Milk, over +70 kg Protein and over +10 for type.
For information :
Helene Drapeau,
Head of Communication
Téléphone : 450-774-1141
Télécopieur : 450-774-9318
And it doesn't stop there! Semex Alliance hit the jackpot with 22 Semex Alliance bulls breaking the +1700 LPI mark when just three months ago there were merely eight. Among them are new leaders for production, a new number one type transmitter, component specialists and most importantly, new blood lines.
Just three months ago Startmore Rudolph seemed to be securing his hold on the LPI ranking distancing himself from his nearest rival by over 60 points. To put the sire summaries into perspective, consider that he added another 80 points to his LPI score, but had to relinquish his lead to not one but two bulls.Canada's new number one bull is a Juror son out of a Mascot dam. His name is Summershade Inquirer. With very high yield values for all three production traits combined with exceptional overall type, he's exactly what breeders have been looking for to mate to Starbuck and Aerostar bloodlines. What's more his full brother, Summershade Igniter, with an almost identical proof debuts in fourth position. Both bulls sire lots of capacity, exceptional rump structure, widely attached shallow udders and legs and feet that defy his breeding. In between them and comfortably ahead of Rudolph is another new offering, Crescentmead M Morris, a Mandel son backed by Blackstar and Rotate dams. Morris is equally impressive on his production profile, especially on fat, while his type numbers suggest very angular open-ribbed dairy cows with excellent feet and legs. Rounding out the top five is Ricecrest Monday, a Supersire son from a Leadman daughter of Blackstar Martha. Monday's production numbers are impressive too with high yields and slight positives on fat and protein percent. His type numbers, while preliminary, highlight the mammary traits in particular.
There's a new type leader in Canada - Petinesca Charisma. He's a Juror son from a Leadman, backed by a Valiant full sister to Broker. At +16 he sets the bar, but nipping at his heels is Miley Gilbert who with more classified daughters, improved upon his May debut to sit at +15. Markwell Nobel with improved production numbers is at +14. The Integrity son, Futuraland Zone, is also rated +14 with a very pleasing milk rating while Jed full brothers Silky Gibson and Silky Cousteau round out the group at that lofty level. Finally, Comestar Laurier, the Lindy son from Laurie Sheik who also debuted in May, improved on his type but especially production numbers to gain nearly 200 LPI points. And with a double digit rating on stature he's sure to gain favour with breeders who like the tall fancy kind.
New component specialists are also a highlight of the proof round. While Comestar Laurier also fits that description, Broad Cove Goldengate is even more extreme on protein percent and yield. He's the highest ranking Lieutenant son to date now in 6th place on the LPI list. Just below him is a new Jed son, Clover-Mist Luxury who along with exceptional fat and protein percent sports a +13 type rating. A new red carrier Lindy son, Glen Drummond Mario, is an extreme fat yield improver with pleasing protein and type, . All these new faces join Blok-Bros Louis, High Point Artist, Richesse Stoneham, Shoremar James and Mapel Wood Estimate already in that category.
For Ayrshire breeders Roi Galant, the outcross Lord Ontario son, leaps forward 13 kg on protein while gaining a point on type as well to gain top LPI spot among Semex active sires. There's Brown Swiss news too with a new top LPI sire in Top Acres RM Pentacle. He's a Pete Rose son with an exceptional combination of high component production and balanced type. In the Jersey breed no news is good news, with Rock Ella Perimiter building on his solid lead and Grayclay Hermitage Prince retaining the number two position. In fact Perimiter gains a kg on protein and two points on type to stand nearly 400 LPI points on his nearest competitor.
It's a once-in-a-lifetime kind of proof round with exceptional news for dairymen in Canada and all around the world.For additional information, please contact :
Hélène Drapeau, agr.
Head of Communications
Telephone : 450-774-1141 Telecopier : 450-774-9318
Saint-Hyacinthe, 18 July 2000 The Centre d'insémination artificielle du Québec (CIAQ) now houses its first millionaire sire ! On 29 June, Startmore Rudolph (73HO1965) easily passed the 1-million mark by producing 1194 doses of semen. Rudolph is no ordinary Holstein bull. He is the leader in Canada for Lifetime Profit Index (LPI) and his reputation goes beyond frontiers.
For information :
Yves Brindle,
Head of Laboratory
Téléphone : 450-774-1141 Télécopieur : 450-774-9318Picture available from :
Helene Drapeau,
Head of Communication
Téléphone : 450-774-1141
Télécopieur : 450-774-9318To carry out such a feat, Rudolph was brought 790 times to the collection room and he supplied 1564 samples of semen representing more than 9,5 litres of pure sperm. His semen was collected for the first time on 10 June 1992 when he was 10 months old and his best daily production was 2693 vials on 25 June 1996.
Rudolph is a Starbuck grandson. He becomes the third Holstein sire in Canada to achieve such a performance after Madawaska Aerostar, his sire, and Hanoverhill Inspiration. To our knowledge, he is the 11th bull to join this select international millionaire club.
Rudolph is an exceptional producer. He has produced one million doses of frozen semen in the shortest time ever registered for a sire, before the age of 9 which he reached on 17 July 2000.
Startmore Rudolph's performance fits in with the great moments of CIAQ's history along with the impressive mark of 100 million doses produced that was reached on 21 March 2000, 52 years after CIAQ began its operations.
CIAQ, located in Saint-Hyacinthe, is a leader in the field of bovine cattle genetic improvement in Québec and across the world.
For additional information, please contact :
Hélène Drapeau, agr.
Head of Communications
Telephone : 450-774-1141 Telecopier : 450-774-9318
Saint-Hyacinthe, 18 July 2000. After one year of ownership by Québec breeders, a new chairman of the Centre d'insémination artificielle du Québec (CIAQ) has been designated. Two new board members have also been appointed by the owner organisations, the Fédération des producteurs de lait du Québec (FPLQ Québec dairy farmers association), the Conseil provincial des CAB inc. (CPCAB breeding clubs) and the Conseil québécois des races laitières inc. (CQRL provincial dairy breeds associations).
Simon Giard, the new chairman of CIAQ's Board of Directors
For information :
Michel-R Saint-Pierre,
General Manager
Telephone : 450-774-1141 Telecopier : 450-774-9318
Picture available from Helene Drapeau,
Head of Communications at CIAQSimon Giard, President of CQRL, was named chairman of the Board of Directors. A board member since CIAQ was privatised in 1999, Mr Giard is a young producer who is highly experienced in the management of the organisations in which he is involved. He is the co-owner of Ferme Giard inc. of Saint-Simon, a 190-head dairy farm, and he regularly participates in several shows.
Michel Simard is a new board member representing CPCAB. Mr Simard is a beef producer at La Corne in Abitibi. Since 1971, he has been running a cow-calf operation (240 cows) and has been using artificial insemination for 25 years, which is rather uncommon for a beef breeder Finally, Marcel Groleau was appointed by FPLQ as the other new member of CIAQ's Board of Directors. Mr Groleau is the co-owner of a 75-cow dairy herd in Thetford Mines and he brings with him extensive experience, having served on several committees and boards of directors both on the provincial and national levels.
The other members who complete CIAQ's Board of Directors and who were already serving on the Board last year are, from FPLQ, Marc Richard and Gérald Routhier, from CPCAB, Martin Caron and Mario Houle, from CQRL, André Couture and Marcellin Therrien and, as external members, Réal Laflamme et Bertrand Farmer.
The past board members, Jean Grégoire and Joseph Gendron, along with the other members were the pioneers of CIAQ's privatisation and have contributed to its development at a time where the organisation has been closer than ever to its clientele in maintaining excellent bovine genetic products and services.
For additional information, please contact :
Hélène Drapeau, agr.
Head of Communications
Telephone : 450-774-1141 Telecopier : 450-774-9318
Saint-Hyacinthe, 4 April 2000 A new era is beginning for the Centre d'insémination artificielle du Québec. Following its purchase by Québec dairy and beef breeders, CIAQ presented its first annual report in the presence of its new owners and several partners in the field of agriculture. After 51 years of government management, where CIAQ went from being a service of the Ministry of Agriculture to become a subsidiary of the crown corporation SOQUIA, the results of CIAQ's first year of operation as a private organisation are very positive.
Michel-R. Saint-Pierre,
General Manager
For information :
Michel-R Saint-Pierre,
General Manager
Telephone : 450-774-1141
Telecopier : 450-774-9318The three owner organisations, the Fédération des producteurs de lait (FLPQ), the Conseil québécois des races laitières (CQRL) and the Conseil provincial des Cercles d'amélioration du bétail (CAB), had clearly indicated their desire to continue offering to all breeders the products and services equal to their expectations, and that is what CIAQ has accomplished in 1999. Several star sires have supported the Québec market, but also the Canadian and international markets, including Rudolph, Mason and Storm, all grandsons of the renowned Starbuck. In fact, CIAQ has published a biography of this sire who has influenced cattle breeding the world over.
On the financial level, CIAQ ended the fiscal year 1999 with a net profit of 3,2 million $, mainly thanks to its excellent position on the national market (Québec and other provinces) and to the quality of the sires available to breeders. This performance was achieved in spite of a substantial increase in the expenses following the purchase of the organisation. The total revenues reached 25,9 million dollars despite a 2,75 % decrease in the number of doses sold, as a consequence of the gradual decline in dairy cattle.
Michel-R. Saint-Pierre, CIAQ's new General Manager since January 2000, states : "The economic situation was clearly less favourable on the export markets, mainly because of the declining milk prices across Europe and the increase in semen available from other sources. The average price per dose sold by The Semex Alliance, CIAQ's subsidiary at 45 %, was noticeably below forecasts".
The grouping of CIAQ with three other Canadian partners in The Semex Alliance allows for greater strength on the international market and more overall competitiveness. It also aims at putting together the genetics of each partner in order to increase the diversity of the supply and reduce the income fluctuations related to the proofs results.
CIAQ is proud of the enviable results it has known over the years, a result of the close partnership between the groups of breeders and the organisations dedicated to milk production and cattle breeding. Jean Grégoire, CIAQ's President, states : "CIAQ has developed a strong relationship with the breeders and with the various related public and private organisations. Québec breeders know that, in their constant search of efficiency, genetic improvement is an important component and that CIAQ is truly their partner".
For additional information, please contact :
Hélène Drapeau, agr.
Head of Communications
Telephone : 450-774-1141 Telecopier : 450-774-9318
Saint-Hyacinthe, 4 April 2000 - The management of the Centre d'insémination artificielle du Québec was pleased to invite on their premises several people related to the cattle breeding industry as well as its entire staff to attend an historical event, the presentation of the book entitled " 50 ans avec vous! "
Claude Hayes (left) and Jean-Noel Dion are the authors of the book "50 ans avec vous"
Hélène Drapeau, agr.
Head of Communications
Telephone : 450-774-1141
Telecopier : 450-774-9318This book covering five decades, each marked by special achievements, represents an adventure in time, laying emphasis on CIAQ's activities and on the people who have contributed to its success. This work reflects the passion of CIAQ's management and its staff who, along with A.I. technicians, breeders and partners, have shaped the field of cattle breeding for the betterment of the agricultural world. The authors, Jean-Noël Dion, Director of Records at the Archive Centre of the Séminaire de Saint-Hyacinthe, and Claude Hayes, CIAQ's General Manager from 1967 to 1982, worked for several months at collecting the information that will allow readers to recognise the work achieved by CIAQ during its first 50 years of operation.
A highlight of this book launch was the reunion of all the general managers who took turns at the head of the company. They are Dr Ernerst Mercier, Louis-N. St-Pierre, Claude Hayes, Robert Chicoine, Fernand-H. Laliberté and Michel-R. Saint-Pierre.
"This books represents the individual and collective memory in order to position CIAQ in the influencing role it has played in Québec's agriculture. It is also a tribute to those men and women who have contributed to the growth of the company and have given it a raison d'être," states M. Saint-Pierre.
Renowned as a leader in the world of bovine genetics, CIAQ has contributed to the genetic improvement of herds in Québec and the world over. One only has to mention the name of Starbuck, one of its star sires, and all agree that his influence will have marked cattle breeding on a world-wide basis.
For additional information, please contact :
Hélène Drapeau, agr.
Head of Communications
Telephone : 450-774-1141 Telecopier : 450-774-9318
Saint-Hyacinthe, 4 April 2000 The Centre d'insémination artificielle du Québec has reached the impressive mark of 100 million doses of bovine semen produced. This turning point was surpassed on 21 March 2000, 52 years after CIAQ started its operations. Shoremar Mason is the sire who has achieved this historical mark by producing on that day 1153 doses of semen.
Shoremar MASON
is the sire who has achieved this historical mark by producing on that day 1153 doses of semen.Yves Brindle
Head of Laboratory
Telephone : 450-774-1141
Telecopier : 450-774-9318The sire who has contributed the most to reaching this mark is Canadian leader Startmore Rudolph, who will soon join the select millionaire club. As of today, he has produced 952 634 doses of semen. The other most active sires as far as semen production is concerned are Juniper PARK (889 478 doses), Maughlin STORM (830 621 doses), Shoremar MASON (772 556 doses) and Meadolake Jubilant (772 066 doses).
Right from the start, pioneers Louis-N. St-Pierre and Claude Hayes undertook the collection of the precious semen and passed on their know-how to the team of herdsmen. The semen from more than 4200 sires from 28 dairy and beef breeds was thus collected and processed by team members dedicated to the quality of the doses offered to breeders.
A little history allows us to better understand the extent of the work done and the repercussions for breeders in Québec and across the world who, over the years, have benefited from the genetic potential of the sires offered by CIAQ. In the beginning, the bull semen was collected and shipped unfrozen by bus to areas surrounding Saint-Hyacinthe. Each sperm sample collected was diluted according to the number of cows to be inseminated. During CIAQ's first year of operation, 4338 doses were used. The advent of frozen semen permitted the expansion of the areas serviced and the availability of semen throughout Québec and beyond its borders. Thanks to modern dilution and freezing technology, it became possible to obtain up to 1000 doses and more per collection from certain adult sires.
Semen production at CIAQ expanded rapidly at the beginning of the 80s following the technological developments and the increasing number of young sires tested in Québec. In 1997-1998, to meet the increasing demand for semen on the local, national and international markets, CIAQ produced a record number of 6 541 339 doses in one year.
The CIAQ team is proud to have reached this new milestone and will continue to offer breeders in Québec and all over the world high-quality semen, a token of excellence that has allowed them to maintain CIAQ's reputation on the international scene.
For additional information, please contact :
Hélène Drapeau, agr.
Head of Communications
Telephone : 450-774-1141 Telecopier : 450-774-9318
Michel-R. Saint-Pierre is appointed General Manager of Centre d'insémination artificielle du Québec (CIAQ)
The members of the Board of Directors of Centre d'insémination artificielle du Québec are proud to announce the nomination of Agrologist Michel R. Saint-Pierre as CIAQ's new General Manager. Mr Saint-Pierre began to work in January 2000 in replacement of Fernand-H. Laliberté, the organisation's present General Manager who will retire next April.
The breadth of knowledge and experience possessed by Mr Saint-Pierre has prepared him well for this position in an organisation which, after 50 years of existence, has become in 1999 the property of Québec cattle breeders while controlling the Québec artificial insemination market and exerting its influence on the national and international markets through its partnership within The Semex Alliance. Up until recently, Michel R. Saint-Pierre was President of the Société de financement agricole du Québec, a position which has given him the unique opportunity to manage an organisation that plays a strategic role in the adaptation of the Québec agriculture to the new surrounding economic and social realities.
Before that, Michel R. Saint-Pierre was President and General Manager of the Régie des assurances agricoles du Québec for two years, Assistant General Manager of SOQUIA (Société québécoise d'initiatives agroalimentaires) for ten years after its foundation as well as Assistant Director for the Québec area of the Business Development Bank of Canada. He held those positions after having completed his studies in agricultural science at Laval University in 1966 and in management (finance) at Montréal University's École des hautes études commerciales where he earned a management degree in 1970.
Strategic adaptation to changes is one of the keys to success in agriculture and Michel R. Saint-Pierre will see to CIAQ's development in the more specific field of cattle genetic improvement in order to meet the needs of dairy and beef producers who rely on a strong and dynamic organisation. Mr Jean Grégoire, President of CIAQ's Board of Directors, stated : "Mr Saint-Pierre, with his good knowledge of the agricultural and economic environment, will be in a position to take up the several challenges that the artificial insemination industry has to cope with, as much in Québec as on the international market."
In a changing context, one thing remains stable, that is CIAQ's full intention to serve cattle breeders and to make the best sires available to them, thus advancing the genetic improvement, the profile and the financial health of cattle breeding.
For additional information, please contact :
Hélène Drapeau, agr.
Head of Communications
Telephone : 450-774-1141 Telecopier : 450-774-9318
Saint-Hyacinthe, February 2000 - Mardel Scarlet, GP83, was in 1999 the best producer sired by an Ayrshire sire marketed by CIAQ. Scarlet is a daughter of 73 AY 284 St-Césaire Papillon and her dam, Mardel Vic Starlet, Excellent- 2E, is a daughter of Blackaddar Isle Milkman. Thanks to her high performance (milk, fat and protein BCA) of 1186 points, she has reached a mark never equalled since this trophy was first awarded. The trophy is given each year to a Québec breeder owner of the best producer sired by one of the bulls offered by CIAQ and, for year 1999, the winning farm is Ferme Mardel enr., owned by Raymond, Francine and Sylvain Martel from
Photo : Raymond and Francine Martel of Ferme Mardel receive the CIAQ Ayrshire trophy from Michel R. Saint-Pierre (right), general manager at CIAQ at the annual meeting of the Québec Ayrshire Society.
Saint-Prime.At the age of 3 years 2 months, Scarlet produced in 305 days 10480 kg of milk, 563 kg of fat at 5,4% and 530 kg of protein at 5,1 %, with BCAs of 310M-399F-477P, a combination of 1186 points. Also, her protein yield of 530 kg in 1999 puts her in first place in Québec. Scarlet recently came into her 3rd lactation with a first milk weight of 47 kg. She has the highest combined BCA in the breed in 1999! ! She is thus a member of the Club des 1000 this year while being ranked 19th on the LPI list in Canada (+1802, February 2000).
Also noteworthy is that Scarlet's grandam, Miral Vicky, Ex91-5E, one of the Mardel herd brood cows, is also the recipient of a CIAQ Certificate of Merit for having reached the 900 BCA mark.
CIAQ is pleased to award the CIAQ Ayrshire Trophy to Raymond, Francine and Sylvain Martel of Ferme Mardel, for having reached such exceptional results productionwise by using CIAQ/Semex Alliance sires.
For additional information, please contact :
Hélène Drapeau, agr.
Head of Communications
Telephone : 450-774-1141 Telecopier : 450-774-9318
