Always passionate about customer success, Select Sires is collaborating with Zoetis to provide two innovative indexes for its Holstein lineup sires, Wellness Trait Index™ (WT$™) and Dairy Wellness Profit Index™ (DWP$™), which uses wellness trait information from the CLARIFIDE® Plus genomic test to predict lifetime profitability based on additional wellness information. The top WT$ sires at Select Sires will be designated WellnessPRO™ to identify the sires with the greatest chance to make a positive impact on wellness by reducing the genetic risk of common dairy cow diseases.

Both new indexes are expressed as expected differences in lifetime profitability for their given traits included. WT$ focuses exclusively on six wellness traits (mastitis, lameness, metritis, retained placenta, displaced abomasum and ketosis) and includes an economic value for Polled test results. DWP$ is a multi-trait selection index which includes production, fertility, type, longevity and the wellness traits, including Polled test results. This provides dairy producers two new ways to incorporate selection emphasis on wellness traits into their breeding program. Selection for DWP$ can result in a difference of lifetime profit of more than $1,200 between the top 10th percentile of ranked animals and the bottom 10th percentile in females. Developed by Zoetis, these indexes were reviewed by Select Sires geneticists and reflect the input and knowledge of a team of industry experts as well as data collected from millions of health records within U.S. commercial Holstein herds.

"The new tools developed by Zoetis with CLARIFIDE Plus provide us with more detailed information about health and wellness," says Chuck Sattler, Select Sires vice president of genetic programs. "This will allow us to more directly select for healthy dairy cows and will help producers improve the wellness and profitability of their herd."

A full list of Holstein proven and young sire lineup sires with values for WT$ and DWP$ will be available after the April sire summary. For information on WT$ and DWP$ visit: http://www.selectsires.com/designations/wellnesspro.html.

Based in Plain City, Ohio, Select Sires Inc., is North America's largest A.I. organization and is comprised of nine farmer-owned and -controlled cooperatives. As the industry leader, it provides highly fertile semen as well as excellence in service and programs to achieve its basic objective of supplying dairy and beef producers with North America's best genetics at a reasonable price.

™WellnessPRO is a trademark of Select Sires Inc. Wellness Trait Index, WT$, Dairy Wellness Profit Index and DWP$ are trademarks of Zoetis Inc., its affiliates and/or its licensors. ®CLARIFIDE is a registered trademark of Zoetis Inc., its affiliates and/or its licensors.
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3.9.2016