The Select Sires Podcast

On this episode of The Select Sires Podcast, host Ethan Haywood is joined by Brenda Fessenden, precision animal health technical services lead at Zoetis, for a deep dive into the science and strategy behind wellness trait selection. From calf health to cow longevity, Brenda walks us through how Zoetis is leading the charge in precision animal health and how producers can use these tools to create healthier, more profitable herds.

Holstein Sire Analyst Kevin Jorgensen updates listeners on the Showcase™ and Red & White sire lineups following the April 2025 sire summaries. He discusses the impact of the Showcase program and the importance of maternal lines. In the second half of the episode, learn which Red & White sire is the No. 1 GTPI® young sire in the breed.

Herby Lutz, jersey development manager, and Marc Bolen, dairy sire marketing coordinator, discuss some of the top ranking young sires of the Jersey breed from the April 2025 sire summaries. Listen as they highlight high-interest (GForce™)  sires and give a preview of new and exciting sires that will be added to the lineup in coming months.

Holstein Sire Analysts Kevin Jorgensen and Rick VerBeek talk standout Holstein young sires from the April 2025 sire summaries, highlighting health traits, calf wellness specialists and pedigrees. Check back in for future episodes of The Select Sires Podcast that dive deep into other lineups including Jerseys and how to leverage these elite genetics to boost your bottom line. 

Learn from Mark Johnson, director of beef and dairy supply chains for Low Carbon Technologies, as he discusses GeneNet and the basics of beef grid marketing. Ethan and Mark explore the sustainability branch of Select Sires during their conversation and discuss the benefits GeneNet has to offer producers. 

Join host Ethan Haywood and Chuck Sattler, vice president and manager of genetic programs at Select Sires Inc., as they discuss the changes happening with the base change in April 2025. Learn which traits will be affected and how to continue selecting sires. 

Tune in to this episode where host Ethan Haywood chats with Matt Hendel, owner of Hendel Farms, and Kevin Jorgensen, senior Holstein sire analyst for Select Sires Inc., about mastitis resistance. Learn about the importance of focusing on mastitis resistance in your breeding program and which bulls could help lower your somatic cell count. 

Tune in as host Ethan Haywood talks with Emily Middleton, regional consulting manager at CentralStar Cooperative, about the intuitive features built into the Optimal Genetic Pathways (OGP) Calculator. Learn how this calculator provides genetic data individualized to each farm and how it helps with managing heifer inventories. 

Tune into this episode to hear from Lyle Kruse, retired vice president of U.S. market development for Select Sires, Inc., about the importance of managing your replacement heifers. Learn about the challenges facing heifer management and how this impacts the future of the dairy industry. 

Join our host Ethan Haywood as he discusses Zoetis Lameness evaluations with Mike Larson, Owner of Larson Acres and Brain Kelroy dairy production specialist at Zoetis. Tune in as they examine the methods used to assess and manage lameness in dairy herds and explore how data from these evaluations is being applied on progressive dairies to enhance herd health and operational efficiency.

Tune into this episode to hear a recap of the December 2024 Sire Summaries. Join some of our Holstein and Jersey experts as they recap the new trait and index leaders, and include updates regarding bull dams, cow families and insights from their travels.

Kevin Souza, a managing partner at Victory Farms LLC, and Brad Barham, southern regional sales manager for Premier Select Sires join Ethan Haywood to discuss the Calf Wellness Index™. Tune in to learn the importance of calf wellness at Victory Farms and how Brad’s sire selection helps Kevin meet his goals.