2010 News Releases

Expanded DNA Mastitis test now available

Guelph, ON – June 22, 2010

CanWest DHI is pleased to announce that the identification of the Mycoplasma bovis (M. bovis) organism is now part of the routine Mastitis 3 testing service. This enhancement to the test is being provided to customers at no additional cost.The Mastitis 3 service is now complete and includes all 3 common contagious pathogens: Staph aureus (and beta lactamase gene), Strep agalactiae and Mycoplasma bovis.

M. bovis mastitis is not believed to be very common in Canada. However, its
effect can be devastating as it is contagious, and unresponsive to treatment.
Often, the outcome is to cull infected animals. The M. bovis organism is difficult
to successfully culture; therefore, the DHI PCR test is a real enhancement in the
diagnosis of this type of mastitis.

The convenience, reliability and rapid turn around of results of the Mastitis 3 test
offers significant improvements in mastitis management. The test, based on
Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) technology, identifies the DNA of mastitis
causing pathogens. According to Richard Cantin, DHI’s Manager of Marketing
and Customer Services, “We are pleased to offer this enhancement to our
Mastitis testing service. Although Mycoplasma is not believed to be a significant mastitis causing pathogen here in Canada, the ability to identify it with more confidence will no doubt be welcomed by producers and veterinarians. This is a great example of value added service, where we are doing more for our customers, with that same sample and at the same price.”

For more information on the Mastitis 3 test, talk to your veterinarian, contact
your local DHI field service representative or call DHI at 1-800-549-4373.

DHI Participation Hits 75% Milestone in Ontario

Guelph, ON – January 14, 2010

CanWest DHI achieved a significant milestone in it’s history and reached a market share of 75% in the province of Ontario. That is, 75% of all licensed milk producers in the province are enrolled on a regular DHI service.

The last 10 years have seen a steady increase in the percentage of herds using DHI, climbing from 67% in 1999 to 75% today. The objective to grow enrollment to 75% was set by the Board of Directors that same year, when the organization operated only in the province of Ontario, as Ontario DHI. Since then, the Board has charged it’s General Manager and the entire DHI staff to maintain and increase it’s relevance to dairy producers and grow the customer base.

John Bongers (pictured left), Chairman of the Board comments, “Through our planning process, we identified that as an organization and as a business, we must evolve and grow. Also, as a Board it is important that we set clear goals and expectations for our organization. That is precisely what we did a decade ago and we now see today, the benefit of that strategy.”

Neil Petreny, DHI’s General Manager agrees, “We have had a clear objective of reaching the 75% milestone for a number of years and that has guided many of the decisions we’ve made along the way in terms of product development and customer service. It is very satisfying to have experienced this growth during a period of government grant cuts, increased use of on farm technology and the transition to a merged organization with Western Canada. I am extremely proud of the entire DHI team.”

Key to the growth strategy has been a repositioning of DHI services from the traditional role of generating official records for genetic improvement programs and cattle merchandising to a focus on herd management services to improve productivity, milk quality and profitability at the farm level. In particular the increased flexibility in services to meet the needs of individual customers was an important change. In addition, the sales and support of the Dairy Comp herd management software products has allowed DHI to stay relevant, in particular with larger herds where computerized record keeping is a must.

More recently, the addition of disease testing such as Johne’s, Leukosis and Mastitis, using the routinely collected DHI sample has been an excellent value added service. Other services which focus on the financial aspect of dairy production, such as Return Over Feed and Profit Profiler have also been very well received by dairy producers and their advisors.

DHI has always been known for its ability to collect and process data, but the recent growth is based on the ability to transform that data into relevant information and services that the commercial milk producers and their advisors use to improve decision making and farm profitability. As demonstrated by a George Morris Study conducted in Ontario, DHI herds produce 22% more milk per cow then non DHI herds of equal size. With that difference in performance, it’s easy to see why the use of DHI services continues to grow.

DHI’s ongoing commitment to provide value added services and to find new and innovative ways to provide herd management products and services will no doubt continue to benefit Ontario dairy producers in years to come. Chairman Bongers concludes, “This is an acheivement that not only the Board and Staff can be proud of, but all dairy producers across Ontario. Growing and maintaining the participation in DHI not only makes individual producers more profitable, but also the entire industry.”
CanWest DHI is a producer owned and operated organization, providing profitable dairy management solutions to dairy producers across Ontario and Western Canada.

CanWest DHI ( Ontario Region) Annual Meeting

Guelph, ON – January 12, 2010

The 29th Ontario Annual Meeting for DHI was held on Tuesday, January 12th, 2010 at the Fairmont Royal York Hotel in Toronto. The meeting was attended by approximately 120 people which included delegates, industry partners and staff.

John Bongers, Chair of the Board, reported on the many challenges and opportunities that face dairy farmers on a day to day basis and how DHI and other industry partners provide new and innovative possibilities in the areas of herd testing and management. Working together and having farmers work actively in the industry will only assist in overcoming some of the current and future challenges. Resolutions Chair, Chris Buchner (Brownsville, ON ) reported that there were no resolutions received by the committee.

The corporation had a positive fiscal year and General Manager, Neil Petreny provided highlights of 2009 operations and plans for the upcoming year. A new Ontario market share record of 75% DHI enrolment was reached last year - a milestone that DHI has been steadily working towards over the last decade. General Manager, Neil Petreny, also provided a global perspective for the audience of other countries which have DHI and how we compare. Special mention was also given to long service employees Lorna Smith (Guelph, ON) and Larry Chatten (Frankford, ON) who retired last year.

Stephen LeBlanc, an Associate Professor with the Ontario Veterinary College of Guelph, was the guest speaker for the afternoon session. Dr. LeBlanc spoke about the research he and his team conducted regarding the relationship between milk production and the reproductivity of dairy cattle - proving that cow fertlity has either remained the same or increased slightly with increased milk production levels.