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Providing sire performance rankings for fertility in synchronization programs
What is SynchSmart? 
SynchSmart, only available through Genex Cooperative, Inc., evaluates conception of sires when bred to synchronized females (ovulation induced through hormonal treatment).
What does the SynchSmart number mean?
The SynchSmart value shows the expected difference in a sire's conception performance. Thus, semen from a sire at +3.0 SynchSmart is expected to conceive three percent more often in a timed A.I. program than a sire at +0.0. Among acitve sires evaluated for SynchSmart, there is a 8.5 percent difference in conception. The current range is from +5.5 to -3.0.
How are SynchSmart rankings determined?
The cows tell us which bulls perform better in synch protocols. Data is collected by Genex field representatives with every breeding they perform. These breedings are statistically analyzed to determine the SynchSmart rank. When initially released, these rankings were derived from estimated synchronization breedings, today this data comes from actual data based on real observations.
How will SynchSmart benefit me?
Dairy producers can expect higher conception when breeding synchronized females to higher SynchSmart sires. Look at the numbers below to see the impact of using +3.0 SynchSmart sires on a real dairy.
Based on a 1000-Cow Dairy with an initial Conception Rate of 35%
Synchronizing 1/3 of the cows = 21 more pregnancies
Synchronizing 1/2 of the cows = 30 more pregnancies
Synchronizing 3/4 of the cows = 45 more pregnancies
Remember, SynchSmart is a secondary trait. Choosing high Lifetime Net Merit sires with positive SynchSmart rankings will help increase CRs in synchronized females while still breeding for the complete cow that performs well in all areas.
Is SynchSmart available on all bulls?
SynchSmart evaluations are available for about two-thirds of the active Genex Holstein lineup. For a reliable evaluation, a sire must have 300 breedings recorded by Genex personnel to synchronized females.
Where can I find the SynchSmart evaluations?
SynchSmart evaluations are released for active sires with each sire summary (January, April and August). The SynchSmart evaluations can be found in the Genex Investment Guide (inserted in the middle of Horizons magazine), the Holstein Sire Directory and on the Genex Web site. The evaluation is only available on active sires with at least 300 qualified inseminations to synchronized females.
Should I eliminate lower SynchSmart bulls from my breeding program?
No. As with other new traits, consider SynchSmart as one of many traits which illustrate total value of a sire. There are bulls which are lower for SynchSmart but excel in other traits. Continue to use them to maximize genetics and total profits.
Remember, lower SynchSmart scores alone do not indicate lower overall fertility. A lower SynchSmart ranking only means a sire has an expected lower conception ability in synchronized females compared to higher SynchSmart sires.
If breeding only a percent of the herd through timed A.I., consider using a higher SynchSmart bull as first choice for synchronized females. For cows bred on natural heats, choose the most profitable sire - regardless of SynchSmart. When using MAP (Mating Appraisal for Profit), consider dedicating one column to top synchronization choices.
