All bulls are not created equal. 

That's why you need to .... 

What is SynchSmart? 

SynchSmart, which is only available through Genex Cooperative, Inc., evaluates conception of sires when bred to females which have been synchronized (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 4.5 percent difference in conception. The current range is from +3.0 to -1.5.

How will SynchSmart benefit me?

Dairy producers can expect higher conception when breeding synchronized females to higher SynchSmart sires. A three percent increase in Conception Rate (CR) adds up to more pregnancies per year, as demonstrated below.

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 line-up. 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 (February, May and August). The SynchSmart evaluations can be found in the Genex Investment Guide (inserted in the middle of Horizons), the Holstein Sire Supplement 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.

Where does Genex get the data for SynchSmart?

The cows tell us which bulls perform better in synch protocols. SynchSmart sire evaluations are based on non-return (to service) data. Daily, over 400 Genex inseminators throughout the United States and Canada record a total of about 5,000 breedings. The Genex database includes over eight million breedings by Genex inseminators in the past few years.