ABS Global Announces TransitionRight™ Genetics – Preventing Transition Cow Disorders Through Genetics

MADISON, Wis., U.S.A. (August 3, 2015)— ABS® Global, the world leader in bovine genetics,
reproduction services, and artificial insemination technologies, is excited to introduce
a revolutionary  genetic selection tool
to global dairy farmers—TransitionRight Genetics. This patent-pending
technology will help to resolve the age-old struggles of how to prevent and react
to health issues that arise during the transition cow period. ABS customers can
now use TransitionRight to select genetics that minimize the need for
preventive and reactionary measures often necessary during this time.

Right before and after a cow gives birth, her
health is impacted by a negative energy balance and immune system suppression.
This can lead to serious health issues such as metritis, ketosis, mastitis, and
other transition cow disorders. With 75 percent of disease in dairy cows
occurring during the first 30 days in milk and as much as 50 percent of high-producing
cows affected¹, transition cow disorders take a major toll on dairy
farmers. In one year, farmers can lose up to 10 percent of their herds in the first
two months following calving². 
Prevention through genetics has not been available to help reduce
multiple post-calving disorders—until now!

“Producers have done their best year after
year to manage health issues during the transition cow period with the various tools
that have been available to them,” said Saskia Korink, ABS Global Chief
Operating Officer. “Now, our customers can change their approach and start
selecting TransitionRight Genetics to  break
this costly cycle—saving them time and up to $100 per cow with each lactation.”

Since 2008, ABS Global has dedicated a team
of scientists and geneticists to gather data and develop a proprietary genetic
database—Real World Data. Consisting of more than 20 million cow records from
around the globe, Real World Data provides the foundation for genetic selection
tools including ABS Sire Fertility and TransitionRight—both created to help customers
make better-informed genetic selections.

“By using real producer data from commercial
herds, ABS Geneticists have developed a solution for a very serious problem
that all dairy farmers are faced with,” said Katie Olson, Ph.D., Lead Research
Scientist. “TransitionRight measures health traits related to the transition cow
period and scores sires with an economic ranking. We’ve equipped our customers
with an easy-to-use tool to choose genetics that improve a herd’s robustness
against metritis, ketosis, mastitis, and other transition cow issues. The
introduction of these genetics will help prevent multiple post-calving
metabolic disorders that occur during transition- the most crucial period in a
cow’s life.”

ABS will provide an economic ranking for its
Holstein sires beginning August 11, 2015 and will use Real World Data to update
the ranking monthly. 

For more information about TransitionRight
and other ABS Global genetic tools visit the ABS website at:  cms.genusplc.com/absglobal 

¹ Major Advances in Disease Prevention in Dairy Cattle. 2006. LeBlanc,
S.J. et al. Journal of Dairy Science , Volume 89 , Issue 4 , 1267 – 1279 and
Monitoring metabolic health of dairy cattle in the transition period. 2010.
LeBlanc. J Reprod Dev. 2010 Jan;56 Suppl:S29-35.

² Reproductive performance of North American dairies by geographic region.
2015. C. F. Vergara*, F. Bitencourt, L. Johnson, D. Vallejo, and H. Lopez. J.
Anim. Sci. Vol. 93, Suppl. s3/J. Dairy Sci. Vol. 98, Suppl. 2

About ABS

Headquartered in DeForest, Wisconsin, U.S.A.,
ABS Global is the world‐leading provider of
bovine genetics, reproduction services, artificial insemination technologies,
and udder care products. Marketing in more than 70 countries around the globe,
ABS has been at the forefront of animal genetics and technology since its
founding in 1941. ABS Global is a division of Genus plc.

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 Contact: Andy Zich
ABS Global, Inc.
North America Marketing & Communications Manager
608.846.1432
[email protected]