NorthStar Cooperative Board President Paul Trierweiler announced that the board of directors has selected Mark Adam for NorthStar’s next Executive Vice President and General Manager effective March 31, 2015.

This announcement comes after current Executive Vice President and General Manager Gary Smith announced his intention to retire from the Cooperative last June. In this role since 2003, Smith’s leadership has been instrumental in growing the Cooperative. During the past 11 years revenues have grown from $13.5 million to over $25.5 million, enabling the Cooperative to return more than $5.1 million in patronage to member-stockowners during that same time.

“Gary has poured his heart and soul into our organization and his passion for NorthStar is evident in the success we have experienced during his leadership,” said Trierweiler. “At the same time, on behalf of the board, we are truly excited about our future with Mark Adam as General Manager. We know he has the leadership and staff to build on our existing strengths and continue the positive course NorthStar has been on to ensure future growth and sustainability.”

Adam is no stranger to NorthStar or the dairy industry, with lifelong experiences in the A.I. and DHI

industries. Adam joined the NorthStar team in 2000, after the merger of Sire Power and Select Sires. At that time he served as Director of DHI Services where he was responsible for managing DHI Services, which consisted of a field staff of 75; as well as two milk analysis laboratories. Through his leadership DHI Services grew from 142,000 cows on test to over 336,300.

In 2009 Adam was appointed to the newly created position, Director of Integrated Services, where his focus has been developing field service teams from cross-company business units to further enhance NorthStar’s service to producers. Through Adam’s direction, 10 integrated teams consisting of 180 field personnel have been established, creating new business opportunities for the Cooperative and enhancing service to customers.

Along with his work experiences, Adam has served in many roles within the industry including: National DHIA Vice-President and President; Council on Dairy Cattle Breeding Working Group Committee Member; National DHI Quality Certified Services Chairman; International Committee of Animal Recording Committee Member; and the Michigan Animal ID Task Force Member to highlight a few.

Mark Adam Named General Manager

Earn an extra 3 percent on your money when you make a pre-payment towards your 2015 purchases at NorthStar Cooperative. To take advantage of this offer, pre-payments must be received at NorthStar by December 29, 2014.

By participating in this program, you earn an additional 3 percent in buying power with the Cooperative. There may also be tax advantages, but please consult your tax advisor to determine if there are any additional savings you can earn.

Pre-payments can be made by cash or check. For more information or to make a pre-payment call 800.631.3510 or talk to your NorthStar specialist.

Pre-pay and Earn 3%

We are truly excited about our future with Mark Adam as General Manager. We know he has the leadership and staff to build on our existing strengths to continue NorthStar’s positive course.

~ Paul Trierweiler, NorthStar Cooperative Board President

2 Comprehensive solutions for producer profitability.

Revolutionary Ear Tag Provides 24/7/365 Monitoring of Heat, Health and Rumination

The CowManager® system is a continuous three−in−one heat, health and rumination herd monitoring system. All measurements are taken by a computer microchip that is combined with the cow’s ear tag making it different from any other system on the market. Additionally, CowManager is the ONLY system with the Find My Cow smartphone app which identifies cows on the alert list as you walk behind them.

FertilityFor centuries, dairymen have relied

on observations for heat detection. The CowManager® system is one of the most reliable heat detection systems available today, providing information on the optimal time for insemination, while providing insights into the cow’s cycle giving you all of the information you need to make a pregnancy. Health

Providing early and reliable detection of cow ailments can be a large cost savings for you. The CowManager® system can alert you to possible ailments including: Mastitis, E. coli, uterine infections, displaced abomasums and more. By providing insight into substandard cow behavior and ear temperature, the CowManager system is also an exceptional tool to monitor the recovery of sick cows.Rumination and Eating

It’s hard to know if all your cows are getting a full ration every day. With the CowManager® system, you get a reliable measurement of the number of minutes each cow spends eating, grazing and ruminating. By providing insight into the eating behavior of individual cows, management groups and the entire herd, CowManager gives you the perfect assessment of the right ration for your herd, as well as an excellent tool to monitor cows in the transition period. Plug and Play

CowManager® is easy to install, consisting of solid state equipment that is covered by a five-year warranty. A multi-view option allows consultants, including your NorthStar Specialists, to review data and troubleshoot potential issues. All data

from the CowManager system can also be viewed from a smartphone or tablet.

To learn more about this revolutionary technology talk with your NorthStar Specialist.

• Monitors activity, eating time, rumination and temperature

• SensOor ear tag, no collars or batteries to change

• Easy installation – plug and play

• Solid state equipment with a five-year warranty

fErtility hEalth nutritiOn

3-in-1 technology to Monitor Cows 24/7

Smartphone app identifies cows onthe alert list as you walk behind.

talk to your area northStar Specialist or call 800.631.3510 to learn more.

3northstarcooperative.com

Milk Pregnancy Test Approved for Use at 28 Days Postbreeding

Data from more than 1 million tests has created new ways to use and interpret the IDEXX Milk Pregnancy Test.

When research data from 28 to 35 days carried calf (DCC) was added to the initial dataset, sensitivity (98.7%) and specificity (94.4%) remained unchanged from the original claim, resulting in approval of the Milk Pregnancy Test to be used as early as 28 days postbreeding.

This new testing window allows producers to capture the convenience of milk pregnancy testing for early pregnancy detection, as well as confirmations. This is particularly important for herds that only vet check once a month, as they can now schedule their DHI test day between vet checks to reduce days open and average days in milk by detecting open cows up to two weeks sooner.Quantitative test results allow for better interpretation!

Two years of commercial testing results have shown that when using the Milk Pregnancy Test late in lactation (after 180 DCC), cows with low pregnancy-associated glycoproteins (PAG) levels (between 0.25 and 0.50) should be rechecked prior to drying off.

Why? Of the 14,000 tests conducted by NorthStar DHI on cows >180 DCC, the average PAG ELISA value was 2.74, while only 73 cows (0.5%) had PAG ELISA values between 0.25 and 0.50. So, when milk PAG levels should be at their highest levels, low-positive test results should raise suspicions about the viability of the pregnancy. Easy sample submission

Milk pregnancy is a great alternative for routine late pregnancy verification or even early pregnancy detection, but what if your herd does not DHI test or your reproductive program doesn’t conform to the once-a-month routine?

For dairy producers not on DHI test, milk samples can be collected and shipped directly to the laboratory. For even greater convenience, NorthStar offers milk sample collection kits that provide collection supplies and shipping to and from the laboratory for no-hassle sample submission.

For producers with reproduction programs that require more specific timing requirements, have intensive handling routines, or parlors that may make milk sample collection

challenging; blood pregnancy testing can be an option. Applicable from 28 days postbreeding, kits are also available to provide collection materials and instructions as well as shipping to and from the laboratory.

To learn more about how to incorporate the Milk Pregnancy Test into your reproduction program, talk to your veterinarian and NorthStar Specialist or call 800.631.3510.

2 Comprehensive solutions for producer profitability.

Revolutionary Ear Tag Provides 24/7/365 Monitoring of Heat, Health and Rumination

The CowManager® system is a continuous three−in−one heat, health and rumination herd monitoring system. All measurements are taken by a computer microchip that is combined with the cow’s ear tag making it different from any other system on the market. Additionally, CowManager is the ONLY system with the Find My Cow smartphone app which identifies cows on the alert list as you walk behind them.

FertilityFor centuries, dairymen have relied

on observations for heat detection. The CowManager® system is one of the most reliable heat detection systems available today, providing information on the optimal time for insemination, while providing insights into the cow’s cycle giving you all of the information you need to make a pregnancy. Health

Providing early and reliable detection of cow ailments can be a large cost savings for you. The CowManager® system can alert you to possible ailments including: Mastitis, E. coli, uterine infections, displaced abomasums and more. By providing insight into substandard cow behavior and ear temperature, the CowManager system is also an exceptional tool to monitor the recovery of sick cows.Rumination and Eating

It’s hard to know if all your cows are getting a full ration every day. With the CowManager® system, you get a reliable measurement of the number of minutes each cow spends eating, grazing and ruminating. By providing insight into the eating behavior of individual cows, management groups and the entire herd, CowManager gives you the perfect assessment of the right ration for your herd, as well as an excellent tool to monitor cows in the transition period. Plug and Play

CowManager® is easy to install, consisting of solid state equipment that is covered by a five-year warranty. A multi-view option allows consultants, including your NorthStar Specialists, to review data and troubleshoot potential issues. All data

from the CowManager system can also be viewed from a smartphone or tablet.

To learn more about this revolutionary technology talk with your NorthStar Specialist.

• Monitors activity, eating time, rumination and temperature

• SensOor ear tag, no collars or batteries to change

• Easy installation – plug and play

• Solid state equipment with a five-year warranty

fErtility hEalth nutritiOn

3-in-1 technology to Monitor Cows 24/7

Smartphone app identifies cows onthe alert list as you walk behind.

talk to your area northStar Specialist or call 800.631.3510 to learn more.

3northstarcooperative.com

Milk Pregnancy Test Approved for Use at 28 Days Postbreeding

Data from more than 1 million tests has created new ways to use and interpret the IDEXX Milk Pregnancy Test.

When research data from 28 to 35 days carried calf (DCC) was added to the initial dataset, sensitivity (98.7%) and specificity (94.4%) remained unchanged from the original claim, resulting in approval of the Milk Pregnancy Test to be used as early as 28 days postbreeding.

This new testing window allows producers to capture the convenience of milk pregnancy testing for early pregnancy detection, as well as confirmations. This is particularly important for herds that only vet check once a month, as they can now schedule their DHI test day between vet checks to reduce days open and average days in milk by detecting open cows up to two weeks sooner.Quantitative test results allow for better interpretation!

Two years of commercial testing results have shown that when using the Milk Pregnancy Test late in lactation (after 180 DCC), cows with low pregnancy-associated glycoproteins (PAG) levels (between 0.25 and 0.50) should be rechecked prior to drying off.

Why? Of the 14,000 tests conducted by NorthStar DHI on cows >180 DCC, the average PAG ELISA value was 2.74, while only 73 cows (0.5%) had PAG ELISA values between 0.25 and 0.50. So, when milk PAG levels should be at their highest levels, low-positive test results should raise suspicions about the viability of the pregnancy. Easy sample submission

Milk pregnancy is a great alternative for routine late pregnancy verification or even early pregnancy detection, but what if your herd does not DHI test or your reproductive program doesn’t conform to the once-a-month routine?

For dairy producers not on DHI test, milk samples can be collected and shipped directly to the laboratory. For even greater convenience, NorthStar offers milk sample collection kits that provide collection supplies and shipping to and from the laboratory for no-hassle sample submission.

For producers with reproduction programs that require more specific timing requirements, have intensive handling routines, or parlors that may make milk sample collection

challenging; blood pregnancy testing can be an option. Applicable from 28 days postbreeding, kits are also available to provide collection materials and instructions as well as shipping to and from the laboratory.

To learn more about how to incorporate the Milk Pregnancy Test into your reproduction program, talk to your veterinarian and NorthStar Specialist or call 800.631.3510.

4 Comprehensive solutions for producer profitability.

Parasite Control – How Does it Benefit Me?Julie Ainsworth, Dairy Production Analyst, PAS

Parasites, left untreated, have the ability to hurt your bottom line. They negatively impact the immune system, suppress appetite and reduce feed intake, decrease milk production and lower conception rates. Strategic

parasite control is becoming a routine management practice in many dairy operations because it is far less expensive to treat than to buy the feed to feed the parasites.

Cows infected with parasites can have compromised immune systems due to the negative nutritional impacts that gastro-intestinal parasites exert. In addition to this indirect impact, some parasites have a direct impact on the immune system through the mechanical damage that is caused to the animal itself. Some parasites can cause cows to create immune cells that shut down the production of antibodies and macrophages, key components in a functioning immune system. Parasites can also actively hinder one or more of the host’s defense mechanisms. They do this by secreting substances that damage the glands of the abomasum and disrupt metabolism. If all this wasn’t enough, parasites can keep vaccinations from being effective.

Parasites can stress an already stressed animal. They do this by suppressing appetite and reducing feed intake. Cows with reduced appetites have a difficult time meeting their nutritional needs during periods of peak production. The period after calving is when a cow is under the greatest stress and the period when parasites exert their greatest damage. Cows typically are under negative energy balance during this period, already losing weight and parasites add another physiological stress. Cows also have a “relaxation of resistance” to parasites during this period. Parasites eat away at profits

When parasites infect a dairy cow the possibility of metabolic dysfunction exists resulting in reduced milk production. How much production is reduced will depend on the length and degree of exposure, time of exposure, as well as stage of lactation. Infection in the first 90 days in milk will reduce production the most.

In one study, the University of Wisconsin found that cows less than 90 days in milk lost 6.4 pounds per day following

induced infection. The higher the production standards are for an animal, and the closer it is to its maximum

production potential, the greater the damage parasites can inflict. Thus, it takes fewer parasites to induce losses in high producing cows than it does in lower producing cows.

Don’t let

run out.Feeding newborn calves high quality colostrum early is the most important factor in their health and survival.

Ensure calves receive high quality,disease-free colostrum within the first

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Research shows that cows less than 90 days in milk lose 6.4 pounds per day following induced infection.

5northstarcooperative.com

Stockowner Voting Eligibility Stockowner meetings are fast approaching and all

member-stockowners are encouraged to attend to cast a vote for the election of directors and resolutions and advisory committee members. To be eligible to vote at the 2015 stockowner meetings you must sign-up as a common stockowner by December 31, 2014.

For more information on how to become a NorthStar stockowner, talk to your area NorthStar Specialist.

MemberStockownerNews

Save The Date

Ready for Winter?

Cold winter weather brings increased risk for hyperkeratosis, or rough, damaged teat ends. Help prevent and treat hyperkeratosis

by using 4XLA germicidal pre- and post-milking teat dip.

• 4XLA’s lactic acid softens hyperkeratotic tissue

• 4XLA’s acidified sodium chlorite reduces the formation of hyperkeratosis and improves skin healing

• 4XLA’s glycerine conditions teats to better tolerate harsh winter weather

Ask your representative about 4XLA today!

Germicidal Teat Dip

Lower conception rates with parasite infections have been mostly observed in first lactation heifers. A study of first

lactation heifers treated with IVOMEC EPRINEX® showed that calving to conception

took 12.9 fewer days. Also, 19.9 percent more first-calf heifers (P<0.01) were pregnant after their first service.

Treatment strategiesThe management protocol I feel is most effective

is a combination treatment that includes whole-herd deworming (cows and young stock) in the fall; and then the following spring/early summer worming all cows and heifers entering the milk line just prior to or at the time of freshening.

Treatment for grazing herds should be initiated late fall with a follow-up deworming given 4-6 weeks into spring grazing. The goal is to render the animal parasite-free going into winter, as feeding parasitized animals over the winter is highly inefficient. With this protocol animals will not contribute to recontamination of the pasture until they

consume infective larvae which have overwintered on the pasture, and until these parasites are mature egg laying parasites.

Fall is the perfect time to implement your parasite control, giving your cows the best chance for strong immune systems, good appetites and feed intakes, optimized milk production and reproduction. NorthStar has the perfect solution in the form of pour-on Eprinex. Eprinex kills 39 species and stages of internal and external parasites which is more than any other brand! Ask your NorthStar specialist about the great fall rebates going on now.

Don’t miss the great programs that will be presented at the winter stockowner/customer meetings. Watch for complete details in the

January issue of The Point, but, until then, save the date and plan to attend the meeting near you.

January 7Franklin Inn, Bad Axe, MIDistrict 5January 13Doxbee’s, Seymour, WIDistrict 8January 14Kelly Lake Holiday Inn, Suring, WIDistrict 6

January 14Van Abels, Kaukauna, WIDistrict 7February 4Essenhaus Conference Center, Middlebury, INDistrict 12

5northstarcooperative.com

Stockowner Voting Eligibility Stockowner meetings are fast approaching and all

member-stockowners are encouraged to attend to cast a vote for the election of directors and resolutions and advisory committee members. To be eligible to vote at the 2015 stockowner meetings you must sign-up as a common stockowner by December 31, 2014.

For more information on how to become a NorthStar stockowner, talk to your area NorthStar Specialist.

MemberStockownerNews

Save The Date

Ready for Winter?

Cold winter weather brings increased risk for hyperkeratosis, or rough, damaged teat ends. Help prevent and treat hyperkeratosis

by using 4XLA germicidal pre- and post-milking teat dip.

• 4XLA’s lactic acid softens hyperkeratotic tissue

• 4XLA’s acidified sodium chlorite reduces the formation of hyperkeratosis and improves skin healing

• 4XLA’s glycerine conditions teats to better tolerate harsh winter weather

Ask your representative about 4XLA today!

Germicidal Teat Dip

Lower conception rates with parasite infections have been mostly observed in first lactation heifers. A study of first

lactation heifers treated with IVOMEC EPRINEX® showed that calving to conception

took 12.9 fewer days. Also, 19.9 percent more first-calf heifers (P<0.01) were pregnant after their first service.

Treatment strategiesThe management protocol I feel is most effective

is a combination treatment that includes whole-herd deworming (cows and young stock) in the fall; and then the following spring/early summer worming all cows and heifers entering the milk line just prior to or at the time of freshening.

Treatment for grazing herds should be initiated late fall with a follow-up deworming given 4-6 weeks into spring grazing. The goal is to render the animal parasite-free going into winter, as feeding parasitized animals over the winter is highly inefficient. With this protocol animals will not contribute to recontamination of the pasture until they

consume infective larvae which have overwintered on the pasture, and until these parasites are mature egg laying parasites.

Fall is the perfect time to implement your parasite control, giving your cows the best chance for strong immune systems, good appetites and feed intakes, optimized milk production and reproduction. NorthStar has the perfect solution in the form of pour-on Eprinex. Eprinex kills 39 species and stages of internal and external parasites which is more than any other brand! Ask your NorthStar specialist about the great fall rebates going on now.

Don’t miss the great programs that will be presented at the winter stockowner/customer meetings. Watch for complete details in the

January issue of The Point, but, until then, save the date and plan to attend the meeting near you.

January 7Franklin Inn, Bad Axe, MIDistrict 5January 13Doxbee’s, Seymour, WIDistrict 8January 14Kelly Lake Holiday Inn, Suring, WIDistrict 6

January 14Van Abels, Kaukauna, WIDistrict 7February 4Essenhaus Conference Center, Middlebury, INDistrict 12

6 Comprehensive solutions for producer profitability.

Good help is hard to find, or so Madden Farms thought until they hired NorthStar Cooperative.

“We’d been using A.I. on and off since 1983,” recalled owners Dan Madden and his son Dan Jr. “Prior to 2008 we had used other service providers and even tried to do it ourselves, but we just weren’t getting the results we wanted.”

Today NorthStar Reproduction Specialist Dave Biese provides all the reproduction services for the 400-cow New London, Wisconsin herd. “Dave is good. We don’t know what we would do without him,” agreed the Maddens.

Dave works with the Madden herd daily, tail chalking, walking the pens, administering synchronization protocols, breeding and checking fresh cows. The reproduction program starts with a 70-day voluntary waiting period followed by enrollment in a Pre-synch/Ovsynch program, with about 90 percent of the herd being bred as a result of timed A.I. The herd averages 50 percent conception with conventional semen, as well as a 24 percent pregnancy rate.

Dave is also responsible for breeding the heifers, which are custom raised by Bill and Adam Gonnering. Heifers are bred at 13 months of age based on visual observation. Pregnancy checks occur every two weeks and open heifers are enrolled in a CIDR synch program.

The Madden herd also utilizes the Select Mating Service (SMS) to provide mating recommendations for both the cows and heifers. “We turned it (the mating) over to Dave and Dale (Sabo, SMS Evaluator) because they know what we want and take care of it,” said Dan Jr. “We can see the difference in the quality of animals (SMS is making) in our young cows.”

Genetics and reproduction aren’t the only areas Madden Farm relies on NorthStar to provide help, they also switched to NorthStar’s DHI Services about 14 months ago. Looking to upgrade their dairy management software, the Maddens looked into different programs and found PCDART to best fit their needs.

“After talking with Dave, we felt PCDART was more user-friendly and a lot cheaper,” said Dan. “We also like that we can get help anytime we need it. Dave and Brad (Lorge, DHI Specialist) help us a lot. When we need to, we call Iowa (DRMS) and they fix issues right away.”

Along with installing PCDART, the Maddens began using PocketDairy Android right away. “It’s very handy to look up information and view reports when we are out with the cows,” said Dan Jr.

Other members of the Madden team access and input information into PCDART. When Dave’s in the pens observing and breeding cows he inputs data using PocketDairy Android, which he then syncs with the farm’s computer. Additionally, the farm’s custom heifer raiser uses PCDART Heifer Grower software and the two operations are able to transfer data easily.

Over the past five years the Madden herd has experienced substantial gains in milk production, now averaging 93 pounds of milk per cow per day on three-times-a-day milking. “In 2009 we switched to sand bedding and picked up 13 pounds per cow,” recalled Dan.

Along with the addition of sand, heat abatement strategies such as adding more fans over the bunks and in the holding area, along with adding sprinklers have played a role. The Maddens also site putting up higher quality feed as a contributing factor to increasing milk production.

All of these changes have played a role in increasing production, however the piece that makes it all possible is the addition of quarterly management meetings with Madden Farm’s key service providers. “These meetings are very productive,” said the Maddens. “We bring everyone (vet, nutritionist, breeder, banker, and consultant) together and we work as a team to make changes and progress. Dan (Wenzel, Wenzel Consulting) organizes the meetings and it’s an opportunity to put issues on the table and work as a team to resolve them. Paul (Meagher, United Vet Service) analyzes the DHI information and provides valuable insight from the numbers that we discuss and take proactive steps to improve.”

Madden FarmTeamwork Makes the Difference

Having a good heifer grower and a good reproduction program means we are freshening heifers earlier, getting them into production sooner.

7northstarcooperative.com

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P.O. Box 23157, Lansing, MI 48909-31571.800.631.3510

northstarcooperative.comReturn Service Requested

NorthStar Cooperative, its agents or employees cannot and do not guarantee the conception rate, gender, quality or productivity to be obtained in connection with the use of its products, recommended techniques or services. WE MAKE NO WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND WHATSOEVER, EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, WHICH EXTEND BEYOND THE DESCRIPTION OF ITS PRODUCTS OR SERVICES AND HEREBY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. In the unlikely event that any of our products or services shall be proven to be defective, damages resulting from their use shall exclude consequential damages and be limited to their purchase price.

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Order from a variety of Men’s and Woman’s styles of shirts, jackets, vests, sweatshirts, coveralls and more.

Order and pay online at www.northstarcooperativestore.com

Order by December 2 for delivery by Christmas.

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