National DHIA Convention hears update on genetic evaluations

The Board and staff of NDHIA are shown following the recent annual meeting. From left, front row, are Dan Sheldon (N.Y.), president; Susan Lee (Id.); Dave Scapanski (Minn.); Leslie Thoman, business manager; 2nd row from left, Bob McKaig (Ind.); Steve Hershey (Penn.); Bruce Dokkebakken (Minn.); and George Cudoc (N.Y.). Top row from left, Steve Sievart, manager of Quality Certification Services; Robert Pemberton (Va.); Jay Mattison, CEO/Administrator; Kent Buttars (Utah); and Steven Smith (Utah).

Delegates to the National Dairy Herd Information Association (NDHIA) annual meeting heard an update from Ole Meland, chairman of the Council on Dairy Cattle Breeding, who reported that Dr. Duane Norman and Dr. Lee Walton have been retained by the Council to participate in the production of genetic evaluations in April. Norman is the recently retired head of AIPL and Walton, also retired from AIPL, was directly involved in the production of the evaluations for many years.

These two will work with the staff at AIPL as the service work of producing evaluations and management reports is transitioned to the Council. The AIPL staff will be able to focus exclusively on research as the service work is done by the Council going forward.

Industry reports, DHI updates and director elections were part of the business conducted during the sessions held Mar. 12-14 in St Pete Beach, Fla.