Canadian dairy solutions expert offers talk
The international head of a Piako-based cattle genetics business is visiting the district next week.
Jay Shannon from Canada, Semex’s global dairy solutions manager, is speaking at a producers’ meeting in Matamata on February 21.
Through this position, Mr Shannon is is responsible for creating value through all of Semex’s dairy solutions and genetic tools.
While at Semex, he has led several key corporate initiatives including the launch and development of the Immunity+ technology, as well as the SemexWorks genetic management tool.
Before joining Semex, Mr Shannon was director of genetic improvement and classification for the Holstein Association of Canada.
He was instrumental in establishing the Canadian Joint Classification Programme in 2005, joining all Canadian dairy breeds into one classification system.
Additionally, in 2007 he led the implementation of a classification system for several dairy breeds in Australia.
Mr Shannon was a longstanding member of many national Canadian boards, including the Canadian Dairy Network’s Genetic Evaluation Board, DairyGen Research Council and chairman of the National Industry Standards Committee.
He attended McMaster University, receiving his bachelor in mathematics, and continued on to the University of Guelph, for his graduate studies in animal breeding/genetics.
He lives in Brantford, Ontario, with his wife Bonita and five sons.
At the Matamata meeting he will talk about the company’s patented Immunity+ sires.
‘‘These sires have a naturally high immune response and by using these sires, herds can improve their overall health and longevity, breed a herd with both less disease and a greater response to vaccines with higher quality colostrum,’’ said Mr Shannon.
At the producer meetings, throughout the country this month, he said New Zealand farmers can find out more about applying this technology to their own herds.
‘‘Every dairyman wants to get everything in one complete package,’’ said Mr Shannon.