Making Every Cow Count: Strategic Genetics Became a Growth Strategy
By Kayla Frieler, Communications Engagement Coordinator
For many dairy producers, growth has traditionally meant adding cows. But for Clark Farms, of Rollingstone, Minn., animal restrictions in their county meant expansion wasn’t an option.
“It is crucial to have cows produce the most energy-corrected milk to maximize our resources,” shared Becky Clark. “Genetics is another way to invest in our animals without growing numbers,” she affirmed. That reality prompted the farm to take a closer look at its breeding strategy.
Several years ago, the dairy relied on conventional semen. While the approach generated enough replacement heifers, it wasn’t accelerating genetic progress fast enough throughout the herd. At the same time, the farm focused on improving milk quality and maximizing the value of every breeding decision.
Reproductive performance created additional challenges. “When I first came back to the dairy, our pregnancy rate was as low as 11% and we were buying heifers to maintain our herd,” she revealed. “After switching to Select Sires Member Cooperative (SSMC) and investing in genetics, I’m able to finally do some selective culling, remove the bottom end of my herd, and capture the value of the beef-on-dairy calf market.”
“The challenge wasn’t producing more animals,” said Kim DeFrang, genetic and reproductive advisor for SSMC. “The challenge was developing better animals. When a producer is capped on numbers, every replacement heifer has to move the herd forward.”
Working together, they shifted to a more strategic breeding program utilizing elite NxGEN® sires, sexed semen, and beef-on-dairy genetics. Instead of creating replacements from the entire herd, the farm began using sexed semen from NxGEN sires on its highest genetic females while breeding lower-ranking cows to beef. “Every mating has a purpose now,” emphasized Kim. “We’re generating replacement females from the cows most likely to improve the herd while creating additional value from ProfitSOURCE® beef-on-dairy calves. That’s where genetic strategy becomes a business strategy.”
Breeding with Purpose
For Becky, sire selection is focused on building cows that will contribute to the herd’s long-term profitability and performance. “I like a moderate-size cow that’s A2A2 with high components and production, conceives easily, remains in the herd for multiple lactations, and has a low somatic cell count (SCC),” said Becky. Working closely with her SSMC team, Becky prioritizes traits that support herd health, milk quality, and profitability, including mastitis resistance and other health-focused traits.
“As we select fewer heifers as replacements, it’s more important than ever to make sure they are all top-quality because health-challenged cattle hurt the bottom line,” Becky stressed. By targeting NxGEN sires that align with those goals, Clark Farms is accelerating genetic progress while creating a healthier, more efficient herd for the future.
Measurable Results
By concentrating genetic progress in each generation, the dairy has seen measurable improvements in herd quality and milk quality performance. One of the most notable outcomes has been a reduction in SCC which is now at 85,000. “Our somatic cell count moved in the right direction, and genetics have absolutely been part of that story,” acknowledged Becky. That improvement aligns with the traits Becky prioritizes when selecting sires, generating replacement females that create healthier cows who contribute throughout their lifetime. The farm has also become more particular about which animals remain in the herd.
Why Genetics Matter More Than Ever
SSMC dairy programs specialist, Paul Tveten, echoes the fact that more dairies are finding themselves in situations similar to Clark Farms. “Whether it’s animal unit limitations, labor challenges, rising replacement costs or facility limitations, the reality is that many farms can’t simply grow their way forward,” he said. “The most successful farms are using genetics to increase the productivity and profitability of the cows they have.”
That’s where Select Sires’ NxGEN program provides a unique advantage. “Most dairy producers don’t sort through hundreds of sires and dozens of indexes,” said Paul. “Our role is to identify elite genetics that fit each herd’s needs and then build a complete breeding strategy around those objectives. NxGEN is about more than individual bulls. It’s about providing access to the industry’s leading genetics while helping producers make decisions that generate long-term results.”
Looking Ahead
Today, Clark Farms continues to refine its breeding program with a focus on genetic advancement, milk quality, and overall herd efficiency.
For Kim, that’s the ultimate goal. “Good genetics don’t happen by accident,” she stated. “When you pair elite sires with a strategy tailored to the farm’s goals, you create opportunities for progress generation after generation. It’s what we’ve been able to do here.”
Becky remains focused on maximizing the potential of every animal in the herd, “If they have a stall in my barn, they better be healthy and profitable or they change careers.” By combining elite NxGEN sires, sexed semen, and a disciplined breeding strategy, Clark Farms is proving that when herd growth is limited, strategic genetic progress makes every cow count.
Kayla Frieler is the Communications Engagement Coordinator for Select Sires Member Cooperative. She’s been with the cooperative for over seven years, focusing on event planning, product marketing, and writing. She grew up on a Minnesota dairy operation and graduated with a degree in agricultural communications from North Dakota State University.
