Advancing the breed

RICE, Minn. — Spencer Hackett has spent his lifetime learning all he can about Holstein genetics. Today he uses genomics on his farm as a tool to advance his herd and the breed through the cows and bulls he has developed.

“I love the challenge of making the next generation better, the idea that you can make something that has an impact on the breed,” Hackett said. “When you use the right bulls, you can make an improvement in your herd in a hurry. … It is amazing what a difference good genetics can make.”

Hackett was inducted into the Minnesota Livestock Breeders’ Association Hall of Fame earlier this year.

“I was surprised at being inducted,” Hackett said. “I just love genetics to no end.”

Hackett’s dedication to the Holstein breed goes beyond his own farm. He is involved with the Minnesota Holstein Association and Holstein Association USA Inc., serving on committees at both the state and national levels.

The Hackett family farm, Melarry Farm, is owned and operated by Hackett, his wife, Stacey, and their two sons, Chris and Brook. Together they milk 250 cows, with 150 housed in a tiestall barn and the rest in a freestall barn. The Hacketts farm 1,000 acres of corn, soybeans and alfalfa.

“All seven of my grandkids are right there, so I get the best of both worlds, being able to farm and see my kids and grandkids every day,” Hackett said. “Stacey has been by my side since day one. We were high school sweethearts, and we have been doing this together ever since.”

The Hacketts finish out their steers and also sell bulls for stud locally and to semen companies.

“I try to think outside the box on breeding,” Hackett said. “You have to have a little luck in this game to get the genetics to line up just right; sometimes they do and sometimes they don’t.”

Melarry Robust Miles-ET and Melarry Josuper Frazzled have both been Melarry prefix bulls that have been sold for commercial A.I.

“Frazzeled was a huge success for us, by far the most successful bull we have bred,” Hackett said. “That was made with semen off the truck and was just a mating we made that day and worked very well for us.”

Melarry Farm sells 50-65 bulls a year locally and internationally.

“We sell (bulls) that I feel are genetically superior or have qualities that would improve a farm’s herd,” Hackett said. “To have a bull that made an impact in the breed is the best thing. When people tell me, ‘My best cows came from your bull,’ that is the best compliment ever.”

Hackett’s interest in dairy genetics started in his youth when he showed dairy cattle, but seldom won his class.

“That gave me my appetite to always keep trying and striving to do better,” Hackett said.

In 2007, genomic testing became available to dairy farmers and Hackett decided to try the tool.

“We tested three or four brothers to see if they happened to score high on this new system,” Hackett said. “One of the bulls, scored second highest up to that point on the system.”

One bull went to stud with Accelerated Genetics and another went to Select Sires Inc. Hackett also had two sisters within the same cow family and decided to have them tested as well.

“I ended up selling the No. 2 (Genomic Total Performance Index) cow to Select Sires at the time,” Hackett said. “We kept the other sister and used proven bulls on her. We started testing more and more females on our farm and the results were looking very good.”

Every breeding and mating decision is made with thought and care, Hackett said.

“Breeding is playing the long game; each decision that is made today will impact your farm for generations,” Hackett said. “We are always thinking: what is the producer looking at five years from now?”

Melarry Farm flushes three  to six cows a month.

“It’s like Christmas every month when we get the results,” Hackett said. “Sometimes we hit it just right and sometimes we don’t. It’s very challenging, yet rewarding.”

Having superior cows is only one goal for Hackett; the other is to see his farm continue to the next generation.

“I hope to pass this farm to my grandchildren,” Hackett said. “We are by no means a fancy or big operation. We concentrate on our cows and do what we can to make our herd the best that it can be.”