Real Genetics

HISTORY & BACKGROUND OF REAL GENETICS

     The birth of REAL GENETICS as a business entity took place in the context of our involvement with two Jersey herds operated by Stephanie's extended family over the past dozen-plus years.  The Silver Mist herd, now operated by Stephanie's uncle Kevin Thomas and his wife Annette, was our first exposure to Registered Jerseys™ and the opportunities they provide.  Leaving that operation in 1999, we stayed within the dairy business as Aaron pursued his growing fascination with genetics and the breeding of superior dairy cattle by going to work in the AI industry, with job assignments in Idaho, Washington, and then back to Oregon.  After returning to Oregon, we joined with Stephanie's parents Bob & Linda Northrop in operating the Bi-My herd, formed when they dissolved their partnership with Kevin and Annette Thomas at Silver Mist.  While involved in the operation of the Bi-My herd, we branched out into the field of young sire sampling, creating REAL GENETICS as a separate enterprise.
     The year 2007 has seen major changes in our lives as we left the Bi-My herd to focus on growing REAL GENETICS, and have recently taken on the responsibility of serving as the Jersey Specialist for Semex USA, while continuing to grow and operate REAL GENETICS.
     REAL GENETICS became a reality with the release of our first young sire for sampling in August 2005.  This crucial step arose directly from a challenge, presented by Mike Northrop (Bob's brother) to Aaron to actually put this dream in motion, with Mike making many of the early visits to potential sampling herds in Idaho and Utah.  Following that initial release in August 2005 - Riversong Jace Bullseye 147JE6083 - additional young sires have continued to be released on a regular basis.  Carefully chosen younger bulls are already "in the pipeline" for projected release several months ahead, backed by continuing efforts to work with serious breeders from across the country in selecting future sampling sires from their herds.
     Our initial sales area was the western states, with Mike Northrop regularly calling on many of those herds in Idaho, Utah, and Colorado and Aaron regularly covering Oregon, Washington, and Northern California. Coverage continues to expand, and we now cover much of the country through local Semex distributors.   
     Our philosophy has remained unchanged, as we have shifted from operating a dairy along with growing this young sire sampling business, to now spending all our time in the AI industry.  Our focus is on procuring bulls that we feel will sire for our customers the kinds of cows we always found most profitable in our own dairy operation.  Sticking with deep cow families and focusing on functional udders combined with solid feet and legs, we offer our customers a chance to go back to the basics using modern cows.  Our primary goal is to help our customers breed cows that milk profitably, last numerous lactations, breed back easily each year, and test well.  We are excited to have come this far with what was once just a dream, and can't wait to see where the dream takes us from here.

     We would like to thank Mike Miller of Androgenics and Greg Woods for their continued support through in helping this dream continue to grow.

Aaron & Stephanie Henderson & Family

                                                          Mike Northrop & Family

                                                                                                       May 2008