PLAIN CITY, Ohio — A new genetic venture, Showbox Sires LLC, will be collaborating with Select Sires and Semex to bring a high-type, show-focused sire development program to dairy breeders. The team at Showbox Sires includes Tim and Sharyn Abbott and Mike and Julie Duckett. 

Both couples have had tremendous success in the show cattle world and wanted to branch out into inviting genetics from some of the successful show cows around the globe, said Jeff Ziegler, Select Sires, vice president of dairy cattle breeding.

The Abbotts and Ducketts wanted to start this new company because it is an avenue in cattle breeding that is not being maximized now, said Tim Abbott. They have experience in the cattle breeding world and own some top-notch Holsteins such as Footloose, Supreme Champion at the 2022 World Dairy Expo, and “Doc,” whose sale to the Ducketts and Abbotts set a North American record. 

Showbox Sires is a little different in that it is focusing on a niche market of people that want to breed high-end show cows. They’re emphasizing bulls because they can spread the genetics so much faster through the males.

“Whether you want to improve your herd, compete at the county fair or exhibit a winner at national shows, Showbox Sires is built from families that have done just that,” Abbott said. “Our vision is to acquire and develop bulls to meet the needs of any passionate dairy breeder.”

“They reached out to us to see if there is a way to work together and we did find an opportunity that makes sense,” Ziegler said. “Select Sires is a federated co-op. We’re owned by United States farmers. Our objective is to satisfy the needs of our owners and there are multiple market niches that do that, one of which is show success genetics.”

Select Sires and Semex are both global companies. The show market and the purebred market globally continue to grow in North America and many countries around the world, said Brad Sayles, chief operating officer, Semex.

“Semex and Select Sires share a common foundation of farmer ownership and the common goal of meeting our clients’ genetic needs,” Sayles said. “Adding this relationship further enhances our mutual histories of excellence. I think with our global reach, and the type of product they’re going to produce, Showbox Sires is going to be very successful.”

 The Abbotts and Ducketts are searching all over the world to find the best cows to fulfill this program. While Select Sires and Semex are the program’s exclusive marketing and distribution channels, no individual sire will be marketed by both companies. Select Sires and Semex will house the sires assigned to their lineup and carry out collection and distribution.

Currently, the new venture will offer elite Holstein and Red & White genetics with tentative plans to release the first sire in late 2023.

“Showbox Sires is a good opportunity for our customers to get access to some of the most interesting and top-rated Holstein cows in the Holstein breed globally,” Sayles said.

Added Ziegler: “We thought what better way to help our customers and owners than to partner with some exceptional people like the Ducketts and Abbotts who are well-known and respected in that part of the businesses.”