Ron Long, A.I. innovator, retires from Select Sires - Newsline

Rural Cooperatives, March-April, 2004 by Dan Campbell

Ron Long, a respected innovator in the artificial insemination (A.I.) industry, has retired after 30 years with Select Sires. Long, who was vice president, dairy sire procurement, retired Dec. 31. Long began his career with Select Sires in 1973, working on a dairy herd-consultation service. This program, Select Mating Service, has since evolved into the largest mating program in the world, conducting more than 3 million matings per year.

"Without a doubt, Ron Long is the most respected person in the A.I. business for his cow knowledge," says Lon Peters, manager of SMS, Select Sires. "He has traveled to all corners of the world to judge cattle shows, and to discuss genetics and the economic impact that good corrective-mating programs can have. Ron is a one-in-a-million individual who will be missed at Select Sires."

In addition to his accomplishments with Select Sires, Long has been an industry leader, serving as president of National Dairy Shrine, on the Holstein Association USA Type Advisory Committee and Genetic Advisory Committee, on the National Association of Animal Breeders (NAAB) Standardization of Type Traits committee and on the Ohio State University Dairy Science Advisory committee. This national and international dairy judge was also elected into the Ohio State University Dairy Science Department Hall of Fame.

Based in Plain City, Ohio, Select Sires Inc. is a federation of 10 farmer-owned and -controlled cooperatives.