NorthStar Cooperative's Michigan Laboratory welcomed dairy producers, veterinarians, legislators and local dignitaries at the facility's ribbon cutting and open house event on October 14, 2015. The crowd of over 50 individuals included State Representative Ed McBroom; Alex Morris, field representative for Tim Walberg; Kalmin Smith, Grand Ledge Mayor; Keith Mulder, Mayor Pro-Tem; and the Grand Ledge Chamber of Commerce."NorthStar has spent a lot of time and energy planning and designing this laboratory. To see this dream come to reality, knowing it will allow us to better serve our members, is exciting," said Mark Adam, NorthStar Cooperative General Manager.
Within the first 60 days of operation, the new laboratory has set records for the number of milk samples analyzed in a day, as well as the turnaround time from when samples are received at the laboratory to when members receive sample results. "Being able to analyze nearly 23,000 samples in one day while providing results within 48 hours to our customers is proof that the new lab setup and equipment was needed to better serve the industry," said Adam.
Tours lead by laboratory staff at the open house allowed guests to walk the new 5,600 square foot state-of-the-art laboratory and see the new equipment in action. The laboratory offers advanced technologies including infrared, spectroscopy, flow cytometry, ELISA, and PCR to analyze samples for BVD, Johne's, leukosis, mastitis, MUN, neospora, progesterone, pregnancy, fat, protein, SCC and more. These technologies are used in the diagnosis of milk samples collected by Dairy Herd Information (DHI) specialists, as well as samples sent direct from producers and veterinarians from across the United States.
NorthStar Cooperative, Inc. is a stock based cooperative, owned by dairy and beef producers in Michigan, Indiana and Wisconsin. Originally formed in 1944 as an artificial insemination cooperative, NorthStar Cooperative, Inc. is now comprised of sales and service for Select Sires, Ag Products and Technologies, DHI Services and Antel BioSystems, an animal diagnostic testing center. Based in Lansing, Michigan, NorthStar provides sales and service to producers, veterinarians and industry members across the United States. For more information, visit www.northstarcooperative.com.
11.5.2015