On the backroads of rural Iowa, near the small town of Blairstown where cows outnumber people, stands a titan of the dairy industry – GenoSource. This is no ordinary dairy farm; with 4,000 cattle and one of the top heifer and bull breeding programs in the country, GenoSource is a powerhouse in its field. Yet, despite its size and success, it remains a family operation where eight families united to create a place where care and attention are given to every detail.
Tim Rauen, a founding member of GenoSource, serves as the farm’s CEO. His passion for genetics began at a young age, growing up on his uncle’s farm where he learned all aspects of dairy farming but quickly gravitated towards Holstein genetics. This early interest led him to an active childhood in dairy and eventually to Iowa State University, where he launched his own in vitro fertilization (IVF) and embryo transfer (ET) programs. Fast forward to today, when GenoSource recently celebrated its 10th anniversary.
Because of Tim’s vision for advanced dairy technology, GenoSource is a leader in dairy breeding with advanced embryo programs that produce 18,000 embryos annually. “We believed we could move the needle on health traits and help develop a cow that can live in any environment and feed the world,” said Tim. By selecting certain health traits, the cow can become more disease-resistant while increasing milk production, helping farmers increase their profitability.
Tim and his team of 35 employees focus on five key success areas for GenoSource – genetics, cow comfort, nutrition, herd management and technology. They work to build efficiency in these areas every day and have generated an international reputation for GenoSource.
Tim’s team had a strong presence at the World Dairy Expo (WDE) in Madison, Wisc. this past October, showing 10 Holsteins on the international stage and winning multiple top 10 finishes in several categories. “This show is a cornerstone for our yearly success,” noted Tim. “We connect with many of our national and international clients and get to shake hands with people buying into our genetic programs.” During WDE, more than 200 international visitors representing 20 countries were welcomed to the farm to view the advanced dairy operation, including the 90-stall rotary parlor and genetic lab. “We are getting feedback from around the world on how we are advancing and helping other farmer’s herds with our genetics program,” said Tim.
GenoSource continues to push the possibilities in dairy technology, making room for advancements to increase sustainability, safety and herd health. These ongoing efforts led to multiple awards in 2024. Tim was selected as the outstanding young Holstein breeder by the Iowa Holstein Association. In addition, GenoSource was selected for the Dairy Herd Management Milk Business Awards – Leader in Technology. “It’s an honor and very rewarding for GenoSource to receive these awards,” said Tim. “We put our belief in dairy technology, and the results have proven themselves time and time again – not only our farm but for dairymen around the world.”
In addition to the awards, GenoSource made history with its first bull, named Captain. Captain has achieved six consecutive proof runs as the number one sire on Holstein Association USA’s Top 100 International Total Performance Index (TPI)® bull list. “I love getting messages from dairy breeders across the globe who share their pictures of Captain’s daughters and how much they love them,” remarked Tim. To date, Captain has over 6,000 daughters across the world, each helping advance dairy production on their individual farms.
Although the GenoSource name has an international footprint, Tim remains dedicated to the local dairy community and loves calling Iowa home. The family partnership proudly sponsors dairy programs and events throughout the year, including the Youth Dairy Classic, Iowa State Fair, 4-H and others.
As 2024 comes to a close, the GenoSource team is recognizing a monumental year. They set ambitious goals and new standards for what’s achievable in dairy production. They also embarked on several major projects, including building a new maternity barn and methane digester. These substantial investments will continue to help the farm become more efficient and sustainable in 2025 and the years ahead.