2014
A PUBLICATION OF DAIRY AGENDA TODAY
Pr esents
cow nation o u r o n ly p r i n t m e d i a p u b l i c at i o n o f 2 014 “Farming looks easy when your plow is a pencil and you’re a thousand miles from the corn field.” The words of Dwight D. Eisenhower ring true to this day. The same can be said regarding breeding a great herd of cows. Across this great nation good herds of cows can be found in the strangest places, in all types of environments and each is unique and special in their own way. Dairy Agenda Today celebrates these great herds and proudly presents them to you in our own very special publication. Join us and travel with us as we take you for a ride through COW NATION.
team members Dallas Burton - Kansas 785.806.9774 dallasburton@cox.net
Ron Schaap – Wisconsin 608.334.2348 ronschaap@hotmail.com
Steve Crumley - Georgia 678.316.4518 stevecrumley@hotmail.com
Kate Smith – Wisconsin 920.988.6528 kaprobert@hotmail.com
David Jons - Kansas Manager 913.634.3526 david.jons@att.net
Chad Griffith - Ohio 513.543.2315 xavier12146@yahoo.com
Maria Bise – New York 315.879.3207 salsaLNC@windstream.net
Lynnette Wright – New York 614.561.3382 vtlynn@msn.com
Danielle Neuman - Wisconsin 608.487.1101 daniellenauman@hotmail.com
Mary A. Angelo – Missouri 417.880.5732 angelo@1791.com
Jodi L. Wright – Missouri 417.840.3203 leroyw@mowisp.net
Larry Kleiner - Illinois 217.827.3468 lkleiner@dairyagendatoday.com
Kristy Roose – Iowa 712.229.9778 kristyroose@gmail.com
EXPO BOOTH HELP: Bailey Whitehead - Missouri
Melissa Hart – Michigan Editor 517.398.1957 farm.writer@hotmail.com Mary Angelo – Missouri 417.880.5732 angelo@1791.com
DAIRY AGENDA TODAY
Taylor Leach - Kansas Jackie Bickel - Ohio
2014 cow Nation 1
Contents Butlerview Farm
Butlerview Focuses On Always Finding New Ways To Innovate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Halpin Farms
3
Md-West-View Genetics
April Day - Frd
Doing Many Things, And Doing Them Well Leads To Perfection At April-Day . . . . . . . . .
Boonsboro, Maryland Usa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
6
Lookout Holsteins & Jerseys
Beautiful Cows With A Beautiful View At Lookout Farm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
Bella-View Holsteins
Beautiful Bovines An Every Day Fact At Bella-View . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
From A Gift To A Livelihood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
8
Conant-Acres, Inc.
Four Generations Of This Maine Family Farm Together . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Coulee Crest Farm Llc
Wisconsin Cow Of The Year Calls Coulee Crest Home . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Coyne Farms
Genetics, Worms And Cold Milk . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Golden Oaks Farm
Traditional Yet Unique . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Random Luck Jerseys
Breeding Excellent Cows Is Anything But Random At Random Luck . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60 Ratliff Jerseys
Great Determination Leads To Jersey Success On Kansas Plains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64 Ryan-Vue Registered Holsteins
Enthusiasm For Breeding Long Lasting Cows Building Block At Ryan-Vu . . . . . . 68 T&L Cattle Ltd. & Tolamika Farms
Two Kinds Of Passion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72 Paule-View/Vogrin Swiss
Dewgood Holsteins
Plan, Enjoy, Succeed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Dirt Road Holsteins
Life On The Dirt Road Has Led To Success . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Eskdale Dairy
Rivers Of Milk Flow In The Desert At Esk Dale . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 Good-Vue Ayr Farms
Northern Minnesota Ayrshire Breeders Prepare For Future Expansion . . . . . . . 44
Partnerships The Key To Success For Vo-Grin & Paule-View . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76 Canyon Breeze Holsteins
Mixing Milk, Genetics And Pheasants . . . . . . . . . 78 Ever-Green-View
It’s The Small Things . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80 Heatherstone Enterprises
A Passion For Breeding Registered Holsteins Fuels Mike Holschbach . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82 Hendrika “Ria” Vos
This Is Ria Vos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86 Rock-N-Hill II Registered Holsteins
Grand View Ayrshire
Nine Generations Of Ayrshire Excellence At Grand-View . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
2 2014 COW NATION
Mccullough Family Has Made Great Strides In Short Time With Great Determination . . . . . . . . 90
DAIRY AGENDA TODAY
Butlerview Focuses on Always Finding New Ways to Innovate excelling is the word of the day at the chebanse, il farm Longevity is an important trait that we look for, not only in the dairy industry, but throughout agriculture and in our own lives as well. Longevity certainly describes the Butler family of Butlerview Farm of Chebanse, IL, which had its beginnings in 1857. The farm at Butlerview has been run by the Butler family for well over 150 years, and continues today. Jim Butler first brought registered Holsteins to the farm in the 1940’s, and laid the foundation for what, today, is one of the most successful registered Holstein enterprises in the world. Jim started with a spark of interest in purebred Holsteins, and that spark soon fanned into a love and passion for the business which he continued to invest in. Success came to Jim as a breeder of registered Holsteins, and one of his greatest accomplishments as a breeder was that of Butlerview Mattador. At one time, Mattador had the most Excellent daughters in Canada of any active bull. In addition, Jim cultivated a growing business, buying and exporting cattle to over 15 countries throughout the world. That desire to succeed was passed on to his children. Alongside his wife Joyce, Jim raised four children: Jim, Julie, Jeff and Jennifer. He worked to instill his passion for the Holstein cow in each of them, and taught them the importance of type and functionality. The importance of developing strong relationships with other great breeders was not lost on Jim, either, and he emphasized that as a life lesson for his children as well. He also taught his children well the details to consider in selecting animals for the showring, which in turn has created numerous opportunities for each to lead the top of the pack. Currently, Butlerview is owned by brothers Jeff and Jim Butler, along with their mother Joyce. The original farm facilities were built in 1970, and were recently remodeled in 2011. Following in their father’s footsteps, Jeff and Jim continue to buy and sell top quality cattle, all from strong and deep cow families. One special story, about a special cow is the root of some of the greatest successes of Butlerview breeding. MS Kingstead Chief Adeen EX 94 2E DOM was nominated AllAmerican as both a Junior 3 Year Old in 2000 and again as a 4 Year Old in 2001. Adeen herself is the dam of 24 Excellent offspring. She is a daughter of Amlaird Lee Alice EX 94. Adeen is the grandmother of two All-Americans: MD-Delight Durham Atlee EX 92 DOM, the dam of individuals like Ariel, Aubry, Albany, Aftershock and Atwood; and KY Blue GW Debbie-ET EX 90. Her great-granddaughter, Ms Atlees Roy Autumn was also a two-time All-American. “I think her tremendous dairy strength, combined with a sensational udder provides a perfect foundation to cross with several bulls in the breed today,” says Jeff, speaking fondly of Adeen and her legacy. “The breed lacks the dairy strength, and Adeen and her progeny provide this crucial element.” The Butler’s hold numerous accomplishments, in both the showring and the world of genomics. They pride themselves in having developed numerous All-American and All-Canadian nominations, as well as being a leader in the everchanging field of genomics. The breeding philosophy that is adhered to at Butlerview is simple: they strive to breed and provide high quality Holstein genetics that are back by strong cow families, with deep pedigrees. That philosophy is the building block to their successes. Says Jeff, “At Butlerview, we want our animals to excel in DAIRY AGENDA TODAY
type or genomics. We have diversified our breeding program to meet and exceed the standards of the next level, to remain competitive and be a leader in our industry.” Butlerview employs a very well managed and extensive breeding program that specializes in providing embryos and IVF embryos on an international level, from the most current and influential genetics of the industry. On average, fifteen cows are flushed conventionally each month, and about 70 head are IVF’d each month, with approximately 400 embryos being implanted monthly. Offering unique genetics that are desired on all international fronts is part of the Butlerview recipe for success. The breeding strategies implemented to achieve these results include utilizing GTPI, LPI and RZG formulas when assessing bulls and planning matings that will allow their breeding program to excel in multiple markets. The breeding program at Butlerview works to stay at the top of the game in polled genetics, heath traits and of course type. The breeding program has been diversified to create numerous marketing venues, all backed by the same backbone of solid cow families. Showring type has been a staple of Butlerview. Butlerview has been home to All-American nominations every year since 1989, for a total of 96 in the past 24 years of competition. It’s unlikely that year 25 will disappoint, and the Butlerview team is looking forward to continuing to build on that tradition. Butlerview will be traveling north to Madison, WI for the 2014 World Dairy Expo, with 20 head of their most elite preparing for a walk on the colored shavings in the Coliseum. The crew at Butlerview thrives on developing these animals to be in top form, and competitive at whatever level they are tested. One of the most influential purchases ever to walk through the door at Butlerview is the 2011 Global Cow of the Year, Regancrest S Chassity EX 92 DOM. Chassity is a Shottle daughter out of Regancrest Cinderella EX 92. Chassity’s accolades include being the cow that sold for $1.5 million in the 2009 edition of the International Intrigue sale. She is the mother of Gold Chip, who is one of the most popular genomic sires in the world. Gold Chip is making his mark as a sire of winning show type, most notably through his daughter MS Gold Chip Bright, who at VG 88 is the highest scoring Gold Chip in the world at this time. Bright has cut a wide swath through the summer shows and is a big-time contender for the fall shows. “Cookview Goldwyn Monique EX 95 is a cow that I personally think is the greatest show cow I have ever seen,” Jeff beams with admiration as he speaks of the big, silky black cow. He continues, “I am also incredibly proud of the two cows we have bred that will be out again this fall, BVK Atwood Arianna EX 92 and MS Dundee Belinda EX 95.” Jeff rounds out his list of favorites by adding that Butlerview bred both last year’s Intermediate Champion Butz-Butler Gold Barbara EX 92 and Reserve Intermediate Champion BKB Goldwyn Amenda VG 89. Jeff is not one to leave “good enough” alone. He is constantly looking to continue to diversify and increase Butlerview’s market share, and has been fortunate to work in several different aspects of agricultural industry. This has generated many opportunities that have grown through his various experiences, which are not strictly limited to breeding and marketing dairy cattle. Jeff also works for Ryco Ag
of Bushnell, IL. There, Jeff serves as the sales and marketing manager, working with his partner Bob Ryan, selling crop inputs to large, progressive farmers. One of these ventures is Butler Auctions LLC, formerly Butler-Fellers Auctions. Alongside with his partners, Jeff has hosted many elite cattle sales. The most recent success story is that of the 2014 International Intrigue, which was hosted by Milksource Genetics of Kaukauna, WI. An amazing gross of $6,435,800(US) was achieved on 123 head, with an average of $52,323.58(US). This sales series originated in 2009, and has continued to develop into one of the most exciting and prestigious offerings of elite dairy genetics. Jetstream Genetics is a new venture under the Butlerview umbrella. The mission of Jetstream Genetics is to be a leading supplier of cutting-edge, global genetics, and has the goal of being the international supplier for the greatest sires of the Holstein breed, offering sires that excel in genomics, providing the best genetics of deep-pedigreed families, high numbers, extreme type, extreme production, Red and polled. Ultimately, they would love to have the very best bulls, who combine all of these attributes. The people behind Jetstream Genetics have developed several of the most elite cow families in the world today. Genetic successes for Jetstream include being home to the number one polled bull of the breed, View Home PowerballP-ET, with a GTPI of +2477. IHG Oly Adele 572-Red is the breed-leading Red bull in the world with a GTPI of +2506, and is going to Semex. Breed-leading genomic females also call Butlerview home, as well. With a GTPI of +2526, Snowbiz Sympatico SofiaRed is the number one Red heifer in the world. Topping the list of Red-Carrier heifers is Blondin TJR Supersire Aroma at GTPI +2609. As with many of us, Jeff counts showing cows as one of his greatest and most favorite hobbies. Of the myriad of special moments and achievements accomplished by the ladies of Butlerview, two individuals rise to the top for him. One of those is Shoremar S Alicia EX 97. Alicia was named Grand Champion at the 2000 Royal Winter Fair. She was named All-Canadian as a Junior 2 Year Old, 4 Year Old and again as a 5 Year Old; as well as grabbing All-American accolades as a 5 Year Old and Aged Cow. Another favorite at the top of Jeff’s list is Winter-Bay Goldwyn Lotto EX 95. Lotto won hearts as she won the Champion banner at the 2010 Royal Winter Fair, and earned All-American and All-Canadian titles as a Senior 3 Year Old and 4 Year Old. Life does exist for Jeff outside of the confines of the barns at Butlerview, though. Time with family is incredibly important to Jeff, and he enjoys spending quality time with his wife Lori and his three children: Connor (12), Autumn (9), and Brady (5). An avid football fan, Jeff enjoys coaching the football team that his son Connor plays on. Jeff lives by the motto, ‘Work and think like a champion, today.’ This is the vision he applies to Butlerview, and all the various enterprises he is involved in. Adherence to that vision can be seen in numerous areas around the barns, and remind the Butlerview team and guests to the farm of what Butlerview strives to be. Passion for the dairy industry is the key that drives those at Butlerview to breed, develop and continually work with the best, whether it be in the showring or in the genomic marketplace. 2014 cow Nation 3
WELCOME O-STYLE LONNIE
(VG-87, 2y) GTPI +2304 PTA + 1416M +39F +57P +757NM +6.2PL +2.71SCS 2-02 301 29,343 3.3 970 3.4 983 (Inc.) [true protein] daughters by Mascalese, Predestine, Determine and Tango pregs by Main Event, Monterey, Lottomax, Kingboy, 1stClass, Yoder, Pure, Supershot and Delta Due again 4/15/15 to Damaris Dam: Welcome Nifty Lolita (VG-87 DOM) 2-04 365 33,610 3.6 1216 3.2 1065
4 2014 COW NATION
WELCOME SNOWMAN LORI
(VG-87, 2y) GTPI +2213 PTA +1665M +56F +56P +675NM +4.9PL +2.63SCS 1-10 330 29,747 3.6 1079 3.2 957 (Inc.) [true protein] daughters by Morgan and Maurice pregs by Kingboy Due again 10/25/14 to Peterpan Dam: Welcome Nifty Lolita (VG-87 DOM) 2-04 365 33,610 3.6 1216 3.2 1065
WELCOME BOOKEM PAISLEY
(VG-86, 2y) GTPI +2242 PTA +1362M +81F +63P +737NM +4.0PL +2.79SCS 2-00 365 30,570 3.6 1112 3.3 1019 [true protein] daughters by Mogul Due again 10/19/14 to Montross Dam: Welcome Jose Pansey-ET (VG-86 DOM) 2-03 365 24,490 4.8 1186 3.7 904 2nd Dam: Welcome Oman Penelope-ET (VG-85 DOM) 5-02 365 30,190 4.4 1322 3.7 1103
WELCOME BOOKEM PATSY
(VG-86, 2y) GTPI +2250 PTA +1241M +53F +58P +631NM +4.2PL +2.77SCS 2-00 206 20,041 3.3 666 3.1 631 (Inc.) [true protein] pregs by Tatum, Bombero, Littleton and Lottomax Dam: Welcome Al Paise-ET (VG-88) 1-11 365 30,644 4.0 1232 3.2 990 [true protein]
DAIRY AGENDA TODAY
KINGS-RANSOM GRAF DOUBLE-ET (GP-83, 2y VG-MS) GTPI +2241 PTA +443M +54F +23P +728NM +7.2PL +2.61SCS 2-03 191 15,064 4.1 612 3.4 510 (Inc.) [true protein] daughters by Jackman, Mack, Jacey and Tango pregs by JoSuper, Belair and Littleton Dam: Kings-Ransom Baxter Dolly (VG-85 DOM) 2-00 365 22,510 3.8 845 3.0 666 2nd Dam: Pen-Col Mtoto Dima-ET (VG-88 GMD DOM) 8-06 365 40,810 4.2 1715 2.8 1129
WELCOME GRAFEETI PHEEBS
(VG-87, 2y) GTPI +2148 +510M +75F +28P +649NM +4.3PL +2.75 SCS 1-10 256 20,005 4.6 914 3.3 655 (Inc.) [true protein] daughters by Mack and Tango Due again 10/10/14 to Kingpin Dam: Welcome Gabor Pheby-ET (VG-86, 3y) 3-00 365 32,046 3.8 1208 3.1 987 [true protein] 2nd Dam: Welcome Ramos Peno-ET (VG-87) 2-03 365 23,624 5.0 1186 3.7 882 [true protein]
UNIQUE-STYLE BOLTON MONEY
(EX-91, 3y DOM) GTPI +2175 PTA +2202M +88F +68P +572NM +1.6PL +3.02SCS 3-01 365 38,426 4.2 1614 3.2 1247 daughters by Ostyle (Monique), Supersire, Uno, Jabir and Shakespeare Due again 2/12/15 Dam of Bacon Hill Montross at Select Sires Dam: Pasen Rolex Mummy (VG-88) 6-02 365 26,160 4.0 1043 3.2 848 2nd Dam: Pasen Trent Mermaid-ET (VG-85) 2-04 317 19,860 3.6 719 3.1 624 Owned by Bacon Hill Holsteins (Partnership of Welcome Stock and Fly-Higher) Granddam of the number 1 Gtpi bull of the breed. Bacon Hill pety Modesty +2764 gpti@select sires
MS WELCOME COLBY TAYA
(VG-88 DOM) GTPI +2117 PTA +2203M +45F +55P +494NM +1.6PL +2.86SCS 1-10 365 41,237 3.3 1357 3.0 1255 [true protein] 4-10 280 36,892 3.6 1326 2.8 1046 daughters by Hill, Iota, Latham, Plaermo, Gilby, Uno, Halogen, and Montross pregs by Main Event, Monterey, Bombero,1st Class Dam of Tango at CRI, Tatum at Select Dam: Clear Echo FBI 1461-ET (EX-90 GMD) 2-00 365 36,230 3.5 1261 2.9 1053 2nd Dam: Clear-Echo 2635 Bol 1204-ET (EX-91 GMD DOM) 5-11 359 40,010 3.5 1395 2.8 1104
The William Peck Family 285 W River Road, Schuylerville, NY 12871 | p: 518.424.6770 | f: 518.695.3375 billpeckwelcomestockfarm@outlook.com | www.holsteinworld.com/welcomestock DAIRY AGENDA TODAY
2014 cow Nation 5
Doing Many Things, And Doing Them Well Leads to Perfection at April-Day despite venturing into many areas, april day ’s ed peck has a passion for perfection in all he undertakes. By Danielle Nauman
Passion for success well-describes Ed Peck, because he simply has the drive to fully embrace any undertaking, and work to make it the best it can be. From his successful registered Holstein herd, to his unique flock of heirloom birds, to the herd of gourmet beef animals, to his cutting-edge Filament Marketing firm, Ed Peck simply strives for perfection. What started as a hobby for Ed in 1986 has morphed into a massive undertaking of providing elite registered Holstein genetics. The April-Day breeding philosophy is focused on striving to combine unique pedigrees that possess the red hair/coat gene. In 1994, Ed began to travel down another path with his genetic progress, and begun exploring integrating the polled gene into his Red & White/ Red Carrier herd. With a taste of success, that focus has intensified in recent years. One family that has helped put April-Day on the genetic map is the Ruby Wine family. Ruby Wine was purchased at a Wisconsin Spring Show, just prior to winning the fall calf class and being named Reserve Junior Champion. For the past 15 years, April-Day has worked with Ruby Wine and her offspring, which include the Shottle Verdejo and Jordan Merlot branches. Other families that carry influence in the April Day breeding program include those of Mars Helen, Goldwyn Delicious, Planet Silk, the Showers, the Roxys, M-O-M Manhattan, Aaron Bif-Red and the Redwings. The April-Ridge Genetics center was built during the winter of 2012 to house elite genetic heifers to be developed through the April Day/ Fertile Ridge partnership. The Center consists of five group pens, a wash room, an ET and veterinary service area, a cattle chute and two VIP pens with outdoor access. The main barn houses as many as 30 to 40 heifers at any given time, ranging from three to fifteen months of age. The cream of the April-Day herd is housed in Blue Mounds, WI at the April-Ridge Genetics Center. These top genomic calves, possessing unique pedigrees are selected to be donor heifers at approximately 3 months of age. At the April-Ridge Genetics Center, they are raised and nurtured to prepare for early embryo transfer work. In 2013, an open front 6 2014 COW NATION
barn was added to the Genetics Center, to house bull calves being prepared to go to AI, in order to keep them isolated from vaccinated flush heifers. That barn has a capacity for up to 20 bulls, up to one year of age. Excellent nutrition is a must for preparing these calves for the early embryo transfer program. Calves are fed AMPLI-CALF Grower and free-choice forage up to six months of age. At six months of age, they are transitioned to a heifer TMR from the best crops of Fertile Ridge Dairy, supplemented with HeiferSmart Booster Tubs throughout their flush program. Heats are monitored by the use of CowScout, which sends text messages when activity spikes and again when activity decreases. Depending the demand for embryos from a particular heifer, as well as their personal growth and maturity, heifers are started on conventional flush protocols after their second heat, as early as seven months of age. About half the heifers are flushed every 32 to 40 days, with a goal of having the heifers bred to calve in by 24 months of age. IVF work has been done on the herd on a limited basis. In partnership with Gary and Joel Sutter of Fertile Ridge Dairy, a commercial dairy located less than a mile from the Genetics Center, embryos from these young donor heifers are transferred into recipients from the commercial herd. Once a donor heifer reaches about fourteen months of age, they are bred and transitioned back into the commercial dairy operation, where they will calve out and live and produce in the commercial management program. About 10 to 15 of the best performing cows are re-selected to continue as lactating donors in an embryo transfer program within the commercial dairy. At any given time, four or five of them may be flushing, usually as two year olds. About 25% of the commercial dairy herd is used for recipients, with both fresh and frozen transfers performed weekly by GenOvations. At birth, ET calves are identified with RFID tags, given a First Defense bolus and immediately removed from the dam to Calf-Tel open back pens. Here they receive two feeding of
pasteurized colostrum. They are then put on a full potential feeding program of Cow’s Match milk replacer and AMPLI-CALF 22 starter. At eight weeks of age, calves are transitioned into group housing and weaned two to four weeks later. Upon weaning, the elite heifer calves and bulls qualifying for AI are moved to the Genetics Center. April-Day Holsteins isn’t the sole focus of Ed’s time at the farm. Birch Ridge Beef is a startup, prestine brand of gourmet beef. Starting with a genetic base of pure, registered Red Angus, this unique and rare breeding program of Akaushi cattle, which are native and exclusive to Japan, are on a genetic upgrading program to provide premium cuts of beef. This beef will be exclusively sold to high-end, niche restaurants in the Madison, WI market. The current Birch Ridge Beef herd consists of eight recipient beef cows nursing F1 Akaushi/ Red Angus calves, as well as the Red Angus donor female. Ed began is Birch-Ridge Orpington flock in 2013, focusing primarily on developing several controlled genetic lines of unique and popular color varieties of large-foul English Orpingtons. Orpingtons are a rare heritage chicken breed that was developed for the English Royal family over the past few centuries. Orpingtons are known for their impressive plumage, large brown eggs and extremely docile personalities. Imported lines of Orpingtons are gaining rapidly in popularity throughout the United States for families looking to raise show birds, and produce eggs in their own backyards. Following the first hatching season, Birch-Ridge Orpingtons raised and shipped more than 150 chicks to buyers in twelve states. The flock is housed in a collection of fun, custom made and designed breeding coops, which resemble a heritage village. Each coop has one breeding cockbird and one to three hens, with the matings carefully selected for coloring patterns and exemplification of breed characteristics. The strains that Ed is working to develop include Blue, Lavender, Black, Jubilee, Buff, Buff, Buff-Delaware, Chocolate, Chocolate Cuckoo, Partridge, Creole, Cuckoo, Gold Laced, Silver Laced and Lemon Cuckoo. DAIRY AGENDA TODAY
The Wines of April-Day
April-Day B Torbato-ET; VG-85 1-11 3x 268d 25,058m 3.3% 816f 2.8% 702p inc. TORBATO is a Bookem daughter of VERDEJO and the dam of a +2386 GTPI RC Aikman heifer making embryos now in our ET program.
April-Day R2 Proseco *RC (due Oct. 2014) PROSECO is a unique, RC AltaR2 from a Fidelity-Red daughter of ZISOLA, and she already has 2 daughters over +2300 GTPI and 3 sons heading to AI.
April-Day A Comtessa-ET *RC (due Nov. 2014) COMTESSA is an Alchemy daughter of Bolton CHARDONAY *RC (VG-88) and made a red daughter at +2367 GTPI and has a red Save *RC son at +2439 GTPI.
April-Day M Reisling-P-ET *RC; GP-83 2-06 3x 240d 21,641m 4.0% 859f 2.9% 620p inc. REISLING is a polled Magna P daughter of VERDEJO with two polled sons already in AI, additional contracts to fill, and the dam of three daughters in our ET program.
April-Day LB Pinot Grigio *RC; VG-85 2-02 3x 365d 27,678m 3.6% 1003f 2.8% 793p GRIGIO P RC is the Lawn Boy daughter of Bolton CHARDONAY. Fresh again in August 2014, she has 4 polled sons in AI and 4 daughters in our ET program.
April-Day Bol Zisola *RC; VG-88 4-09 3x 276d 35,644m 3.7% 1327f 3.0% 1053p ZISOLA is the only Boliver daughter of VERDEJO, and the dam of Dakker EZERJO *RC who already has 2 daughters over +2445 GTPI.
Cattle photos by Nick Sarbacker
Contact information:
DAIRY AGENDA TODAY
Ed Peck
•
608.444.8863
•
E: adredcows@gmail.com
• Facebook: April-Day
2014 cow Nation 7
Beautiful Bovines an Every Day Fact at Bella-View lynn & sara harbaugh excel in breeding highly competitive individuals from great cow families By Danielle Nauman
The word bella means beautiful in Spanish, and a photo of Lynn and Sara Harbaugh’s Bella-View Holsteins could be found next to the dictionary entry. Not only is the farm, located in northeast Wisconsin near the town of Marion beautiful, the bovines who reside there are too. Along with their three children, Lynn and Sara raise heifers on their small farm, which derives its name from one of the best cows Lynn feels he has ever worked with, Harbaugh Bella EX 92. The barn at Bella-View is set up to allow them to care for and develop 20-25 heifers, most of which they own. There are four group pens and five box stalls, with each pen having access to pasture. The barn also has a milkhouse, indoor washrack and an office. The majority of the Harbaugh’s herd traces back to three cow families: Farmdale Integrity Dixie *RC EX 94, who was nominated Junior All-American in 2003; Rosedale Go For Gin EX 93, who is a full sister to EX 95 Rosedale Lexington; and Kingsmill Ashlyns Ashore EX 92 at three years of age and is a Goldwyn daughter of TriDay Ashlyn EX 96. After moving to their new home and building the new facility in 2010, the Harbaughs purchased both Go For Gin and Ashlyns Ashore to become foundation animals in their herd, adding them to the small nucleus of deep-pedigreed heifers that came with them to the new Bella-View facility. Since that time, they have worked steadily to grow and increase their herd using traditional embryo transfer and utilizing IVF as well. In short order, Lynn and Sara have accomplished great things. In 2011, Bella-View Shot of Gin entered the spotlight being named Junior Champion at the Mid-East Fall National Show in Louisville, KY. In 2012, Gin was back again, garnering a nomination for All-American Fall Yearling after 8 2014 COW NATION
selling in the March Madness sale for $26,500 that spring. Shot of Gin is now scored VG 89 and is a Shottle daughter of Go For Gin. Showring success continued for the Harbaughs throughout 2013 as they bred the top three placing Summer Yearlings at the Wisconsin Championship Show. Bella-View Alex Ashanti-ET anchored the group after being named the AllWisconsin Summer Yearling and Reserve Junior Champion. Ashanti, an Alexander daughter of EX 92 Ashlyns Ashore, was purchased by Paige Vossekuil of Brandon, WI in the 2013 Quest For Success. The Reserve All-Wisconsin Summer Yearling was Bella-View Angels Apple-ET, owned with Cory and Cara Biely of Pine River, WI. Apple is a Dempsey from a VG 87 Aftershock granddaughter of KHW Regiment AppleRed EX 96. The final member of the trio, placing third was Bella-View Goldwyn Julip-ET, a Goldwyn from a VG 87 Shottle daughter of 2nd-Look Durham Juba EX 95. Julip is owned with Kurt and Sarah Loehr of Eden, WI. Julip went on later in the summer to be named the Reserve Junior Champion at the Mid-West Fall National held at the Minnesota State Fair. The Bella-View breeding program is a frequent favorite of Junior members looking to make a purchase that will garner them awards in the showring, calve into good cows and become foundation animals. Three heifers they have sold to Junior members have been named Junior, Reserve or Honorable Mention Junior Champions in the national junior show competition: Ashanti has done that for Paige, and Kayla Krueger has been lucky enough to garner these honors with both Bella-Ridge Go For Broke and Bella-View Braxton Allure. Ashanti was also named Junior Champion of the Wisconsin Championship Junior Show in 2013 for Paige, while Allure did the same for Kayla in 2014. Bella-View-bred heifers are also not strangers to the Junior Champion selection at the world’s largest junior show, the Wisconsin Junior State Fair. In addition to having great bovines, the Harbaughs count themselves lucky to have great
family and friends to work with as partners, and who house their milking cows, such as Sara’s family at Hilrose Holsteins, Chad and Amy Ryan of Ryan-Vu Holsteins and Kurt and Sarah Loehr of Forest-Ridge Holsteins. The Harbaughs have developed an extensive partnership with the Loehrs, and the Bella-Ridge prefix is used for the animals resulting from that collaboration. With the Ryans, Lynn and Sara hosted the very successful Quest For Success in 2013. Averaging over $9,000 on nearly 100 lots, the sale surely lived up to its name, especially when the successes the animals sold have achieved is factored in. Several went on to compete at high levels for their new owners, and were there both All-American and Junior All-American nominations who passed through the sale ring on that blustery March day. The Harbaughs and Ryans are teaming up again to host the Quest For Success II which will be held on March 27, 2015 at Bella-View, with an exciting line up already being formed. Lynn has had many opportunities to take his eye for good animals into the center of the showring, and has enjoyed officiating many shows throughout the US, as well as in Canada and Mexico. Lynn has had the good fortune of judging on the colored shavings four times, sorting the Milking Shorthorns, Ayrshires, Guernseys and Red & Whites. No grass grows under this family. In addition to the farm, Lynn and Sara both hold full-time jobs within the dairy industry. Lynn serves as an Area Sales Manager for Northstar Select Sires and Sara is a Territory Business Manager with Zoetis. If all that weren’t enough, they are avid volunteers when it comes to youth, both serving as 4-H and Junior Holstein leaders. This is becoming increasingly important to them as their children enter these programs. Jacob (9), Logan (7) and Madison (nearly 4) have all been bitten by the registered Holstein bug and are coming to take an interest in the farm and cattle. Like all parents, Lynn and Sara are enjoying watching them begin to compete in activities such as judging and dairy bowl, as well as competing in the showring. DAIRY AGENDA TODAY
Rosedale Go For Gin EX-93
Bella- Ridge Gin Blossom VG-87
3-04 2X 365 34,000 4.2 1430 3.0 1030 Owned with Kurt & Sarah Loehr Full Sister to Rosedale Lexington EX-95 All-American 5 YR. old 2013 Dam of Bella-View Shot Of Gin VG-89@2YR. Nom. All Am. Fall Yrlg
Owned by Darrin & Derek Kamphuis Braxton daughter of Go for Gin 1st Junior Sr. 2 YR Old Midwest Spring Show 2014 Jr. All-Wisconsin Sr. 2 YR Old 2014 Res. Gr. Wis. Jr. State Fair 2014 Full Sister was Res. Jr. All-Am. Milking Yrlg. 2013
Nominated All-American
We are very proud of this Nomination for All-American Jr. 3 Best Females From left: Bella-View Alex Ashanti, All-WI Summer Yrlg, Jr. Champion of Junior Show at both WI Championship Show and Midwest Fall 2013 Center: Bella-View Angels Apple, Res. All-WI Summer Yrlg 2013 On Right: Bella View Goldwyn Julip- Res. Jr, Ch. Midwest Fall Show 2013 Lynn & Sara Harbaugh u Jacob, Logan & Madison N11912 Graetz Road, Marion, WI 54950 F: 866.590.0241 u C: 920.420.1524 - Lynn HarbaughL@northstarcooperative.com
Bella-View Braxton Allure
Owned By Kayla Krueger Beautiful short aged June heifer Great granddaughter of Tri-Day Ashlyn EX96 HM Jr Champ Midwest Spring Show Jr. Show 2014 Jr. Ch. Wisconsin Championship Jr. Show 2014 Res. Jr. Ch. Midwest Fall National Junior Show 2014 Members of these families will sell on March 27, 2015 in the Quest for Success II Hosted with Ryan-Vu
1st and Best Udder Jr. 2 Year Old Intermediate Champion 2014 Iowa State Fair Owned With and Presented By Jason Steinlage 319/596-5663 steinridgejerseys@hotmail.com
Bred August 30 to Comerica
Cybil Fisher photos
1st and Best Udder Sr. 3 Year Old Res. Intermediate Champion 2014 Iowa State Fair Acquired By and Owned With Jason Steinlage Presented by Katie Steinlage
Contact Jason about embryos from Kept Secret and Lola
Design Kristy Roose
MAYNARD, CRAIG, ERIC, DANE & CADE LANG • BROOKLYN, IOWA • 641-990-5096 • DANE.M.LANG@GMAIL.COM 10 2014 COW NATION
DAIRY AGENDA TODAY
Enniskillen Jade Flo Ex90% 5-09 3x 365d 49,896m 6.3% 3095f 3.3% 1661p
Flo’s C’gar Fionia-ET EX90% proj.3-01 2x 305 25,026m 4.5% 1136f 3.3% 851p
Her 7 daughters all by different bulls average 87 % on classification Her Surefire son is available.
1st Sr. 3 & Res. Intermediate Champion - All Michigan Summer Show ‘14 Pregnancies by AppleJack & Impression
JBL Laser Chers Claire EX 92 6-03 2x 274d 21555m 4.4% 954f 3.2% 679p
Ms Sambo Black Gold EX 92 5-06 2x 305d 20,089m 5.2% 1029f 3.8% 742
1st Aged Cow & Reserve Grand Champion - Michigan Spring Show ‘14 4th Aged Cow - All American Jr. Jersey Show ‘13 Daughters by Soda Pop, Minister, and Hired Gun
1st 5yr old & Sr. Champion - All Michigan Summer Show ‘13 Pregnancies by Hometown Irresistable
Brenhaven Holsteins & Jerseys, LLC Brent Moyer
2647 E Caro Rd., Caro, MI 48723 | 989.553.4333 bren_haven@yahoo.com 12 2014 COW NATION
DAIRY AGENDA TODAY
DAIRY AGENDA TODAY
2014 cow Nation 13
photos „ Lea McCullough
EX-94 EX-94MS
5-01 2x 318 39,638 4.9 1962 2.9 1145 ~ Backed by 7 GMDs, first 3 dams EX-92 1st 6 Year & Older, Best Udder & Bred & Owned, District 1 Show Senior & Grand Champion, Best Udder of Show & Champion Bred & Owned, District 1 Show 1st Dam & Offspring with her daughter, Willows Edge Mac Frosting EX-92 EX-94MS Member of 1st Best 3 Females
We currently have cows for sale - give us a call! Premier Breeder: BAA: 111.8% 49 EX, 54 VG, 7 GP 14 2014 COW NATION
’05, ’06, ’07, ’10, ’11, ’13 Midwest Fall National ’03 World Dairy Expo ’92-’01, ’04-’06, ’09, ’11-’14 District 1 ’94, ’96, ’97, ’03, ’05, ’06 WI Champ. Show ’96, ’98, ’99, ’00, ’02, ’03, ’10, ’11 MN State Fair
Henk & Bonnie Van Dyk New Richmond, WI 54017 PH: (715) 246-5454 DAIRY AGENDA TODAY
Jenny Thomas Cybil Fisher Photography
mS roll-n-View Sanchez anna EX 90 EX mammary 1-11 365 31,050 3.7 1160 2.9 889 Reserve All-Indiana Junior 2 Year Old 2012 2nd Place Jr. 2 Yr. Old Indiana State Show 2012
dam
Ridgedale-L Anneka-ET EX-91 EX-93-MS 4-04 365 34,231 4.6 1568 3.1 1076 Reserve Grand Champion Indiana State Fair 2012
2nd dam – EX-91 Triumphant / 3rd dam – Shoremar S Alicia EX-97 3E 7* – 2X All-American – 3X All-Canadian
Bruce Gingerich & Family 13330 County Rd. 42, Millersburg, IN USA 46543 Bruce C: 574-536-3061 | F: 574-642-4035 | E: sunrose20064@aol.com | W: sunroseholsteins.com DAIRY AGENDA TODAY
2014 cow Nation 15
Four Generations of This Maine Family Farm Together valuing family is an important piece of the puzzle at conant acres, as four generations work the family farm together . By Danielle Nauman
Setting goals gives us a barometer with which we can measure our progress towards achieving our dreams. In an article written about Conant Acres in 1990, Duane Conant expressed the goal of continuing to improve the herd to achieve a herd BAA of 110%. That goal has been reached and bypassed, as the Conant Acres herd now holds a 114.8% BAA, which is good enough to rank them first in the nation among herds of similar size, and third in the nation overall. Helping to maintain that rank are the 71 Excellent and 20 Very Good cows who call the central Maine farm home. Working towards the goal of breeding high type cows while developing deep pedigreed cow families, the focus remains on sound udders and feet and legs. A few high genomic bulls are selected, if it is believed they will help achieve the goal of high type cows that produce and create market demand as well. High type is consistent in the Conant Acres herd, as they have developed several Ex 95 point cows. They continue to work towards breeding the first EX 95 point cow to carry the Conant Acres prefix. Progress towards this goal is apparent when one looks at the potential in the current herd highlights. There is a fancy young Goldwyn Junior 2 Year Old from the 4E 95 Broker Lass family who makes it exciting for the family to go the barn each morning. A favorite of most visitors is an EX 92, second calf Aftershock. There are two heifers due this fall that give the Conant family some cause for excitement as well. There is an *RC Goldwyn from an EX 93 point Durham with over 40,000 pounds of milk from the Debutante Rae family and a McCutchen from the Winnona family with a GTPI of +2250. That focus on high-type breeding has helped bring showring accolades to Conant Acres. In 2013, they bred and exhibited the Grand Champion at the Maine State Show. In 2014, they were successful again at their state show, this time bringing home the coveted Premier Breeder and Exhibitor banners, as well as the Herdsman Award. 16 2014 COW NATION
“We all strive for excellence in what we do,” says Steve Keene. “Excellent cows, excellent feed, excellent milk quality.” Conant Acres is a family owned and operated dairy farm located in Canton, ME, milking 75 head of Registered Holsteins, that aren’t only beautiful…they work too! The current lactation average comes in at over 28,000 pounds of milk with a 3.8% fat test and 3.1% protein. They are proud of the high quality product produced, and in 2013 were named the Top Quality Milk Award winner from over 1,200 farms that ship milk to the Agri-Mark cooperative in the New England and New York area. Making a profit is always a concern to any dairy farmer. Feed quality is stressed in order to keep their herd healthy, and they work to keep purchased feed costs low. Each year, they participate in the Maine Farm Days, and are rewarded by seeing the high-quality feed and forage they produce bring home awards, placing first in 2013 and second in 2014. Successes at Conant Acres have not happened overnight, but have been built and painstakingly created. The farm began as a grade herd of Holsteins, Milking Shorthorns and Jerseys. Duane came back to the home farm in 1970 after managing his brother’s herd. He brought with him a passion for quality registered Holsteins, and started the farm on a path towards a 100% registered herd. The foundation was begun with a group of animals purchased from a local breeder. The group averaged $800 a head, and all grew and developed into Very Good and Excellent cows. Embryo transfer technology was embraced early by Conant Acres, and they began flushing their first donor cow in 1979. Early successes included Conant Acres Elevation Bess and her eleven Valiant daughters, created from thirteen pregnancies, all resulting from one flush. One memorable flush was the time that Swampy Hollow Elevation Sweet made 33 embryos, and were not enough recipients ready and available. Em-Tran in Pennsylva-
nia had some recips that were synchronized for the same time frame. “Dennis flew to Em-Tran with 17 embryos in his pocket!” laughs Steve. “I’m sure that would not be possible with the airport screening measures today!” The trip was a success, and resulted in twelve pregnancies from the 17 eggs that made the flight. This early involvement in flushing allowed Conant Acres to be successful marketers of frozen embryos. Working relationships with a number of buyers were developed in the mid 1980’s and continued to flourish and are still working today. In the early 1990’s demand for Conant Acres genetics was high, and the farm sold over 800 embryos a year for two consecutive years. “The added income from the marketing of embryos paved the way for building improvements, equipment upgrades and some cattle purchases,” relates Steve, adding that it also added some financial stability for the farm for future years. Duane and his wife Betty remain active in the family farm, along with son Dennis and daughter Debbie and her husband Steve Keene. Outside of the barn, the entire family are avid basketball fans. Duane has been a basketball referee on a local level for 28 years. Dennis and Debbie have both coached youth basketball, and all the kids have played the sport over the years. “While many people may be familiar with our tagline ‘Where Families Come First,’” says Steve, “they may not realize how much that is taken to heart.” The labor force for the farm operation is 100% family labor. In recent years, the third generation has joined the operation. Matt Sneller, husband of Debbie and Steve’s daughter Natalie, works on the farm. Natalie is employed by World Wide Sires. Sarah Keene, wife of son Brian, and Dennis’ stepson, Tristan Franchetti also work on the farm. His daughter Kaicey is also involved with the farm and is currently serving as the Maine Dairy Princess. On any given day, you can find four generations of the Conant family working together on the dairy. DAIRY AGENDA TODAY
DAIRY AGENDA TODAY
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Selling in the Louisville Slugger Special Edition Sale
Plain-Knoll Gold Chip 6155 VG-85 1-09 207d 18505 3.1 580 2.8 519 INC dam PLAIN-KNOLL SHOTTLE 5244 EX-90
2nd dam
PLAIN-KNOLL DURHAM DAINTY EX-93 7-01 365 40,584 1082F 1301P Still going strong Lifetime to date 204,732M 5973F 6741P
John Erbsen
3rd dam VG-86
Lifetime 200,871M 7267F 6204P
Beemer and mcCutchen embryo’s available
Pat, Jake, Jim, Andy & Steve Buschur 14393 Johnson Rd., New Weston, Ohio 45348 Steves cell: 937.423.7108 BuschurDairy@gmail.com DAIRY AGENDA TODAY
2014 cow Nation 19
Wisconsin Cow of the Year Calls Coulee Crest Home located on the scenic ridge-tops of western wisconsin, the
coulee crest herd is home to breed-leading guernsey genetics.
By Danielle Nauman
Success doesn’t simply happen overnight, and this is a fact that the Peterson family of Coulee Crest Guernseys, located near the village of Cashton, WI, can attest to. Don and Dorothy, along with sons Kurt and Scot, and daughter Jill have spent many years and countless hours working to breed a top-notch herd of registered Guernseys. This work and dedication will be rewarded at World Dairy Expo when the Peterson’s franchise cow, Coulee Crest Nick Lorilyn will be honored as the 2014 Wisconsin Cow of the Year. This bred and owned phenom has a myriad of accomplishments, with the Cow of the Year designation merely being the cherry on top. Lorilyn is a Lang-Haven Tiller Nick daughter of EX 90 Flambeau Manor Decision Lori-ET, a purchase Kurt remembers fondly. “I purchased two embryos from Gary VanDorn, and got one pregnancy. However, the vet ultra-sounded it to be a bull calf,” recalls Kurt. “When the calf was born, I was surprised when I found a heifer. This calf was the dam of Lorilyn, Flambeau-Manor Decision Lori-ET.” Kurt continues the family story to tell of Lori’s first calf, Lorilyn. “When Lorilyn was only two weeks old, I found her sick and lying flat one morning. The vet gave her an IV of fluids and she snapped right out of it.” Obviously, Lorilyn has never looked back. Scored EX 91 as a five year old, Lorilyn is a former #1 CPI cow in the Guernsey breed, and continues to prove herself as a brood cow repeatedly. Along with her mother and her daughter, Coulee Crest AP Lorilee, Lorilyn anchors the Guernsey world’s first and only three-generation family to complete 40,000 pound lactations! No other cow family in the breed has yet produced two generations of cows this profitable. Lorilee sold in the 2013 National Convention sale, and completed her 40,000 pound lactation at Trotacre Farm in Pennsylvania. Lori, Lorilyn and Lorilee also make up three generations of #1 CPI cows in the breed as well, and all are Excellent cows as well. Adding to her resume as a brood cow Lorilyn is the mother of the current #2 and #5 CPI cows. In addition, her progeny account for 20 of the top twenty-five CPI heifers on the August run, including the top eight on the list. Lorilyn’s offspring don’t just look good on paper. Besides having index and exceling in production, they can show with the best of 20 2014 COW NATION
them. Coulee Crest AP Lexi was the 2013 All-American Spring Calf, ranks #16 on the August CPI list and recently topped the 2014 National Convention Sale, commanding a price of $19,000. The Peterson’s believe in merchandising the best animals from their elite families. This year’s International Guernsey Classic at World Dairy Expo is no exception to that rule. Coulee-Crest Grumpy Lenore-ET, a sister to Lorilyn, fresh in August at one year, ten months with a beautiful milking yearling udder, is up for grabs to the highest bidder in the sale ring in Madison on October 3rd. Lenore possesses the highly sought-after A2A2 gene. In addition to high-profile sale consignments and private treaty sales, Coulee Crest has an extensive bull market, having sent 19 bulls into AI service. Among the most prominent of the Coulee-Crest bulls is Coulee Crest Luxury Spider-ET. Spider was not only named the 2012 Premier Sire at World Dairy Expo, he was the sire of both the Grand and Reserve Grand Champions in the 2013 International Guernsey Show on the colored shavings. High profile genetics on the ridge-top farm aren’t limited to Lorilyn and her family, either. Besides the Cow of the Year, five other #1 CPI cows have called Coulee-Crest home. In order to make the most of the best genetics of their herd, the Petersons have had over 100 IVF Guernsey calves born in the past two years. All of these calves have been carried by grade Holstein heifers. “By utilizing IVF, with a 97% heifer calf rate,” explains Kurt, “we have been able to sell over 50 Guernseys in the past two years, and still have 200 Guernseys left on the farm.” Another Coulee-Crest-bred individual to garner national attention is Coulee-Crest Chall Jeanie-ET, who is owned by Josey Morris of Lake Mills, WI. Jeanie is the only Guernsey in breed history to be named Junior Champion at World Dairy Expo two years, in 2009 and 2010. Not willing to be content with just keeping the status quo of success, the Petersons are always looking for new ventures and venues to branch out in their operation. That desire led to the recent purchase of their first Ayrshire, Hazcroft Reality Cleopatra-ET, out of a top genetic family in the Ayrshire breed. The early beginnings of Coulee Crest success were planted in 1931, when Don’s parents
purchased the original 240 acres. Don joined the operation in 1958, and married Dorothy in 1967. Dorothy was a true Guernsey girl, and because of that passion, the young couple began the process of upgrading the 40 cow grade Guernsey herd into a 60 cow herd of registered Guernseys, and became active in their breed associations at local, state and national levels. The family enjoyed the showring successes of all three children. After completing his degree at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls, Kurt came home to join the family farm, and in 1998 a parlor and free-stall facility were built, expanding the herd from 60 head to 170. After spending several years working off the farm and parttime involvement, Scot decided to return to the family operation full-time in 2008. Scot’s extensive background and degree in Computer Sciences has allowed for the financial records, herd data and all other information to be computerized. Jill holds a doctorate degree and is the curriculum director for the Cashton School District, enjoys helping out on the farm with her son, Gabe. Throughout these changes, expansion has continued and in 2008, a compost barn was built in order to increase the milking herd to 240 cows. The compost barn houses a group of milking cows, close-up dry cows and recently fresh cows. In addition, this barn has a calving pen equipped with head-locks and a vacuum pump. Side curtains, Big-Ass brand fans for ventilation, and monitoring cameras make this building well-equipped to care for the herd, which is milked in a swing-10, New Zealand style parlor. In 2012, another free-stall and bedding pack barn was built to house breeding age heifers and recipient heifers, along with 14 pens for newborns. In 2013, another calf barn was remodeled into group pens and a new 21-pen calf barn was added to the facility. Lorilyn’s designation as the 2014 Wisconsin Cow of the Year is not the only accolade that the Peterson family has received in recent years. In 2004, Don was named the World Dairy Expo “Dairyman of the Year,” and in 2006 was named the AGA Master Breeder. In the same year, Don and Dorothy were named Wisconsin Pioneer Breeders. Kurt has been recognized for the work he has accomplished with the herd by being named the 2006 AGA Outstanding Young Dairyman. DAIRY AGENDA TODAY
DAIRY AGENDA TODAY
2014 cow Nation 21
Building our Foundation
Ernest-Anthony Trapeze-ET VG-86 VG MS 2-04 328 23,307 3.8% 878 2.9% 679
Design: Mara Budde. Photos: Trapeze ©Nick Sarbacker; Vienna © Cybil Fisher
Aftershock x Ernest-Anthony Tabitha-ET 2E EX-95 Nom. All-American Jr. 2 yr-old, 2008 Next dams: EX-92 2E Tara x EX-94 Tyra x EX-95 2E Tina Daughters by Alexander, Supersire, Bradnick Trapeze will be flushed to Windbrook this lactation Herd Totals Jerseys: 2 EX 3 VG Holsteins: 8 EX, 21 VG, 8 GP BAA: 109.3
Holsteins & Jerseys 22 2014 COW NATION
Lake Point Premier Venice (6-1-13) Premier x Arethusa First Prize Vienna-ET EX91
(pictured)
3-00 365 26,320 5.5% 1,456 3.9% 1,022 ABA All-American Jr. 3-year-old, 2012 2012 Overall WDE Futurity Champion Next dams: EX92 Vixen x EX97 Veronica These ladies also call Wildweed home!
Arethusa Fortune Monaco VG-88 EXMS (Fortune x EX-96 Melanie) Team Goldwyn Moriah VG-85 2-yr (Goldwyn x EX-95 Team Durham Morgan) Butz-Butler ATWD Brienne NC (Atwood x VG-87 Sanchez x EX-92 2E Brasilia) Wildweed Stormatic Allie VG-85 2-yr (VG Champion x EX Integrity x EX-96 Ashlyn) Inquiries always welcome. We are located an hour northeast of Madison off Hwy 151
The Behling Family | Fox Lake, WI Frank: 920-219-0298 | Jim: 920-219-0000 fjbehling9@gmail.com facebook.com/Wildweed.Holsteins.Jerseys DAIRY AGENDA TODAY
SHE SELLS WITH EMBRYO INTEREST
PTA +1242M +63F +47P 72%R 8/2014 PTA +735NM +.06%F +.04%P PTA +5.3PL 2.65SCS +.5DPR 5.2%DCE PTA +2.79T +2.84UDC +2.09FLC 71%R 8/2014
Avelene is over +130 points above Parent Average for GTPI
DAM
CURR-VALE OBSERVER AVON-TW VG-85 +2070 GTPI 2-02 3 365 28650 3.4 970 3.1 901
2ND DAM
CURR-VALE PLUS AVOCADO-ET VG-88 EX-MS 4-01 3 337 37370 3.8 1426 3.0 1122
3RD DAM CURR-VALE GOLDWYN DELICIOUS *RC EX-94 EX-95-MS 2E 3-02 365 3x 32,957 1412 4.3 1027 3.1 7th Generation Excellent!
A Special Heifer in our Flush Program
A-L-H SYMPATICO ARIEL
LUKE COBLENTZ
8466 Conley Rd | Winchester, Ohio 45697-9606
606-748-6049 | lukecoblentz@gmail.com Design Kristy Roose
DAIRY AGENDA TODAY
-RED-ET +2315 GTPI 680NM$ +3.41T Ariel ranks #10 Highest GTPI Red Heifer in the U.S. (8/14) Embryo inquiries welcome.
DAM MS TALENT APPLICIOUS-RED-ET EX-92 EX-MS 3-07 2X 305 30,177 4.6 1385 3.8 1147 2ND DAM KHW REGIMENT APPLE-RED
EX-96 Reserve Grand Champion World Dairy Expo 2013 All-American R&W Aged Cow 2011 2014 cow Nation 23
Coyne Farms genetics, worms and cold milk By Melissa Hart
With a deep Irish heritage, the Coyne Farm was established in 1922 when Greg and Shaun Coyne’s grandfather was given the farm as a wedding present. Avon, New York has been the home of the growing and progressing dairy farm ever since. An icon on the highway and the dairy industry, the big barn with Coyne Farms greets travelers on Interstate 90 from west to east and is the breeding ground for the industry’s top genetics. Brothers Greg and Shaun Coyne operate the farm along with Shaun’s son, Steven, Greg’s son, Brian and their nephew Malachy. With 900 cows to milk and a Rolling Herd Average is 25,178, 3.8 968 fat, 3.0 763 protein, the double 16 herringbone parlor is operating around the clock to milk the nearly 100% Registered Holsteins. Over the years the Coyne Farm breeding philosophy has been to breed for high TPI animals. “While we don’t ignore the type factor, milk is our primary source of income,” commented Greg. On a yearly basis, they will sell over 100 bulls to bull studs and breeder bulls, but why are Coyne Farm bulls in such high demand? The proof is in the pudding. From August 2013-November 2013 Coyne Farms had four of the five top genomically tested bulls in the breed. And one year ago, Dorsey was the number one proven bull in the breed, today he’s number two with is dam, Coyne-Farms Bret Daffers-ET EX-91 nominated for Holstein Internation-
24 2014 COW NATION
al’s Global Cow of the Year contest and producing sons in A.I. like Dom at Accelerated Genetics and Dolce at Select Sires. Daffers is a Peckenstein Form Bret out of a Startmore Rudolph. But breeding and genetics are only part of the story at Coyne Farms. They are also involved in an environmental friendly venture call Worm Power. Established in 2003 with the goal of building a bridge between animal agriculture and plant agriculture Worm Power discovered an opportunity to reduce excess manure from dairy farms by turning it into a professional-grade organic soil amendment through vermicomposting. According the Wormpower.net, in 2005 they set up its first vermicompost facility adjacent to Coyne Farms making them their sole source of feedstock for the operation.
farms located throughout western New York. Craigs Station members collectively milk more than 13,000 cows and produce more than 100,000 gallons of high-quality, fresh milk daily. The plant will help answer the region’s increasing demand for cream, created by existing dairy processors expanding production capabilities and new processors entering the marketplace. The remaining skim will be sold to local yogurt and cheese plants. With the completion this fall, the plant will begin processing nearly 1 million pounds of milk daily, with the capability to increase to 2 million pounds. The facility, which will employ 11 full-time staff, also will have the capability to provide value-added production in the future. While Coyne Farms has bred top genet-
“While we don’t ignore the type factor, milk is our primary source of income,”
– Greg
Worm Power is the largest process-controlled producer of worm worked materials and castings in the Western Hemipshere. And if venturing into worm composting wasn’t enough Coyne Farms will be one of eight farms that will sell milk to the nation’s first cold milk separation facility built as a joint venture between Dairy Farmers of America and Craig’s Station Ventures. Craigs Station Ventures is comprised of eight farmer investors who manage dairy
ics for dairymen around the world and has progressed into new technology in all facets of the dairy operation, they are actively involved in the Holstein Association, USA and their local Farm Bureau. Every fall they open up the farm gate to host Farm Fest where visitors can enjoy a day at the farm and tour the facilities. And each weekend, as active Catholics, the entire family can be found sitting in the pew at the local Catholic Church.
DAIRY AGENDA TODAY
DAIRY AGENDA TODAY
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26 2014 COW NATION
DAIRY AGENDA TODAY
The #10 GTPI Female In The Breed!! Gold-N-Oaks MVP
AriA 2815-ET
GTPi +2646
Sire – Seagull-Bay MVP +1102M +96F +57P +987NM$ 9/14 • PL+7.2 DPR +2.6 SCS 2.57 • +3.42T +2.85UDC +2.09F&L Aria 2815 ranks as the No. 10 Highest GTPI female in the breed! (9/14) Aria 2815 is the No. 1 GTPI Seagull-Bay MVP daughter in the breed! (9/14) Aria 2815 is +272 points above Parent Average for GTPI
Dam
– MS GOLD-N-OAKS ADORE2500-ET +2340 GTPI A Tall, Strong Epic daughter.
Beth Herges
2nd Dam
Gold-N-Oaks Arabell 1765-ET VG-88 GTPi +2004 2-00 2x 365d 28,680 4.4 1261 3.1 897 Completes 9 Generations of VG or EX Cows all carrying the Gold-N-Oaks prefix Home of the Genomic Giant Marbella Family! John and Judy Swenson 3170 Cty Rd. F • Barneveld, WI 53507 P: 608.516.3882 • F: 608.437.3181 • Jts53507@yahoo.com DAIRY AGENDA TODAY
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Dewgood Holsteins: pl an, enjoy, succeed By Melissa Hart
“It was a lofty goal but if you don’t aim high you will not end up where you want to be. Over the years when I would stray from my plan my faithful wife would nudge me back on track to my original plan.” – Dean
“Success is not what we achieve, but enjoying God’s blessings one at a time.” That is the farm motto at Dewgood Holsteins owned by Dean and Wanda Good and family where they’ve moved from the Hoosier state to Badgerland keeping a plan in place with victory in mind. Having both grown up on dairy farms, Dean and Wanda Good were married and created the Dewgood prefix in 1979. When Dean’s father-in-law began marketing genetics, Dean’s interest was piqued and he began to spend more time on breeding and marketing decisions. Two years later and a move to southern Indiana, Dewgood Holsteins began their road to success right during the bumpy years of agriculture—the early 80s. Dean explains, “With a limited budget we had some challenging years when the land price collapsed to half of what we had paid, milk prices started to drop and we had a serious drought in 1983 leaving us very short of feed.” With a bleak outlook Dean took a job with ABS as a distributor and A.I technician. He said, “This with 40 cows to milk and field work to do made for a busy life.” With a plan to breed functional cows with good feet and legs, great udders, high components and high production, Dean and Wanda had their work cut out for them. Dean explained, “It was a lofty goal but if you don’t aim high you will not end up where you want to be. Over the years when I would stray from my plan my faithful wife would nudge me back on track to my original plan.”
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Sticking to their breeding plan paired with the ABS job kept the Goods afloat through the 80s and thriving through the 90s. “In October 1994 we made a major move--500 miles north to Oconto Wisconsin with our family cattle and machinery.” Dean continued, “We bought a larger dairy farm and were in an area that still had a dairy infrastructure. Wisconsin is a great place to milk cows and also opened up a market for us to sell embryos to many countries around the world. We also started to get a few bulls into A.I.. These markets brought people from around the world and made friendships we enjoy today” One of the foundation cows of the herd was Dewgood SW Russ Beauty. Dean explained, “She is still the greatest cow we have ever worked with. She made 319,730 lbs. milk 4.5% 14,385 lbs fat 3.5% 11317 lbs protein. And at one time three quarters of the herd went back to her.” Five generations later two bulls made the proven A.I. lineup: Dewgood Benefit and Dewgood O-Bennet . “Beauty was a perfect example of what we were breeding for,” exclaimed Dean. Two Goldwyn full sisters, Goldstar EX94 and Goldmyn EX-93 produced proven bulls Goldberg and Advance. They are two of only five proven bulls in the August 2014 proofs to be plus 50 lbs fat, 2 for type and 2.96 for foot and leg. Dewgood Holsteins has always been a family farm. “With ten children, five girls and five boys to raise, there was lots of energy that needed to be harnessed in a
productive way. The 80s taught us to work hard and pull together.” Dean continued, “It also taught us that when all around you seems to be falling apart, God is waiting for you to reach out to Him and let Him carry you. And when you reach out to God it changes your focus from yourself to experiencing Him and reaching out to your fellow men.” “The genetics of Dewgood Holsteins has allowed us to raise a family and have several of our children be able to spend time in Ghana, West Africa and Haiti. Wanda and I also got to visit each of these countries twice,” explained Dean. Today the Goods milk 64 cows and market several jumper bulls and embryos each year with an occasional bull into A.I. The sons do custom planting, harvesting and installation of drain tile in addition to maintaining the equipment on the farm. The daughters help in the barn and assist the boys in keeping the farm running. Having been through the ups and downs in agriculture Dean offers this advice to fellow breeders, “Develop a good plan and stick to it. Even if everyone else isn’t doing the same as you, make sure you breed the kind of cow you like to go to the barn and milk. But make sure your plan can be profitable. With that said, if you want to market genetics you must be flexible, like accepting genomics, but never compromise the quality of your herd to chase a market.” Dean and Wanda welcome visitors to Dewgood Holsteins, “Our farm is always busy but please call or stop by! We would love to visit with you!”
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Welu Boyoboy Brilliant-ET VG-87 GTPI +2168 She is currently flushing. Offspring as high as +2430 GTPI
Cybil Fisher photo
Design Kristy Roose
MISS TMK ROBUST MUGSY-ET VG-85
+2311 GTPI Ranks no. 37 NM$ cow GP-83 & higher (8/14)
Ranks in the Top 100 CTPI cows (8/14) Offspring as high as +2590 GTPI She is currently flushing. Dam: VG-88 2nd: Dam EX-91 3rd: Dam EX-91
John Erbsen photo
From the family of Bookem, Racer, and Reflector comes this tremendous flush cow ...
Clear-Echo Ross 2331-ET GP-83 VG-MS
From the Well Known Missy family ...
PINE-TREE FINLEY MIMI-ET EX-90 GMD DOM
1-11 2x 305d 21330 3.3 705 3.3 699
2-01 3x 365d 36,450 4.1 1491 3.0 1088
We have many daughters out of Ross 2331 including a Polled RC December daughter that’s exciting!
A full sister to the dam of PineTree Sid, we have 3 daughters and several pregnancies coming from Mimi. She is currently flushing.
Dam: Clear-Echo 822 Ramo 1200-ET EX-94 DOM
4-04 3x 365d 39570 4.5 1782 3.0 1177
Dam: Wesswood-HC Rudy Missy-ET TV EX-92 3E GMD DOM
4-11 3x 365d 40880 4.1 1665 3.2 1308
Tom & LuAnn and Rudy & Rosario Troxel Hanna, Indiana 46340 | rtroxel@gmail.com 219-754-2458 | Rudy cell: 219-477-9530 DAIRY AGENDA TODAY
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Life on the Dirt Road Has Led to Success inspired by the sawyer brown song of the same name, the killian family strives to follow the right road to success. By Danielle Nauman
The name Dirt Road quantifies more than the long gravel driveway connecting the farm of Steve and Amanda Killian to the world. The Killians chose the name to represent their breeding establishment because of a deeper meaning. They chose the name Dirt Road Holsteins because they were inspired by the song of the same name recorded by the country music group Sawyer Brown. “The song states that the right road isn’t always easy,” says Amanda Killian, “but it’s still the one you were meant to take. It spoke to us when we started our farm, and it still does today.” Recently, she points out that Jason Aldean recorded the song “Dirt Road Anthem,” and they are still proud to be living the life of their choosing on their dead-end, dirt road. That philosophy of living your life the right way is reflected in everything that Steve and Amanda do. Amanda tells a story from early in their relationship, after their first date, when Steve asked to see her herd of Jersey cows, as he hadn’t seen many of them before. Despite the majority of the barn being spic and span, there was that one calf pen we all have had…the one that was in terrible need of cleaning. “I knew Steve was the man for me when he showed up the next day with a pitch fork over his shoulder. He pitched several spreader loads without stopping. I always joke that I married the first man I ever met that could outwork me! You’d never guess he’s eleven years older than I am!” That spirit of perseverance and determination follow through in the way Steve and Amanda are raising their family of five children. Family is of utmost importance to them, and they adore their children. “Our kids make all the hard work worthwhile. They keep us laughing,” says Amanda, noting that many Dr. Seuss books can be recited by
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memory in the Killian household. The family enjoys being active and loves to participate in sports of all forms. Steve coaches the youth baseball teams, while Amanda shares her knowledge with her kids’ teammates on the basketball court. “Our kids are constantly playing basketball in the haymow or kickball or baseball in the front yard… there are bare spots in the lawn to prove that! Steve is a great runner, too, and the kids seem to take after him that way.” The family frequently participates in fun runs held in local communities. The farm that houses Dirt Road Holsteins has been a work in progress. Amanda’s mother purchased the farm in 1995 from an Amish family, with no electricity or running water. This meant all the work, cleaning barn and feeding was done entirely by hand. More land was acquired as were more animals. Slowly, improvements and modernizations took place. Steve and Amanda purchased the farm when they were married in 2000, and have continued that improvement process, slowly turning it into the farm of their visions. The small farm meant to be home to 4o head, including the young stock is now home to over 200 head. Those 200 head are a fifty-fifty mix of registered Holsteins and Jerseys. The primary goal of the Killian’s breeding program has always been to incorporate high components with great type. They are certainly achieving that goal, as they have achieved the status of being the second high herd for protein and the sixth high herd for milk in the nation earlier this year. “We love working with the cows, and have really enjoyed being able to utilize embryo transfer with our herd,” says Amanda. “The Carlo cow family is extremely productive with embryo transfer, and we have been blessed
to be able to export embryos to several countries around the world.” “We found the perfect cow to build on when we purchased Castleholm T Carlo EX 91 4E GMD DOM in 2004. She was the start of a great legacy here at Dirt Road,” says Amanda, speaking fondly of their franchise cow. She continues to note that nearly all of their registered Holsteins trace back to Carlo. One exceptional daughter, Dirt-Road Goldwyn Cami VG 86, has been responsible for putting Dirt Road Holsteins on the map. Cami has also received both Dam of Merit and Gold Medal Dam status from Holstein USA. Cami has been responsible for producing more than 100 embryos that have been exported. Cami’s Gerard granddaughter, Dirt Road GRD Cleopatra-ET VG 87 DOM is a top genomic cow in the breed. Genomic results have recently come back on Cleopatra’s only Bookem daughter in the US. Dirt-Road Bookem Cher came back with a GTPI of +2508, and they have been told she is Bookem’s highest GTPI daughter. The Killians believe that Cher is pretty special due to the fact that not only is she sired by a proven bull, but her mother is also sired by a proven bull. The work being done at Dirt-Road Holsteins has not gone unnoticed by the industry. In addition to the genetics from their herd being sought after by a world-wide market and sitting near the top of herd production lists in the nation, the Dirt Road herd has been honored four times as a recipient of Holstein USA’s Herd of Excellence Award. In the future, Steve and Amanda would love to someday be able to travel to other countries, to see the animals that have resulted from embryos they have exported. “We have met so many wonderful people through this business, and we would love to see their home countries and the offspring from our cow family.”
DAIRY AGENDA TODAY
DIRT ROAD GRD
CLEOPATRA-ET VG-87 EX-MS +2365 GTPI 2-2 365 40,437 5.3 2143 3.4 1356 She has Bookem embryos available & is still being flushed.
Dam: Dirt-Road Shotle Cinderella VG-87 4-1 305 34549 4.3 1454 3.6 1154 Sarah Damro photo
2nd Dam: Dirt-Road Goldwyn Cami-ET VG-87 DOM GMD 3rd Dam: Castlehom T Carlo EX-91 GMD DOM
DAUGHTERS:
Dirt-Road Bookem Cher-ET GTPI +2508 Bookem’s Highest GTPI daughter (9/14). She is very well balanced being +1893 lbs of milk +76 lbs of fat and +65 lbs protein. She is also +2.97 PTAT. Dirt -Road Calamity Jane GTPI +2389 Cleopatra’s only SuperSire daughter in the US. she has embryos by Mogul Yoder available.
DIRT-ROAD MOGUL CATNIP
GTPI +2422 +109 lbs of fat and +52 lbs of protein. She has embryos by Monterey available. Her dam is Dirt-Road ManOMan Cheetah GP-83 and then Shotle Cinderella.
Steven & Amanda
KILLIAN
Check out our facebook page–Dirt-Road Holsteins! DAIRY AGENDA TODAY
An exciting addition to our farm.
TEE-MAR IOTA CARLY-ET VG-87 (1st score) +2192 GTPI Grand Dam is Cosmopolitan. 2-2 233 30,949 4.0 1281 3.6 994 Inc. She has Silver and Bombero embryos available.
N35376 Co Rd S Blair, Wisconsin 54616 715-538-2520 608-864-0762 (cell) killianfarms@centurylink.net Design Kristy Roose
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Maldwyn trixie linjet eX-95 3e
rob-Cri stormatic Manitoba eX-94
Nominated All-American 08 & 09. She also won the Procuction Award both years at Expo. 5-05 2X 365 40,066 4.2 1681 • 6-06 2X 365 38,030 4.7 1824 7-11 2X 365 35,508 5.1 1824
4-03 2X 365 32,152 3.4 1113
Has daughters coming by Golden Dreams
Lifetime 222,083 4.6 10,145 3.3 7243 Daughter by Roy EX-93 4-07 2X 365 33,674 4.7 1583 Daughter by Goldwyn EX-92 3-03 2X 365 24,791 4.2 1068 Has 5 more Goldwyn’s and a Destry all not fresh.
Winterose Gibson Phoebe eX-93
Glennlawn Champion envy eX-93
Dam an EX Encore from a EX-95 Skychief 3-08 2X 365 38,128 3.8 1406 5-00 2X 365 36,346 3.6 1347 6-04 2X 365 35,973 4.0 1390 7-08 2X 365 37,591 3.3 1256
5-09 2X 29,708 4.6 1365
Daughter by Sanchez EX-91 3-02 2X 326 23,965 4.1 963 Daughter by Shottle VG-88 3-04 2X 322 27,640 3.8 1058
Has an EX-90 Sanchez 3-03 2X 317 24,608 3.7 901 Also has a young Sid daughter
Herd ClassifiCation: 17EX 28VG 18GP BAA 109.3 Sires being used: Golden Dreams, Golddust,O’Kaliber, Brokaw, Clark, Numero Uno
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Glenn & Linda Ubbelohde & Family W3876 Cty. Rd. | C Plymouth, WI 53073 920-980-7632 | adamavichg@gmail.com DAIRY AGENDA TODAY
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Rivers of Milk Flow in the Desert at Esk Dale
rising from a unique beginning, this communit y-owned dairy holds true to their tested breeding philosophy. By Danielle Nauman
Nestled in the scenic mountains near EskDale, UT the community owned dairy by the same name can be found. Operating under the slogan ‘Rivers of milk in the desert,’ EskDale Dairy is unique in that it came into existence in the early 1960’s as a group of six to ten mixed breed cows, whose purpose was to provide milk for the Christian and Messianic community. A love for the dairy industry, and the people involved, have prompted this growth and development of this herd from its small beginnings. Veterinarian John Conrad oversees the health of the herd and does much of the breeding and embryo transfer work for the dairy. John’s son Ben acts as the herdsman and is charge of much of the individual cow care requirements and calf rearing. Ron Eldridge serves as the dairy manager, and is in charge of most of the dairy equipment maintenance as well as purchasing. Ron also does much of the feeding. David, another of Dr. Conrad’s sons, helps with feed preparation, feeding and corral cleaning. Two additional Peruvian milkers are hired to do the milking. Dr. Conrad grew up milking cows by hand at EskDale, and developed an affection for cows at a young age. He notes that his father was an educator and an accountant, and never shared his love of bovines. After spending one year at the University of Utah from 1969-1970, Dr. Conrad knew that his calling in life was to be connected to cows. At that time, he switched schools to the Utah State University and become a pre-vet major. While Dr. Conrad was pursuing his degree in veterinary medicine, great changes began to occur at the small Utah dairy. In 1972, a decision was made to build the commercial dairy, where the first cows were milked in the barn on January 1, 1973. This barn is still in use, although Dr. Conrad notes that it is ready for retirement. At that time in 1973, the herd was made up entirely of 40 commercial Holsteins. Progression from that day has been made to the present, where more than 95% of the 350 milking 36 2014 COW NATION
and dry Holsteins are registered. The current-day focus of EskDale Dairy is breeding profitable cows. To those at EskDale, this means that they like both show cows and index, or genomic, cows. Dr. Conrad is quick to point out, “It also means that we skeptical of marketing ploys that are based upon marketing whims and not upon actual data.” He goes on to say, “It is a scandal right now that a genomically tested bull at +2450 is seen as superior to the progeny-proven bulls like Dorcy, Robust, Facebook and Bookem.” Dr. Conrad feels that most bovine geneticists are not emphasizing to dairy farmers that their genetics bases would have been higher if they had kept using Shottle, then it is by jumping on hot bulls such as Domain and Boxer. He points out that these bulls carried genomics of over 2400, but now their daughters are all right around the 1900 range. EskDale enjoys breeding high type, and their herd BAA is consistently well over 106% on 300 cows. Another source of high-type pride are the two All-Americans who have carried the EskDale prefix, both in 2007. EskDale Dundee Marcia Mona was named AllAmerican Junior 2 Year Old, while EskDale Stormatic Legend was selected as the AllAmerican 4 Year Old. The EskDale breeding program works hard at continually improving the genetic base of their herd. Each year, five to ten females are purchased, from good cow families. Descendants of cows such as Adeen, Alicia, Dellia, Monique, Gold Deb and Durchan all live in the Utah mountains. Mating decisions are thought of as an art, and the aAa evaluations are used as mating tools. “We view the DPR index as very useful, and we see the NM$ as wildly inaccurate. In general, we are always more interested in what the bull’s daughters have actually done, than in what someone predicts they might do.” “We like to breed great ones,” smiles Dr. Conrad, “but we are always looking for representatives of cow families we admire.” A goal for the future of EskDale is to breed
a bull that would be thought of as a ‘gamechanger,’ an individual who would significantly impact the breed for the better. In Dr. Conrad’s mind, this would mean he would sire plenty of milk and components with good type. “His daughters would be those who are pleasing to milk,” sums up Dr. Conrad. Dr. Conrad adds, “An interesting feature of our breeding program is that we don’t hesitate to use high index bulls on show cows, and vice versa, if we think they will work.” An example of this is the result of Stormatic Legend. The All-American 4 Year Old in 2007, Legend was the result of an ABS bull contract, mated by Paul Trapp. “Paul mated this nice young Convincer, Ever-Green-View Legacy, to Stormatic. We got four heifers and no bulls,” explains Dr. Conrad. “We sold the first and second choice heifers. Legend was the second pick that went to Buttardell Farms in Lewiston, UT.” Another exciting young cow living at EskDale is EskDale Bolivar Rose-TW. Rose is scored VG 87 as a 2 year old, and at one time was +1900GTPI. She was mated to Boxer for the high numbers. The resulting calf was EskDale Boxer Bouquet-ET EX 90, who still retained high numbers, even after Boxer crashed. “She is easily one of the best show cows we have bred in some time,” says Dr. Conrad of Bouquet, “being second in the Richmond Futurity this year, and then second Senior 3 Year Old in the open show.” EskDale enjoys competing in the showring, and also had great success at the recent Utah State Fair. Bouquet was second in the Senior 3Year Old class; they exhibited the winning 5 Year Old Ms EskDale Dundee Lola-ET. Lola went on to be named the Reserve Senior Champion and Honorable Mention Grand Champion. Lola is a granddaughter of Gloryland Lana Rae EX 94, and together with her maternal sister, won the produce of dam class. DAIRY AGENDA TODAY
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DAIRYAGENDA AGENDATODAY TODAY DAIRY
On ThE FArm
Lylly’s June 2014 Doorman daughter
…dam Lylehaven Atwood Lylly-ET EX-92 @3Y 2-03 346 25,760 4.7 1216 3.5 901 Topped the 2014 Celebration of Lylehaven Sale at $70,000
Beth Herges
On ThE FArm
Lylehaven Goldwyn Lettie–ET Full sister to Lettie. Lylehaven GWD Langley-ET – 1st Fall Calf & Jr. Champion Vermont State Show 2013
…dam
LYLEhAVEn LASSIE-ET EX-94 3E 8-04 2 365 45,240 5.0 2271 3.2 1442
1st VT Fat 3rd VT Protein Res. Senior & Res. Grand Champion, 2nd 150,000lb Cow at Vermont State Holstein Show 2013. Senior & Res. Grand Champion, 1st 125,000-lb. cow at Vermont State Holstein Show 2012
Beth Herges
BJHeath
…2nd dam of Lettie and Lylly’s Doorman daughter Thiersant Lili Starbuck-ET EX-94 9-11 2x 365 30910 4.5 1385 3.3 1023
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Traditional Yet Unique
excited for the 2015 national holstein convention hosted by the state of illinois, golden oaks farm By Melissa Hart
Will unlatch the farm gate and welcome Holstein breeders to a unique farm in a unique setting that has adopted progressive dairy practices in shadows of the Windy City otherwise known as Chicago. Golden Oaks Farm of Wauconda, owned by the Crown Family since 1948, has a long history in the Registered Holstein business. Bill Crown oversees the farm for the family while Ethan Heinzmann is the Genetics and Dairy Manager. Gary Janssen is the past manager and is now the Senior Genetics consultant while Tom Patterson is the President of Golden Oaks Farm and Midwest Organics. Twelve years ago the herd vacated a tie-stall facility and expanded from 140 milking cows to the now 640 daily milking and 1400 total animals. Heinzmann commented, “We use as much of the latest technology to progress our herd as we feel can help us be better.” Their double 12 GEA herringbone parlor is fully automated and computer tracked. Additionally, the AI24 system developed by SCR is used to monitor daily activity and rumination. Currently calves are housed in individual hutches and fed pasteurized whole milk. Future plans are in place to build a new transition cow facility and move to modern, under roof, highly ventilated calf housing. While the 700 cow herd is a commercial dairy milking 3X with a RHA of 27500 3.8% fat and 3.1% protein, 95 percent of the herd is registered. “Genetically, we have built a diverse group of bloodlines. We have had success with deep cow families, Red and Whites, polled genetics and some genomics as well,” commented Heinzmann. Some of the most notable accomplishments at Golden Oaks would be the breeding and developing of the Scientific Beauty Rae branch of the Roxy family. Heinzmann explained, “Golden-Oaks Champ Rae and Golden-Oaks Perk Rae were the most recognizable daughters and each has made a large impact in many herds in very different ways. Champ Rae is proving to be an incredible brood cow with 8 EX daughters to date and surely many more to come. Possibly her 40 2014 COW NATION
best daughter yet, Golden-Oaks GC Chalise, will be a Jr 2 this fall and we are very excited about her development. “Perk Rae has stamped her legacy in the polled arena in our industry. Sired by BurkettFalls Perk she is the foundation to many of the successful polled bloodlines in the breed today. In addition, Golden-Oaks ST Alexander was bred here and is an own son from the Patron Allie cow herself. He has been one of Select-Sires’ most successful sellers in recent years. These cow families are an illustration of what we strive for here at GOF. Our current herd headliners are Gloryland-I Goldwyn Locket EX 92 and Quiet-Brook D Babylust. Locket is a Goldwyn with pedigree, show type and an exciting genomic profile as well. There will be many sons and daughters worked with from her soon. Babylust is an 89 pt 2yr with a 2302 GTPI. She is a highlight in the barn at Sunshine Genetics and they are working hard for us to make embryos from this great young cow.” With the National Holstein Convention coming to Illinois, Golden Oaks Farm will be a featured tour stop. Heinzmann said, “We are excited about showcasing our herd and breeding philosophy for the industry in the summer of 2015. As one of the tour hosts we plan to feed all our visitors with pizza made by Grande with cheese from the milk of our cows. In addition our friends from the Historic Wagner farm in Glenview, Illinois will serve delicious ice cream. We extend a friendly invitation to all our Holstein industry friends.” While Golden Oaks Farm is well established in the purebred industry, there are a few things that people may not know. Ethan Heinzmann gives a few details on the little known facts of Golden Oaks Farm. n We are on the very outskirts of
suburban Chicagoland. With that we have unique neighbors with very little understanding of what we do. Our support staff within our ownership group goes to great lengths to help us be respected in our community. Some would see this as a curse, while we perceive it as an opportunity to be powerful stewards to our consumer base.
n Golden-Oaks is unique in the fact
that we are a small portion of a large private corporation. Owned by the Crown family of Chicago since 1948 and loved by the late John Crown who had a deep passion for Registered Holsteins. The family corporation has current or past holdings in bus companies, Ag equipment brands, semi-trailer fleets and many other diverse interests. n Midwest-Organics is a compost op-
eration owned and operated in conjunction with the dairy. Daily yard waste, food scraps and manure from the dairy are ground, mixed together and rowed to make a top notch compost product. This product goes out in bulk or small bags to local stores and gardens as a premium organic soil additive. Many of the beautiful botanical gardens in Chicago are heavy users of this product produced here at GOF. n Something we are extremely proud
of here at GOF in the John Crown Scholarship/Internship program. Beginning in 1998 the company began offering summer work and a tuition scholarship to University students pursuing a career in the dairy industry. In the sixteen years since its consummation the program has grown to include some junior college as well as international students to the total of now 40 who have been with us as interns. Some of these young people have gone on to careers in veterinary medicine and many are back with home dairies. More information can be found on our website, GoldenOaksFarm.com, about this program. n Future plans here at GOF include
efforts to progress as environmentally responsible and sustainable dairymen. Just completed is a 10 million gallon concrete lined manure storage facility. The next phase of our waste plan includes a methane capture and digestion facility.
Golden Oaks Farm raises wheat, corn, alfalfa and oats on 1600 tillable acres With 17 full time employees, Golden Oaks Farm takes pride in their position as a progressive dairy with top notch genetics developed and managed in an urban environment. They feel this provides us a platform to educate their close neighbors about the dairy industry.
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Northern Minnesota Ayrshire Breeders Prepare for Future Expansion
this northern minnesota family is preparing for expansion in preparation for the return of all three sons to their dairy operation. Humble beginnings in the form of a wedding gift have led to what is now known as Good-Vue-Ayr Farms, located in the far northwestern reaches of Minnesota, near the town of Goodridge. Owned and operated by Mike and Linda Hanson, along with their sons David, Matthew and Steven, Good-VueAyr was established in the late 1950’s, when Mike’s grandfather gave his parents some grade Ayrshires as a wedding gift. Registered Ayrshires began to replace the grades, and by the mid 1960’s a herd of registered Ayrshires was established. In addition to the 60 cow herd of registered Ayrshires, Good-VueAyr Farms consists of nearly 3,000 acres of cropland. Wheat, barley, oats, soybeans and alfalfa take up the majority of production land. The labor force at Good-Vue-Ayr is limited, and is especially at a premium during the crop season. Besides Mike, Linda and their boys, Mike’s parents, Lynn and Norma, all have roles on the farm. Because of this, and the housing limitations, the Hansons try to keep their cow management simple and efficient. They do not feed TMR, but rely on high quality dry hay and a dry grain ration as the base for their feeding program. While they acknowledge that this may cause limitations in their production, it has historically been cost-effective for them in the operation of their business. Pasture is utilized, but mostly just for dry cows and heifers. This year, the weather has been challenging to make dry hay, so the Hansons decided to invest in a wrapper to make baleage. So far, this purchase has made the Hansons happy, especially when given the peace of mind that they can harvest good quality hay quickly if need be. Mike made the decision to return home to the farm after his graduation from the University of Minnesota-Crookston. After his return, land and cattle were added to the farm to support the third generation making a living on the farm. In 1988, Mike and Linda met at the National Ayrshire Convention. Linda is an Ayrshire girl from Iowa and a graduate of Iowa State University. When she met Mike, she was working as a sire analyst for Landmark Genetics. They were married in 1989, and the rest is history. Mike and Linda are very proud of the fact that their three boys are the fourth generation to own Ayrshire cattle, and all have expressed interest in joining the farm operation. Currently, David, the oldest, is at home managing the dairy after his 2013 graduation from the University of Minnesota with a degree in Dairy Science. Matthew, the middle child, is following in his brother’s footsteps and is in his junior year at the University of Minnesota as a dairy science major. Steven, the youngest, is a senior in high school and considering his future options as well. The operation began to undergo changes for future growth in 1994, when a farm with a more modern tie-stall barn became available. Mike and Linda purchased the farm and moved their herd to their own place, increasing cow numbers to fill the facility. The basis for this growth came from a group of bred heifers purchased from a retiring Ayrshire breeder. For a while, Mike’s parents continued to milk their own herd at the original farm, but eventually, all the milk cows came to live at Mike and Linda’s, and are now entirely managed by them. Over the past 20 years, the Hansons have continued to add 44 2014 COW NATION
to their facilities to accommodate their growth. The tie-stall barn only has 40 stalls, so extra housing was needed for additional milking females, as well as young stock and dry cows. Feed storage was a concern and has also been added. More land has been acquired as well as opportunities become available. Further thought to future expansion of the dairy is on the horizon with the possible return of all three boys to the home farm. Mike and Linda are anticipating the changes that will be necessary to bring each of them into the business. The northwestern region of Minnesota that the Hansons call home is primarily a crop area, with a few livestock operations and even fewer dairy operations. There is extreme competition for land. This makes the Hansons believe that the can more easily add family to the business by expanding the dairy, since they already have enough land to handle feed supply and manure disposal concerns. Everyone in the family enjoys working with the cows, and the registered and purebred aspect of the business, so expansion of the milking herd seems logical. The current ideas for expansion include designing a dairy that will limit the need for outside labor, but will be able to work efficiently with the seasonal demands of the crop enterprises. While still in the early stages of infancy, the plans for a new facility will likely double their herd numbers and possibly include the introduction of robots. The Hansons also want the freedom and flexibility to continue to enjoy attending breed events and shows, as well as family events and time for personal recreation. The Hansons all enjoy participating in shows and the activities that bring them closer to their peers in breeding registered Ayrshires, and value those friendships and connections that have been made in that way. “We did some showing early in our marriage,” tells Linda. “In fact, the year we met, Mike showed for the first time at World Dairy Expo.” That was a good year for Mike, because in addition to meeting Linda, he had a successful first stroll on the colored shavings as well. His fall yearling heifer, Good-Vue Linda’s Holly, not only won her class, but went on to take home Junior Champion honors as well. “Coincidence or fate?” laughs Linda, about the heifer’s name. “Farm work, family and frankly…the distance, has kept our opportunities to show limited,” Linda continues, speaking of the 300 miles journey they face just to reach the Minnesota State Fair, held in Saint Paul. As is the story on many farms, however, the showring bug reared its head again as their boys got older and became involved in 4-H, and we all know how rampant things can spread after that happens! Mike and Linda made a pointed effort to give their boys the opportunities to experience the showring and all that comes with it, beyond showing at the local fairs. Soon, Good-Vue cows made the trip again to the Minnesota State Fair. World Dairy Expo wasn’t far behind, with a return venture in 2007. Since then, David regularly takes a string southeast to Madison, WI. Breeding a better Ayrshire cow is the goal that keeps the Hanson family milking cows every morning and night.
Despite their affection for showing, they know that most the cows in the herd with never make the trips to the big shows. That requires them to concentrate on breeding strong production straits as well as type. “We can’t just use a bull because he makes them fancy,” says Linda. The Hansons do utilize embryo transfer to improve the genetics of their herd, using the lower end of the herd as recipient for embryos from their best cows. “Through private treaty sales and consignment sales, we send a few animals to other breeders each year,” Linda continues. The Hansons utilize programs such as classification and official test to monitor their growth and success. They also believe in supporting the breed association with active involvement. Linda has served a total of 14 years on the US Ayrshire Board. While she is not currently a seated board member, she does continue to serve as chair of the breed improvement committee. The Ayrshire cow has given Linda the chance to travel internationally as well, as both a delegate to various events, as well as a judge. Oldest son David is following in his mother’s footsteps in that regard as well, by joining the ranks of new judges. The Hansons value participation in other avenues of farm networking as well. Mike takes on a variety of leadership roles through the Cenex and Land O’Lakes cooperatives, serving on local boards and the Land O’Lakes Leadership Council. The contacts made on these boards benefit the Hansons, allowing them to work with their agricultural partners, and knowing how their plans will affect the Hanson’s business. Linda also serves as a supervisor for the Pennington County Soil and Water District. Use of farming practices that are good for the land and the environment are important to the growth of their operation. The Hansons value being informed and participating in their world outside of agriculture as well. Mike’s family has been involved in politics for some time. His mother has run for state office and spent years as the local party chairperson, as well as serving as a Minnesota delegate to several national conventions. “We are kind of political junkies,” laughs Linda. “We sometimes think we spend way too much time trying to keep well-informed, but world affairs can affect our lives so much more easily than many believe. We try to stay on top of it.” The Hansons also subscribe to the “work hard, play hard” philosophy of life as well. As a family, they enjoy snowmobiling. They enjoy riding sleds, and begin to think of snow about the first time the mercury hits 80 degrees each summer. All five Hansons are avid riders, and it’s not unusual for the family to put on over 200 miles between milkings! Mike and Linda have even competed in cross-country snowmobile racing, and are members of a local club, in which Mike has held membership for 47 years! David, Matthew and Steven are all huge basketball fans… especially when they are the ones pounding the hardwood! Steven plays for his high school, and they all play on summer league teams. David and Matthew both participated in intramural basketball while in college, as well. DAIRY AGENDA TODAY
ShowcaSing SucceSS ….. It was a sweep at the MInnesota state FaIr Senior and Grand Champion
reS. Senior and reServe Grand Grand Champion mn State Jr. Show
Good-Vue Pokers Glimmer EX 91 6 year old and over 4-01 317 20170 4.0% 811F 3.2% 651
Good-Vue Poker Roxi EX 90 5 year old cow 3-07 331 23880 3.4 812 2.9 695
int. Champion and honorable mention Grand Champion mn State 4-h Show
Good-Vue Dream Vanessa Junior two year old Fresh in June at 1-11
the winnerS…
Ashley Swenson, Matthew Hanson, Elinor Opitz With the Champion cows
We also showed the reserve Junior Champion - Good-Vue Burdettes Geneva, 1st place summer yearling and the 1st place Sr. three year old – Good-Vue Poker Chenise ET VG 87 All Bred and Owned by Good-Vue Ayr A special thank you to all those who helped us out during the open class show in St.Paul. The Good-Vue cows were also part of the MN State Fair Showcase herd for 2014. We would like to thank everyone who contributed cows, time, equipment, labor and made donations to make the 2014 Minnesota Ayrshire Showcase a success. Mike and Linda Hanson 218 378-4588 home 218 686-6073 or 6074 DAIRY AGENDA TODAY
Good-Vue Ayr Farms Goodridge, MN miliha@gvtel.com
David Hanson 218 686-2223 Matthew Hanson 218 688-1839 Steven Hanson 218 6865212 2014 cow Nation 45
Nine Generations of Ayrshire Excellence at Grand-View this northeastern wisconsin herd of ayr shires was home to the breed’s fir st family producing nine generations of excellent cows. By Danielle Nauman
Breeding the complete cow, one that excels in type, production and longevity, is what Tim and Katie Busch strive for with their Grand-View Ayrshire herd, located northwest of Green Bay in Cecil, WI. The passion for breeding registered Ayrshires has been a life-long pursuit for Tim. With roots beginning in the 1960’s, when his father purchased the farm, Ayrshires have been a part of his family for a long time. After their wedding on a Jamaican beach, Katie joined with Tim to pursue the goal of breeding a profitable, high-type herd of Ayrshires. The farm was purchased from Tim’s parents in 2004 and the couple continues to reach to conquer their goals on a daily basis. Grand-View Ayrshires consists of approximately 100 head of registered Ayrshires, 45 of which make up the milking herd. The farm consists of only about 40 acres, the majority of which is pasture. Half the land was sold off this year to allow Tim and Katie to focus on cow care, and not be distracted by crops. The Busch’s purchase most of their feed, and the herd is grazed extensively. Katie also works off the farm full-time at Schneider National. The majority of the Busch’s time is spent focusing on breeding high quality, superior Ayrshires, and their time is not being wasted. The Grand-View herd is home to the first nine-generation Ayrshires of the breed. And there’s not just one of them…the Busch’s have bred three individuals who are ninth generation Excellents. Grand-View Burdette Diamond EX 91 was the Reserve All-American Junior 3 Year Old in 2012, and was the winner of the International Ayrshire Futurity at World Dairy Expo the same year. Diamond also received Honorable Men-
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tion All-American accolades as a Spring Yearling. Grand-View Calimero Dea-ET EX 91, maximum lactation score, was tied for the 2013 Reserve All-American Junior 2 Year Old and was the Honorable Mention All-American Spring Yearling in 2012. Dea was also the Grand Champion at the 2013 Wisconsin State Ayrshire Show and in 2014 was named Intermediate Champion and Best Udder of the same show. Their Pardner sister, Grand-View PDR Dreamboat EX 90, is the third ninth generation Excellent standing in the Grand-View barn. At this time, this is the only cow family in North American to have accomplished this feat. The roots of this family date back to the purchase of Chapel-Hill-Ayr’s Heligo Delete EX 91. Delete was purchased at a herd dispersal sale in 1997. She is the dam of Grand View Oly 2 Diva EX 90 2E, the cow Tim considers to be his foundation. Diva and her oldest daughter both went Excellent on the same day, jumping the family from five generations of Excellents to seven in one day. To date, Diva is the mother of four Excellent daughters. In addition to the Diva family, the Tim and Katie are working with two other cow families that are all at the potential seventh generation of Excellents. Breeding multiple generations of Excellents hasn’t necessarily been their first priority, but it is something that Tim feels just happens from breeding the complete cow that he strives for each animal to be. To capitalize on the success of these deep cow families,
the Busch’s have developed an embryo program that has them doing five to seven flushes per year and one or two IVF cycles a year as well. Most of their embryo transfer and IVF calves are born at City Slickers Farm in Cross Plains, WI. Embryos from the Grand-View herd have been exported to three different countries. Bulls that Tim is currently using in his breeding program include Palmyra Tri-Star Burdette, Palmyra Raven Benevola, Palmyra Bendig Berkely and Duo Star Gentleman. The Busch’s breeding philosophy naturally leads to accolades for the herd. Currently, there are seven cows in the herd scored between 91 and 94 points, with an addition four that are scored 90 for a total of eleven Excellents, along with twenty Very Goods and only seven Good Plus’ with none lower. Grand-View Ayrshires was named both the Premier Breeder and Exhibitor of this year’s Wisconsin State Ayrshire Show, and has received US Ayrshire’s Constructive Breeder Award for the past five years. Over the past five years, the Busch’s have also had twelve All-American nominations.
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Grand Ayrshires View Grand-View Sumtotal Divot EX-94 2E
Grand Ayrshires View
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Tim & Katie Busch | Cecil, WI | 920-609-7476 | tb1972@frontiernet.net DAIRY AGENDA TODAY
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Halpin Farms: from a gift to a livelihood By Melissa Hart
Mike Halpin: Mike Halpin leads the honorable Mention Junior champion, Halpins Elainie, at the 2014 All American Dairy Show in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
Watch any national Milking Shorthorn show and you are bound to see a few Halpin Farm animals stroll through the ring and into the winners circle. The Halpin family of Cullom, Illinois are seasoned veterans of the show circuit taking a show string to nearly every major dairy show but back home their operation is as unique as the next one. Recently, Mike Halpin took time out in between shows to give a little background of the Halpin Farm layout. Emigrating from Croatia, Mike’s great grandparents arrived at Ellis Island and traveled west settling in Collum, Illinois. “My grandparents were given two Milking Shorthorn cows and a yearling bull as a wedding present in 1939, right during the Depression, and that’s how we got into the shorthorn business,” explained Mike. “And my grandmother, Julia at 98 years old still lives at the original farm and is still the boss. She says what goes and how it goes and we listen.” Mike chuckled and added, “And when my grandmother gets mad, she talks in Croatian, so we all know how to speak some Croatian.” And then Mike went on to offer a few words he’s heard over the years. Mike with his two sons, Owen and Colt and his parents George and Marge and
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sister and brother-in-law Todd and Amy Hoffman run the 4000 acre farm where they grow corn and soybeans in the fertile flats of the Midwest. While they focus their breeding goals on the 130 head of Milking Shorthorns, “We have all the breeds sprinkled in there,” said Mike. The dry cows, breeding heifers and calves are housed at the home farm and the milking
year since. They have garnered several champion banners around the country. “We’ve had grand at Harrisburg, Louisville and several state fairs but we’ve never had grand at Madison,” Mike explained. “We’ve had reserve grand at Madison four times. Last year Halpins Mona II was Reserve and Halpins Ruthann was Honorable Mention but just haven’t had
Their most recent classification of the Milking Shorthorns produced an average of 88.2 on 34 cows. herd of approximately 50 cows are housed on two neighboring farms, “We don’t milk any cows at the farm anymore and haven’t since 2009,” Mike explained. Their most recent classification of the Milking Shorthorns produced an average of 88.2 on 34 cows. Breeding the best Milking Shorthorn is their goal and from the results from the show ring they’ve reached that goal….almost. In 1974, George Halpin, at a young 20 years old exhibited at World Dairy Expo for the first time and a Halpin show string has graced the colored shavings every
grand yet. We’re always the bridesmaid and never the bride.” One of the best cow families that have come from the Halpin farm is the Mona family and they have flushed her and her daughter Halpins Mona II EX-93 and Halpins Ruthann EX-92 extensively. When asked about immediate goals the answer was easy for Mike, “To take care of the farm and to raise my two sons, Owen (9) and Colt (7) properly.” Look for Halpin Farms in the winner’s circle as they travel the tanbark trail with Halpin Farms Milking Shorthorns.
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Dr. Matt Iager md-west-view genetics boonsboro, maryl and usa FIVE THINGS MATT IS VERY PROUD OF: Welcome to MD-West-View Genetics in Boonsboro, Maryland, the home of Dr. Matt Iager, his wife Laura, and children Noah and Brooke. Dr. Matt is a dairy veterinarian and Certified Embryo Transfer practitioner with the American Embryo Transfer Association and the International Embryo Transfer Society. He currently serves on the education committee. Dr. Matt is a partner with Mid-Maryland Dairy Veterinarians in Hagerstown, Maryland. and has exported embryos for twenty years to North America, South America, Asia, Europe, Australia, and Africa. Matt frequently partners with his brothers Mike at Bulldog Holsteins and Mark at Maple Lawn Farm along with several other great breeders and wonderful friends that allow him the opportunity to care for, house, flush, and export their top quality, elite genetics worldwide. Matt grew up in Fulton, Maryland, on his family’s Maple Lawn Farm as part of the fifth generation. He was active in the Maryland 4-H program, attended Delaware Valley College (BS in Dairy Science) and Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine (DVM). He is currently vice president of the Maryland Holstein Association, treasurer of the Maryland Dairy Shrine, and has served as a Delegate to the National Holstein Convention. He served on the alumni board at the veterinary school for ten years and is active in his church and community. He enjoys judging, showing, flushing, and working with great registered cattle.
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1. Matt is very proud of his family. He is married to Laura (16 years), and has a son Noah and daughter Brooke. He has two brothers, Mike and Mark, who he teams up with on registered cattle. Matt’s parents Charles and Judy taught him to work hard, give generously, be caring, and “have an interest in something to have energy.” Matt has many interests and hobbies, but most of them involve registered dairy cattle. 2. Matt is proud of his faith in God. He attends church and Sunday school, plays drums in the contemporary choir and has served on the church council. He enjoys Christian contemporary music. 3. Matt is proud of the many dairy clients and friends he has made for twenty years in the dairy veterinary business. He feels very fortunate to have had the chance to serve numerous top herds on the east coast and has loved the opportunity to flush many great cows. He enjoys watching and helping farm friends be successful at what they do best like showing cattle, marketing and exporting genetics, and volunteering and helping others. 4. Matt was proud to have grown up on Maple Lawn Farm in Fulton, Howard County, Maryland. He was taught to have a strong work ethic. He’s proud to have owned Md-Maple-Lawn TT Etta Ex 90 GMD who was Jr All American with a daughter who was also Jr All American. When Matt was nine years old, Etta had a left displaced abomasum (LDA) which required surgery and that event strongly impacted his desire to become a large animal veterinarian. 5. Matt is proud of the Maryland 4-H Dairy Programs. He was active in 4-H, dairy judging, dairy bowl and the Maryland Junior Holstein Club. He was a Holstein DJM Finalist, a Kildee Scholar, and member of the All-American Club for judging at World Dairy Expo. The Late, Dr. Lee Majeskie, was a mentor, teacher, and friend.
FIVE THINGS PEOPLE DO NOT KNOW ABOUT MATT 1. Matt is a Licensed Auctioneer and graduated from the Missouri Auction School in 1992. He enjoys showcasing this talent at local fundraisers and community benefits. 2. Matt plays drums in the contemporary choir at the church he attends. He played percussion in the band throughout high school and college. 3. Matt is a huge fan of vintage Ford Thunderbirds and maintains a few in his garage. 4. Matt won the National Bovine Palpation Contest while in veterinary school competing against other veterinary colleges across the USA. 5. Matt and his son, Noah, share the same birthday, Halloween, 30 years apart.
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Beautiful Cows With a Beautiful View at Lookout Farm callum mckinven & kathy beerwort have found their niche while striving to be great cattle breeder s. By Danielle Nauman
Lookout Farm is aptly named for a variety for reasons. Perched high above Lake Massawippi, the view out the front door that greets the McKinven family every morning is every bit as breathtaking as what greets them when they walk into the barn. Lookout Farm is home to Callum McKinven and his wife Kathy Beerwort, along with their three daughters, Tara, Brooke and Alana, along with an elite group of registered Holsteins and Jerseys. While the scenery is beautiful, Lookout is not located in a predominantly agricultural region of Quebec, but more of a tourismdriven location. Many visitors to the farm come to enjoy the beautiful view, and are not always “cow people.” “When we get up in the morning to milk, we walk into the barn,” says Callum, “we want to be very proud of the quality and type of our cows, throughout the barn.” The major goal at Lookout is to become great breeders of cattle, with homebred cows that become very successful and breed on well, not only at Lookout, but for those who purchase animals from them. Working towards accomplishing the goal of becoming great breeders, they are proud of the homebred cows who are doing well at National shows, carrying the Lookout prefix. Cows such as Lookout Elmbridge Lady Rouge and Lookout Goldwyn Lalia are helping to make the Lookout prefix and household name. Lady Rouge has compiled an extensive list of showring victories, including being named the All-Canadian and AllAmerican Red & White Senior 2 Year Old in 2013, and the All-Canadian Junior Cow last 56 2014 COW NATION
year; as well as being selected as the Junior Champion at the 2012 Royal Winter Fair, while Lalia has captured an All-Canadian nomination as a Milking Yearling in 2013. “We want cows that will last a long time,” Callum explains. He goes on to note that they work to get the cows they show bred back, and ready to return to the showring each year if possible. While that may limit the amount of embryo work that can be done on that individual, it allows her to stay in the limelight in the showring, garnering attention. Showing is very important to the marketing plan of Lookout, and they attend quite a few shows with both the Jerseys and the Holsteins. “We try to do a lot of the work with our daughters. We feel it is very important for my wife and me to create a family atmosphere,” explains Callum. At Lookout, a great deal of emphasis is placed on good cow families. Both Callum and Kathy believe that cow families are the basis to breeding any good individual. They also select and use bulls based on the same criteria. Over the years, Callum and Kathy have been lucky enough to work with some very special cows, through a variety of partnerships. In Callum’s mind, one of the best cows they have been involved with has been Elmbridge FM Loveable-Red EX 94, who they own with her breeders,
Peter and Nicole Tuytel. “Loveable has proven to be a phenomenal brood cow, and an exceptional individual herself,” Callum enthuses about the big red cow who calls Lookout home. “I feel she breeds as true to type as any cow we have ever had, and she has the ability to keep coming back each year. This Red & White is certainly one of the best cows we have ever worked with.” The cows are indeed the focus of life at Lookout. With little land, which is all used for pasture, and no machinery, no crops are grown on the farm. All feed for the 30 cow herd is purchased. This allows the McKinven family to concentrate their full energies on the cows, making them the 100% focus at all times. “We concentrate on taking the best care we can of each animal, to bring out the best in her,” sums up Callum.
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Lil Rouge
Lookout Elmbridge -Red-ET
Born March 1, 2013 Bred July 30, 2014 to Mr Apples Armani-ET *RC
Lady Rouge Dam: Lookout
Elmbridge
-Red-ET VG-89-CAN
2-05 2X 326 23,856 3.3 798 3.4 811 Pregnant and due in Spring 4 IVF MAS embryos sell in the EIHQ sale in Quebec in November owned with Elmbridge, Frank & Diane Borba and Carlos Ignacio Herrera.
Maternal Sister to Lady Rouge:
Lady in Red
Elmbridge Lookout EX-93-CAN
1st 5-Yr-Old & Res. Grand Champion NY Spring Show 2014 All-Canadian 4-Yr-Old & Jr 3-Yr-Old Cow Res. All-American R&W 4-Yr-Old Cow 2013 Grand Champion Royal Winter Fair R&W 2013 Pregnant and due in Spring owned with Peter Tuytel Jr. and Frank & Diane Borba
t
t
Elmbridge FM Design Kristy Roose
Loveable-Red EX-94-CAN Dam of Lady Rouge & Lady in Red:
6-04 2X 365 41,506 3.1 1296 3.1 1281 All-Canadian R&W Mature Cow, 4-Yr-Old Cow & Sr 3-Yr-Old Cow, Grand Champion Royal Winter R&W Show 2009 Res. Grand Champion International R&W 2009
35 Minton Hill Rd. || Canton De Hatley, QC, JOB 2C0 || 819/842-3130 || lookout_callumhj@hotmail.com
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Breeding Excellent Cows is Anything But Random at Random Luck careful attention to detail and simply knowing her cows well leads to lisa caya’s success with little brown cows. By Danielle Nauman
We all know that things can happen for a reason...sometimes good and sometimes bad. And that, along with the little bit of luck it takes to breed top quality registered cattle of any breed, is the basis for the name of Rick Thompson’s and Lisa Caya’s Random Luck Farm. Located on the high ridge tops outside of Darlington, WI, Random Luck farm is home to two impeccable herds of cattle...Rick’s big brown cows and Lisa’s little brown cows. The spotlight of the article is going to shine on the little brown beauties with the big eyes, instead of their big brown counterparts with the big ears. Says Rick, “I think most people have heard of the Random Luck Swiss, the Taps and the Phoebes. I think Lisa’s original four hand-picked cow families are of equal quality. They reproduce the old fashioned way: they calve in regularly, and have lots of heifer calves.” Lisa’s Jersey herd has had an exciting summer, culminating with not one but two Excellent 95 point cows on their recent classification: Random Luck Faith, who obtained the hallmark at 11 years of age while working on her ninth lactation; and the 2014 Wisconsin State Fair Grand Champion Random Luck K Honesty. Not only were these cows Lisa’s first two 95 point cows, they were both bred and owned, making the honor even greater. Lisa’s story is in breeding registered cattle is fairly short when the accolades that have been amassed are considered. Not growing up on a farm, she came to love cows when visiting her Uncle Chuck and Aunt Jan’s herd of Herefords as a youngster. “I loved feeding the cows when I was visiting them,” says Lisa. She goes on to say that when she was 13, her family moved to a house next door to a small dairy farm. There, 60 2014 COW NATION
she inherited a couple who were like another set of grandparents to her, Rosie and Erwin Lawry. “I loved helping at their farm, and I learned so much from them,” she continues. Lisa didn’t grow up in the showring, and only showed dairy once as a 4-H’er, when a friend let her borrow a Jersey cow and calf. However, a love affair the little brown cow wasn’t necessarily sparked then. “I didn’t work with Jerseys again until 14 years later, when I started relief milking at a Jersey farm,” tells Lisa, adding this is where she first learned to milk cows. “I was clobbered by a fresh heifer the very first day, and I swore I would never own a Jersey. Go figure,” she laughs. Meanwhile, that fresh heifer with the swift feet ended up being one of her favorites while she worked at that farm. Lisa made her own entry into the dairy industry twenty years ago this fall, when she purchased a Holstein calf named Pinehurst Inspired Chaos, a descendent of Jan-Com Fond Matt Matilda EX 97. Chaos lived to be 14, and her final resting place is at her favorite place in the pasture of Random-Luck. It took until 1999 for Lisa to break her promise to herself to never own a Jersey. That fall, she purchased Gil-Bar Emblem Fantasy. Lisa’s first homebred heifer was born in August of 2003. “When we moved to Darlington in 2002,” Lisa explains, “I brought six Jerseys with me from Milton. These cows were from four families, and they are the foundation of my current herd.” It is notable, as well, that her entire herd of Jerseys at this time is homebred. Despite the fact that she didn’t grow up in the showring, Lisa threw her hat in the ring the first time with her Jerseys in 2000 at the Wisconsin Spring Spectacular, exhibiting
Fantasy. She has gone on to further showring success. One highlight for Lisa is having bred the Supreme Champion at two different State Fairs in 2012, with two different cows. Random Luck K Honesty, one of the new 95 point cows standing in the barn at Random Luck was named Supreme Champion at the Wisconsin State Fair. Later that month, Random Luck Ray Helen EX 91 went on to capture the same honor at the Minnesota State Fair for Budjon Farm and Peter Vail of Lomira, WI. In addition to her Minnesota accolades, Ray Helen was the Reserve Grand Champion at World Dairy Expo that same year. Lisa’s luck is certainly not random when it comes to breeding good cows. Lisa knows her cows well and is able to aptly mate them to produce offspring with phenomenal frames, big, deep cages and udders that are made to last. To date, she has bred 49 females that have been classified, and those 49 head average over 89 points. Thirty-one of them have “EX” behind their names. Lisa markets an amazing number of Jerseys, for such a small and elite herd, with little flushing done, and is always excited to hear that a little brown cow that carries the Random Luck prefix has been successful for a new owner. “I hope they all do well,” she smiles. “It’s always good to see your animals do well for other people.” There is life outside of the barn at Random Luck. Family is important to both Lisa and Rick. That is apparent when Lisa smiles and says, “I have two of the best kids ever,” when she speaks about Allison, age 12; and Matthew, age 10. In addition to enjoying watching the kids growing up on the farm, they enjoy watching their kids participate in the showring, sports and other school activities. DAIRY AGENDA TODAY
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Great Determination Leads to Jersey Success on Kansas Plains Ron & Christ y Ratliff have per severed through many obstacles breeding Jer sey cows in pur suit of their dreams.
By Danielle Nauman
The eastern Kansas plains are home to one of the country’s finest and most accomplished herds of Jerseys. Ratliff Jerseys is the creation of Ron and Christy Ratliff of Garnett, KS, and the name is familiar to enthusiasts of all breeds. This great herd has its foundation as Christy’s 4-H project over 30 years ago, when she begged her dad to get some Jerseys. She got her way, and her love affair with the little brown cows began. Christy is an incredibly driven and detail oriented person. It’s that attention to detail that has helped sort her to the top with her group of girls with giant Kansas cages. The proof of the success of the Ratliff’s breeding is in the pudding, so to speak, or least in the classification results. To date, the Ratliff’s have bred 123 Excellent Jersey cows. Included in this astounding number are one 96 point cow, an amazing five 95 point cows and four cows coming in at 94 points. “I’m a firm believer if you’re going to do something, do it well. Don’t mess around with nothing half-way. It’s just not worth it,” says Christy. And she certainly is not one to do anything halfway. Her goal, even from her 4-H beginnings, was to breed and exhibit a National Grand Champion. Christy has accomplished that goal, not once, but an unprecedented three consecutive years with Ratliff Price Alicia EX 95, who won the coveted banners is 2008, 2009 and 2010. Christy is not shy in hiding her pride, and has a great admiration for what Alicia has accomplished, and continues to flush and do IVF work on Alicia in the fall and the spring. Alicia’s daughters are beginning to make names for themselves and for their mother as a brood cow. Ratliff Action Angel EX 90 was the All-American Milking Yearling 2012 and is ready to come back out on the tanbark trail as a Senior 3 Year Old this fall. Angel’s full sister, Ratliff Action Angela VG 88 is selling the Top of the World Jersey Sale at World Dairy Expo on September 30th in Madison, WI. Angela was fresh in June, and is entered in both the International Jersey Futurity at World Dairy Expo and the Jersey Jug Futurity at the All-American Jersey show in Louisville in November. Ratliff’s success in the showring is not simply limited to or defined by Alicia’s success. The showstring from Kansas has garnered Premier Breeder banners at World Dairy Expo an amazing seven times, and four times at the All-American Jersey Show. Five Premier Exhibitor banners also hang in Garnett, four from World Dairy Expo and one from Louisville. Last fall, the Ratliff’s accomplished another great feat, having the All-American and Reserve All-American Senior Best Three Females in the All-Breeds Access All-American Contest. The All-American group was the winning Best Three Females from the All-American Show in Louisville, and included Ratliff Sambo Dream EX 91, Ratliff Sultan Velvet EX 92 and Ratliff Remake Morgan EX 90. The group that won the Best Three class at Madison was voted as the Reserve All-American group with Ratliff Minister Porscha EX 93, Ratliff Dually Paris VG 89 and Velvet. “That was neater than anything,” enthused Christy, about having both groups at the top of the All-American voting. “To have those cows that we’ve sold do well and to be able to use them in the groups was great.” Her fall showstring looks to be loaded, with several old faces as well as some new ones. In addition to Angel, the recent Kan64 2014 COW NATION
sas State Fair Grand Champion Ratliff Minister Porscha EX 93 will be back to take a whack at the 5 Year Old class. She will be joined by her daughter Ratliff Dually Paris VG 89 in the Senior 3 Year Old class. Ratliff Sambo Dream EX 91 is recently fresh and will be venturing to Louisville to compete in the 4 Year Old class, while her mother, Arethusa Primetime Deja Vu EX 95 will be making a return to the colored shavings the Production cow class at nine years of age. Newcomers to the Ratliff’s arsenal include daughters of some of their favorites. Deja Vu has another milking daughter by Action, Ratliff Action Diamonds & Bling, ready to go in the Milking Yearling Class. Another daughter of Alicia, Ratliff Tequila Avelanche, will compete in that class this year as well. A Senior 2 Year Old Response from the Milo Vindication Season family will join the Ratliff’s this fall as well. Page-Crest Response Sabra-ET is out of a Comerica, with the second dam being a sister to Milo Vindication Season. Arethusa Tequila Vision, a 4 Year Old for this year, was recently purchased from Mike Deaver and will be out this fall, too. Besides winning a National Championship, Christy has achieved another goal that many only can dream of. She has been on the halter of the cow wearing the coveted roses on Sunday afternoon in Louisville. In 2007, Ratliff Sambo Martina EX 94 was the final entry left standing on the green shavings in the Jersey Jug Futurity. Martina was also the winner of the Kingsmill II Jersey Futurity at the World Dairy Expo that same year. In 2006, the Ratliff herd came close to winning the Jug with Ratliff D Dean Allie EX 96, owned by Christy’s brother Mike, placing second. Since 2005, including Martina and Allie, eight Ratliff-bred animals have landed in the top six of the world’s richest class. Christy has several Jersey Jug contenders ready to go for another run at the roses this fall as well. Never the type to let anything rest, Christy and Ron purchased eighteen head from Mike Deaver this past spring. In holding to their philosophy that an investment in strong cow families will consistently improve a breeding program, they were drawn to the chance to invest in just those types of families in this transaction. “This was an opportunity to invest in other branches of very successful cow families,” noted Christy. Included in the group are daughters and granddaughters of Huronia Centurion Veronica and a member of the family of Jaspar Renaissance Evening, as well as special Holstein addition to the Ratliff’s small Holstein herd. KHW Regiment Apple4-Red-ETN now calls Garnett, KS home. Apple4 recently saw the classifier and is now scored EX 90. Christy goes on to say, “I’ve always been a fan of the Apple cow, and this was a chance to get a piece of that.” Apple4 has already been flushed to Destry and Stormatic, with further plans to continue to flush her. The addition of the new cows has prompted a building project at the Ratliff’s farm. Work has begun to build a pack barn that will be 85 feet by 154 feet, located to the west of the milk barn. The barn will house two separate packs, one for the show cows and one for the rest of the milk cows. It will also include six 20 foot x 13 foot box stalls, a commodity
room and an office. Christy has high hopes that the barn is finished in time to move in before the ravages of the Kansas winter do. She is currently milking 50 head. Jersey cows aren’t the only thing that keeps Ron and Christy hopping. They run the Anderson County Sales Barn, which holds cattle auctions every Tuesday. The business had been in Ron’s family for years. Ron and Christy bought full ownership in the company five or six years ago. The Ratliffs also have an extensive beef operation. They keep a herd of 85 beef recipients to accommodate their flush and IVF programs. Before a cow or heifer is used as a recipient, she is tested negative for BVD, Johnes and Neospora. Once they have passed their tests, they are kept in an isolated group away from the 400-500 head of beef cattle the Ratliff’s run on pasture each summer. Those animals are sold off in the fall. “Bringing in the beef herd in the fall is one of my favorite times of year,” Christy says, detailing how they use horses and feed trucks to round the animals up. “I love riding and roping to round the cows up…although we don’t do a lot of roping anymore.” Many may not know that Christy was an avid team roper some years ago. Believe it or not, Ron and Christy do have some down time and are avid Kansas Jayhawks fans. Christy has also become smitten with the Kansas City Royals as well. “I got hooked on baseball when Ron was in the hospital after the fire,” Christy explains of her newfound love. When summing up her gratitude for what they have accomplished, she gives credit to the girls standing out in the barn, both past and present. “It’s amazing to think what Karmel did for us, and what Deja Vu is doing, especially coming back to show in the cheese yield class at her age. And Alicia is becoming quite a brood cow too. It’s so satisfying to sit back and think of everything that they’ve all done for us.” However greatest value is placed on the friends and family the Ratliffs rely on and love. Christy’s brother Mike Kennedy is invaluable at the farm, as well as traveling with the show cows. Good friends such as Diane Ossenkop, Frank Pretz and Dan Friedrich have all been there for Ron and Christy, especially in the past couple of years since Ron was hurt. Christy goes into great detail about those close to her. “I like to be around these people. Diane is a great friend, and takes care of all the cooking and feeding the crew at the shows, and has done the same for both the Proof of Progress sales. She also does a lot of the showing for us since Ron’s accident. Dan has been so helpful since the fire, and helps break calves to lead. He has an eye for cows, I just have to make him use it,” laughs Christy. “We have also added Donald Richardson to our show crew. I bought my first Jersey calf from his dad at Richland Jerseys. Robert Yeoman has been a great friend and mentor. We bought several cows from him in the past, including Alicia’s granddam, who scored EX 96 for the Ratliffs. Christy goes back to quote her FFA advisor to sum up her philosophy, both in life and breeding registered Jerseys. “My FFA teacher was amazing. He told us we can sit on our rear ends, or get up and do something in life. I think of that advice all the time, and it is true. I chose to get up and do something.” And so she has, with great success and determination. DAIRY AGENDA TODAY
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5-02 328d 31130M 3.2%F 997 3.0%P 919
Sire: Far-O-La-Sable Shawn Embryos and transfers by Gold Chip Daughters by Sebastian, Windbrook and Fever Daughter: Dryhouse-M Sebastian Jemma, VG-87, EXMS (3yr) and due in November with a Bombero heifer calf; Jemma’s daughters: 11/12 Lavaman due this fall with a Save*RC heifer calf, 11/13 Gold Chip Kathy DeBruin
VG-86, 87MS, 2nd lact.
DRyhOuSE-M
DRyhOuSE-M
VG-88, 2nd lact.
Observer x VG-89 Baxter x GP-83 Amateur x VG-85 Chil Daughters: Dryhouse-M Day Talladaga +595NM +2186GTPI, Due in March with a Pure heifer calf Dryhouse-M Ohare Tornado*PO Torri is due back in March with a Brigham heifer calf
Domain x EX-91 Sean Daughters: Dryhouse-M Time To Enjoy, due in January to Dempsey Dryhouse-M Windbrook Erin Elizabeth is due in February to Armani.
Like us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/dryhousefarm
Mike and Maria Yoder & family 53 Dryhouse Farm Lane | Belleville, PA 17004 | 717.437.5846 | mpy33078@hotmail.com
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Enthusiasm for Breeding Long Lasting Cows Building Block at Ryan-Vu the ryans focus their efforts on breeding profitable and longl asting excellent cows on their fond du l ac, wisconsin farm.
By Danielle Nauman
Enthusiasm for breeding long lasting and profitable cows is the basic building block for the success at Ryan-Vu Holsteins of Fond du Lac, WI. Ryan-Vu is home to Mary and Mary Ryan and Chad and Amy Ryan, along with their sons Dylan and Cameron. The herd consists of 200 of registered Holsteins, 100 of which are milking age females. The idea that enthusiasm grows success is evident when one looks at herd statistics. The current BAA is 111.8%, which ranks the Ryan’s Holstein herd among the top five in the nation for herd size. At the recent Wisconsin Championship Show, Ryan-Vu bred four All-Wisconsin winners and the winning Junior Best Three. There have been numerous All-American and Junior All-Americans to carry the Ryan-Vu prefix, and without a doubt that tradition will continue in the future. Achieving these accolades is due in large part to the Ryans adherence to their breeding philosophy. The primary focus is on breeding high type individuals, and selection focuses on udders and feet and legs. The Ryans want the cows they breed to last for years in their herd, yet be profitable and low-maintenance. “Ultimately, we are looking to breed Excellent cows that last and produce over 200,000 pounds of milk in their lifetimes. To date, we’ve had ten cows in the herd who have reached that goal,” according to Chad Ryan. The Ryans have put a great deal of effort into building their herd, and currently descendants of great cows such as Roxy, Elegance and Adeen stand in the barn. Chad continues, “These are the type of cows we look to breed from. They are what we want to produce the next generation of our herd.” When Amy’s family dispersed their Chris-Carl herd in 2001, one of her favorite show animals was purchased from the dispersal sale and brought into the growing and evolving Ryan-Vu herd. Several descendants of that animal remain in the herd to date as well. One family that has been an anchor to their successes is the Ryan-Vu tie to the Roxy family. MS CCB Adolph Roxette EX 93 3E descends from a Rudolph that was purchased by Chad in the 1998 National Convention Sale in Grand Rapids, MI. When he purchased her, Chad was a National DJM Semi-Finalist, and was looking to grow his herd. An investment in the Roxy family seemed smart. The original purchase of Rudolph Rachel was made in a partnership 68 2014 COW NATION
with Corey Geiger. One recent success story from the heart of this family is Ryan-Vu Damion Relish, who was nominated for All-American as a Spring Calf in 2012 and again as a Spring Yearling in 2013. Relish went on to be the top seller in the 2014 March Madness Sale held in Frederick, MD this past spring. Another up and coming heifer from this family is the 2014 AllWisconsin Summer Yearling Ryan-Vu Regin Raz A Taz owned with Majestic-View and Crailoo Dairy of WI, who was also named the Honorable Mention Junior Champion at the Wisconsin Championship Show. In addition to the focus on high-type females and families, the Ryans have made some investments into high genomic animals to develop. They are in partnership with the Natzkes of Crestbrooke Holsteins on a Goldwyn daughter of UFM-DUBS ERoy, Nova-TMJ Golden Erin EX 90 GMD DOM. Erin is still in the herd and has daughters by Sanchez and Shamrock, both of whom are scored Very Good. Erin is also the dam of Ryan-Crest Embassy-ET, a Sanchez who is a recently released graduate from the St. Jacobs ABC Breeders Choice program. Embassy is the #5 bull for type in the US. Besides Erin and her offspring, another genomic individual that the Ryans are looking forward to developing with their partners, the Harbaughs of BellaView Holsteins and Skylar Bauman, is a *RC Epic daughter of Curr-Vale Goldwyn Delicious *RC EX 94. The development and pursuit of good, strong cow families allows the Ryans to pursue another key goal in their operation. That is to be able to offer the genetics of their best animals and families to a large marketplace, privately and publicly. They strive to continually consign the best representatives of their breeding programs to various consignment sales around the country. The demand for products of their breeding program has opened other doors for the Ryans as well. In 2013, they joined forces with good friends Lynn and Sara Harbaugh of Bella-View Holsteins in Marion to co-host the first Quest For Success sale, in order to showcase the best animals of their breeding program. The sale also featured the best of Bella-View and of other breeders throughout North America. The sale was aptly named, as it boasted an average of $9,015, and the Ryans and Harbaughs are excited to be planning the 2015 version. The
Quest For Success II is set to be held in Marion, WI at Bella-View Holsteins on March 27, 2015. This sale is sure to provide buyers with a diverse offering of individuals that will enhance and add value to any herd. It’s not hard to see where the enthusiasm comes from. Both Chad and Amy were active members of the Wisconsin Junior Holstein Association, and they met while exhibiting at the Wisconsin Junior State Fair. The shared passion for showing cattle, being involved in the dairy industry and breeding registered Holsteins has not changed or faltered since, and they enjoy watching their two boys become involved in the farm as well. Both Chad and Amy continue to be involved in the Wisconsin Holstein Association and the Young Adult Committee, and Chad sits on the Board of Directors. At the 2013 National Holstein Convention held in Indianapolis, Chad and Amy were honored by their peers as the Holstein Association USA’s National Distinguished Younger Breeders, a recognition which they were both honored and humbled to receive. In addition to their love of circling the outside of a show ring as exhibitors, Chad has ventured into the center of the ring as a judge. His judging assignments have taken him around the US and into Mexico. Chad’s parents, Mark and Mary, own and actively operate the farm and support the industry in outside activities as well. Mark serves on the local fair board and is on the Farm First Cooperative Board of Directors. Mary also works off the farm at Immel Insurance and Financial Services. They both are also active members of the Lomira FFA Alumni. The Ryan family takes great pride in opening their farm to tours and hosting various events. In 2008, they were a pre-convention tour stop for the National Holstein Convention held in Wisconsin. During World Dairy Expo, they are becoming a tour destination, hosting a World Wide Sires tour for over 350 people in 2013. Over 500 kindergarten and first grade students visited Ryan-Vu to experience agriculture up close as part of the 2013 Fond du Lac County Day on the Farm. While excelling in both the show and sale rings is very rewarding, the Ryans are quick to point out that the thing they truly value most about their involvement in the industry is the deep and lasting friendships and connections they have made. DAIRY AGENDA TODAY
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Two Kinds of Passion with a growing passion, tom degroot of t & l cattle has an insatiable hunger to develop a good cow. By Melissa Hart
His love for cows came at a young age and has developed into a livelihood that envelopes his farm and his high school sweetheart. Together Tom and Laury DeGoot with a ‘great team’ make their home in the Fraser Valley near Rosedale, BC. Their farm consists of 130 acres where they milk 80 purebred cows. Additionally, they have another farm where they milk anywhere from 1060 commercial cows. While they’ve been known across CowNation to exhibit winners and buy and sell quality cattle, not everyone knows the backstory of T & L Cattle. Tom grew up with five brothers on a dairy farm. His parents emigrated from Holland and his father was also a cattle dealer which provided Tom with great skills and a deep interest at a young age. His father passed away at 51 years of age and his motto was “always sell your best!” When Tom hit the teenage years, he broke into the cow dealing business. He took his bike and hit the road riding several miles to see farmers through the countryside. Tom and Laury first met when Tom
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was 18 and she was 16 and together they’ve enjoyed building a family. They have two children, Mike who works in finance and Karly who is studying to be a holistic nutritionist. When Tom was 25 he started milking cows on his own, renting a farm and quota. Laury would stay home with the kids and milk the cows while Tom retired his bike and hit the road in his truck to buy and sell cattle. He also began dabbling in real estate, buying and selling dairy farms around Canada. One day Tom thought he would take a cow to a local show. She came in heat the day before and jumped everyone in the ring. While she started out in last place, she ended up in third and later that summer Tom sold her and she garnered two grand champion banners at two different shows in the states for her new owners. It was then that Tom realized he liked finding cows in the raw and developing them into something worthy of the winner’s circle. Tom enjoyed honing his cowman skills under the likes of Harry Bailey, Albert Cormier, Brian Craswell and Simon Lalande. He said they have
been great mentors to work with. While leading out the grand champion is fun, Tom gets more satisfaction from selling a great cow that goes on to win a show than keeping her for himself. The success at shows and scouring the countryside for good cattle requires someone to keep the plates spinning at home. Laury explained, “A big asset to our farm, since Tom is away a fair bit, is having a great team. Jan Middleburg has been with us four years, Will Romeyn one year and Henry Bosch 4 1/2 years. Also our veterinary Alden Reynolds has been with us 25 years and is highly regarded in his profession.” She concluded, “We have really enjoyed the opportunity to travel to sales and shows around the world and meet great farmers throughout the business.” Tom and Laury’s story wouldn’t be complete without mentioning Tom’s love for hockey. Besides cattle, hockey is one of Tom’s greatest passions and he enjoyed coaching his son’s team for ten years. Learn more about T&L Cattle when you visit their website at tandlcattle.com
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Partnerships the Key to Success for Vo-Grin & Paule-View adhering to the philosophy that a champion can come in any color, tammy voegeli and allyn paulson concentrate their efforts on finding individuals to develop into all-americans Sometimes a leopard can change its spots. That is true of Tammy Voegeli of Arlington, WI. Tammy grew up a tried and true Brown Swiss girl on her family’s Vo-Grin Brown Swiss Farm, and also showed Quarter Horses. Recently, Tammy has begun to expand her horizons and spread her wings, developing a new philosophy when it comes to the color of her bovines. The shift in thinking has roots dating back to 2010, when not only was a cattle partnership established, but also a budding relationship developed with longtime friend Allyn “Spud” Paulson of Paule-View fame. “The new philosophy that we are embracing is that no matter what the color, we are going to go after the good ones,” says Tammy. “We want to find the ones that we can develop and have fun with. The goal is keep breeding and developing All-Americans.” Indeed, if last year is to be used as a barometer for their progress, Tammy and Allyn are well on their way. The 2013 Vo-Grin and Paule-View showstring boasted seven All-American nominations sprinkled over three breeds. Leading the way was the unanimous All-American Ayrshire Fall Calf Stein-Bush Reality Dazzle, owned with Ann Lerum of Poynette, WI. In the Brown Swiss breed, Vo-Grin Pepper Woodsy OCS was named the Reserve All-American Fall Calf for Tammy, while Power-Line Lebron Faith-ET was named the Reserve All-American Winter Calf for Tammy and Allyn, along with partner Louie Olivera. Also receiving Brown Swiss nominations were two spring calves, Terra-Rose A Salle-ET owned by Tammy, Allyn and Arielle Chard; as well as Cutting Edge T Sunbeam, owned by client Louis Olivera. In the Red & Whites, New-Star Barbwire Prize-Red garnered a nomination in the Fall Calf Class for Tammy, Allyn and R-John Holsteins. “Last year was certainly an elite year,” Tammy continues. “Having the Junior Champion Ayrshire at World Dairy Expo, and having her go on to be selected as a unanimous All-American was an unreal experience.” Tammy and Allyn count themselves as blessed to have a number of great partners and clients to work with, and share the successes with. Tammy and long-time friend Ann Lerum have teamed up to develop the Designer Genetics tag-line, and are partners in Dazzle, as well as several other animals, including Dazzle’s younger sister. Along with Allyn, Tammy and Ann also own a special granddaughter of KHW Regiment Apple-Red, a Sympatico daughter from Armani’s full sister. 76 2014 COW NATION
Tyler Endres of Lodi, WI is not only a partner in cattle; he is a valuable member their crew and one of the youth that Tammy and Allyn enjoy working to mentor and help become established in the industry. Other partners and clients that Tammy and Allyn count as friends include Louis Olivera and R-John Holsteins of California; Kow Kastle and Overstreet Dairies both of Texas; Heidi Roulet of Arkansas and the Chard family of New Jersey. Acknowledging that success is a team effort, Tammy and Allyn are grateful for the strong supporting cast they have. They are thankful for the expertise and dedication of all the crew members who work with them at shows and on sale crews, along with providing trucking help for Allyn. “The people on our crew are second to none,” says Tammy. “They are part of our extended family, and they mean so much to us. We are incredibly lucky to have such great friends.” The home front is no different and takes a strong, talented and dedicated crew as well. Tammy’s parents, Debbie and Louie, along with Tammy are an integral part of what happens to Vo-Grin on a daily basis. They also have additional help on the farm from both Tyler Endres and Janelle Brunner. All work together, focusing on caring for the herd of about 90 milk cows at home. Currently the herd is about half Brown Swiss and half Holsteins, with a dozen or so Jerseys and one Milking Shorthorn, who is selling in the World Premier Milking Shorthorn Sale at World Dairy Expo. Allyn is heavily involved in trucking and fitting. This allows him the opportunity do a lot of buying and merchandising, and to find the good ones that might be hiding out there. He is always looking to fill orders for project calves for 4-H kids or buying that special individual. “The good ones are out there,” says Allyn. “You just have to keep your eyes and ears open, and you will find them.” Allyn has several stories to relate about finding good animals in unusual places. For example, the All-American nominated Red & White Fall Calf who is owned in partnership with R-John Holsteins was found on Facebook. “One day, we were looking at Facebook, and we noticed that Todd Kuene had a picture of a nice looking red fall calf posted…we just happened to be the first ones to contact him about her. She developed well and was nominated as a Fall Calf,” tells Allyn. Another story he enjoys telling is how one of his all-time favorite cows to work with was obtained.
By Danielle Nauman
“I saw this nice calf in Fort Worth,” Allyn recalls. “A little girl showed her. Then she came back as a yearling, and then a cow…each year I liked her a little more. Eventually, I heard the little girl had grown up and was going to school, and needed some money. I called Heidi Roulet, and had her meet me in Texas to go look at this cow, and we bought her. We call her Pizza,” smiles Allyn. “Her name is Jordan’s P Heidi, but her sire is a jumper bull named Pizza…so that just kind of stuck. It’s a great feeling to have found her as a calf, and have the chance to buy and develop her. I just love that cow.” Pizza has earned Allyn’s admiration, having been the Champion Brown Swiss the Minnesota and Wisconsin State Fairs, as well as a two-time Champion at the Southwest National Brown Swiss Show. Both Tammy and Allyn enjoy judging shows and have been doing more and more of that in recent years. This summer, Allyn has been the one holding the microphone at the Iowa and Illinois State Fairs, and has also placed the Missouri State Fair in 2013. Tammy’s judging was limited this summer with the arrival of their son Dakota in July. Life isn’t necessarily all about fitting, trucking and showing for Allyn. At some time in the future, he has aspirations of becoming an auctioneer, and selling sales. He also enjoys old tractors and the history that goes along with the implements. Besides great cattle both Tammy and Allyn are passionate about mentoring youth, and feel that is important to give back to the industry that has given them so much. “The youth are the future of this business,” says Tammy. “There are so many valuable skills that kids can take away from this business. The networking creates friendships and memories that will last forever.” Allyn’s eight year old son Suton has caught the showing bug, and enjoys going to shows and sales with his dad, newborn son Dakota has quite a few shows under his little belt already, and has taken to the lifestyle like a trooper. Both Tammy and Allyn agree that they have been blessed with the chance to work with many champions, and are appreciative of the owners who entrust their best with them. Whether is hauling them, clipping them, caring for them or even finding them, they enjoy rising to the challenge, and find the whole experience incredibly rewarding. With the drive, determination and passion they possess, and their desire to succeed, there is certainly no limit to what this duo can accomplish in the future. DAIRY AGENDA TODAY
w photo Damro Sarah
AWESOME CATTLE, GREAT CREW & PARTNERS, MOTIVATION & PASSION AND LUCK ... has given us the tremendous opportunities and results to make dreams come true for us and our partners. It has been a dream come true and a privilege to work with such a talented group of animals and people. Spud and I truly appreciate our family at home and family on the road that assist in making this all possible, allowing us to do what we love. We can’t wait to have Suton and Dakota join in the fun in the future years. Special thank you to our friends who entrust us to find them, board them, truck and work with their cattle... From California, R-John Holstein, Cunningham Family, Cali 100 Swiss, Oliviera Family. From Texas, Kowcastle Holsteins & Swiss, Haedge Family, Overstreet Swiss, Overstreet Family. From Arkansaw, CDL Swiss, Heidi Roulet. From New Jersey, Terra Rose - Chard Family. And from Wisconsin, Designer Genetics, Ann Lerum, KNH-Endres, Tyler Endres.
Allyn (Spud) Paulson
cell: 605-868-9028 • spudpauleview@aol.com
2014 HIGHLIGHTS... • Ayrshire Jr. Champion, Brown Swiss Jr. Champion, Res. and HM Jr. Champion, Milking Shorthorn Jr. Champion - WI & MN State Fairs • Brown Swiss Res. Jr. Champion - WI State Show • Supreme Champion & Res. Supreme Champion Heifers - Youth Classic Show
Tammy Voegeli
cell: 608-692-1630 • vogrinswiss@aol.com
W5816 Hwy 60 • Arlington Wisconsin 53911 DAIRY AGENDA TODAY
2013 HIGHLIGHTS... • Jr. Champion Ayrshire - World Dairy Expo • UAA Ayrshire Fall Calf • Reserve AA Brown Swiss Winter Calf • Resreve AA Brown Swiss Fall Calf • Two Nominated All-American Brown Swiss Spring Calves • Nominated Jr. & Open Red & White Fall Calf
Design Kristy Roose
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Canyon Breeze Holsteins: mixing milk , genetics and pheasants By Melissa Hart
A major accomplishment for any purebred breeder is the elusive 95 point cow and Canyon Breeze can add that notch on their belt with Canyon-Breeze Mor Alicha. Gillins Dairy—Home of Canyon Breeze Holsteins can be found in big white letters on the side of a big blue barn in southern Utah in the small town of Minersville where Steve and Becky Gillins along with Cory and Stefanie Gillins own and operate the 550 cow dairy. While today they have a modern operation with freestalls and a parlor, back in the 1950s Gillins Dairy was a community dairy. Cory explains, “Just about everyone in town had a herd of cows and they would drive the herd from their backyard down the streets to one facility to get milked.” He continued, “When my dad was a kid, his responsibility was to drive the cows to and from the barn.” In 1979, the Gillins Dairy was established and in the mid ‘80s they broke into the Registered Holstein business with the purchase of their first registered cow. With the drive to better their Holstein genetics, in 1989 they purchased Clarney WC Mark Abigail, the cow that formed the firm foundation that Canyon Breeze Holsteins built upon. “Every bull that has been active in A.I. except for one can be traced back to this cow,” commented Cory. A major accomplishment for any purebred breeder is the elusive 95 point cow and Canyon Breeze can add that notch on their belt with Canyon-Breeze Mor Alicha. As a two year old she won her class at the Utah State Fair and by the time she was a four
78 2014 COW NATION
year old, she garnered grand champion at the state fair and at six years old she was named the All-Utah Aged Cow. Canyon-Breeze Em Ashley 3E-94 EEEEE DOM was another elite cow at Canyon Breeze but their success didn’t stop with her. They’ve also left their mark in the AI industry with several proven bulls explains Cory, “We have never put very many bulls into AI but what we have, we have had great success. We have had about a 70% success rate on bulls we’ve sent making the Active AI lineup.” Canyon Breeze had one of the highest selling Young Sires at Select Sires. Canyon Breeze Allen at Semex that was one of the highest type bulls of the breed making many great daughters. Canyon Breeze Allegro at Alta Genetics was in the top 5 TPI bulls. And now Canyon Breeze Airlift at Accelerated Genetics has been in the top ten bulls for type since his release two years ago. The Canyon Breeze breeding philosophy is simple: Make the best cow possible. Cory commented, “We want to have cows that milk well, last a long time and look good as well. We breed what we want, not what the paper or contract says. That way we can choose the bull we want to use.” Cory continued, “We have used genomics in our breeding program. With a high success rate on the old system, the new genomic system has not been real good to us. We
have the same cows as before just with a lot less bulls going to AI. We have only had two bulls go into AI since the genomic emphasis. One never produced semen and the other is Airlift. Maybe it was a lack of the use of a certain bull that has dominated the pedigrees or maybe the old system wasn’t as good. Who knows?” Cory concluded, “We want to continue to breed the best cow possible and keep selling our genetics worldwide. We love nothing more than to see a cow or bull with our name, CanyonBreeze, that does well for someone else.” Producing good breeding stock is one emphasis at Gillins Dairy but they are also concerned with producing the highest quality milk. Cory explains, “Our dairy is known throughout DFA (Dairy Farmers of America) for outstanding quality milk. We have qualified for the bonus every month for the past 15 years and our somatic cell count has been under 100,000 for the past 25 years.” While cows dominate their livelihood, playing golf is one of Steve’s favorite pastimes while Cory enjoys bow hunting Elk and Mule Deer and enjoys a good duck hunt. In addition, Cory raises Exotic Pheasants that he ships around the country. Learn more about Canyon Breeze genetics when you visit their website at http://www.canyonbreezeholsteins.com/
DAIRY AGENDA TODAY
DAIRY AGENDA TODAY
2014 cow Nation 79
Ever-Green-View Holsteins: it’s the small things By Melissa Hart
Taking care of the little things and treating cows like they should be treated are part of what makes Ever-Green-View Holsteins of Waldo, Wisconsin successful. But common sense is paramount to owner Tom Kestell. Tom along with his wife Gin and his son and daughter –in-law Chris and Jen operate the 130 cow Registered Holstein dairy farm that just this month hit the 40,000 pound Rolling Herd Average mark with 1646 pounds of fat and 1267 pounds of protein. Breaking records is nothing Tom focuses on but taking care of cows is. “Being consistent and treating the cows like they need to be treated is what I think it takes, it’s a rather simple formula,” Tom explained. Having milked cows since his father died at nine years old, dairying was all Tom ever wanted to do. “When I was in high school I was strongly discouraged to be a farmer, they actually talked me into thinking I wanted to be a lawyer.” He entered college to become a lawyer, “But I didn’t like the people I was going to school with and I didn’t like the way they approached life. I was always a farmer at heart so that’s what I went back to doing.” Tom left college and went back home to take over the farm in 1971 and in 1973 he married Gin, Tom said, “My wife and I have been farming together for 41 and a half years and it’s been a good journey.” What makes the Kestell cows produce? Tom starts with good feed. “We won the dairy hay competition at World Dairy Expo two of the last three years and that’s the kind of feed it takes to produce milk,” he commented. They also feed their own soybeans but Tom is quick to add they don’t feed a ‘high-powered’ ra-
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tion. “We feed the cows good feed and hope that good genetics will result in top milk production. Our goal is to give every cow the opportunity to reach her potential.” The 112 year old barn has been modified for cow comfort making sure the ventilation system is top notch and each cow is comfortable. New technology is evaluated and used if they find it will make a difference in the herd. With such a large rolling herd average, Ever-Green-View is often mistaken as more of a commercial herd but one look at their recent classification results will dispel that myth. Scoring in September, the herd produced 43 Excellents, 80 Very Goods and 9 Good Plus cows. Out of the cows that scored Excellent two of them were EX-93, twelve of them were EX-92, (mostly three year olds) seven of them were EX-91 and the rest were scored EX-90. Over the years the Kestells have employed 120 students from all over the world. From Brazil to New Zealand to Hungary, young people have come and learned not only the discipline of good dairy farming but a new language as well. “We’ve trained 120 kids how to speak English,” commented Tom. He chuckled, “Sometimes we had to draw pictures to communicate but sometimes you communicate how you have to communicate to get through.” He continued, “Over the years we have influenced a lot of lives but they have been a big influence in our lives as well.” While Ever-Green-View Farm is well known for their record-breaking cow EverGreen-View My 1326-ET - EX-92 producing 72,168M, 2,787F and 2,285 F in 365
days, and a string of other high producing cows like Siemers Shottle Hianna-ET 3-0 3x 365 62,840 4.2 2612 2.8 1785 and Ever-Green-View Latisha-TW 3-10 3x 365 63,360 3.8 2415 2.8 1760, their extensive embryo export program may have gone under the radar. The Kestells have been exporting embryos for 30 years. “This year we hope to export close to 3000 embryos. So far we’ve exported 2000 this year and I expect we will break the 3000 mark by the end of the year,” Tom explained. “We have two ET specialists working in Russia to implant the embryos.” He continued, “We have had the opportunity to travel all over the world to set up the embryo export programs on these farms and to educate (the dairymen) on what it takes to accomplish good herd health and good production.” The Kestells have a few simple mottos on the farm and one of them is “See, Think and Do:” If you see something and then think about it and then do something about it the whole shape of the farm changes. Tom added, “You have to have a team approach, everyone thinking the same way on the farm.” Tom also believes in the importance of the individual cows. He related something he learned from California dairyman, the late Doug Maddox: Manage your cows as a group but treat them as an individual. At the time I interviewed Tom he was spending his day at the zoo with his grandson—one of his new favorite things to do since he and Gin became grandparents. He remarked he is proud of his children and what they’ve accomplished in life and concluded, “I married well and that’s my biggest credit in life.”
DAIRY AGENDA TODAY
DAIRY AGENDA TODAY
2014 cow Nation 81
A Passion for Breeding Registered Holsteins Fuels Mike Holschbach
as a youth, holschbach completed the trifecta of winning oral reasons at national 4-H, ffa and collegiate dairy judging contests. It’s no wonder that Mike Holschbach of Heatherstone Enterprises in Baraboo, WI is a successful registered Holstein breeder. Top quality cattle, housed in top quality facilities and cared for by top notch cowmen are bred into his DNA. “I was privileged to grow up at Lakeside Farms, a gorgeous registered Holstein showplace owned by wealthy industrialist William A. Hayssen,” tells Mike. Lakeside Farms was located on the picturesque shore of Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin. Mike continues, “My father, Fritz, began his career as the herdsman at Lakeside, and then moved into the role of farm manager when Ray Brubacher returned to Guelph, Ontario to establish the Brubacher Brothers Sale Company.” At that time, the Lakeside herd was dispersed for a record setting average of $3,021 on over 100 head. “I had a passion for showing and judging dairy cattle from a young age,” relates Mike. “I can still recall the excitement of winning the overall showmanship award at the Wisconsin Junior State Fair, and then a year later receiving the esteemed Howard Clapp Dairy Achievement Award.” Mike proudly adds that two decades later, his oldest daughter Brienne received the award as well. Another interesting note is that his mother-in-law, Carol Jean (Nelson) Hegna was the Howard Clapp winner in 1953 as well, which makes the award quite the family affair. While many young Holstein enthusiasts of the time period would have been ecstatic to have one mentor of the caliber of Mike’s father, Mike was blessed with the guidance of many, including his 4-H Dairy Judging coach, Ronald Schaap and Al Wollenzien, the Sheboygan County Dairy Extension Agent. He honed his show ring skills by observing some of the most revered showmen and breeders of the time period, such as Elias Knutson, Gene Nelson, Allen Hetts, Kent Mattson, Henry “Sonny” Bartel and David Bachmann, Sr. In 1977, Mike joined an elite group of Holstein youth when he was honored as the Wisconsin Outstanding Holstein Boy. “While I was in college and upon graduation, I was employed by International Holstein Sales and Services, and worked with a fantastic team of individuals led by Alvin R. Piper, Merle Howard and Marlowe Nelson,” relates Mike. In 1981, Mike graduated with a BS degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he was a member of the Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity. He counts himself as fortunate to have had the chance to make many life-long friendships while attending the UW. It was while attending Madison that Mike feels he achieved his greatest accomplishment…meeting his future wife, Valerie Hegna. “I met her on the eve of our first day of classes as freshmen,” reminisces Mike. “After that encounter, I knew I would marry that girl, even though we did not actually date for another year and a half.” During his time in college, Mike took full advantage of the opportunities offered him to continue to advance his skills as a judge of dairy cattle. “I was able to continue to hone my judging skills under the immortal Dr. Dave Dickson,” says Mike. “Under his guidance, I was able to capture the title of High Individual in oral reasons at the 1980 National Collegiate Contest in Madison, and help our team to win the team title as well.” Reaping this honor fulfilled a childhood goal of Mike’s: to win the oral reasons 82 2014 COW NATION
contest at the National 4-H, FFA and Collegiate Contests. Mike proudly relates another memorable moment in time occurring exactly thirty years to the day after his collegiate accomplishment. Daughter Chelsea, then also a member of the UW-Madison Dairy Judging Team, earned the same title of High Oral Reasons and was a member of the first place Intercollegiate Team. “This makes us the only father/daughter pair to achieve this winning combination!” For nearly 15 years, Mike parlayed his interest in dairy judging into coaching the Sauk County 4-H Dairy Judging Team. “It was very rewarding to see dozens of young people improve their skills and their ability to express themselves through oral reasons. The peak of success was achieved when our county team represented Wisconsin and won oral reasons at the National 4-H Contest.” A memorable coincidence for Mike was that his 4-H Judging coach, Ron Schaap, then a classifier for Holstein USA, was on hand that night to present the award for Mike’s winning 4-H reasons team. Mike’s judging career certainly did not end with the Collegiate Contest in Madison or with coaching the Sauk County team. He has judged shows across Wisconsin, throughout the Midwest, and internationally in Brazil, Argentina, Mexico and Italy Mike and Valerie have three children. The oldest, Brienne, holds a Bachelors and Master’s Degree in Elementary Education, and is a Curriculum Educator with the Madison School District. She and her husband Clay have a son, Mason, and a brand new addition to their family, daughter Elin. Their son Chase works with Mike and Valerie on the farm. Chase is responsible for crop management, equipment maintenance and feeding. He has also achieved Top Honors in the World Forage Superbowl at World Dairy Expo. His other passion is pulling his IH tractor “Red Rock” in the PI circuit throughout the Midwest each summer. Dr. Chelsea Holschbach is their youngest child, and a 2014 graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine. Chelsea is probably a familiar face to many at World Dairy Expo, having participated herself as an exhibitor for many years, or as a vet student making rounds with Dr. Halverson. She is currently interning at the Colorado State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Fort Collins. In 1983, Valerie and Mike had the opportunity to return to her home farm and work alongside her parents, Duane and Jean Hegna, to further develop Heatherstone Enterprises. In 1994, Mike and Valerie purchased the business and have felt blessed to live and raise their family there. Together with Valerie, Mike takes great pride in maintaining a beautiful farmstead and promoting a positive image of dairy farmers. In 1998, Mike and Valerie were bestowed with the Wisconsin Holstein Association’s Younger Dairyman Award. In keeping with the idea of promoting positive images of the dairy industry, the Holschbachs hosted the first Sauk County Dairy breakfast and one of two state picnics celebrating the centennial of the Wisconsin Holstein Association. In an even bigger undertaking, they agreed to serve as hosts of the 2008 National Convention Sale on the farm. In recent years, Mike’s service to the dairy industry has
largely focused on World Dairy Expo. “I have been privileged to serve on the Board of Directors since 1997,” says Mike, “and as its President for the last seven years.” Heatherstone Enterprises has undergone a fair amount of building and remodeling over the last couple of years. New additions include a calf barn with positive pressure ventilation and a UV pasteurizer and a new freestall and special needs barn for dry cows, springers and heifers. An existing barn was also remodeled into three maternity pens and six larger box stalls for show cows. “I have a rekindled interest in showing,” says Mike, “fueled by Chelsea’s enthusiasm and shared passion for the registered Holstein industry.” Recent showring successes for the Holschbach family includes back-to-back Premier Exhibitor awards at the Wisconsin District 5 Black and White shows and four milking females to finish in the top five in their classes at both the 2014 Wisconsin Championship show and Midwest Fall National Show. Mike is thrilled to have exhibited the 2014 All-Wisconsin Red & White Spring Calf and All-Wisconsin Red & White 125,000 Pound Cow at the Wisconsin Red & White State show held in July5 Y. Heatherstone also exhibited the winning 5 Year Old and Reserve Senior Champion at the 2014 Midwest Spring Red & White Show. The current herd at Heatherstone consists of 130 milk cows and 150 head of young stock. The Rolling Herd Average is at 28,936m 4.1% 1,193f 3.2% 924p. The cows regularly average between 90 and 95 pounds of milk per day on twotime per day milking. Mike’s breeding philosophy has always focused on a high fat and protein percentage, and that has resulted in more than a dozen cows making records that exceed 2,000 pounds of fat. One of the most notable among that group is a cow that belongs to his son Chase, Mil-R-Mor Lindy Robusty EX 94 4E. Robusty has completed not only one, but three consecutive records over 2,000 pounds of fat. “We believe she is one of the few cows in the breed to ever accomplish that level of production,” explains Mike. Besides the focus on high component milk, priority is placed on type as well. That is evident in a herd that currently has over 80 cows scored Excellent or Very Good. Among the highscoring standouts are cows such as: Blue-Ridge LeDuc Lady EX 96 2E; Brookhill Goldwyn Cecile EX 94, with an EX 95 point mammary system; Bri-Mel Acres Advent Arika-Red EX 94 2E; Pineylawn Jasper Bethany EX 94; Dupasquier Contender Whitney-Red-ET EX 93; and Heatherstone Selina EX 92 with an EX 93 point udder. Each year, a handful of bulls are sold into AI. One of the most promising of those bulls is Heatherstone Malicious, who is +4.42 on type. That currently makes him one of the top ten genomic young sires in the world for type. While the passion for registered Holsteins remains strong, further expansion is not in the future at Heatherstone. The city of Baraboo is currently their neighbor to the North, while they are bordered by US Highway 12 to the East. Beginning construction next summer, a new US Highway 12 By-pass will border them on the West. “For now,” reflects Mike, “we will just continue our quest to breed and develop our herd of registered Holsteins to the best of our ability.” DAIRY AGENDA TODAY
DAIRY AGENDA TODAY
2014 cow Nation 83
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Dallas Burton P.O. BOX 7, Berryton, KS 66409 785-806-9774 dallasburton@cox.net 84 2014 COW NATION
Terry L. Steele 5700 4th St. N., St. Petersburg, FL 33703 Nationwide 1-800-727-3993 or 727-525-9696 DAIRY AGENDA TODAY
This is Ria Vos as ria vos stood on her pickup and counted one l ast time the group of bred heifer s she realized her count was right and there was a heifer missing. By Dallas Burton
Reports from neighbors were true-- there were cattle rustlers working in the area. The cattlemen in the county posted a $10,000 reward. Ria was lucky, they had only gotten the one heifer from her pasture. She was one of her higher GTPI heifers and she would like to find the rustlers but she’s not sure how much pity she would feel for them should she ever find them. With the fall beef calving season approaching the cow/calf beef breeders are concerned about the increase in the coyote population and some old style pickup coyote hunts to solve the problem. The only dairy in a 50 mile radius, Ria rents the dairy barn, pens and pasture from Charles Magathan and his family. Milking 70 cows and doing all of the work herself Ria has little time for “extras”. Ria Vos arrived in the U.S. in 2000 fresh out of college with a dairy science degree and the repeated warnings from her instructors that she would never make a living managing herds. “No one will hire you because you are female,” is all she heard. Fourteen years later, Ria owns a neighboring farm with 165 acres,
her house and a heifer facility. Ria has contracts to A.I. for 12 bulls and has sold cows privately upwards to $10,000. The only reason she would like to return home to the Netherlands is to look up these old teachers and help them understand that there is room for females in agriculture. When asked what she is the most proud of Ria mentioned her involvement with the youth program at the Chase County Fair. This past year Ria had fifteen boys and girls participating in the dairy show. They began weeks prior to the fair coming to the farm and working, washing and hugging ’their’ calf for the fair. Everyone who has ever met Ria knows how she feels about her animals and she is constantly putting their safety and comfort before her own. A few years ago when baby bull calves were worth less than $50, one very cold winter night she helped deliver the calf and then, worrying about him surviving the storm, she carried him to her house and put him in the living room next to her furnace and spent the night keeping him warm. This is Henrika “Ria” Vos of Cedar Point, Kansas
They began weeks prior to the fair coming to the farm and working, washing and hugging ’their’ calf for the fair.
86 2014 COW NATION
DAIRY AGENDA TODAY
DAIRY AGENDA TODAY
2014 cow Nation 87
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embryos f r om h igh ge nomic (over +2300 gTPi animals) no iVf embryos.
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Jeff Woods
608-220-0451 | F: 6082364245 jeffdna@aol.com | www.wwassociates.org DAIRY AGENDA TODAY
Lin-Max Sanchez
AUSTIN VG-88 1st Senior 2-Year-Old, Int. & Grand Champion Kansas State Fair 2014
Dam 2nd Dam 3rd Dam 4th Dam
Ex-90 25,000 Ex-91 25,000 Ex-91 30,000 Ex-93 21,000
Austin is owned with Jeff Maxey, Greeley, CO
ROB & LISA LEACH Taylor, Erin & Sophie Linwood, Kansas Rob 785-331-8676 | Lisa 785-691-8015 Design Kristy Roose
DAIRY AGENDA TODAY
SELLING LIN-CREST APL SHAMROCK-RED VG-86 1st Junior 3-Year-Old, Res. Int. & Res. Grand Champion Junior Show Kansas State Fair 2014 An APPLE GRAND DAUGHTER, sired by Big Apple. Dam is by Son-Red, 2nd Dam RI-VAL-RE AD SASHAY-RED-ET (Ex-91) 25,000, Ex-90 Red Marker 28,000, 3rd Dam Ex-90 25,000, 4th Dam Ex-91 30,000 2014 cow Nation 89
McCullough Family Has Made Great Strides in Short Time With Great Determination in just t went y year s of existence…this small breeder herd has begun a wonderful story of success By Danielle Nauman
In just twenty years of existence…this small breeder herd has begun a wonderful story of success Nestled in the rolling hills of Green County in southwestern Wisconsin, a mere stone’s throw from the excitement of World Dairy Expo, you can find Chris and Kathie McCullough’s Rock-N-Hill II Farm near the small town of Juda. Neither Chris nor Kathie are strangers to the registered Holstein industry, both having deep roots with the big black and white beauties, a passion that they are instilling in their children, Rachel (14) and Mac (12). Rock-N-Hill II came to be nearly twenty years ago, after Chris finished the UWMadison Farm & Industry Short Course and began to pen his story in the dairy industry. Without a doubt, it’s been a page-turner of tale so far, but one that is far from finished. During its relatively short existence, the Rock-N-Hill herd has climbed from a BAA of 104.4% to the astounding 112.0% today, which is achieved on an entirely home-bred herd. An amazing feat, but not all that surprising when you learn that twenty-three Excellent and twenty-eight Very Good cows stand in the barn, with only one Good Plus. In addition, over the past twenty years, eleven EX 94 point cows have called Rock-N-Hill II home. The McCullough’s breeding program focuses primarily on cow families, and developing good strong cows within those families. One of the most influential families of Rock-N-Hill II is that of Spirited Encore Countess EX 92 DOM. Countess was purchased as a young, off-aged calf at a local dispersal 90 2014 COW NATION
sale. Since she calved in as a young cow, there has been no looking back for her family. One of the current stand-outs in the herd traces her linage back to Countess. Countess is the third dam of the 2014 Wisconsin Championship Show Intermediate Champion, Rock-N-Hill-II Atwood Crisco EX 92. Another herd favorite of Chris’ is Rock-NHill-II LJ Banana EX 94. Banana is one of the eleven 94 point cows who have called Rock-N-Hill-II home over the years. “I just love the Banana cow,” says Chris. “She’s got it; she works hard and is never a problem. If I could milk a barn full of that kind of cow, I would be set.” The breeding philosophy of Rock-N-Hill-II is centered on high type, figuring that production will come with big, strong, open cows that exude dairy strength. The sires that are currently being utilized in the Rock-N-Hill-II
program include Atwood, Aftershock, Reginald, Sid, Armani and Absolute. Chris enjoys stepping into the middle of the ring to judge shows as well. He has judged at the Illinois, Minnesota and Wisconsin State Fairs, as well as the Iowa State Holstein Show, the Wisconsin State Jersey Show, the Mid-West Spring Red & White Show and numerous district shows and county fairs. Chris has also served on the Wisconsin Holstein Board since 2010, and is currently serving as the President of the Association. The McCulloughs do enjoy life off the farm once in a while. Son Mac is a wrestler and plays football, as a seventh grader. “Rachel’s sport is Crisco,” laughs Chris, talking about his daughter’s single-minded determination in working with her prize cow. “That’s the sort of thing that can make a dad pretty proud.”
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selling in the world premier sale oct. 2 madison, wi
She’s
to make you money Holyland Take A Look 2458 ET BPI +206 +1106M +52F +40P +460NM$ +0.5T She’s a Top 15 Genomic Heifer
COZY NOOK JOEL TIPSY ET VG87 VG89MS @2-08 2-04 365 3X 29650 4.2 1257 3.4 1008 Brookings sons at Semex and Accelerated Neglor son at Semex Huray sons to NGG & Taurus Brookings milking daughter has 2 A.I. contracts
Cozy Nook Pronto Twylight EX92 3E Lifetime 2884d 257,890M 10,952F 8,927P
Loehr Dairy LLC Holyland Genetics
Joe & Mark Loehr N6224 Banner Rd. | Mt. Calvary, WI 53057 | 920-517-9216 | Joeloehr75@yahoo.com DAIRY AGENDA TODAY
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Advertiser Direc tory Advertiser
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Advertiser
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aAa Weeks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
K-Manor Holsteins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
April Day - FRD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Larry Lexvold . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
Bella-View Holsteins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Lin-Crest Farm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
Billings Farm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Inside Front Cover
Loehr Dairy LLC Holyland Genetics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
Brenhaven Holsteins & Jerseys, LLC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Lookout Holsteins & Jerseys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
Burton Consulting LLC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Mason Dairy Farm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
Butlerview Farm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Outside Back Cover Canyon Breeze Holsteins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79 Cherry Kreek Farm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Inside Back Cover Conant-Acres - Conant-Acres, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Coulee Crest Farm LLC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Cowbuyer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Coyne Farms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Dairy Agenda Today . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94 DewGood Holsteins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 Dirt Road Holsteins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 Dryhouse Farm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67 Dykshorn Holsteins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 Elron Farms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63 EskDale Dairy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 Ever-Green-View . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81 Glaz-Way Enterprises & Luck-E Holsteins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49 Golden Oaks Farm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 Gold-n-Oaks Holsteins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41 Good-Vue Ayr Farms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 Grand View Ayrshire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 Halpin Farms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 Heatherstone Enterprises . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83 Hendrika “Ria” Vos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87 Holiday Reunion ET Extravaganza . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84 Horstein Farm & Horst-Crest Farm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70 Holmgren, John & Rachael . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 Ja-Bob Holsteins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74 Jersey Marketing Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92 Jon-Lu Holsteins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 KAD Syndicate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
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MD-West-View Genetics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55 Meyervilla Holsteins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71 MilkSource Genetics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62 New Generation Genetics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58 Olbrich Farm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66 Old Mill Farm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85 Paule-View/Vogrin Swiss . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77 Plain Knoll Holsteins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Random Luck Jerseys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61 Ratliff Jerseys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65 Rock-n-Hill II Registered Holsteins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91 Ronland Farm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 Ryan-Vue Registered Holsteins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69 Scientific Holsteins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95 Seiler Dairy Farms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 Select Sires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Center Fold Spruce Lawn Farms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 Stoltzfus, Marv . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 Sunrose Holsteins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 T&L Cattle Ltd. & Tolamika Farms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73 Todd Bushman & Family . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Trans Ova Genetics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52 Troxel Dairy Farm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 Welcome Stock Farm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4, 5 Whitehead Farms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Willows Edge Holsteins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Wildweed Holsteins & Jerseys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 WW Associates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88 Yarrabee Farms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
DAIRY AGENDA TODAY
The World’s First 11th Generation Excellent Roxy… Rythym has embryos available by Olympian and Golden Dreams CHERRIE-KREEK RYTHYM 931 *RC EX-91 EEEEE
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PAUL & NAOMI YODER FAMILY 2244 Blue Ribbon Rd, Oakland, MD 21550 House: 301-334-9663 | Cell: 301-616-9663 Email: paul.yoder@juno.com