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Archive for Breed Association News

Sleegerholm’s 65-Cow Jersey Bet: How a Dual-Breed Barn Earned Canada’s Master Breeder Award

Tuesday, March 3rd, 2026

Sleegerholm lost 37 head to fire. In their final Master Breeder year. They still won.

Executive Summary: Barn fire. 37 dead calves. Final Jersey Canada Master Breeder year. Sleegerdale Farms kept milking. Mike & Brenda Sleegerholm’s 90-cow Belmont, ON operation hit the marks: BCA 223→277, 4.4% fat, Nuggy’s Request legacy. Nobody saw this small Jersey herd topping breed giants. Your herd’s next mating? Copy their component stack.

Mike and Brenda Sleegers with their children at Sleegerdale Farms, Belmont, Ontario — the family behind Sleegerholm, Jersey Canada’s 2026 Master Breeder. They rebuilt after a barn fire killed 37 young stock in their final evaluation year. The next generation is already showing both breeds.

Mike and Brenda Sleegers have been milking cows in their new freestall barn at 4266 Westchester Bourne, Belmont, Ontario, since July 2024. Eighty-eight deep-bedded stalls. Two Lely A5 robots. Brown Jerseys and black-and-white Holsteins sharing the same alleys, the same robots, the same family’s attention — 65 cows in lactation, two breeds under one roof.

On February 25, 2026, Jersey Canada named the Sleegers family’s Jersey prefix, Sleegerholm, its newest Master Breeder. It’s a designation the breed association has awarded roughly 55 to 60 times since 1969, at a maximum pace of one per year. Holstein Canada, by contrast, handed out 21 Master Breeder shields in 2025 alone and has given more than 1,000 since 1929.

That ratio tells you what this award demands. And the Sleegers earned it while splitting their barn between two breeds — and rebuilding after a fire that killed 37 head of young stock in the final year of the scoring window.

Two Prefixes, One Barn

Mike and Brenda Sleegers began adding Jerseys to their Holstein operation in the late 1990s, according to Jersey Canada’s official announcement. That’s when the Sleegerholm prefix was born. The Holstein side — Sleegerdale — already carried a reputation: the Sleegers name appeared in the 2018 Ontario Production Awards’ top-ten list for greatest composite BCA increase, a 27-point jump.

Running two prefixes isn’t cosmetic. It means separate genetic strategies, separate classification goals, and a Master Breeder clock ticking on the Jersey side for 18 years while the Holsteins demand equal attention. Today, the herd averages BCA 280-290-297 (Milk-Fat-Protein) at 35 litres per day, with 71% of cows classified Very Good or higher, per Jersey Canada’s announcement.

Lactanet’s 2023 Progress Report — the most recent publicly available year — shows 65 cows on test, with a composite BCA of 278, shipping 10,520 kg of milk, averaging 4.5% butterfat and 377 kg of protein per cow. The year before: 68 cows, BCA 277, fat at 4.4%. Both reports list the herd as “R. H, J” — registered Holstein and Jersey. A composite BCA climbing from 277 to 280+ across two breeds means neither side is coasting.

That kind of generational commitment to two breeds echoes Ray Brubacher’s story — a Holstein legend who walked away from two dream jobs to follow his own breeding instincts.

When a Barn Fire Hits in the Final Year of an 18-Year Clock

On a Friday night in June 2023, fire tore through the barn at Sleegerdale Farms. Thirty-seven young stock calves and heifers, the next generation of both the Sleegerholm and Sleegerdale programs, didn’t make it out. The primary milking herd survived, but the replacement pipeline took a direct hit. CTV News London reported on the fire the following morning; The Bullvine covered it on June 20, 2023.

Here’s the detail that changes the entire story. Sleegerholm’s Master Breeder evaluation window ran from 2006 to 2023. The fire hit in June of the final year — wiping out the animals the Sleegers were counting on to carry the herd forward while the clock was still running. Every heifer lost is a classification score that won’t happen, a Star Brood point that won’t accrue, a production record that won’t post.

The Sleegers rebuilt — a new freestall barn with 88 deep-bedded stalls and two A5 Lely milking robots — and returned to milking in July 2024, according to Jersey Canada’s announcement. That’s 13 months from fire to functional barn, and less than 20 months before the Master Breeder announcement. The herd they brought back to production posts BCA scores of 280-290-297, with 71% VG or higher. That’s not a recovery herd. It’s a Master Breeder herd.

***Thirteen months after fire took 37 young stock, Sleegerdale Farms reopened — 88 deep-bedded stalls, two Lely A5 robots, and a Master Breeder herd inside. Belmont, Ontario.***

Jersey Milk in Holstein Country: When Did the Math Start Working?

Here’s the tension the announcement skips over. When you milk Jerseys alongside Holsteins, every Jersey competes for stall space against a black-and-white that ships more litres per day. For years, that volume gap cost real money every single pickup.

The Sleegers started their Jersey program in the late 1990s — before P5 component-based pricing fully rewarded the richer milk that Jerseys naturally produce. Every Jersey stall carried a volume penalty compared to a Holstein under the old pricing formula. By the time component pricing fully rewarded that richness, the Sleegers had been milking Jerseys for over a decade.

So what’s a hectolitre of Jersey milk actually worth today? At DFO’s September 2025 prices ($13.57/kg butterfat, $10.69/kg protein), the component value of every hectolitre breaks down by breed-average composition. Using the Canadian Dairy Information Centre’s 2024 national averages — Holstein at 4.15% fat and 3.36% protein, Jersey at 5.22% fat and 3.94% protein:

Holstein milk: $92.23 in component value per hectolitre
Jersey milk: $112.95 in component value per hectolitre
The gap: $20.72 per hectolitre — a 22.5% component premium on every litre of Jersey milk

That’s a per-litre story, not a per-cow story. Jerseys produce fewer litres, so total revenue per cow comes out close. A Jersey averaging 30 kg/day generates about $33.89 in daily component value. Compare that to a Holstein at 35 kg/day: $32.28. The Jersey edge is $1.61 per cow per day — roughly $587 per cow per year — and she does it on less feed.

Sleegerholm’s blended herd shipped milk at 4.5% fat and 3.58% protein in 2023, according to Lactanet. That works out to $99.37 per hectolitre — 7.7% above the Holstein breed average.

And the formula is shifting further in their direction. DFO is putting $3/kg more value on protein in the second tier as of February 2026 and decreasing the tier-one protein price by 18 cents/kg to encourage a solids-non-fat-to-butterfat ratio above 2.0. Kristin Benke, DFO’s chief business and supply chain officer, shared that “high protein products — fluid milk, yogurt, cheese — have seen incredible growth,” outpacing butterfat demand.

Jerseys naturally produce a high SNF: BF ratio — so that pricing shift could make the breed more valuable, not less. But the specifics depend on your farm’s component profile, which is exactly why you need to run your own numbers. Clark Farms learned that lesson the hard way when they started tracking real ROI on their own diversification.

What Does It Take to Earn Jersey Canada’s Master Breeder?

Jersey Canada awards one Master Breeder shield per year. One. The criteria test consistency across an 18-year evaluation window — and Sleegerholm’s ran from 2006 to 2023, which means the June fire hit in the final year of the clock.

Points come from four categories, all of which are published on Jersey Canada’s website. Classification points scale with score: a VG 85-86 cow earns 2 points; VG 87-89 earns 3, push her to Excellent, and she’s worth 4; 2E or higher gets 5. Production points tie to Composite BCA deviations from herdmates, the national average, or Lifetime Production records. Every cow must contribute at least one point in both production and classification to count — you can’t pad one side and neglect the other.

Star Brood points reward dams whose progeny prove out across generations: 6 points for a 1-Star dam, scaling to 10 for 5-Star or higher. Superior Sire points go to bulls hitting type and production thresholds at 85% reliability, with an LPI of at least +700, and a bull qualifying as both Superior Type and Superior Production earns 15 points.

Here’s where it gets brutal for smaller herds. Total points are averaged across all classified females registered during that 18-year window. Minimum five registrations per year. Only animals at 87.5% purity or higher qualify. You can’t win again for 18 years after your previous shield.

Think about what that averaging formula demands from a 65-cow dual-breed barn. Lone Pine Jerseys in Didsbury, Alberta — the 2021 Master Breeder — milked 110 purebred Jerseys and posted a herd classification average of 88.0 across 163 animals, with 21 Excellents and 78 Very Goods. At Sleegerholm’s herd size, every weak classification drags the average harder because there are fewer cows to absorb it. The margin of error shrinks when your denominator is half as large.

The Cows That Put Sleegerholm on the National Stage

The breakout came at the 2008 Royal Winter Fair. Sleegerholm bred both the Junior Champion Jersey and the Reserve Junior Champion Jersey at the National Jersey Show — first and second in the country’s most competitive junior class, from a dual-breed barn in Middlesex County that had been milking Jerseys for barely a decade.

Five years later, the prefix showed up at the Royal again. Sleegerholm Tequila Jube Jube earned Reserve Junior Champion at the 2013 National Jersey Show, and Sleegerholm Reagan Ikea — co-owned with Ari Ekstein — took Honourable Mention Junior Champion. The 2008 result wasn’t a fluke. It was a program.

Jube Jube had already appeared at the 2012 Royal as a fall calf and later turned up in the Norse Star Summer Hummer Sale, consigned by Mike. By 2016, the prefix was showing up in All-Canadian nominations — Sleegerholm Excitement Nugylee earned a nod in the Junior Yearling category, exhibited by Laura DeKlein and co-owned with Ekstein.

Classification results kept stacking. Jersey Canada’s Excellents list from May–August 2018 includes Sleegerholm Vortex Naughty — a verified Excellent cow bred under the prefix. And the next generation is already competing: at the 2025 Ontario Western Junior Show, the Sleegers kids earned both Champion Junior Showperson and Champion Yearling Heifer on the same day — one showing a Sleegerholm Jersey calf, the other a Holstein.

Brooke Sleegers and a Sleegerholm Jersey on prom night at Sleegerdale Farms. At the 2025 Ontario Western Junior Show, the Sleegers kids took Champion Junior Showperson and Champion Yearling Heifer on the same day — one breed each. *Photo: Clair*e *Swale*

How Did Paullor and Sleegerholm Build Each Other’s Programs?

Here’s where the breeding story gets interesting. Sleegerholm PJ Victorious Jen was co-owned by Paul and Lorraine Franken alongside Mike Sleegers when she earned All-Canadian recognition. At the 2012 Royal, Sleegerholm PJ Reward Jonie carried a Paullor-prefix dam.

Paul and Lorraine Franken earned their own Master Breeder shield as Paullor in 2010. Two families that co-owned animals and appeared together in national show rings across multiple years. Both made it — Paullor in 2010, Sleegerholm in 2026.

That kind of long-arc collaboration — where one principle can power a dynasty across decades — connects both programs. And it points to one of the takeaways at the end of this piece: small herds multiply faster when they don’t breed alone.

Where Does Sleegerholm Fit in the Master Breeder Lineage?

Jersey Canada has awarded Master Breeder shields since 1969. Here’s a snapshot of recent recipients:

Year	Family	Location
2017	Brent & Betty Butcher and Family	Ayr, ON
2018	Glen & Sheila Burgess	Mildmay, ON
2019	Robert & Bruce Mellow	Caledon, ON
2020	Dean Sayles Jr. (Spruce Avenue — 3rd shield)	Paris, ON
2021	Haeni Family (Lone Pine)	Didsbury, AB
2022	Michael & Monique Bols (Drentex)	Russell, ON
2023	Meadow Lynn Jersey Farms, The Judd Family	Simcoe ON
2024	Daniel & Carine Poirier/Alain & Claudine Poirier, Ferme Cavalait (Cava)	Lefaivre, ON
2025	Athlone Farms Inc (Braeview)	Tavistock, ON
2026	Sleegers Family (Sleegerholm)	Belmont, ON

For the Holstein breeders reading this: since 1929, Holstein Canada has awarded more than 1,000 Master Breeder shields. The Jersey equivalent? One per year, maximum. The 18-year re-eligibility window means repeat winners are rare — seven herds have won twice, and only Spruce Avenue has won three times (1972, 2001, 2020).

Jersey registrations grew 15.6% nationally (11,021 to 12,744) from 2019 to 2024, while total Canadian dairy registrations dropped 14.3%. The breed is growing its share, but earning its top award still takes a generation.

Robert and April Jarrell of Corbyville, Ontario, earned Jersey Canada’s Master Breeder as RJF in 2008 and then Holstein Canada’s as RJ in 2022. Bridon Farms of Paris, Ontario — the Sayles family — went even further, winning Jersey Canada Master Breeder twice (1986 and 2011) and holding the rare distinction of earning both Holstein and Jersey Master Breeder shields in 2011. “Rare is the farm that wins a master breeder shield in more than one dairy breed,” as Farmers Forum reported.

Mike didn’t earn both shields — he earned the Jersey while still running Holsteins. The Jarrells and Bridon Farms proved the dual-breed feat was possible. Sleegerholm proved you don’t need to finish one breed before starting the other.

Options and Trade-Offs

Have you got Holsteins throwing 35 litres and a few empty stalls? Adding Jerseys sounds great until you’re managing two AI sire lineups, two classification schedules, and explaining to your nutritionist why you’re putting a brown calf in the maternity pen.

Committing to a less popular breed means fewer AI companies knocking on your door. Fewer local mentors. A smaller gene pool. Master Breeder eligibility requires a minimum of five Jersey registrations per year for 18 consecutive years — miss one year, and you lose the window.

But there’s a flip side. Less competition for the breeders who stay. Jersey registrations are climbing, while total Canadian registrations are shrinking. The Sleegers were producing high-component milk long before the pricing formula fully rewarded it. DFO’s February 2026 protein restructuring — $3/kg more in the second tier — just moved the formula further in their direction.

Your 30-day move: Pull your last three Lactanet reports and calculate your component revenue per hectolitre. At September 2025 DFO prices, Holstein-average milk earns $92.23/HL in components. Jersey-average earns $112.95/HL — a $20.72 premium per hectolitre. Run your own herd’s fat and protein percentages through that math, then factor in the new P5 protein incentives. If you’ve never made that comparison, you’re making a breed decision by default rather than by math.

Key Takeaways

If you’re chasing Master Breeder from a small or dual-breed herd: Sleegerholm did it with a BCA of 280-290-297 and 71% of cows VG or higher from a 65-cow dual-breed barn — and rebuilt after losing 37 young stock to a barn fire in the final year of their 2006–2023 evaluation window. The formula rewards consistency across your entire herd, not a handful of stars. Contact your breed association and request your current point standing this month.
If you’ve been skipping classification cycles: Every cycle you skip means zero cows contributing points, but they still count in the denominator. The 18-year window doesn’t pause. For any herd chasing Master Breeder, classification isn’t optional — every cow needs to contribute.
If you’ve never calculated your per-hectolitre component premium: At September 2025 DFO prices ($13.57/kg BF, $10.69/kg protein), Jersey-average milk earns $20.72 more per hectolitre than Holstein-average milk — a 22.5% premium. On a per-cow basis, the daily advantage is smaller (about $1.61/day at breed-average yields) because Jerseys ship fewer litres. But that per-litre efficiency matters enormously in a supply-managed system where quota, not barn space, is your constraint.
If you breed alone, Sleegerholm and Paullor co-owned animals that competed nationally, and both families earned Master Breeder sixteen years apart. Partnerships compound breeding programs — especially when your herd is small enough that one cow family can shift the whole average.

The Bottom Line

Who’s the Jersey breeder in your county that nobody talks about but everyone quietly breeds from? The one still classifying every cow, still entering the summer shows, still here long after the skeptics moved on?

Continue the Story

Devastating Quebec Barn Fire at Buckland Holsteins Claims 160+ Holstein Cattle – Walks a similar path of tragedy and resilience by exploring the 2025 Buckland fire. It exposes the thin margin between success and catastrophe, mirroring the Sleegers’ own journey through the flames to reach the Master Breeder podium.
16 Years Each: Holstein Canada’s 2025 Master Breeders Just Crossed the Finish Line – Wrestled with the same question of how to maintain excellence across nearly two decades. This look at the newest Master Breeder class deepens your understanding of the grueling standards the Sleegers navigated, proving that consistency is the industry’s hardest-won prize.
When 5:30 AM Chores Matter More Than the NHL Draft: The Martin Family’s Extraordinary Lesson in Raising Kids Who Choose to Stay – Carries forward the theme of family legacy through the eyes of the next generation. Much like the Sleegers kids, Brady Martin found his anchor in the barn, proving that “farm strength” is the real force behind the industry’s most resilient programs.

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Categories : Breed Association News

Tags : Jersey vs Holstein profit, Master Breeder Award, Mike Sleegers, rebuilding after farm fire, Sleegerdale Farms, Sleegerholm Jerseys

Holstein Conformation’s $2,678 Gap: How Holstein USA’s Million‑Cow Study Should Change Your Linear Type Strategy

Monday, February 2nd, 2026

Holstein USA’s million‑cow study found a $2,678 lifetime gap tied to conformation. The question isn’t if it’s real—it’s how close your herd is to the wrong side of it.

Executive Summary: Holstein USA’s 2022 “Conformation Matters” study, based on nearly a million cows, found a $2,678 lifetime milk revenue gap between top‑ and bottom‑quartile conformation cows at $20/cwt. Follow‑up genomic work in 2022–2024 has reinforced the same message: functional Holstein conformation sits right at the intersection of production, health, fertility, and longevity. The article explains why treating 0.0 STA as “safe” on traits like teat length and rear legs side view can quietly drag your herd toward a breed average that’s already too short, too straight, and too hard to milk in parlors and robots. It ties those structural shifts to real US cost models for lameness and mastitis, where individual cases commonly run $336.91 for lameness, and $120–$444 for clinical mastitis, and simple herd‑level math quickly climbs into the tens of thousands per year. From there, it lays out a practical framework: audit your herd’s linear scores, sort traits into “push harder” vs “stay in the middle,” and decide how much NM$ you’re actually willing to give up to fix genuine structural problems instead of chasing index points alone. For herds looking at robotic milking between now and 2030, it also spells out which udder and leg traits matter most for attachment, box time, and the inevitable “fallout group” that never truly fits the robot.

Holstein Association USA’s 2022 “Conformation Matters” work shows a $2,678 lifetime milk gap between top and bottom type cows. That study is a few proof runs old now, but the big genomic data sets published since 2022 are telling the same story: when you breed for functional Holstein conformation, the milk cheque and the robot both notice.

If you’re picking Holstein sires in 2025–2026, your linear type and STA choices are either pulling your herd toward that top group—or quietly pushing you the other way.

The sire looked fine on paper. Good index, solid components, the kind of proof you’d throw in the tank without much debate. Down in the type box, there was a tidy row of zeros on traits nobody around the table was actively chasing: teat length, rear legs side view, teat placement—0.0 STA across the board. Safe. Or so it seemed.

Fast‑forward to freshening. Liner slips start piling up on the milking log. The robot flags fresh heifers for failed attachments while older cows walk in, milk out, and leave like they always have. Lay the classification sheets beside those sire proofs and the pattern jumps off the page: those daughters are shorter‑teated and straighter‑legged than the cows that built the herd.

If that feels uncomfortably familiar, you’re exactly who this article is for.

When “Average” Already Means Below Functional

Here’s the hard truth: a zero STA doesn’t mean “ideal.” It only means “average for today’s Holstein population.”

Standardized Transmitting Abilities are centered on the current breed average. Zero is just the midpoint of where Holstein conformation sits right now, after a decade‑plus of heavy use of sires like Mogul, Supersire, and their relatives. Those bulls did a lot of good—production, health, fertility—but they also shifted the baseline on a handful of traits your parlor and robot care about every single milking.

Teat length is a classic example. In many Holstein populations influenced by that sire family, proofs have leaned shorter‑teated and straighter‑legged. When you pick a bull at 0.0 STA for teat length in that context, you’re not “holding” where your herd is. You’re agreeing to land wherever the current breed average sits—even if that average is already below the functional range for your liners and your equipment.

If the population keeps creeping shorter or straighter each generation and you keep chasing zeros, your daughters drift right along with it.

Scenario	2026 Herd Average	2029 Herd Average	2032 Herd Average
Scenario A: Keep picking 0.0 STA bulls	4.8	4.5	4.2
Scenario B: Pick +0.5 to +1.0 STA bulls	4.8	5.3	5.8
Functional Zone (reference)	5.5	5.5	5.5

Where It Hurts First: Parlors and Robots

On a conventional parlor herd, the first signs don’t look like a genetics problem. They look like everyday aggravations.

You’re bumping units back into place more often, especially on first‑lactation heifers. The milk graph on your meters shows more double peaks—vacuum on, flow off, then a second rise. Teat ends on your youngest group look rougher, with more “rings” and hyperkeratosis than the older cows that never gave you trouble.

That’s teat‑to‑liner fit. When teats are too short to fill the liner barrel properly, a vacuum is applied before milk begins to flow. During bimodal letdown, teats are exposed to high vacuum with low milk flow for 45–60 seconds or more, which is hard on teat ends and results in milk loss. Hoard’s Dairyman has reported that when letdown is delayed 30–60 seconds, yield at that milking drops about 3 pounds, and if the delay stretches beyond a minute, losses can hit 7 pounds per milking.

Now put that same udder in front of a robot.

The robot doesn’t care what the pedigree looks like. Its job is to find teats, line them up, and attach them, over and over. When rear teats sit too close together or are very short, the laser and camera struggle. You see multiple attach attempts on the same cows. Box time creeps up for those animals, while others are in and out. The same IDs appear on the “frequent fetch” or “failed attach” lists every week.

Robot manufacturers, advisers, and genetics guides consistently warn that cows with very close rear teats or extreme udder shapes are hard to milk robotically. That isn’t just an aesthetic complaint. It’s labor, box capacity, and frustration.

On top of that, AMS advisers in Canada and the US often point to a small but real slice of cows that simply never fit the robot’s “sweet spot” for udder and leg conformation and eventually leave the herd for that reason. Around a lot of robot barns, people talk about a small fallout group—that couple of percent of cows that soak up time on fetch lists and never really click with robotic milking.

Straight Legs, Sore Cows

Rear leg set has its own mythology. A lot of people still quietly believe straighter legs must mean stronger structure and better longevity. The biomechanics don’t back that up.

A cow’s rear leg isn’t a fence post. It’s a shock absorber. That moderate angle at the hock—around the middle of the scoring range in most systems—lets the leg flex and spread impact every time she walks on concrete, steps into a stall, or pivots to turn. When you breed too far toward the “posty” end, you take that flex away.

The result? Hocks that stay puffy and sore. More claw horn lesions and sole ulcers, especially in the outer claw. Cows that pass a quick stand‑still look but show a short, choppy stride when you locomotion‑score them.

Recent work on lameness costs makes the financial side of that pretty blunt. A 2023 model based on US data pegged average lameness cases at about $336.91 per cow, with digital dermatitis cases running roughly $100 more than other causes. Each additional week a cow stays lame adds about $13.26 in cost.

The global picture isn’t comforting either. Reviews and field reports put average dairy cow lameness prevalence in the low‑20% range, with herd‑level and regional reports ranging from the low‑teens up to over 50% in some confinement systems. You don’t have to be anywhere near the top of that range for it to chew through your margins.

What lameness really costs

Item	Typical value (US data)
Average cost per lameness case	$336.91 per cow
Extra cost for DD vs other causes	~$100 more per case
Added cost per extra lame week	$13.26 per week

Run that math on your herd. In a 500‑cow setup with 20% lameness prevalence, even at mid‑range cost estimates, you’re easily into tens of thousands of dollars a year. Start adding extended lame periods and extra culls, and simple back‑of‑the‑envelope totals can push past $70,000 a year in some 500‑cow scenarios when you apply those per‑case costs and extra weeks of lameness.

Cost Item	Per-Case Value (USD)	Annual Herd Impact (500 cows, 20% prevalence)	Notes
Average lameness case	$336.91	$33,691	Treatment, lost production, fertility loss
Digital dermatitis (DD) premium	+$100 above base	+$10,000 if 100 DD cases	Most common infectious cause
Extended lameness (per extra week)	+$13.26/week	+$13,260 if 100 cows lame 1 extra week	Compounding production drag
Clinical mastitis case (early lactation)	$120–$444	$12,000–$44,400 for 100 cases	Treatment + milk discard + culling risk
Conservative 500-cow scenario	—	$50,000–$70,000+/year	Lameness + mastitis combined
High-prevalence herds (30%+ lame)	—	$75,000–$100,000+/year	Where structural weakness really bites

That’s before you even talk about the cows that never get the chance to reach their full lifetime production.

What Holstein USA’s Million‑Cow Study Showed

Holstein Association USA went looking for a hard answer to a question breeders have argued about for decades: does functional conformation really pay in the tank?

Their “Conformation Matters” work, released in late 2022, matched almost 20 years of classification data on just under a million Holstein cows with official DHI production records. Then they ranked cows by their first‑lactation final score and watched what happened over their careers.

The numbers weren’t subtle.

Top‑quartile cows (first‑lactation final scores 82–89 points) averaged 28,037 pounds of energy‑corrected milk (ECM) in first lactation.
Bottom‑quartile cows (final scores 76 and under) averaged 26,500 pounds ECM.

That’s 1,537 pounds more ECM in just one lactation. At $20/cwt, it’s about $307 more milk revenue right there.

Over a lifetime, the gap got wider:

Top‑quartile cows produced 75,889 pounds of lifetime ECM.
Bottom‑quartile cows produced 62,500 pounds.

That’s 13,389 pounds more ECM—roughly $2,678 more lifetime milk income per cow at the same $20/cwt milk price.

They also lasted longer:

Top‑quartile cows delivered 142 more lifetime days in milk than bottom‑quartile cows—nearly five months of extra production.

Large‑sample genomic studies on US Holsteins published since 2022 keep pointing in the same direction: the genomic regions associated with production, fertility, and longevity often overlap with those influencing key conformation traits. The physics and the genomics are lining up.

Put those numbers alongside mastitis costs and the picture sharpens again. A widely cited 2015 study on early‑lactation clinical mastitis cases estimated the total cost at approximately $444 per case, including treatment, milk discard, lost production, fertility losses, and culling. Newer work from Michigan State and industry economic summaries shows many farms seeing $120–$330 per case out‑of‑pocket, with milk discard driving most of that. However you slice it, type decisions that raise or lower disease risk move real money.

If you’re outside the US, plug in your own milk price and cost estimates—the pattern holds even if the exact dollars change.

STA vs. Linear Score: Two Different Tools, One Cow in the Stall

Here’s where a lot of people quietly get tangled: linear scores and STAs are doing different jobs.

Linear scores describe the cow you’re looking at on classification day. On the US 1–50 scale (or the 1–9 scale used in Canada and elsewhere), the midpoint is simply the physical middle between the two extremes. A 25 or 5 is halfway between very short and very long. It doesn’t automatically mean “best.”

STAs describe what a bull tends to transmit. They’re standardized with a mean of 0 and a standard deviation of 1, relative to the current population for that trait. So:

0.0 STA = daughters expected to be about average for today’s breed.
+1.0 STA = one standard deviation above that average.
‑1.0 STA = one standard deviation below.

For many type traits, moving from ‑3.0 to +3.0 STA covers most of the genetic variation you’re going to see in the Holstein population. For many traits that span, the difference translates to roughly 10–12 points on the 1–50 linear scale, though the exact mapping varies by trait and country.

That’s enough to make a practical difference at the cow level—but it isn’t an infinite lever. And if the population average has already drifted away from what’s functional in your stalls, chasing zeros won’t pull you back.

Sorting Traits: When “More” Helps and When “Middle” Wins

Before you scroll straight to the index column, it helps to sort your type traits into two basic buckets.

Bucket 1 – One‑directional: push to the good side

For these, more really does mean better, within reason:

Fore udder attachment
Rear udder height
Rear udder width
Udder cleft/median suspensory

Holstein USA’s own data shows that cows with tighter, higher, stronger udders give more milk, last longer, and pull more dollars through the parlor. On these, you want bulls that move daughters toward the “strong and snug” end.

Bucket 2 – Intermediate optimum: you want the zone, not the edge

These traits punish you at both extremes:

Teat length
Front and rear teat placement
Rear legs side view
Rump angle

Short teats cause liner fit and robot issues. Very long teats get stepped on and damaged. Teats that are too close together or too wide apart create their own milking problems. Legs that are too sickled or too straight both show up on lameness reports and trimming bills. Rumps that are too level or too steep shift calving ease and fertility the wrong way.

Most experienced classifiers and breeders will tell you the same thing: somewhere in the middle of the linear scale is where cows stay sound and milk‑able. Your job is to know where your herd sits relative to that middle—and pick bulls that move daughters toward the practical zone, not just toward whatever the current population average happens to be.

Type Trait	Strategy Bucket	Target STA Range	What Wins	What Breaks
Fore Udder Attachment	One-directional (PUSH)	+0.5 to +2.0	Tight, strong, long-lasting udders	Weak attachments → early culling
Rear Udder Height	One-directional (PUSH)	+0.5 to +2.0	High, snug udders = more capacity + longevity	Low udders → mastitis risk, breakdown
Rear Udder Width	One-directional (PUSH)	+0.5 to +2.0	Wide = strong suspensory, more quarters attachment	Narrow → weak suspensory, udder tilt
Udder Cleft/Median Suspensory	One-directional (PUSH)	+0.5 to +2.0	Deep cleft = tight ligament = longevity	Flat udders → early breakdown
Teat Length	Intermediate (HOLD ZONE)	-0.5 to +1.0	Moderate length = liner fit + robot success	Too short → liner slip, failed attachments; Too long → stepped on, damaged
Front Teat Placement	Intermediate (HOLD ZONE)	-0.5 to +0.5	Centered teats = easy milking	Too close → robot struggles; Too wide → milker issues
Rear Teat Placement	Intermediate (HOLD ZONE)	-0.5 to +0.5	Moderate spacing = robot-friendly	Too close → failed attachments; Too wide → poor milk-out
Rear Legs Side View	Intermediate (HOLD ZONE)	-0.5 to +0.5	Moderate angle = shock absorption	Too straight (posty) → hock stress, sole ulcers; Too sickled → structural weakness
Rump Angle	Intermediate (HOLD ZONE)	-0.5 to +0.5	Slight slope = calving ease + fertility	Too level → calving difficulty; Too steep → fertility issues
Stature	Intermediate (HOLD ZONE)	-0.5 to +0.5	Moderate frame = feed efficiency	Too tall → maintenance cost; Too short → capacity limits

A Selection Framework You Can Actually Use

So how do you turn all this into a semen‑ordering strategy instead of a headache?

Here’s a framework you can run in any Holstein herd on a Monday morning.

1. Audit your cows before you audit your bulls.

Grab your most recent classification herd summary. Look at:

Average teat length
Rear legs side view
Udder depth
Fore udder attachment
Teat placement (front and rear)

Then match that against what you see in the barn. Are you fighting liner slips or robot attachments? Are trimmers seeing the same claw lesions over and over? What do your cull codes say—feet and legs, udder breakdown, mastitis?

Circle the traits where your herd average is weak and the daily reality backs it up.

2. Translate STAs into the cows you’ll be milking five years from now.

Before you call a bull “moderate,” check the linear interpretation tables from Holstein USA, Lactanet, or your national evaluation center. Ask three questions:

At this STA, where do daughters land on the 1–9 or 1–50 scale?
Is that better than where my cows are today?
Or am I just repeating the same pattern?

If your herd already runs short‑teated and the breed average is short‑teated, a 0.0 STA won’t fix that. You’ll need bulls with positive teat‑length STAs just to pull daughters back into a functional range.

3. Decide how hard you need to correct—and what you’ll give up to do it.

If you’re:

Close to where you want to be (maybe one point off), bulls around ‑0.5 to +0.5 STA can help maintain the status quo.
Noticeably off‑center (1.5–2 points), bulls from about +0.5 to +1.5 STA will shift the needle.
In the ditch (more than 2 points off and seeing real cow problems), a stretch of more aggressive correction may be worth it.

This is where economics come in. A bull that fixes your worst type problem might not be the very top of your favorite index. But if you’re giving up, say, $50– to pull your herd out of a structural hole that’s costing you far more than that in lameness, mastitis, and robot drama, that’s not a sacrifice. It’s a trade.

If you’re looking at a bull that would cost you more than about just to correct one trait, it’s time to slow down and ask whether you’re over‑correcting and holding back overall genetic progress.

4. Watch heritabilities and timelines.

Type trait studies and national evaluations consistently show that stature and teat length have moderate‑to‑high heritabilities (around 0.4), while traits like foot angle are closer to 0.1. That means:

Stature and teat length will move quickly if you select hard.
Foot angle and some leg traits will move slowly regardless—they need patience and consistent selection, not wild swings.

Plan for a three‑generation horizon to account for the full impact of your choices to show up in the bulk tank and cull list.

5. If robots are in your future, start breeding for them now.

If you’re even talking to robot dealers, it’s time to tighten up on:

Rear teat placement that gives arms room to find and attach.
Teat length that works with your chosen liner profile.
Feet, legs, and locomotion that support voluntary traffic.

If you want a barn full of “robot‑ready” heifers on day one, start biasing sire selection that way at least two years before the first unit is bolted down. The heifers you’re breeding today are the cows your robots will be trying to milk in 2028–2030.

Trait	Target Linear Range (1–9 scale)	Target STA for Bulls	Why Robots Care	Priority
Rear Teat Placement	5.0–6.5 (moderate spacing)	+0.3 to +1.0	Too close → laser/camera can’t distinguish teats, failed attachments	CRITICAL
Teat Length	5.5–7.0 (moderate to slightly long)	+0.5 to +1.5	Too short → cups slip during attachment cycle; optimal length = secure seal	CRITICAL
Front Teat Placement	4.5–6.0 (centered)	-0.3 to +0.5	Wide or narrow extremes → arm positioning errors, longer box time	High
Udder Depth	5.0–7.0 (moderate to shallow)	+0.5 to +1.5	Very deep udders → ground clearance issues, teat height variability	High
Rear Legs Side View	4.5–6.0 (moderate angle)	-0.3 to +0.5	Posty cows = poor locomotion → reduced voluntary traffic, fetch lists	High
Foot Angle	4.5–6.0 (moderate)	-0.3 to +0.5	Flat feet + concrete = lameness → cows avoid robot, traffic breaks down	Medium
Rear Udder Height	6.0–8.0 (high)	+0.5 to +2.0	High attachments = consistent teat position → faster, more reliable cups-on	Medium
Locomotion/Mobility	Scored 1–2 (sound)	Select for Feet & Legs composite	Lame cows don’t walk to robot → “fallout group” that never adapts	CRITICAL

What This Means for Your Operation

Stop reading 0.0 STA as “safe.”
It only means “average for the current population.” In 2025–2026, that average is already too short, too straight, or too extreme for many parlors and robotic milking systems.
Use Holstein USA’s $2,678 gap as your reality check.
Their 2022 analysis showed that top‑quartile cows for functional conformation delivered 1,537 lbs more ECM in first lactation, 13,389 lbs more over their lifetimes, and 142 extra days in milk compared to bottom-quartile cows, worth about $2,678 per cow at $20/cwt.
Treat intermediate‑optimum traits like guardrails, not goals.
For teat length, teat placement, rump angle, and rear legs side view, your aim is to keep daughters in the functional middle and out of both ditches.
Factor real disease costs into your type decisions.
With recent US work putting average lameness cases at $336.91 per case and clinical mastitis often costing $120–$444, depending on the model, structural weaknesses that drive those numbers up are no longer minor cosmetic issues. They’re cash‑flow problems. If you’re in a quota or high‑component system, run the same math with your actual milk price and premiums.
Think in three‑generation chunks, not one proof run.
The semen in your tank today shapes your 2030 herd. If you’re drifting with the breed on key traits in 2026, you’re going to be paying for it in 2030 and beyond.

Key Takeaways

Zero STA is a direction, not a destination. When you see a line of zeros, ask where breed average actually is—and whether your robots, your parlor and your cows can live there.
Holstein USA’s own million‑cow study confirms that cows with stronger, more functional conformation don’t just look good on paper; they bring in more milk, stay in the herd longer, and generate more lifetime revenue.
The genomic work published since 2022 supports this: large U.S. Holstein data sets show that genomic regions for production, fertility, and longevity often overlap with those for key conformation traits.
The most profitable herds over the next decade will be the ones that use indexes, STAs, and linear scores together—pushing hard on the right one‑directional traits and holding the line firmly in the functional middle on everything that lives or dies on “optimum,” not “extreme.”

The Bottom Line

At the end of the day, the semen you order this month will decide what kind of cows your kids and grandkids are milking. You can let the breed’s drift pick that cow for you—or you can use the tools we’ve got now to build the kind of Holstein that actually fits your stalls, your robots, and your milk cheque for the long haul.

Complete references and supporting documentation are available upon request by contacting the editorial team at editor@thebullvine.com.

Learn More

Dairy Tech ROI: The Questions That Separate $50K Wins from $200K Mistakes – Arm yourself with the hard financial thresholds needed to survive the robot transition. This guide breaks down the $27-per-hour labor reality and delivers the management benchmarks that separate profitable automation from expensive equity drains.
Breeding Into a Moving Market: What Butterfat’s Crash Reveals About Dairy’s Genetic Timing Problem – Expose the dangerous 5-year lag between your sire tank and the processor’s check. This strategy reveals how to insulate your herd from market volatility by balancing component intensity with the structural longevity discussed in our million-cow analysis.
Revolutionizing Dairy Farming: How AI, Robotics, and Blockchain Are Shaping the Future of Agriculture in 2025 – Gain an unfair advantage by weaponizing AI-optimized breeding programs that boast 99.8% precision. This feature reveals how real-time sensor analytics are replacing guesswork, allowing you to breed for disease resistance and productivity with surgical accuracy.

The Sunday Read Dairy Professionals Don’t Skip.

Categories : Breed Association News

Tags : dairy genetic strategy, herd longevity, Holstein conformation, linear type traits, robotic milking efficiency, teat length genetics

878 Herds. 108.3% Average. 116.4% at the Top. Where Does Your BAA Rank on Holstein USA’s 2025 Lists?

Thursday, January 22nd, 2026

878 herds. 108.3% average. 116.4% at the top. If you’re classifying Holsteins, you should know exactly where your BAA lands on that scale.

Executive Summary: Holstein Association USA’s 2025 BAA lists recognize 878 Registered Holstein herds that averaged 108.3% BAA on about 66 classified cows per herd, capped by a 116.4% herd at the very top. Breed Age Average values compare your cows and herd average to the breed average while adjusting for age and stage of lactation, so one number tells you how your herd’s type really stacks up. The article breaks down the Overall Top 200 herds, the Top 25 by herd-size bracket, and the leading college and university herds to show what high-BAA programs look like from 10‑cow show strings to 500‑cow-plus operations. It then gives you a four-step playbook: benchmark your BAA against the 108.3% group, use individual classification and linear traits to find which cows are pulling your score up or down, align matings with Holstein’s TPI index, and decide how hard to lean on your BAA in marketing. Holstein is explicit that classification data help identify the most profitable and valuable animals and add “definite marketability” to Registered Holsteins, and that breeding under the updated TPI formula is designed to deliver greater profit, efficiency, and fertility over time. Together, BAA, classification reports, and TPI give you a consistent, numbers-driven way to see whether your type program belongs with herds now averaging above 108% BAA—or whether your next round of matings needs to push type harder to get there.

Holstein Association USA’s latest Breed Age Average (BAA%) rankings put hard numbers on herd-level type in 2025: 878 herds, an average BAA of 108.3%, and an elite group pushing up to 116.4%. In a Registered Holstein market where classification data are used to identify the most profitable and valuable animals and to add “definite marketability” to your cows, your BAA is one of the clearest summary numbers other people can use to see how your herd stacks up inside the same classification framework Holstein Association USA uses across its membership.

What BAA Really Measures

The Holstein Breed Age Average (BAA%) value provides a way to compare an animal’s score and the herd average with the breed average, taking into account the animal’s age and stage of lactation. This calculation puts cows of all ages on a more level playing field and turns a barn full of individual scores into a single number that reflects herd-level type.

BAA is based on results from Holstein Association USA’s linear classification program, where classifiers evaluate 17 individual traits in five major breakdowns to help breeders “breed, develop and market higher producing, more durable cows.” All animals receive an individual BAA value on the herd classification report, and members utilizing the Classic or Standard options of the Holstein classification program receive an overall BAA for their herd, which can be used to see how their classified cows compare to the broader Registered Holstein population.

For the 2025 high-ranking BAA lists, Holstein Association USA specifies that if a herd was classified twice between January 1 and December 31, 2025, and received an official herd BAA both times, only the most recent official BAA was used, and herds needed at least 10 cows included in the BAA calculation to appear on the lists. Holstein’s herd classification policies also specify how cows canceled on the day of classification are treated in the herd inventory and when they may be excluded from the official herd BAA, including provisions related to cows in the lowest ten percent of the herd by BAA.

2025 By the Numbers

Holstein Association USA reports that in 2025, 878 herds had a BAA value eligible for inclusion on the high-ranking lists. Across those herds, an average of 66 cows per herd were included in the BAA calculations, so the numbers represent whole breeding programs, not just a few standout cows. For this group, the average BAA was 108.3%, indicating these herds are scoring well above the breed average as expressed in BAA.

The 2025 high-ranking BAA release is organized into three main list types:

Overall Top 200 BAA Herds
Top 25 BAA Herds by Herd Size
Top BAA Herds for Colleges and Universities

Holstein Association USA has used a similar format in earlier high-ranking BAA lists, which also recognized top herds overall, by herd-size bracket, and at colleges and universities.

A quick snapshot of the 2025 top BAA levels by herd-size bracket shows how far above that 108.3% average the very top herds are:

Herd-size bracket	Top BAA 2025	Example herd (prefix)	Cows scored
1–45 cows	116.4	ROCKY-TOP (TN)	12
46–70 cows	115.5	CURR-VALE (NY)	46
71–107 cows	114.8	CONANT-ACRES (ME)	85
108–249 cows	112.8	RIDGEDALE (NY)	108
Over 250 cows	110.8	KAMPY (WI)	294

All values in this table come directly from Holstein Association USA’s high-ranking BAA lists.

The 200 Elite: Who’s Pushing 115+ BAA

At the top of the 2025 Overall Top 200 BAA Herds list is ROCKY-TOP (Matthew T. Mitchell, TN) with a 116.4 BAA on 12 cows, the highest BAA reported on the 2025 lists. Just behind are several other well-known Registered Holstein herds:

BUTLERVIEW (Jeffrey Jet Butler, IL) – 115.9 BAA on 32 cows
JUNIPER (Juniper Farm Inc, ME) – 115.6 BAA on 22 cows
T-TRIPLE-T (Triple-T Holsteins, OH) – 115.5 BAA on 23 cows
MILKSOURCE (Milk Source LLC, WI) – 115.5 BAA on 32 cows
CURR-VALE (Currie Holsteins, NY) – 115.5 BAA on 46 cows
DUCKETT (Michael & Julie Duckett, WI) – 115.4 BAA on 37 cows

The rest of the Top 200 is filled with prefixes that Registered Holstein breeders will recognize—TOPP-VIEW, CONANT-ACRES, LADY-LUCK, BUDJON, SPRINGHILL-OH, HUMDINGER, MILK&HONEY, RETSO, LIDDLEHOLME, ROCK-N-HILL-II, and many others—holding BAAs from the mid‑110s down into the high‑100s on herd sizes ranging from 10 cows to over 100. Several of these prefixes also appear in earlier high-ranking BAA lists and in news coverage, indicating a sustained focus on herd-level type in those breeding programs.

Holstein Association USA notes that classification and the resulting type information can be used “to make mating decisions,” to identify “the most profitable and valuable animals in your herd,” and to “add definite marketability to your Registered Holsteins,” which helps explain why breeders pay attention to where they stand on this kind of list.

Top 25 BAA Herds by Herd Size

To ensure both smaller and larger herds are recognized, Holstein Association USA ranks high BAA herds in herd-size brackets, a format that matches how earlier high-ranking lists have been presented.

1 to 45 Cows

In the smallest bracket—often tie-stall or show-focused herds—every cow has to be there on purpose:

ROCKY-TOP (TN) – 116.4 BAA on 12 cows
BUTLERVIEW (IL) – 115.9 BAA on 32 cows
JUNIPER (ME) – 115.6 BAA on 22 cows
T-TRIPLE-T (OH) – 115.5 BAA on 23 cows
MILKSOURCE (WI) – 115.5 BAA on 32 cows
DUCKETT (WI) – 115.4 BAA on 37 cows

Other high-ranking herds in this bracket include TOPP-VIEW (Eric A. Topp, OH), LADY-LUCK (OH), SPRINGHILL-OH (OH), SHADOW-W (OH), JW-AGHAMORA (NY), SUNROSE (IN), MILK&HONEY (NJ), EXCELERANT (WI), NISE-N-FANCY (IN), LOOKWELL (IN), and several more, all above 113 BAA on 10–45 cows.

46 to 70 Cows

In mid-sized herds, more cows need to hit the mark to keep BAA high consistently:

CURR-VALE (NY) – 115.5 BAA on 46 cows
BUDJON (WI) – 114.7 BAA on 48 cows
HUMDINGER (NY) – 114.5 BAA on 51 cows
SWEET-PEAS (PA) – 113.8 BAA on 57 cows
RETSO (NY) – 113.7 BAA on 51 cows

Also in this bracket are LIDDLEHOLME, ROCK-N-HILL-II, WHITTIER-FARMS, DAN-J-LAN, CRISDHOME, HEADWATER, MCWILLIAMS, LONDONDALE, CARPSDALE-J, PLUM-LINE, SONNEN, MOONDALE, UNIQUE-VIEW, C-COVE, INTRIGUE, HENKESEEN, STAR-SUMMIT, KEYSTONE, SHEEKNOLL, GREAT-HERITAGE, and WILONNA, with BAAs in the low‑112s to mid‑111s on roughly 50–72 cows.

71 to 107 Cows

Once you reach 71–107 cows, herd BAA reflects type across a sizeable milking string:

CONANT-ACRES (ME) – 114.8 BAA on 85 cows
SCARLET-SUMMER (PA) – 114.0 BAA on 89 cows
JEFFREY-WAY (WI) – 113.5 BAA on 100 cows

The rest of this bracket includes ETGEN-WAY, ROEDALE, LYN-VALE, PLAINFIELD, GARDEN-STATE, ELMLO, CRYSTAL-OAK, SHORESBROOK, ACK-LEE, POSTHAVEN, NOR-RICH-ACRES, WALK-ERA, PENN-DELL, POTTSDALE, EVANS-H, FLANNERY-VU, MILGENE, CASTLEMONT, WALHOWDON, and ELM-SPRING, all running from the low‑112s down into the high‑110s on 72–107 cows.

108 to 249 Cows

At 108–249 cows, the top BAA herds show that herd size and type can scale together:

RIDGEDALE (NY) – 112.8 BAA on 108 cows
COCALICO (PA) – 111.9 BAA on 115 cows
LANTLAND (NY) – 111.0 BAA on 127 cows
JOLEANNA (NY) – 110.8 BAA on 124 cows
OLMAR (MN) – 110.4 BAA on 126 cows
MILEY (OH) – 110.3 BAA on 178 cows

Other herds in this group include SCHWOEPPES, MORRILL, GROVES-VU, SILVER-SHEA, J-KIKO, S-PINE-LAWN, BRYERSQUART, JMK, WIEBER, MONANFRAN, CAPSTONE, MAYPAR, WOODEDGE, BUCKS-PRIDE, DONRU, COUNTRY-HEART, MELL-WOOD, RE-MARKEL, MID-KNIGHT, ONEEDA, and WISCIT (University of Wisconsin–Platteville), with BAAs from 110.0 down into the upper‑107s and herd sizes between about 108 and 249.

Over 250 Cows

The largest bracket shows that very big herds can still rank well above average on type:

KAMPY (Kamphuis Farms LLC, WI) – 110.8 BAA on 294 cows
ARB-FLO-SPR (MD) – 110.3 BAA on 342 cows
ESKDALE (UT) – 109.8 BAA on 301 cows
ROYAL-VISTA (WI) – 109.3 BAA on 330 cows
TRENT-WAY (WI) – 109.2 BAA on 429 cows

Rounding out the Top 25 in this size class are K-HURST, BRIGEEN, HORNLAND, WARGO-ACRES, SRNKA, SUGAR-C, JENNY-LOU, L&N, JER-LENE, JUNLYN, HERON-RUN, KELLERCREST, VIADUCT, H-C-H, ARIWAMI, URSA-GRASS, MEADO-BROO, WIRTLAND, HYLIGHT, and HILL-LINE, all with BAAs between the high‑108s and mid‑104s on 250–564 cows.

Taken together, these brackets show that high-ranking BAA herds are producing a type that stands out compared to the broader Registered Holstein population, whether they milk 20 cows or several hundred.

Colleges, Universities, and the Future of Type

Holstein Association USA’s Top College & University Herds list highlights where future dairy professionals are learning how classification and herd-level type look in real teaching and research settings.

For 2025, the top college and university herds by BAA are:

C-OF-O (College of the Ozarks, MO) – 109.9 BAA on 42 cows
UTAG (Utah State University, UT) – 109.7 BAA on 64 cows
POLY (Cal Poly Corporation, CA) – 108.2 BAA on 86 cows
UCONN (University of Connecticut, CT) – 108.0 BAA on 50 cows
UVM-CREAM (VT) – 107.7 BAA on 63 cows
WISCIT (University of Wisconsin–Platteville, WI) – 107.4 BAA on 161 cows
OK-STATE (Oklahoma State University, OK) – 107.2 BAA on 21 cows
CSUF (California State University, Fresno, CA) – 107.1 BAA on 61 cows
LSU-SERS (Southeast Research Station, LA) – 106.4 BAA on 81 cows
NCSU (North Carolina State University, NC) – 106.1 BAA on 61 cows

These herds expose students and young professionals to the type programs that appear on national BAA lists, and that exposure can shape how they think about herd-level conformation in their future careers.

How to Use Your BAA in 2026

Holstein Association USA is clear about what classification and the resulting type information are for: helping breeders make mating decisions, identify “the most profitable and valuable animals” in the herd, and “add definite marketability” to Registered Holsteins. The BAA number is one of the simplest herd-level summaries of that type of information.

Here’s a practical way to put your BAA to work alongside classification reports and genetic indexes:

1. Benchmark your herd against 2025 results.
- Compare your current herd BAA to the 108.3% average reported for the 878 herds on the 2025 high-ranking lists.
- Then look at the 2025 herd-size bracket that matches your operation and see where your BAA sits relative to the herds in that group. If your herd BAA has been relatively flat over several classification rounds while the 2025 high-ranking group averages 108.3%, that can be a useful signal that your type program is tracking differently than the herds highlighted on these lists.
2. Use individual scores to see what’s helping or hurting.
- Review individual cow classification and linear traits to see which cows and cow families are consistently above or below where you want them to be on feet and legs, udder, dairy strength, and other key traits.
- Use that information to identify animals that are raising your herd’s type profile versus those that may be limiting your BAA, keeping Holstein’s herd-classification policies in mind when deciding which cows stay in the classification pool.
3. Align your breeding plan with your type goals.
- Holstein Association USA’s TPI index combines production, type, and health traits into a single selection index, and breeding cows based on the updated TPI formula is designed to result in more profit, efficiency, and fertility.
- Where your herd is weaker on type, consider placing greater emphasis on bulls with strong conformation indexes and linear traits that address those specific weaknesses, while still maintaining production and health targets that align with your market and breeding goals.
4. Decide how visible your BAA should be in marketing.
- Holstein notes that classification and type information can add marketability to Registered Holsteins, and a strong herd BAA is one way to demonstrate that your herd’s conformation stands above the average of the breed on a BAA basis.
- If your BAA is competitive within your herd-size bracket or approaches the levels seen on the 2025 Top 200 list, consider including it alongside production and classification highlights in your advertising, website, and sale catalogs so buyers can see that herd-level type benchmark.

Holstein Association USA does not publish a fixed dollar value for each BAA point, and this article does not assign one. What the 2025 high-ranking lists make clear is where herd-level type stands across 878 Registered Holstein herds—and which operations are consistently building cows that classifiers see as structurally stronger than the overall breed average reflected in BAA.

Using your own BAA as a benchmark, together with the detailed classification data behind it and indexes like TPI, gives you a grounded way to decide whether your breeding program is already in that conversation—or whether your next round of matings needs to push type more aggressively to get there.

Key Takeaways

878 herds averaged 108.3% BAA in 2025; the top hit 116.4%. If you classify Holsteins, that’s the scale you’re measured against.
BAA adjusts for age and stage of lactation, so your herd’s number is a direct comparison to the entire Registered Holstein population.
High-BAA herds exist at every size—from 12-cow show strings to 500+ cow operations. Herd size isn’t the barrier; your breeding decisions are.
Holstein USA is explicit: classification data help identify the most profitable and valuable animals and add “definite marketability” to your genetics.
Use your BAA alongside classification reports and TPI to answer one question: is your type program running with the 108.3% pack, or do your next matings need to push harder?

Learn More

The 2026 Breeding Playbook: Using Calf-Health Genomics and Beef-on-Dairy to Unlock $50,000 in your herd– Gain an immediate $50,000 profit boost by implementing a clear, data-driven beef-on-dairy roadmap. This playbook arms you with specific weekly breeding lists and calf-health protocols to prune low-merit genetics while maximizing your top-tier multipliers.
Breeding Into a Moving Market: What Butterfat’s Crash Reveals About Dairy’s Genetic Timing Problem – Secure your farm’s long-term solvency by mastering the five-year “timing gap” between genetic selection and milk-check expression. This analysis reveals how to hedge against volatile component crashes, ensuring your 2030 herd matches future market realities.
The Next Frontier: What’s Really Coming for Dairy Cattle Breeding (2025-2030) – Capture a 25% revenue premium by preparing your herd for the CRISPR and gene-editing revolution. This forecast breaks down the transition to “designer milk” and AI-driven selection, positioning you to lead the industry’s shift toward high-value specialty markets.

The Sunday Read Dairy Professionals Don’t Skip.

Categories : Breed Association News

Tags : Breed Age Average, dairy breeding strategy, dairy farm benchmarking, herd type classification, Holstein BAA rankings, Registered Holstein genetics, show cow conformation

21 Master Breeders. 16 Years Each: Holstein Canada’s 2025 Master Breeders Just Crossed the Finish Line

Sunday, January 18th, 2026

From a 14-cow classification round in Quebec to a first 95-pointer—here’s who earned the industry’s hardest win

Fourteen Excellent cows in a single classification visit. That’s 14 handshakes. Any breeder who’s waited for that classifier to finish walking knows exactly how that moment felt for Micheret.

That’s the kind of result that earns a Master Breeder shield—and it’s just one story from the 21 Canadian operations Holstein Canada honored this year.

The Master Breeder designation isn’t handed out for one great lactation or one banner at a show. It evaluates your herd over a rolling 16-year window. Sixteen years of stacking high production, superior type, and cows that don’t quit—through milk price crashes, feed spikes, and every sire trend that came and went. These 21 herds kept delivering.

“Tonight is all about dedicated breeders, outstanding cows, and a legacy of excellence built generation by generation,” Holstein Canada President Jill Cote said during the reveal ceremony.

By the Numbers

21 shields awarded across five provinces
14 Excellent cows in one classification round (Micheret)
106 Excellent cows bred since 2005 (Crestomere)
16 consecutive VG or EX generations (Nauly)
99 HPI maintained for 16 straight years (Saintour)
74 Excellent cows underpinning a second shield (Nauly)

Want to meet these winners? The 2026 National Holstein Convention runs this April in British Columbia. Registration is open now.

Quebec Takes 12: The Province That Breeds Different

Quebec claimed more than half the shields this year—12 of 21. But the numbers don’t tell you much. The strategies behind them do.

Micheret: 14 Excellent Cows, One Classification Round

Balanced breeding between conformation and production has always been Micheret’s philosophy. The payoff came during a classification visit that produced 14 Excellent designations in a single round. That wasn’t luck. That was decades of breeding decisions finally showing up on the same day.

Hectare (Roxton Pond): The Tabasco Legacy — Second Shield

Some herds are built on one phenomenal cow family. For Hectare—earning their second shield—that foundation is Tabasco. Her two daughters have earned the Excellent designation a combined 10 times. When a cow family produces that consistently, you build your whole program around it.

Dessauges (Farnham): From Crossbred to 60+ Excellent

This one’s a complete rebuild. Dessauges started as a crossbred operation in the early 1990s. By the early 2000s, they’d transitioned to 100% purebred Holsteins. Their first Excellent cow came shortly after—an 11-year-old with eight calves behind her. Today, the herd boasts more than 60 Excellent cows. That kind of transformation doesn’t happen by accident.

Desross (Sainte-Flavie): The 25-Embryo Investment That Changed Everything

Desross purchased 25 top-quality Semex embryos, resulting in 11 females with strong first-lactation milk yields. Combined with genetic testing and classification, that embryo investment didn’t just provide momentum—it fundamentally rewrote their genetic trajectory. The herd hasn’t looked back.

Saintour: 16 Years at HPI 99

Saintour adopted a breeding strategy focused on animal health, fertility, and productivity. The payoff? A Herd Performance Index of 99 for 16 consecutive years—including a first-place national ranking in Canada in 2010. You don’t hold 99 for 16 years without intention.

Nauly: Second Shield, 74 Excellent Cows, 16 Generations of VG or Better

Nauly is back for their second Master Breeder shield. They’re sitting on 74 Excellent cows with 16 consecutive generations classified Very Good or Excellent. Their formula: strong cow families, embryo transfers on top bloodlines, and patience. “Believe in your goals,” was their advice during the ceremony. Good year for them.

Ringo (Rouville): International Recognition for Productivity

Bull selection and classification drive everything at Ringo. They use classification reports as their progress report card. The approach paid off with international recognition as one of the most productive herds—global acknowledgment, not just national.

Boisvert

Boisvert worked hard as a family with a clear breeding vision to develop balanced, productive cows. They combine quality forage with strong genetics, and they’ve built a group of cows they actually enjoy working with every day.

Mibois

Mibois focuses on developing beautiful, productive cows that they look forward to working with each day. Being named a Master Breeder finalist was, in their words, “a wonderful and completely unexpected surprise.” Sometimes the award finds you before you expect it.

Roclairson

Roclairson uses a focused breeding program guided by classification to refine conformation and improve reproduction. Their advice: “Seek guidance, but always trust your own judgment.”

Rochelet

Rochelet remains committed to high-performance genetic lines with an unwavering focus on excellence. Steady, strategic, consistent.

Chevrier

Chevrier relies on genetics and classification as core pillars of their management strategy, complemented by supervised milk testing and a strong emphasis on proper nutrition. When they got the surprise phone call during the ceremony, you could hear the emotion in their voices.

Ontario’s Five: Red & White Bets, Classification GPS, and the Three C’s

Ontario brought five shields home. Each operation took a different path to get there.

H-Bridge (Park Hill): All In on Red & White

Genetics and classification have always guided H-Bridge’s decisions. But their defining move was the transition to a 100% Red & White herd. In an industry where black-and-white still dominates showrings and semen catalogs, H-Bridge proved that specialized genetic focus can deliver national-level excellence.

“We can’t blame them for switching to reds,” the hosts joked during the reveal. The room agreed.

Vonburg (Woodstock): Excellent Daughters from Excellent Mothers

Vonburg focuses on cow families and sire proofs to create matings that produce long-lasting, profitable cows. Their most memorable milestone? Seeing Excellent daughters come from Excellent mothers—proof that their evaluation process actually works across generations. Exactly what they wanted.

Hiddenspring (Elmira): Learning from Classifiers and Adapting

Hiddenspring remained committed to its breeding strategy, focusing on increasing production while learning from classifiers and adapting to industry trends. That agility—knowing when to hold steady and when to adjust—separates breeders who plateau from breeders who keep climbing.

Birdolm (Rockwood): Classification as the Breeding GPS

Birdolm uses classification to guide thoughtful mating decisions, focusing on continuous improvement. Cows that stick around longer and milk harder. That’s money.

Eastedge (Springfield): Crops, Cows, and Comfort

Eastedge lives by the Three C’s: Crops, Cows, and Comfort. Grow good crops. Breed good cows. Provide excellent comfort.

“The Master Breeder shield is an award that comes from doing your best job each day,” they said during the ceremony. Their advice to the next generation? Focus on those three things. Everything else follows.

Alberta’s Two: Data-Driven Breeding and a 95-Pointer in 2025

Mosnang: Every Data Point, Every Generation

Genetics drives Mosnang’s passion for dairying and their commitment to continually breeding better cows. They use genetics, classification, registration, DHI, genomics, and cow families to evaluate, track, and improve their herd generation after generation. If there’s data available, Mosnang is using it.

When Holstein Canada called to announce the win, Mosnang picked up from the tractor. Farm life doesn’t stop for phone calls—you just take them wherever you are.

Crestomere: 106 Excellent Cows and Their First 95-Pointer

The Simonton family at Crestomere picked up the phone mid-chores when Holstein Canada called. You could hear the barn in the background.

Achieving Master Breeder status has always been their goal. In 2018, they moved from a tie-stall barn to a robotic facility. That transition, combined with sand bedding, increased cow comfort and longevity. Since 2005, they’ve bred 106 Excellent cows. And in 2025, they brought in their first 95-point cow.

That’s a year to remember.

Manitoba’s Shield: Missiontrail (Woodlands)

Missiontrail focuses on genetics to improve their next generation, emphasizing high production, functional type, and longevity. Every classification sheet is a report card—and they actually use it.

Nova Scotia’s Shield: Bokma (Shubenacadie)

Bokma is a third-generation, seven-robot dairy focused on producing elite, long-lasting cows with high production and type. They successfully bridged the gap between traditional breeding principles and modern robotic technology.

The Master Breeder goal guided their decisions. The robots didn’t change their breeding philosophy—they just changed how the cows get milked. That’s the balance.

What Past Winners Want You to Know

Chris McLaren of Larenwood (Drumbo, Ontario—2019 winner) joined the ceremony to share what he learned on the way to his shield. Worth hearing.

On the decision that made the difference:

“25 years ago, when I came home to farm, I convinced my dad that we are going to invest the same amount of money in genetics, but I was going to learn to breed cattle, and we’re going to put that money into great bulls. We slowly progressed over many years to producing better and better cattle, and it helped to accelerate our journey.”

On their 70-year closed herd strategy:

“Our simple goal is to match to make the daughters better than the mothers, and to slowly work away generation after generation and invest in our great families. Investments that don’t seem like you’re doing much at the time—but when you look, and it slowly builds over years and years, you’re getting a lot out of it.”

On what he’d tell tonight’s winners:

“Be patient and determined with your goals. We’re proof that long-term vision and goal-setting—you can achieve the things you dream of. Listen to neighbors and industry personnel, draw on their experience and wisdom. And most of all, keep in mind what is best for the cow in all the things you do. What is best for her in mating and breeding, and in health, facilities, and prevention? All those things will eventually get you where you want to go.”

Holstein Canada’s Vision: Protecting Genetic Integrity

Greg Dietrich, CEO of Holstein Canada, outlined the association’s direction during the ceremony.

“For 144 years, Holstein Canada has earned the trust of dairy farmers. That legacy matters,” Dietrich said. “But our future depends on how well we deliver on our strategies.”

He outlined four pillars: member and producer engagement, strong leadership and governance, industry partnerships, and innovation and research.

On the association’s role as the industry evolves: “We do that by protecting the integrity of both genetics and data, adopting new tools where they improve service, and ensuring information remains practical and relevant at the farm level. Just as importantly, we must continue to represent and connect breeders with a rapidly changing dairy ecosystem.”

The 2026 National Convention: BC This April

The 2025 Master Breeders will be honored at the National Holstein Convention in British Columbia this April. The theme is “Spirit of the West.”

Tammy Oswick, Holstein Canada’s bilingual event specialist, shared what’s planned:

Taste of BC: Local fare and fireside chats
Farm Tours: See BC operations firsthand
National Show: Heritage Park in Chilliwack, BC
Grouse Mountain Reception: A gondola ride to the President’s reception—”It will definitely be a night to remember,” Oswick said

“Convention week is a time to make new connections and reconnect with others while enjoying the beauty of the area we’re in and celebrating the success of our members,” Oswick said. “It’s really a memory in the making.”

Registration is open now. Book your hotel rooms early.

2025 Master Breeder Recipients

Herd Prefix	Province	Key Achievement/Focus
Micheret	Quebec	14 Excellent cows in one classification round
Hectare	Quebec	Second shield; Tabasco cow family
Boisvert	Quebec	Family-focused balanced breeding
Dessauges	Quebec	Crossbred to 60+ Excellent purebreds
Desross	Quebec	25 Semex embryos transformed trajectory
Saintour	Quebec	HPI 99 for 16 years; #1 Canada 2010
Nauly	Quebec	Second shield; 74 EX, 16 VG/EX generations
Mibois	Quebec	Beautiful, productive cow development
Roclairson	Quebec	Classification-guided breeding program
Rochelet	Quebec	High-performance genetic lines
Chevrier	Quebec	Genetics, classification, nutrition focus
Ringo	Quebec	Holstein International productivity recognition
H-Bridge	Ontario	100% Red & White transition
Vonburg	Ontario	Excellent daughters from Excellent mothers
Hiddenspring	Ontario	Production growth via trend adaptation
Birdolm	Ontario	Classification-guided longevity
Eastedge	Ontario	“Three C’s”: Crops, Cows, Comfort
Mosnang	Alberta	Data-driven: DHI, genomics, classification
Crestomere	Alberta	106 EX since 2005; their first 95-pointer in 2025
Missiontrail	Manitoba	Classification as a report card
Bokma	Nova Scotia	Third-generation, seven-robot dairy

Provincial breakdown: Quebec 12* – Ontario 5 – Alberta 2 – Manitoba 1 – Nova Scotia 1

Congratulations to all 2025 Master Breeder recipients. See you in BC this April.

Holstein Canada acknowledges the generous support of industry partners: Semex, Blondin Sires, and Zoetis.

For convention registration and Master Breeder Gala information, visit Holstein Canada’s website.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

21 farms. 16 years. The call came mid-chores. That’s what it takes to earn Canada’s hardest breeding award—no shortcuts, no catalog genetics, just cows that kept milking, classifying, and showing up pregnant.
Quebec claimed 12 shields and made it look easy. Micheret dropped 14 Excellents in one classification visit. Nauly stacked 74 Excellents across 16 straight VG/EX generations. Saintour held an HPI of 99 for 16 consecutive years. The province breeds differently.
Classification is still the only report card that pays. Every winner credited classifiers—not pedigree hype, not sale prices, not Instagram likes—as the primary feedback loop for mating decisions.
Robots don’t change what wins. Cows do. Bokma runs seven robots in Nova Scotia. Crestomere switched from tie-stalls in 2018 and just scored their first 95-pointer. Both earned shields by keeping the cow at the center of every facility upgrade.
BC. April. 21 shields. One stage. The National Holstein Convention’s Master Breeder Gala turns those mid-chores phone calls into the kind of handshakes breeders talk about for decades.

Executive Summary:

For 21 farms across Canada, the Master Breeder phone call finally came—often right in the middle of chores—after 16 years of stacking cows that milk last, and classify the way they were bred to. Quebec owned the night with 12 shields, from Micheret’s 14-Excellent-cow classification visit to Nauly’s 74 Excellents and 16 straight VG/EX generations. Ontario’s five winners leaned on cow families and classifiers as their GPS, while Alberta’s Mosnang and Crestomere proved you can mix genomics, robots, and 106 homebred Excellents into the same story and still have it start in a tie-stall barn. Manitoba’s Missiontrail and Nova Scotia’s Bokma showed that smaller provinces can still build big-time cows by treating every classification sheet like a report card and every robot as just a different way to milk the same kind of cow. On the big-picture side, CEO Greg Dietrich laid out Holstein Canada’s plan to protect the integrity of both genetics and data, and past winner Chris McLaren reminded breeders that great bulls, closed herds, and cow-first facilities still win if you give them enough years. All 21 herds will step onto the stage at the 2026 National Holstein Convention in British Columbia, where the “Spirit of the West” will turn those mid-chores phone calls into the kind of night breeders remember for the rest of their careers.

Continue the Story

The Magic Behind Larenwood Farms: How Chris McLaren is Redefining Dairy Excellence — Chris McLaren’s advice to the 2025 winners came from somewhere real. This profile unpacks the 70-year closed herd, the 2019 shield, and the philosophy that turned a sixth-generation Ontario farm into Canada’s Best Managed Herd. If his words during the ceremony resonated, this is the full story behind them.
The Great Holstein Shakeup: How 16 Years Rewrote Breeding Rules — The Master Breeder shield evaluates herds over a rolling 16-year window. This piece explains what happened to Holstein breeding during that same timeframe—genomics cut generation intervals by 76%, selection shifted toward functional traits, and the “super-sire” model collapsed. The forces these 21 winners navigated, mapped out.
Bosdale Farms: The Legacy Behind Canada’s Most Excellent Cows — Crestomere bred 106 Excellents since 2005. Bosdale has 415. This multi-generational Ontario family walks a parallel path—patient breeding, cow-family obsession, and the belief that functional conformation outlasts every trend. If Crestomere’s story inspired you, Bosdale shows what another 50 years of the same philosophy can build.

The Sunday Read Dairy Professionals Don’t Skip.

Categories : Breed Association News

Tags : 2025 Master Breeders, breeding for longevity, Crestomere Holsteins, dairy farm success stories, Holstein Canada, Micheret Holstein

Why the A2 Boom Bypassed Heritage Breeds – And What’s Actually Working

Wednesday, January 7th, 2026

Your Guernseys might be naturally A2—but if you’re not hitting 50,000 lb per run, your premium is probably disappearing in someone else’s silo.

<a href="https://rss.com/podcasts/the-bullvine/2437138/">E457 Why the A2 Boom Bypassed Heritage Breeds – An | RSS.com</a>

U.S. Guernsey cattle are now officially sitting in the “Watch” category on The Livestock Conservancy’s Conservation Priority List, which is the tier reserved for breeds with fewer than 2,500 annual U.S. registrations and an estimated global population under 10,000 registered animals according to the Conservancy’s parameters. The latest list still places Guernseys in that Watch bracket, which gives you a pretty clear sense of how small the registered population has become compared with where it once was in North America.

Over roughly the same period, the business around A2 milk has gone from a niche curiosity to serious money. Precedence Research pegs the global A2 milk market at about 2.86 billion U.S. dollars in 2025 and projects it out to around 7.62 billion by 2034 if current demand growth holds, which works out to roughly an 11‑plus percent annual growth rate over that stretch. So you’ve got a rapidly growing premium segment on one hand, and on the other, you’ve got heritage breeds like Guernsey that, based on both breed descriptions and on‑farm A2 testing results, tend to show a very high frequency of the A2 β‑casein variant when samples are sent in.

***The global A2 milk market is projected to nearly triple from $2.86B in 2025 to $7.62B by 2034—an 11%+ annual growth rate that explains why heritage breed owners thought they had a goldmine***

On paper, you’d think those two things would line up a lot better than they have. As many of us have seen over coffee at meetings or in the bleachers at shows, they mostly haven’t.

What’s interesting here is that once you strip this back to what’s actually in the genes, how plants are built, and where the dollars really move, the answer is pretty straightforward… and a bit uncomfortable.

Looking at the genetics, not the sales pitch

Looking at this trend from the genetics side first, A2 isn’t some magical “heritage package.” It’s one specific change in the β‑casein protein coded by the CSN2 gene—a single nucleotide substitution that flips one amino acid at position 67 from histidine (A1) to proline (A2). Reviews on A2 milk from food science and nutrition researchers keep coming back to the same point: the distinction between A1 and A2 β‑casein is that single amino acid difference, not a wholesale change in the cow or in other milk proteins.

That’s very different from things like butterfat performance, fertility, or how a cow holds up through the transition period in a grazing system, which all involve many genes and years of selection pressure. A2 is more like a light‑switch trait. If you’ve got genomic tools and access to semen catalogues that clearly label A2A2 sires, you can shift the A2 status of a Holstein herd pretty quickly.

A group led by B.A. Scott in Australia pulled together Holstein genomic data and published it in 2023 in Frontiers in Animal Science. They showed that the proportion of A2A2 Holstein cows in their dataset rose from about 32 percent in 2000 to roughly 52 percent in 2017 as selection for the A2 allele increased in the population. That’s a big shift in less than two decades, driven mainly by AI studs and breeders nudging A2 sires up their lists once the trait started to matter commercially.

***Holstein herds went from 32% A2A2 in 2000 to 52% by 2017 through simple genomic selection—proving that the “heritage A2 advantage” was never a sustainable moat***

Once brands like The a2 Milk Company started talking about A2 in grocery aisles, studs did what they always do: they flagged A2A2 sires clearly in proofs and catalogs and, where feasible, folded A2 into their mating tools and marketing. If a bull was already strong on production, health traits, and type, A2 became one more box that was easy to tick when planning matings.

You can see how fast this can move when you look at operations like Sheldon Creek Dairy in Ontario. Their own story describes how they used Holstein genetics and careful sire selection to transition their herd to produce only A2 β‑casein, then built a bottled milk brand around that. They didn’t need to change breeds to do it.

So if you’ve been told that Guernseys or other heritage breeds had a “baked‑in A2 advantage” that nobody else could catch, the genetics really don’t support that. The initial advantage was real—many Guernsey herds do test very high for A2—but it was easy for Holstein programs to copy once there was a commercial reason to do so.

The plant math that quietly decided everything

Now, genetics is only half the story. The other half is the part that doesn’t show up in glossy brochures: how milk actually moves through a plant, and what it costs to treat a stream as “special.”

Let’s walk through two real‑world scenarios the way you’d probably talk them through around a table with a pencil and a notepad. The numbers themselves will feel familiar if you’ve ever sat down with an extension engineer or a processing consultant.

In Scenario A, imagine a 5,000‑cow Holstein herd. If you decide to test all those cows for A2 using a typical genomic panel that includes β‑casein, you’re probably looking at something in the $45–50 per head range based on current commercial lab pricing in North America. Call it roughly $225,000 to test the whole string.

If around 45 percent of those cows test A2A2—which lines up with where a lot of Holstein herds land once A2 has been on the radar for a while—that’s about 2,250 cows. If those cows are averaging roughly 70 pounds of milk per day, that subset alone is producing around 157,000 pounds of A2 milk per day. Even if a processor only pulls part of that into a dedicated stream, you’re still comfortably over the 50,000‑pound volume that makes a separate A2 run realistic.

Most large plants can justify a separate A2 run at that kind of volume, including a full clean‑in‑place cycle between the A2 product and regular milk. Processors running A2 programs in markets like the U.S., Australia, and New Zealand report premiums of $1.50 to $2.50 per hundredweight over conventional pay prices, depending on contract structure and the products they’re making. Stack that over a month, and you’re talking tens of thousands of dollars in extra revenue, without changing barns, freestall layout, dry lot systems, or core fresh cow management—just sorting cows, managing groups, and scheduling dedicated loads.

Daily production from that herd might be in the 7,500 to 9,000 pound range if cows are giving 50–60 pounds apiece, depending on components, fresh‑cow management, and days in milk. And that’s where the problem starts. In many Guernsey herds that have actually done the testing, a very high proportion of cows do come back A2A2, which matches what breed descriptions and breeders report, even though there isn’t a single global genomic survey that pins down one exact percentage.

Daily production from that herd might be in the 3,000 to 4,000 pound range, depending on butterfat performance, fresh cow management, and days in milk. And that’s where the problem starts. The same plants that are happy to schedule a special A2 run at 50,000 pounds in Scenario A can’t justify a completely separate run for 7–9,000 pounds a day from one small herd. By the time you factor in hauling logistics, testing, and the time and chemicals for a full CIP, that small stream just doesn’t carry its weight in a conventional plant.

Unless you and several neighbours can pool your milk into a unified, A2‑only stream that gets into the tens of thousands of pounds per week, your A2 milk is simply going to disappear into the regular tank. The premium doesn’t vanish because anyone dislikes Guernseys; it vanishes because the plant can’t afford to treat that small volume as a separate product under its current design.

In the Upper Midwest, for example, plant managers will tell you candidly that every new product run means lining up dedicated loads, testing them, possibly tweaking process settings, and then doing a full CIP before switching back. For many plants, a rough threshold where that becomes feasible is somewhere around 50,000 pounds per run, not as a hard rule but as the point where per‑unit costs start to look sensible.

So a lot of heritage herds find themselves at a three‑way fork:

One path is to invest in some level of on‑farm processing. When you talk to extension specialists and farmstead processors, a modest 50–150 cow setup—pasteurizer, bottling line, food‑grade processing room, cold storage, licensing, and working capital—often lands in the $175,000 to $325,000 range once everything’s on paper.
Another path is to organize a serious pooled stream with like‑minded neighbours so you can show up at the plant door with enough volume and consistency to justify a separate A2 or heritage run.
The third path, which many people end up on by default, is to accept that as long as you’re shipping into a conventional pool, A2 alone won’t change your milk cheque much, if at all.

A Vermont producer who priced all this out with advisors summed it up bluntly in a regional article: the A2 premium at the plant is real, he said, but they couldn’t see how to capture it “without becoming a completely different kind of business.” That’s a pretty honest read on the gap between the A2 sales pitch and plant‑level infrastructure.

What on‑farm processing really looks like when you sharpen the pencil

If you’re seriously kicking the tires on processing your own milk—even just part of it—those big ballpark numbers start to look a lot more real once you break them down into line items.

Extension publications and small dairy plant consultants tend to put the major capital costs into a few familiar buckets. A decent-sized batch or HTST pasteurizer, plus a filler and basic controls, might run in the $75,000–$125,000 range, depending on whether you’re buying new or reconditioned equipment. Building out or upgrading a room to meet food‑grade standards—floors, walls, floor drains, CIP‑friendly design, HVAC, and electrical—can easily add another $40,000–$80,000.

Then there’s the regulatory and compliance side. Between design review, permits, inspections, and initial lab work, many farms end up in the $15,000–$40,000 range just to get through licensing. Add in $20,000–$40,000 for packaging and cold storage—bottles, caps, labels, cases, coolers, or a small walk‑in—and whatever you’re comfortable holding as working capital for a few months of payroll and utilities, which might be another $25,000–$40,000.

Put all of that together, and that’s how so many farmstead dairies land in that $175,000–$325,000 startup range for a 50–150 cow operation. It’s a big step, especially when you’re still milking mornings and evenings and trying to keep cows moving cleanly through the transition period.

So what does that investment actually buy you on a per‑hundredweight basis?

When you talk to direct‑market farms that are selling whole milk under their own label and turning some of the tank into cheese, yogurt, or ice cream, you hear similar patterns in their back‑of‑the‑envelope math. Once they reverse‑engineer their retail sales back to the farm gate, many find that bottled whole milk is effectively returning somewhere in the high‑30s to mid‑40s per hundredweight equivalent. Value‑added products like cheese or yogurt often come out in the mid‑50s to maybe around $80/cwt equivalent in some markets, especially near cities with strong local‑food demand.

Nobody is suggesting that every farm will hit those exact numbers; it depends heavily on your location, customer base, product mix, and ability to manage both the plant and the cows. But when you blend it all together—a portion of the milk as bottled whole, some as chocolate, some as yogurt or cheese—a lot of these operations report blended returns in the roughly $48–$65/cwt equivalent range.

Compare that to a commodity price in the low‑20s per hundredweight in many recent U.S. mailbox averages, and you start to see why some heritage herds are making that jump, even if it means learning to run a pasteurizer in the afternoon instead of heading straight from the parlor to the shop.

Heritage herds that successfully process on-farm report blended returns of $48–$65/cwt versus low-$20s in bulk pools—a 2–3× multiplier that justifies the capex if you can realistically climb this ladder in your market

The real question for your yard isn’t “Is on‑farm processing a good idea?” It’s “Can I realistically see a path to that blended $45+/cwt equivalent in my own postcode with the time, talent, and markets I have—or can build?”

Who’s actually making heritage genetics pay?

What farmers are finding is that the heritage herds that are growing or at least holding steady aren’t hanging their hats on A2 alone. They’re building full business models around their cows.

Two Guernsey Girls Creamery in Wisconsin is a good example. Owner Tammy Fritsch runs a state‑licensed micro‑dairy near Freedom, milking a small Guernsey herd and processing the milk right there on the farm. The idea didn’t start with spreadsheets; it started with years of showing Guernseys at the Wisconsin State Fair and hearing visitors ask where they could still buy Golden Guernsey milk like they remembered.

Today, that operation tests cows to confirm A2 status, pasteurizes milk on‑farm, and bottles non‑homogenized milk so the cream rises in the bottle—something customers notice right away. They also make Guernsey cheese curds and other products, selling through farm pickup, local stores, and outlets that want something distinct and local. A2 is part of the story, but it sits alongside breed identity, the visible cream line, and a direct relationship between the family and their customers.

In Ontario, Eby Manor near Waterloo has done something similar with its Golden Guernsey label. Their own materials describe their Guernsey milk as naturally rich and A2, and they bottle that into milk, chocolate milk, cream, yogurt, and cheeses under their family brand. They’re working inside a quota system, but the basic approach is similar: don’t wait for a processor to create a Guernsey A2 silo—build your own lane and brand.

When you lay these examples side by side, the pattern is fairly consistent. The heritage herds that are really making it work often share a few traits:

They’ve taken control of at least some processing and packaging under their own roof.
They’ve built direct‑to‑consumer channels—farm stores, markets, local grocers, cafés, and delivery.
They’ve diversified beyond fluid milk into at least one or two value‑added products, often including cheese or yogurt.
They’re stacking A2 with other premiums like grass‑based feeding, local identity, sometimes organic certification, and the heritage angle itself.
They’ve built a community of customers who know the farm and the cows by sight.

For heritage herds that are still shipping everything into a single tanker and hoping a processor will someday decide to pay more just because the milk is A2, that’s the real gap.

The consumer confusion that muddies the water

There’s another piece here that’s easy to underestimate when you’re living in the barn: what’s going on in the consumer’s mind.

You probably know this already, but a lot of people use “lactose intolerance” as a catch‑all label for any discomfort they feel after drinking milk, even though true lactose intolerance is about low lactase enzyme levels and not about casein proteins. Reviews that look over the A2 literature point out that many consumers don’t clearly distinguish between issues with lactose and possible differences in how they respond to A1 versus A2 β‑casein.

So someone who’s genuinely lactose intolerant sees A2 milk on the shelf, hears that it’s “easier to digest,” and decides to give it a try. Since A2 milk still contains essentially the same lactose content as regular milk, that person may not feel any better. They walk away thinking, “That was just expensive milk that didn’t help me.”

At the same time, some people do report feeling better on A2 milk in controlled digestion studies, especially in terms of bloating or GI discomfort, but those are often individuals whose issues weren’t driven purely by lactose in the first place. That nuance is tough to convey in three lines on a label or in a 15‑second ad.

For small heritage herds trying to build a local A2 niche, that confusion creates headwinds. The big A2 brands have done a lot to get the term “A2” into consumer vocabulary, which helps. But they haven’t always helped shoppers understand why a local Guernsey A2 milk, sold in glass with a visible cream line and a pasture story, is another step different again.

So what stands out in conversations with farmers here is that A2 can be a door‑opener. It might be the reason someone tries your milk for the first time. But the reasons they keep coming back—flavour, mouthfeel, how they feel after they drink it, the kids’ reactions, what they see when they visit the farm—go way beyond that one gene marker.

What processors are really up against

As many of us have seen, it’s tempting to chalk all this up to processors “not getting it.” But when you actually sit in a plant office and ask how they’d make a heritage A2 run work, the answer often comes down to mechanics: plant design, labour, and scheduling.

In many Midwest plants, managers will tell you that every new product run means lining up dedicated loads, verifying composition, possibly adjusting process settings, and then performing a full CIP before switching back. That’s a lot of labour and downtime for a small stream. For many plants, the rough threshold at which this becomes feasible is around 50,000 pounds per run; below that, the extra cost per unit can erode the premium quickly.

There have been attempts in states like Wisconsin and Vermont to set up specialty pools—grass‑based pools, local pools, sometimes A2 pools. Some of those have made progress; others have run into predictable problems: not enough consistent volume, too much compositional variation, too much scheduling complexity relative to plant capacity. In California’s Central Valley, where a lot of milk moves through very large, highly optimized plants tied to big Holstein herds in freestalls or dry lot systems, there’s even less room to carve out tiny lanes for heritage milk.

So if your business plan is built on a conventional plant paying a stable, meaningful premium just because your milk is both A2 and heritage, at a relatively small volume, you’re basically betting against the way most plants are currently engineered. That doesn’t make processors villains; it just means the system wasn’t built to do what we now wish it could do.

The pasture angle we don’t want to lose sight of

It’s also worth stepping back from the plant for a minute and looking at where these cows actually earn their keep: on the ground.

Teagasc, the Irish agriculture research and advisory organization, has done a lot of work comparing straight Holstein‑Friesian cows with Holstein‑Friesian × Jersey crossbreds in grass‑based, seasonal systems. In several of those multi‑year pasture studies, the crossbreds have come out ahead on profit per cow and per hectare, mainly because of better fertility, survival, and components, even when straight Friesians had an edge on pure volume. An analysis highlighted by Agriland reported that crossbred cows at Teagasc’s Clonakilty research farm were generating around €162 more profit per cow per lactation than straight Holsteins in that grass‑based system.

Those aren’t Guernseys, but they do back up what many graziers in the Northeast and Upper Midwest have already noticed on their own farms: the cow that’s a star on a high‑input TMR in a big freestall isn’t always the cow that makes you the most money when you’re walking to the back paddock in April, dealing with wet springs, and trying to get an efficient bite off grass.

Heritage breeds like Guernsey, Ayrshire, and Brown Swiss, evolved in environments closer to those of grazing systems. The Livestock Conservancy, breed associations, and extension sources describe Guernseys as good grazers that can do well on quality pasture, hardy across a range of climates, and relatively easy to manage. Ayrshires have long been known for strong feet and legs and good performance on rougher ground. Brown Swiss carry a reputation for longevity and for producing milk with protein and casein profiles that work well for cheesemaking, especially in alpine‑style cheeses.

So if you’re in a pasture‑heavy system—think New York’s hill farms, Vermont and Quebec grazing herds, Wisconsin seasonal dairies, or coastal British Columbia—chasing A2 might be less important than asking, “Which genetics give me the best lifetime production and profit per acre on this land base?” A2 can still be part of that picture, but fertility, days in milk, hoof health, and how well a cow converts your grass into fat and protein are often the real levers.

Crossbreeding: where heritage genes quietly move into big herds

There’s also a quieter trend that doesn’t show up in breed registration numbers: heritage genetics getting into commercial herds through deliberate crossbreeding.

Many larger Holstein herds frustrated by fertility, lameness, and short productive lifespans have already considered crossbreeding with Jerseys, Montbéliardes, or Scandinavian Reds, and the literature on crossbred systems consistently shows heterosis benefits for functional traits such as fertility and survival. Adding Guernsey, Ayrshire, or Brown Swiss sires into that mix—especially sires that are A2A2—is another way to bring in hybrid vigor and some of those pasture or functional traits without flipping the whole herd overnight.

Guernsey breeders like Tom Ripley, who has worked extensively with the American Guernsey Association, have shared field reports from producers who use Guernsey sires on Holstein cows and report improvements in calving ease, component levels, and, sometimes, fertility in the resulting crossbreds. These aren’t controlled university trials, and they’re not going to show up in Journal of Dairy Science the same way Teagasc’s work does, but they do line up with the broader crossbreeding literature from New Zealand and Ireland that shows heterosis boosting “functional” traits in many three‑breed systems.

What’s encouraging about that is it opens up revenue beyond the milk cheque for heritage breeders who are paying attention. If you’ve got a Guernsey, Ayrshire, or Brown Swiss family with real performance behind it—good components, sound udders, durable feet and legs—you may have an opportunity to sell semen or breeding stock into commercial herds that want those traits, even if your own milk still goes into a conventional pool.

The bigger genetic picture and why it matters

One more piece that matters more in the long run than in any given month’s milk statement is genetic diversity.

Geneticists working on dairy cattle have been pointing out for years that the effective population size of Holsteins—the number of unrelated founders you’d need to reproduce the existing genetic variation—is relatively small compared with the actual number of Holsteins in barns. That’s what happens when you run intense selection on a fairly narrow group of elite sires for multiple generations. It’s been great for yield and components, but it has nudged inbreeding steadily upward.

Scott’s 2023 analysis of selecting for A2 in the Australian Holstein population went a step further and showed that selecting for the A2 allele alone, without careful management of relationships, could increase both regional and genome‑wide inbreeding, because it narrows the sire pool even more. That’s not a reason to avoid A2 completely, but it’s a reminder that stacking too many selection criteria on top of each other in a single breed can have side effects you don’t fully feel until years down the road.

Heritage breeds like Guernsey, Ayrshire, and Brown Swiss carry trait combinations that aren’t easy to rebuild if we lose them—heat tolerance paired with decent components, strong grazing instincts with solid structure, and cheese‑friendly casein variants, just to name a few. The fact that Guernseys sit in that Watch category, with thresholds of fewer than 2,500 annual U.S. registrations and fewer than 10,000 registered animals globally, is a quiet alarm bell that those options are not endless.

Breed	Annual U.S. Registrations	Est. Global Population	Conservation Status
Holstein	>200,000	>10 million	Not at risk
Jersey	~40,000	~1 million	Not at risk
Guernsey	<2,500	<10,000	Watch
Ayrshire	<1,000	<5,000	Threatened
Brown Swiss	~5,000	~50,000	Watch
Milking Shorthorn	<500	<3,000	Critical

Source: The Livestock Conservancy Conservation Priority List; breed association estimates

It doesn’t mean every commercial herd needs to go buy a string of Guernseys tomorrow. But it does mean that breed associations, co‑ops, and policy folks should be thinking consciously about whether they want those tools still available when our kids and grandkids are the ones making the breeding decisions.

So, where does this leave you in 2026?

Looking at this trend as a progressive producer, you start to see where the real decision points sit once the dust from the A2 hype settles.

A few things stand out:

Consumer preferences around A2, local, grass‑based, and heritage products are real in certain markets, especially urban and higher‑income areas, but they’re patchy. Survey‑based work on A2 consumer preferences in Europe and Oceania shows that some shoppers will pay a noticeable premium for A2 milk, while others don’t see enough perceived benefit to justify switching from conventional milk, which mirrors what many of us see in farm stores and markets.
Heat stress and climate volatility are already costing the dairy sector serious money in lost production and fertility, and those costs are expected to grow rather than shrink. Economic analyses of heat stress in U.S. dairy herds estimate total losses in the billion‑dollar range annually, once you add up milk yield, reproduction, and health impacts. Cows that handle heat and weather swings better are going to become more valuable in most regions.
Infrastructure support for new models is becoming increasingly flexible. Vermont’s Working Lands Enterprise Initiative, Wisconsin’s Dairy Innovation Hub, and similar programs are investing public funds in on-farm processing, small regional plants, and broader dairy innovation projects. That doesn’t guarantee success, but it does mean there’s some help out there if you want to test a new model rather than go it completely alone.
Genetic diversification remains an under‑valued hedge. Whether it’s crossbreeding, bringing in some heritage lines, or just broadening your selection goals beyond the next hundred pounds of milk, diversifying your genetics can give you more room to manoeuvre when markets, policies, or weather patterns shift.

Coffee‑table takeaways, now that the mugs are half empty

If you’re already milking heritage cows, the big takeaway is that A2 is a nice card to have, but it’s not the ace by itself. The herds that are winning with heritage breeds right now are stacking A2 on top of strong butterfat performance, good grazing fit, on‑farm processing, and deep customer relationships. Before you spend a couple of hundred thousand dollars on stainless and concrete, it’s worth asking yourself whether you can realistically see a blended return in that $45+/cwt equivalent range through bottled milk and value‑added products in your area. If you can’t, you may find that your energy is better spent tightening your grazing, strengthening your direct‑to‑consumer channels, or positioning your herd as a source of genetics for crossbreeding and semen sales.

If you’re thinking about moving into heritage breeds, it’s worth starting not with the cow but with the market. Who exactly would buy this milk? In which form? At what price? Is there a realistic path to processing either on‑farm or through a small creamery that’s willing to build a heritage or A2 brand with you? Spending a day or two with people who already made that jump—walking their plant, talking about their transition period, and listening to their cash‑flow stories—is probably one of the best investments you can make before you call a Guernsey breeder. And don’t forget to think about genetic revenue: semen, embryos, and breeding stock can all sit alongside the milk cheque if you build the reputation and the data.

If you’re looking at things more from the 30,000‑foot view—maybe you’re involved in a co‑op board, a breed organization, or a policy group—then the message is that heritage breeds aren’t going to be “saved” by the A2 boom alone. But they still have important roles to play in crossbreeding programs, in pasture‑based systems, and as a reservoir of traits we may need badly in years to come. Supporting more flexible processing infrastructure, targeted grants, and thoughtful breeding work may do more to keep those options alive than any single A2 marketing campaign.

In the end, the A2 boom didn’t so much ignore heritage breeds as flow into the channels that were already built: big Holstein herds, big plants, big distribution. That’s frustrating if you’ve been sitting on a naturally A2 herd for decades. But once you see it clearly, it also frees you up.

Instead of waiting for the system to notice and reward you, you can decide whether you want to build a different kind of business around your cows, or whether you’re better off using their genetics as one tool in a broader, more diversified strategy. It’s more work either way, no doubt about it. But as many of us have seen on farms that have made these choices with clear eyes and solid numbers, that’s also where the real, lasting opportunities tend to live.

Key Takeaways:

A2 isn’t a heritage lock‑in. It’s a single‑gene trait Holsteins copied fast once the market cared—Guernseys’ natural head start didn’t last.
Plant math decides who gets the premium. Most processors need ~50,000 lb A2 runs to justify segregation; a 150‑cow Guernsey herd’s 3–4,000 lb/day just disappears into the bulk tank.
On‑farm processing can pay, but know your numbers. Expect $175K–$325K capex and aim for $45+/cwt blended returns—if you can’t see that path in your market, stainless may not be your move.
Winning heritage herds stack premiums, not just genes. A2 opens doors, but repeat customers come back for cream‑top bottles, local identity, pasture stories, and real relationships.
Heritage genetics still matter—for crossbreeding, grazing, and the long game. Functional traits, heat tolerance, and diversity are worth more as inbreeding and climate pressure keep rising.

Executive Summary:

This feature digs into a simple question a lot of producers are asking: if A2 milk is headed toward a $7.6 billion global market, why are Guernseys still on the Watch list instead of cashing in? It shows that A2 is just a single‑gene switch Holsteins adopted quickly, while the real gatekeeper is plant design—big processors need 50,000‑lb A2 runs from 5,000‑cow herds, not 3–4,000 lb/day from 150‑cow heritage barns. You’ll see the hard numbers on on‑farm processing—typical $175,000–$325,000 capex and blended $48–$65/cwt returns—so you can tell if a bottling room pencils out for your postcode or just steals sleep and cashflow. The article profiles Two Guernsey Girls in Wisconsin and Eby Manor in Ontario to show how some herds are actually making heritage genetics pay by stacking A2 with grass‑based stories, cream‑top bottles, and value‑added products. It also walks through where heritage genes fit into crossbreeding, pasture‑based systems, and long‑term genetic diversity, especially as heat stress and inbreeding pressure keep rising. The piece ends with clear, coffee‑table style takeaways that help you decide whether your best move is chasing A2 contracts, investing in stainless, leaning into crossbreeding, or staying bulk and focusing on the cows and markets you already do best.

Complete references and supporting documentation are available upon request by contacting the editorial team at editor@thebullvine.com.

Learn More

The 18-Month Protein Window: $11 Billion in New Plants Signals It’s Time to Rethink Your Sire Lineup – Arms you with the “coffee shop math” to calculate your own ROI on genomic testing and component-heavy sires. Breaks down exactly how to align your breeding with the $11 billion processing shift hitting our industry right now.
What Lactalis’s 270-Farm Cut Really Means for Every Producer – Exposes why commodity milk is effectively dead and how to navigate the 18-month decision window before major processors shut you out. Delivers a hard-nosed roadmap for transitioning into the premium specialty markets that actually pay.
The $200-Per-Cow Blindspot: What Rising Inbreeding Is Costing You – and What a Decade of Crossbreeding Research Found – Reveals the massive, hidden cost of modern inbreeding and delivers a decade’s worth of data on how strategic crossbreeding is outperforming purebreds. Gain the competitive advantage of high-health, long-lived cows that keep your checkbook healthy.

The Sunday Read Dairy Professionals Don’t Skip.

Categories : Breed Association News

Tags : beef-on-dairy, dairy genetics, dairy profitability, Genomic Testing, heifer inventory, herd management

Holstein’s Automated Classification Cameras: Why They’ll Work for 500-Cow Dairies but Maybe Not Yours

Monday, October 13th, 2025

Holstein’s cameras could eliminate classifier visits—but only 40% of dairies are big enough to afford them.

<a href="https://rss.com/podcasts/the-bullvine/2267852/">E392 Holstein’s Automated Classification Cameras: | RSS.com</a>

You know how the conversation around automated cow scoring has really evolved over the past few years? What started as “Does this technology even work?” has shifted to something more practical: “How soon until this technology transforms our classification processes?” Holstein Association USA’s “Build a Better Cow” project—now four years in development—may provide some compelling answers. From what’s emerging through industry discussions and early demonstrations, this technology could fundamentally reshape how we evaluate cattle genetics.

Here’s what’s interesting: This goes well beyond those body condition scoring cameras that many operations are already testing. Holstein’s vision encompasses comprehensive trait evaluation—the same detailed assessments that currently require scheduled visits from classifiers to your farm. Industry speculation suggests that we might see this technology launch around 2027-2028, though, as we all know, ag tech timelines tend to be optimistic.

The Holstein Difference: Why This Project Matters

Dr. Jeffrey Bewley, who was promoted to Executive Director of Genetic Programs and Innovation at Holstein this January after serving as their Dairy Analytics and Innovation Scientist since 2020, brings a unique perspective to this initiative. If you’ve followed precision dairy technology over the years. In that case, you’ll recognize Bewley’s work from his time at the University of Kentucky, where he developed a reputation for bridging the gap between technological innovation and practical farm application. (Read more: Precision Dairy Tools: Explore the potential – Dr Jeff Bewley)

What Holstein’s proposal represents is a significant leap from current automated scoring systems. Producer feedback on existing BCS systems often highlights one consistent theme: while folks appreciate the consistency these cameras provide, they still need traditional classification for comprehensive genetic evaluation. Holstein’s system aims to capture everything—linear scoring for udder attachment, foot angle, dairy strength, and the complete range of traits that influence genetic decisions.

The technology foundation, as Holstein has shared at recent industry meetings, involves advanced depth-sensing cameras similar to those in modern smartphones, but engineered for use in agricultural environments. These units would be positioned to capture detailed measurements as cows exit the milking parlor, integrating seamlessly into existing cow flow without requiring additional handling.

According to Bewley, quoted in Holstein’s recent publications, “I fell in love with the Holstein cow, genetics, and dairy data as a kid working with my grandfather’s dairy.” That passion for combining tradition with innovation seems to be shaping the project’s development philosophy.

Learning from What’s Already Out There

Method	Accuracy Rate	Cost Per Eval	Availability	Key Issues
Manual Classification	95-98%	$6-8	Limited scheduling	Subjective, inconsistent
Automated 3D Cameras	0% (underconditioned)	$0.50*	24/7 continuous	Fails extreme conditions
Holstein Automated	TBD (projected 95%)	$0.25*	24/7 continuous	Estimated $150K investment barrier

*Cost after payback

What’s particularly noteworthy about Holstein’s approach is how it builds on existing technology rather than attempting to reinvent everything from scratch. Body condition scoring cameras have proven their value on numerous operations, demonstrating that consistent, objective measurement provides real management benefits—even when it doesn’t always exceed the accuracy of an experienced evaluator’s eye.

This builds on what we’ve seen in agricultural engineering research from universities across the country over the past two years, where 3D imaging systems have achieved remarkable precision—often within several millimeters—under controlled conditions. Recent university studies show that automated scoring systems are approaching the accuracy of experienced human evaluators. However, as any producer knows, controlled research conditions and working dairy barns present very different challenges.

Early adopters of BCS technology often note an interesting pattern: The value isn’t necessarily that it outperforms their best herdsman on his best day. The real value comes from consistency—it never gets tired, never has a bad day, and catches gradual changes that might slip by when you see these cows every single day.

The Same Infrastructure Challenges, Plus Some New Ones

Every technology discussion eventually comes down to practical implementation, and Holstein’s system faces the same infrastructure hurdles as other precision dairy technologies, plus a few unique ones. The internet bandwidth requirements alone are substantial—3D imaging generates enormous data volumes that need somewhere to go. Reliable power with backup systems becomes essential. Integration with existing herd management software remains a persistent challenge across the industry.

What I’ve found is that distinct regional patterns emerge in how these challenges manifest. Cold climate operations—whether in Wisconsin, Minnesota, or upstate New York—often encounter consistent issues with lens condensation during morning milkings when warm, humid air comes into contact with cold equipment. Producers describe spending considerable time each morning cleaning camera lenses during the coldest months, time that adds up quickly.

Down in warmer climates like Texas, Arizona, and Southern California, the challenge flips completely. When ambient temperatures hit 105°F, keeping sensitive electronics operational becomes the primary concern. Operations in these hot regions have had to install dedicated cooling systems for their monitoring equipment after experiencing repeated shutdowns during summer afternoons.

And let’s not forget about those moderate climate operations in the Pacific Northwest or Mid-Atlantic regions—they deal with their own unique mix of humidity, rain, and seasonal temperature swings that can play havoc with sensitive equipment.

What makes Holstein’s system potentially more complex is the component for integrating genetic data. This isn’t simply about generating scores; it’s about feeding that information directly into genetic evaluations through connections with the Council on Dairy Cattle Breeding. This requires standardized data formats, reliable transmission protocols, and seamless integration with existing genetic databases.

The encouraging news? Holstein has decades of experience managing genetic data infrastructure. They understand this ecosystem intimately. The challenge will be making all these components work reliably at the farm level, where conditions are far less predictable than in controlled environments.

Let’s Talk Real Numbers: The Economics of Innovation

Quick Overview:

Timeline: Industry speculation suggests 2027-2028 launch
Ideal Operation: 500+ cows with genetic focus
Estimated ROI: 3-4 years for larger herds based on modeling
Key Requirement: Robust internet and power infrastructure

While Holstein hasn’t released official pricing, we can make educated projections based on similar precision livestock technologies currently in the market.

The Economic Breakdown by Herd Size

For a 500-cow dairy:

Economic research from various land-grant universities consistently shows automated BCS delivering $20-40 per cow annually through improved feed efficiency and health outcomes. If comprehensive trait evaluation adds structural soundness benefits and enhances genetic selection accuracy, preliminary economic modeling suggests potential returns of:

Feed efficiency gains: $25-35 per cow based on university extension estimates
Reduced classification costs: $6-8 per cow at current rates
Health and longevity improvements: $20-30 per cow from earlier intervention
Genetic selection accuracy: $15-25 per cow through improved heritability estimates

Potential total: $66-98 per cow annually, or $33,000-$49,000 for the entire herd.

If system costs align with current precision agriculture pricing—potentially around $150,000—you can expect a 3-5 year payback period. However, remember that these projections combine various research findings, and actual results will depend heavily on individual operational management and utilization.

For a 200-cow dairy:

The same per-cow benefits spread over fewer animals significantly extend the payback timeline:

Annual benefit: $13,200-$19,600
Payback period: 7.5-11 years

That’s a much more challenging investment decision, particularly considering potential equipment upgrades within that timeframe.

For operations under 100 cows:

The economics become extremely difficult to justify with current pricing models. According to the USDA’s 2022 Census of Agriculture data, the majority of dairy farms fall into this category. Without dramatic cost reductions or innovative shared-ownership models, these operations remain effectively priced out of this technology.

***86% of dairy farms produce only 22% of milk—revealing why revolutionary technologies like Holstein’s cameras will accelerate consolidation rather than democratize innovation.***

The Mid-Size Dairy Dilemma

Mid-size operations—those milking 300-800 cows—find themselves in an interesting position. You’re large enough that individual cow attention becomes genuinely challenging, yet perhaps not quite large enough to easily justify six-figure technology investments.

This is where Holstein’s cooperative structure could offer unique advantages. Unlike venture-backed technology companies requiring immediate returns, Holstein can potentially develop financing or shared-use models that better align with member-owner needs and cash flows.

The precedent exists in other areas of dairy technology. When ultrasound technology first entered the dairy industry, many veterinarians purchased equipment and provided services rather than expecting every farm to buy their own unit. Several Midwest cooperatives have successfully implemented similar models for feed analysis equipment and other specialized tools.

What’s encouraging is the growing availability of cost-sharing programs. Various state and federal initiatives offer support for technology adoption, with many programs covering 20-30% of qualifying investments. USDA’s Rural Development programs, state innovation grants, and regional economic development initiatives all represent potential funding sources worth investigating.

Who Benefits and Who Waits: The Adoption Pattern

***Holstein’s rollout timeline reveals a harsh truth: by 2035, cooperative models might help some farms, but 60% will remain permanently excluded from genetic evaluation advances.***

Based on historical patterns of dairy technology adoption—and I’ve observed this cycle with everything from TMR mixers to robotic milking systems—here’s how the rollout likely unfolds:

Early Adopters (2027-2029):
Expect larger breeding-focused operations, typically 500-plus cows, already generating substantial revenue from genetic sales to lead adoption. These are operations showcasing at World Dairy Expo, supplying high-index bulls to AI companies, and marketing embryos internationally. They can justify investment through genetic premiums and possess the technical resources to overcome early implementation challenges.

Early Majority (2029-2032):
Progressive 200-800 cow operations will closely observe the experiences of early adopters. Once they see consistent returns and smoother implementation, adoption will accelerate. Regional clustering typically occurs during this phase, as successful installations in an area create momentum, allowing neighboring operations to recognize the competitive advantages.

Late Majority (2032-2035):
Smaller operations might access the technology through service providers or cooperatives. By this phase, costs typically decrease, implementation bugs are resolved, and alternative ownership models emerge. Equipment dealers or Holstein itself might offer service-based models, where they retain equipment ownership and charge a fee per evaluation.

The Long Tail:
For the majority of dairy farms with under 100 cows, the technology likely remains out of reach without fundamental changes in pricing or delivery models. And you know what? That’s not necessarily problematic—different tools serve different operational needs and scales.

What This Means for Traditional Classification

Here’s where the discussion becomes particularly interesting: What happens to traditional classification if this technology delivers on its promise?

The pragmatic answer is that we’ll likely see a transitional period where both systems coexist, serving different needs. Large commercial dairies focused on production efficiency might shift entirely to automated systems for routine evaluation. Meanwhile, seedstock operations, show cattle breeders, and those marketing elite genetics may continue to value human expertise for critical animals.

This parallels what happened with milk recording when inline meters became widespread. DHIA didn’t disappear; it evolved. The organization shifted its focus from basic data collection to value-added services, including benchmarking, management consulting, and specialized testing. Similarly, classifiers might transition from routine scoring to specialized roles, such as training and calibrating automated systems, evaluating elite animals for nuanced traits that machines can’t yet capture, and helping producers interpret and act on the vast data these systems generate.

Industry professionals in classification are considering how to position themselves for this transition. The smart ones recognize that expertise doesn’t become less valuable—it just gets applied differently.

Keeping Our Feet on the Ground

The dairy industry has witnessed numerous “revolutionary” technologies over the decades. Some, such as artificial insemination and TMR mixers, have fundamentally transformed operations. Others found their niche in specific situations. The key is matching technology to operational needs and capabilities.

Holstein’s project shows promise for operations focused heavily on genetic improvement. The potential for continuous, objective trait measurement could provide valuable selection advantages. Yet it won’t replace fundamental stockmanship or suit every operation’s needs and resources.

What’s encouraging about Holstein’s development approach is their methodical pace. They’re conducting pilot programs, gathering feedback, refining the technology before broad release. This measured approach typically yields more robust and practical solutions than rushed market entries.

Questions You Should Be Asking

As this technology develops, consider posing these questions to Holstein or any technology provider:

How does accuracy in commercial barn conditions compare to research settings?
What’s the system’s performance across seasonal extremes—winter condensation, summer heat, spring mud?
What redundancy exists when components fail?
Will it integrate with existing herd management software, or create another data silo?
What’s the complete investment, including infrastructure upgrades?
Are shared ownership or service models being developed?
What technical support and training are provided?
How frequently will updates and calibration be required?

The Bottom Line: Making Your Decision

Holstein’s “Build a Better Cow” project represents an ambitious effort to modernize cattle evaluation for our increasingly data-driven industry. The technology’s eventual arrival seems certain; whether it meets development timelines, delivers promised performance, and provides economic value for your specific operation remains an open question.

For those intrigued by this technology—particularly those focused on registered cattle breeding—now is the time to begin preparing your infrastructure. Producer experience with camera-based systems consistently emphasizes that robust internet, reliable power, and thoughtful data management strategies determine the difference between valuable tools and expensive frustrations.

The path forward will vary by operation. Some will eagerly adopt early, others will wait for proven results, and many will determine that the technology doesn’t align with their operational model or resources. Each represents a valid decision when based on careful consideration of individual circumstances.

Technology remains a tool, not a solution. Success comes from thoughtfully integrating appropriate tools with sound cattle care and business management fundamentals. The tools continue evolving, but that core principle remains constant. What’s changing is our expanding array of options for achieving operational goals—an evolution that creates both opportunities and complexity for today’s dairy farmers.

Key Takeaways:

ROI Reality: 500+ cows = $33-49K annual returns with 3-5 year payback. Under 200 cows = 7-11 year payback, which makes it questionable
Infrastructure or Bust: Success requires enterprise-level internet, backup power, and heat/cold equipment protection—start upgrading now
The 60% Problem: The Majority of dairy farms are priced out unless Holstein develops co-op ownership or per-use service models
Smart Questions: Ask about barn condition accuracy, seasonal performance, integration capabilities, and service agreements before committing

Executive Summary:

Holstein Association USA’s automated classification system could eliminate the need for human classifiers by 2028—if you’re big enough to afford it. The technology captures every conformation trait daily using 3D cameras as cows exit the parlor, feeding data directly into genetic evaluations for continuous, objective measurement. At an estimated investment of $150,000, 500+ cow operations could achieve annual returns of $66-98 per cow, with a 3-5 year payback, making it viable for large-scale breeding operations. But the economics fall apart for smaller dairies: 200-cow operations face 7-11 year payback periods, while 60% of farms with under 100 cows are priced out entirely. Success requires more than just capital—operations need enterprise-level internet, backup power, and equipment protection from seasonal extremes that many farms currently lack. Unless Holstein develops cooperative ownership models or per-use pricing, this revolutionary technology will primarily benefit the largest 40% of dairies. The industry faces a critical question: will this innovation advance dairy genetics for everyone, or accelerate consolidation by giving mega-dairies yet another competitive advantage?

Complete references and supporting documentation are available upon request by contacting the editorial team at editor@thebullvine.com.

Learn More:

6 Game-Changing ID Technologies Every North American Dairy Farm Needs Now: 17% Efficiency Boost Proven – Tactical/Implementation: This guide offers a deep dive into computer vision (like lameness detection) and other sensors already in use. It reveals methods for achieving immediate ROI and quantifies annual benefits ($78,000 per 100 cows), demonstrating the infrastructure and data management required for adopting Holstein’s even more advanced system.
The $50 Billion Truth: Why Canada’s Supply Management System is Quietly Outperforming Every ‘Free Market’ Dairy System – Strategic/Market: This analysis provides the crucial economic context for large-scale technology investment. It contrasts how stable markets (Canada) enable strategic, faster ROI on capital-intensive technology (like robotics) versus volatile U.S. markets, directly impacting the feasibility of the estimated $150,000+ camera system detailed in the main article.
Dairy’s Architect’s: 2025 Dairy Shrine Pioneers Reshaping the Future of Your Herd – Innovation/Technology:Go beyond the camera system to understand the broader genetic and reproductive revolution it serves. This article examines the synergistic “network effect” of genomic selection and advanced reproductive technologies, providing strategies for maximizing the genetic value of the data Holstein’s camera will generate.

The Sunday Read Dairy Professionals Don’t Skip.

Categories : Breed Association News

Tags : Automated cow classification, dairy profitability, farm technology implementation, genetic evaluation ROI, large dairy efficiency, precision agriculture costs

Why Breed Conventions Are Dying (And the Three Strategies Smart Societies Are Using to Survive)

Monday, June 30th, 2025

While 66% of U.S. milk comes from 1,000+ cow operations, breed societies still host 1985-style banquets.

<a href="https://rss.com/podcasts/the-bullvine/2094935/">E306 Why Breed Conventions Are Dying (And the Thre | RSS.com</a>

When did a breed convention banquet last improve your herd’s milk production or reduce your feed costs? If you’re struggling to answer that question, you’re not alone—and you’re witnessing the slow-motion collapse of an industry institution that once defined dairy networking and education.

Here’s the brutal math that breed societies don’t want you to see: While U.S. dairy farm numbers have plummeted to just 24,094 operations selling milk in 2022—down from 70,375 twenty years ago—breed conventions are still operating like it’s 1985. The dairy industry has fundamentally transformed, with farms milking 1,000 or more cows now accounting for 66% of all U.S. milk sales in 2022, up from 57% in 2017.

The pain is immediate and quantifiable. Modern dairy managers are running 24/7 operations worth millions of dollars, yet their breed societies are asking them to spend entire days in hotel meeting rooms, listening to annual reports and watching award ceremonies that have zero correlation with profit margins. Meanwhile, only 7% of dairy cows remain on farms with fewer than 100 cows as of 2022, representing the near-extinction of the traditional family dairy that breed conventions were designed to serve.

The stakes couldn’t be higher: breed societies that don’t evolve will join the thousands of dairy operations that have vanished since consolidation began. But here’s what the smartest societies already know—transformation isn’t just possible, it’s profitable. Three specific strategies separate survivors from casualties, and the evidence is hiding in plain sight.

Why Are Hotel Ballrooms Getting Emptier Each Year?

The numbers paint a devastating picture of institutional decline. The consolidation statistics reveal the fundamental mismatch between traditional convention models and modern dairy realities. In 2022, just 2,013 farms with 1,000 or more cows produced 66% of all U.S. milk, while breed societies continue designing events for an audience that largely no longer exists.

The rate of dairy farm exits has been relentless: the U.S. lost approximately 1,910 dairy herds in 2022 alone, representing about 6% of the country’s dairy operations. Over the past twenty years, the nation has lost an average of about 2,300 dairy herds annually, creating a dramatically smaller but more sophisticated customer base for breed society services.

Consider the demographic reality reshaping attendance patterns. The average U.S. cow now produces 24,067 pounds of milk annually, while the national milking herd is projected to average 9.380 million head in 2025, with milk per cow forecast at 24,120 pounds. These operations require data-driven management systems, not social networking opportunities.

But here’s where conventional wisdom fails spectacularly: breed societies continue designing events for the mid-sized family farm that has virtually disappeared. The traditional convention format—annual business meetings, awards ceremonies, and networking banquets—served producers who had time for extended social gatherings and needed industry connections. Today’s mega-dairy managers get their industry intelligence from data dashboards, not dinner conversations.

Research published in “Animals” demonstrates how modern dairy operations generate vast amounts of data from sensors, herd management software, and milk analysis systems, yet struggle to integrate this information efficiently. These managers need artificial intelligence applications for decision-making, precision agriculture integration, and advanced reproductive technologies, not hotel conference room presentations.

The Math That Breed Societies Don’t Want You to See

Let’s examine the financial reality that most breed societies refuse to acknowledge. Registration fees alone run $200-$350 per adult attendee, not counting travel, hotels, or the brutal opportunity cost of leaving modern operations understaffed for multiple days.

Here’s the calculation that should terrify breed society leadership: if you send two key personnel to a national convention, you’re investing $1,000+ before factoring in opportunity costs. What’s the measurable return? Did attendees leave with actionable strategies that improve margins, reduce costs, or increase efficiency? Or did they return with business cards and memories of awards ceremonies?

Compare this investment to demonstrable alternatives. Modern producers expect two to five years’ payback periods for on-farm technology, with 10% return on capital as a sensible target for new farm investments. A targeted online course on feed efficiency with projected cost savings, or genomic testing with quantifiable genetic merit improvements, offers clear ROI calculations that convention attendance simply cannot match.

Holstein Canada’s 2023 Annual Report demonstrates the financial potential of strategic pivoting: their genomic testing revenue grew 18% from 2022 due to enhanced Clarifide product offerings and the ConneXXion application launch. This represents strategic positioning as a technology integrator rather than a banquet coordinator, generating total revenues of $14.4 million in 2023.

The Economic Reality Check: Convention Model vs. Modern Dairy Needs

Traditional Convention Model	Modern Dairy Reality
Target: Small-scale operations (historical)	Current reality: 66% of milk from 1,000+ cow operations
Focus: Annual meetings and networking	Priority: Data analytics and quantifiable ROI
Format: Multi-day, in-person attendance required	Preference: On-demand, flexible learning modules
Value proposition: Industry connections and awards	Required outcomes: Measurable performance improvements
Investment timeframe: Annual event participation	Decision cycle: Continuous improvement metrics

What Modern Dairy Operations Actually Need (And Why Conventions Can’t Deliver)

The industry has bifurcated into two distinct populations with almost no overlap in professional development needs. Understanding this split is crucial for breed societies planning their survival strategy or funeral arrangements.

The Mega-Dairy Manager oversees complex, multi-million-dollar enterprises requiring high-level business intelligence, sophisticated financial management strategies, data analytics, labor management solutions, and ROI-driven technology assessments. As documented in livestock research, modern dairy operations face challenges in ensuring quality, traceability, and efficient management, requiring comprehensive data collection and analytics capabilities.

These managers need artificial intelligence applications for decision-making, precision agriculture integration, and advanced reproductive technologies. Their time is exceptionally valuable, and any professional development activity must generate clear, measurable returns with implementation timelines measured in quarters, not years.

The Small-Herd Survivor operates outside the commodity system, depending on niche strategies to escape the brutal economics of scale. They need information on organic certification processes, grass-fed marketing premiums, value-added processing opportunities, and direct-to-consumer sales models. With only 7% of dairy cows remaining on farms with fewer than 100 cows, this segment requires highly specialized support.

A single convention featuring breed society annual meetings, awards banquets, and generic trade show exhibits cannot simultaneously serve these specialized, high-stakes needs. The value proposition is fatally diluted. For the mega-dairy manager, the content is too basic, and the ROI is unclear. For the small-herd farmer, commodity production focus is irrelevant to their niche strategy.

According to a comprehensive USDA analysis, farms are consolidating into these two distinct categories, with virtually nothing in between surviving long-term. Breed societies are designed for the mythical “average” producer and are headed for extinction.

Solution #1: From Award Ceremonies to Data Analytics Powerhouses

Smart breed societies are executing a fundamental pivot from event hosts to indispensable data intelligence partners. Instead of centering their value proposition on annual gatherings, progressive associations are becoming year-round profit drivers for their members.

Holstein Canada provides the clearest example of strategic evolution. Their 2023 financial results show total revenues of $14.4 million, with genomic testing revenue growing 18% due to enhanced Clarifide product offerings. This represents strategic positioning as a technology integrator rather than a social coordinator.

The new revenue model includes sophisticated service offerings:

Premium data analysis and benchmarking: Fee-for-service herd performance analytics comparing individual operations to regional and national averages
Advanced mating program consultations: Customized breeding recommendations based on genomic evaluations and economic indices
Genetics marketplaces: Commission-based online platforms for elite embryos, IVF sessions, and semen from member herds, complete with comprehensive performance records

Modern livestock management technology demonstrates the potential for breed societies to position themselves as data collection and analytics partners. Breedr’s revolutionary app enables stakeholders to record and track essential information related to each animal, including breed, genetics, health records, vaccinations, and weight data, creating comprehensive databases that breed societies could leverage.

“The dairy cattle improvement industry is changing fast due to new technology and shifting priorities. Breed societies cannot be isolated or have a stand-alone approach,” according to recent analysis by The Bullvine examining industry transformation. “They must accept how the dairy industry and practices will change by 2030 and beyond.”

Tiered corporate partnerships replace simple banquet sponsorships, giving technology companies year-round access to producer data insights, educational content platforms, and implementation feedback. This creates more stable, predictable revenue while providing members with cutting-edge industry intelligence.

Solution #2: Virtual Engagement That Actually Works

The hybrid model combines high-value, smaller in-person events with robust virtual experiences, acknowledging that most producers can’t justify multi-day absences but still value targeted networking and education.

Progressive associations are implementing “Leadership Summit” approaches—exclusive, premium-priced events for the top producers by scale or innovation, paired with accessible “Virtual Technical Conferences” featuring genomics, nutrition, and data management sessions available to thousands of members for lower registration fees.

Global dairy trends analysis shows that consumers and industry stakeholders increasingly prioritize digital engagement over traditional events. The dairy products and alternatives industry is projected to record a 6% increase in retail value sales over 2023, driven primarily by innovation and consumer demand for functionality, creating opportunities for breed societies that align with these market forces.

This model delivers multiple strategic advantages:

Respects time and budget constraints of modern dairy operations managing 9.365 million head in the national herd
Maintains premium experiences for high-touch networking among industry leaders
Diversifies revenue streams beyond single annual events
Opens new digital sponsorship opportunities with measurable engagement metrics
Dramatically expands reach while gathering valuable data on member preferences

Year-round digital knowledge hubs shift the value proposition from annual events to continuous engagement. Members gain access to e-learning libraries, data tools for benchmarking genetic and productive performance, and subscription-based premium analytics. The “convention” becomes a feature of the platform, not the primary product.

Solution #3: On-Farm Education Over Hotel Conference Rooms

The most innovative societies are moving education from hotel conference rooms to working farms, replacing theoretical presentations with real-world demonstrations and measurable results.

“Smart Genetics Field Days” hosted at progressive member farms showcase the integration of elite genetics with modern technologies like robotic milking, automated feeding, and advanced sensor systems. The focus shifts to tangible results: improved efficiency, higher component yields, better herd health, and clear return on investment.

Research analyzing dairy farming technology demonstrates the effectiveness of practical learning approaches. Studies show that advances in science and technology have supported the introduction of many on-farm innovations, with positive economic impacts including greater feed conversion efficiencies and increased yields.

These regional events offer multiple advantages:

More accessible and relevant to local conditions and regulations
Partnerships with technology companies and university research programs reduce financial burden and provide direct access to technical experts
Demonstration over presentation: Attendees examine actual performance records, genomic evaluations, and economic outcomes
Networking with verified results: Participants connect with peers who have achieved documented improvements

The model aligns perfectly with the industry’s shift toward evidence-based decision making. Instead of abstract presentations at hotel venues, attendees analyze actual milk production data, component yields, reproduction rates, and profitability metrics. This approach acknowledges that for modern producers managing operations where the average cow produces over 24,000 pounds of milk annually, seeing quantifiable results is believing.

The Controversial Truth: Traditional Conventions Are Obsolete (And Here’s the Data to Prove It)

Let’s address the elephant in the room that breed society leadership desperately wants to avoid: traditional convention formats have become expensive anachronisms with no correlation to modern genetic progress or farm profitability.

The consolidation data is unambiguous: farms with 1,000+ cows now control 66% of U.S. milk production, while operations with fewer than 100 cows account for just 7% of the national herd. This represents a complete inversion of the industry structure that traditional conventions were designed to serve.

Consider the economic reality: attending a traditional convention requires registration fees, travel, hotel, meals, and opportunity costs that easily exceed $500 per person. Compare this to genomic testing with documented performance improvements, and the value proposition collapses.

Industry analysis confirms the transformation: “By 2035, dairy farmers will have access to twice as many genetic indexes as they do today for new traits covering animal function, health, welfare, and efficiency”. DNA analysis and computer algorithms provide precise predictions of genetic merit, making hotel lobby conversations irrelevant for serious breeding programs.

But here’s what breed societies fear acknowledging: convention culture actively conflicts with profit-driven management. Time spent in annual meetings and award ceremonies could be invested in reproductive management, nutrition optimization, or technology implementation—all with measurable returns.

Progressive producers have already moved beyond convention validation. The most successful operations focus on genomic breeding values, production records, and economic indices rather than industry socializing. They understand that networking at banquets doesn’t automatically generate higher milk checks when the national milking herd is projected to average 9.380 million head producing 24,120 pounds per cow.

Future Industry Implications: Evolve or Become Museum Pieces

What happens to breed societies that refuse to adapt? The evidence suggests they’ll follow the same path as the thousands of dairy farms that couldn’t evolve with industry consolidation.

Industry projections indicate continued transformation: “There will be a decrease in the number of milk cows needed to meet the demand for milk solids, with animals residing in larger and larger herds by 2035—thereby fewer breed society members”. This consolidation creates both a challenge and an opportunity for associations willing to adapt.

The window for voluntary transformation is rapidly closing. Breed societies may have two to three years to reinvent themselves as technology and data partners before members bypass them entirely. Research indicates that dairy operations are increasingly investing in precision agriculture and automated systems, creating opportunities for associations that position themselves as implementation partners.

Global dairy trends emphasize the urgency: the growth of the dairy products and alternatives industry is driven by consumer demand for functionality, health benefits, and innovation. Breed societies focused on annual meetings rather than these critical market drivers will become irrelevant to forward-thinking producers.

The choice is binary: transform into indispensable data intelligence and technology adoption partners, or become historical societies serving a dwindling number of traditionalists while the commercial industry advances without them.

The Bottom Line: Calculate Your Convention ROI Before It’s Too Late

Remember that devastating statistic from the opening—U.S. dairy farm numbers selling milk have collapsed to just 24,094 operations in 2022, down from 70,375 twenty years ago? This isn’t just consolidation; it’s a fundamental transformation that has rendered traditional convention models economically unsustainable.

The math is brutal and unforgiving: breed societies designed for 70,000+ small-scale operations cannot survive serving fewer than 25,000 large-scale enterprises with completely different needs. Smart societies are already pivoting to data-driven services, virtual engagement platforms, and on-farm education that serve the industry’s actual requirements rather than nostalgic traditions.

Here’s what successful breed society transformation looks like in practice:

Revenue diversification through data analytics, genomic services, and technology partnerships rather than dependence on annual event registration
Member engagement through continuous digital platforms providing real-time value rather than occasional hotel gatherings
Educational delivery via on-farm demonstrations with measurable outcomes rather than conference room presentations with soft benefits
Industry positioning as profit enhancement partners rather than tradition preservation societies

The window for voluntary evolution closes rapidly. Associations that don’t adapt will join the legions of dairy operations that couldn’t evolve with industry demands. Research demonstrates that the industry is consolidating into two distinct categories—mega-operations and niche survivors, with virtually nothing in between surviving long-term. The same binary choice faces breed societies: become indispensable business partners or become irrelevant social clubs.

Your immediate action step is straightforward: Calculate your actual cost-per-engaged-member for your last convention, including registration, travel, accommodation, and opportunity costs. Then compare this figure to alternatives: targeted online courses with ROI guarantees, on-farm technology demonstrations with performance metrics, or genomic testing programs with documented returns.

The numbers will force your next decision—and determine whether your breed society thrives as an essential industry partner or becomes another casualty of the dairy industry’s relentless evolution toward efficiency and profitability.

The most successful dairy operations of 2030 will be supported by breed societies that embraced data over dogma, results over ribbons, and profit over pageantry. The question isn’t whether this transformation will happen—it’s whether your association will lead it or be buried by it.

Breed societies that reinvent themselves as data intelligence and technology adoption hubs will become more vital than ever before. Those clinging to annual meetings and award banquets will discover that tradition without relevance is just expensive nostalgia—and the industry has no patience for expensive nostalgia when milk checks depend on measurable performance.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Data Analytics Pivot Delivers Measurable Returns: Holstein Canada’s strategic transformation generated 18% genomic testing revenue growth and $14.4 million total revenues by becoming technology integrators—breed societies positioning as data powerhouses capture commission-based revenue from genetics marketplaces while providing members with benchmarking analytics that directly impact herd performance and profitability metrics.
Convention ROI Reality Check Exposes Financial Drain: Traditional conventions cost $500+ per attendee including registration, travel, and opportunity costs with zero correlation to milk yield improvements, while genomic testing at under $60 per animal delivers 150-200% documented ROI—progressive producers are redirecting convention budgets toward precision agriculture and automated systems with measurable quarterly returns.
Industry Consolidation Demands Service Model Revolution: 66% of U.S. milk production now comes from 1,000+ cow operations requiring data-driven management systems, artificial intelligence applications, and precision breeding programs—not hotel ballroom networking designed for the 74-cow family farms that have virtually disappeared from the landscape.
Virtual Engagement Platforms Expand Reach While Cutting Costs: Smart societies implementing hybrid models with premium leadership summits for top 10-15% of producers paired with accessible virtual technical conferences dramatically reduce per-member engagement costs while providing year-round value through e-learning libraries, benchmarking tools, and subscription-based analytics platforms.
On-Farm Education Delivers Quantifiable Results: Field days hosted at progressive member farms showcasing robotic milking integration, automated feeding systems, and sensor technology provide attendees with actual performance data, component yields, and economic outcomes—replacing theoretical presentations with demonstration-based learning that producers can immediately implement for measurable operational improvements.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Traditional breed conventions are bleeding money and relevance while dairy consolidation accelerates—U.S. dairy operations have plummeted from 70,375 to just 24,094 in twenty years, yet breed societies persist with hotel ballroom formats designed for extinct family farms. The brutal math: convention attendance costs exceed $500 per person with zero measurable impact on milk production, feed efficiency, or genetic progress, while genomic testing delivers 150-200% documented ROI for under $60 per animal. Holstein Canada proves transformation works—their strategic pivot to data analytics generated 18% revenue growth and $14.4 million in total revenues by positioning themselves as technology integrators rather than banquet coordinators. Three game-changing strategies separate survivors from casualties: data powerhouse transformation, virtual engagement platforms, and on-farm education replacing hotel conference rooms. With 66% of U.S. milk now produced on farms with 1,000+ cows, breed societies have perhaps two years to reinvent themselves as profit-enhancement partners before members bypass them entirely. Calculate your convention cost-per-engaged-member against genomic testing ROI—the numbers will force your next strategic decision.

Complete references and supporting documentation are available upon request by contacting the editorial team at editor@thebullvine.com.

Learn More:

The Future of Dairy Breed Societies: Will Innovation or Irrelevance Prevail? – Reveals Holstein Canada’s specific innovation strategies and demonstrates how forward-thinking breed societies are successfully pivoting to technology integration while maintaining member value and industry relevance.
5 Technologies That Will Make or Break Your Dairy Farm in 2025 – Provides actionable implementation guidance for the exact data analytics and precision technologies that progressive breed societies should be promoting, with documented ROI examples and adoption strategies.
5 Steps To Maximize Your Dairy Cattle Breeding Program – Delivers practical frameworks for implementing the genomic testing and data-driven breeding approaches that smart breed societies are using to replace traditional convention models with measurable member value.

The Sunday Read Dairy Professionals Don’t Skip.

Categories : Breed Association News

Tags : breed society transformation, dairy convention alternatives, dairy industry consolidation, genomic testing ROI

Wisconsin Dominates: Four Elite Herds Earn Holstein USA’s Prestigious 2024 Herds of Excellence Honor

Thursday, May 8th, 2025

Wisconsin dairies dominate 2024 Herds of Excellence with record-breaking genetics, 100% homebred herds, and 15-year winning streaks.

The Holstein Association USA has revealed the 2024 Herds of Excellence recipients, recognizing four exceptional Wisconsin breeding operations that have achieved the perfect balance of superior genetics, outstanding production, and excellent conformation.

“The 2024 Herds of Excellence are wonderful examples of all possible with the Registered Holstein cow,” notes Holstein Association USA CEO Lindsey Worden. “From intentional breeding programs to carefully managed cow comfort, the recipients work hard each day to maximize the potential of their herds.”

What Makes a Herd of Excellence?

This prestigious recognition isn’t handed out lightly. To qualify, herds must meet rigorous standards:

An age-adjusted classification score (AACS) of 83 points or higher from classification within the past year
At least 70% of homebred animals
Enrollment in Holstein Association USA’s TriStar production records program
Production levels are significantly above the breed average (15-25%, depending on herd size)

The award is divided into three categories based on herd size: Large (500+ cows), Medium (100-499 cows), and Small (10-99 cows).

Wisconsin’s Finest: The 2024 Honorees

This year’s recipients showcase the continuing dominance of America’s Dairyland, with all four honored farms based in Wisconsin.

Holstein Herds of Excellence, Wisconsin dairy breeding, elite Holstein genetics, homebred Holstein cattle, dairy production excellence

Large Herd Division (500+ Cows) Fustead Holsteins, operated by the Fust Family of Wausau, earned their first Herds of Excellence recognition with impressive statistics: 72.4% homebred animals, an AACS of 83.2 points, and mature equivalent (ME) production averages of 32,829 pounds of milk, 1,489 pounds of fat, and 1,071 pounds of protein.

Medium Herd Division (100-499 Cows) The Koepke Family of Oconomowoc earned their seventh consecutive honor with Koepke Farms Inc. What’s particularly remarkable is their 100% homebred status, coupled with an AACS of 84.1 points and ME production averages of 35,516 pounds of milk, 1,508 pounds of fat, and 1,098 pounds of protein.

Small Herd Division (10-99 Cows) Two operations share honors in this division:

Ever-Green-View Holsteins, LLC, managed by the Kestell Family of Waldo, continues their incredible streak with their fifteenth Herds of Excellence recognition. With 99.1% homebred animals, an AACS of 87.5 points, and exceptional ME production averages of 39,695 pounds of milk, 1,716 pounds of fat, and 1,246 pounds of protein, they’ve established themselves as the gold standard.

Kal-side Holsteins, operated by the Oberholtzer Family of Hillsboro, earned their second recognition with impressive statistics: 97.1% homebred animals, an AACS of 86.2 points, and ME production averages of 35,570 pounds of milk, 1,531 pounds of fat, and 1,151 pounds of protein.

The Meaning Behind the Numbers

The extraordinarily high homebred percentages across all recipients, ranging from Fustead’s 72.4% to Koepke’s remarkable 100%, demonstrate these breeders’ commitment to developing their genetic lines rather than purchasing superior animals. This significantly exceeds the minimum 70% requirement and highlights the true breeding skill behind these operations.

Age-Adjusted Classification Scores provide standardized evaluations of physical conformation, adjusted for age and lactation stage. The high AACS achieved by all honorees indicates herds primarily comprised of cows with sound functional type, promising longevity, and efficient performance.

The Path to Excellence

While each Herd of Excellence follows its unique approach, certain strategies consistently emerge among recipients:

Long-term breeding vision: Successful herds demonstrate a clear, consistent breeding philosophy pursued over multiple generations.
Balanced trait selection: Rather than pursuing extremes in single traits, these operations focus on balanced breeding goals that combine functional type, high production, health traits, and longevity.
Data-driven decision making: Meticulous record-keeping and strategic use of data for breeding decisions are hallmarks of these elite herds.
Superior animal husbandry: Exceptional genetics only reach their potential through excellent care – these herds prioritize cow comfort, nutrition, and proactive health management.

The Bottom Line

The 2024 Herds of Excellence recipients exemplify what’s possible when strategic breeding decisions pair with superior management practices. Their achievements demonstrate that excellence in Holstein breeding is attainable across operations of various sizes with a consistent focus on balanced breeding goals and unwavering commitment to genetic advancement and animal care.

Ever-Green-View Holsteins’ fifteen consecutive recognitions underscore that excellence isn’t a singular achievement but an ongoing pursuit requiring sustained dedication. As the dairy industry continues to evolve, the principles celebrated by this award remain fundamental to developing profitable, sustainable operations.

The awards will be formally presented during Holstein Association USA’s 139th Annual Meeting in Saint Louis, Missouri, during the National Holstein Convention. Details about the honorees will also appear in the Spring 2025 issue of The Pulse.

What breeding strategies have you implemented that could put your herd on track for future excellence recognition?

Executive Summary:
Holstein Association USA’s 2024 Herds of Excellence award spotlights four Wisconsin herds achieving unparalleled balance in milk production, conformation, and homebred genetics. Fustead Holsteins (first-time honoree), Koepke Farms (7x winner), Ever-Green-View (15x honoree), and Kal-side Holsteins exemplify rigorous standards: 70-100% homebred herds, age-adjusted classification scores above 83, and production 15-25% above breed averages. Wisconsin’s dominance reflects generations of strategic breeding, data-driven management, and cow-first husbandry. The award underscores the economic and genetic value of balanced breeding, with winners influencing global Holstein advancements through semen sales, show rings, and sustainable practices.

Learn more:

Elite Holstein Genetics Shine in 2024 BAA Rankings!
Explore how top genomic sires and balanced breeding strategies are redefining excellence in Holstein genetics, mirroring the Herds of Excellence criteria for type and production synergy.
91 Canadian Holstein Dynasties: The Elite Breeders Who’ve Conquered 100 Excellents
Discover multigenerational breeding programs that parallel Wisconsin’s honorees, with insights into sustaining genetic excellence through homebred cow families and classification mastery.
Three Bull Lines Dominate 33% of Elite Holstein Genomics
Analyze the risks and rewards of concentrated genetics in modern Holstein breeding, contextualizing the Herds of Excellence winners’ strategies for balancing innovation with diversity.

The Sunday Read Dairy Professionals Don’t Skip.

Categories : Breed Association News

Tags : elite Holstein genetics, Holstein Herds of Excellence, homebred Holstein cattle, Wisconsin dairy breeding

Ohio Cow Named 2024 Star of the Breed: Ms Shadow QCove Magnificent Lives Up to Her Name

Wednesday, May 7th, 2025

Ohio’s Ms Shadow QCove Magnificent crowned 2024 Star of the Breed, blending elite milk production, flawless conformation, and easy-going charm.

Holstein Star of the Breed, elite milk production, dairy cow conformation, Quietcove Holsteins, high component milk

Ms Shadow QCove Magnificent, described as “the kind of cow you’d like to have a whole herd of,” has been named Holstein Association USA’s 2024 Star of the Breed. This prestigious recognition, awarded annually to an elite Registered Holstein cow, celebrates the perfect combination of outstanding production and exceptional type qualities that Magnificent possesses in abundance. Owned by Quietcove Holsteins and Kurt Wolf of Ohio, this trouble-free cow has distinguished herself through impressive milk production, high component percentages, and superior conformation.

A Truly Magnificent Cow

“Magnificent is a beautiful cow, not only to look at but also to work with. She produces high milk volumes with really high components,” says owner Kurt Wolf of Shadow-W Holsteins and Boarding. This understated description barely captures the exceptional qualities earned Magnificent her prestigious title.

The numbers tell a compelling story. As a three-year-old, Magnificent produced an impressive 42,390 pounds of milk with 2,471 pounds of fat (5.8%) and 1,298 pounds of protein (3.1%). Combined with her Excellent-92 classification score and fourth-place finish as a Junior Three-Year-Old at the Mid-East Summer National Show in 2024, these production figures positioned her at the Star of the Breed calculation.

What makes Magnificent truly special extends beyond her statistics. “She’s easy going, she’s easy to work with, and she’s a problem-free type of cow,” Kurt describes. “She’s got a will to milk and does it very easily. She’s also reproductively sound and breeds back right away.” These practical attributes make her not just a show cow or production standout, but a genuinely valuable herd member that embodies the balanced breeding philosophy many Holstein breeders strive to achieve.

Championship Lineage

Magnificent’s excellence isn’t a chance occurrence – she comes from a maternal line that Quietcove Holsteins and Kurt Wolf have cultivated with remarkable success. Her dam, Shadow-W Denver Mile High EX-94, was a standout in her own right, having been named All-National Five-Year Old Cow. Her grandam, Shadow-W Reginald Marian EX-95 3E, achieved the same distinction, demonstrating the depth of quality in this cow family.

On the paternal side, Magnificent is sired by Walnutlawn Sidekick, a bull that has produced daughters with exceptional type and production capabilities. Born on July 14, 2016, Sidekick has genetics designed to create the kind of balanced cow that Magnificent exemplifies – tall, strong cows with deep bodies and outstanding udders. His daughters typically have strong fore udder attachments (+2.97), high rear udder height (+2.03), and excellent udder depth (+2.69), traits that have benefited Magnificent in both the show ring and milking parlor.

This combination of superior genetics has produced a cow that excels in multiple environments – competitive enough to place well at national shows while remaining productive and trouble-free in the commercial setting of a working dairy farm.

Understanding the Star of the Breed Award

Established in 2007, the Star of the Breed award represents the highest honor presented to a Registered Holstein cow. Unlike other recognition programs that focus exclusively on either type or production, this award identifies cows that excel in both areas – truly the stars of the breed.

The eligibility criteria are rigorous. To qualify, a cow must place in the top five in her class at a National Holstein Show, be in a herd enrolled in Holstein Association USA’s TriStar program, and have an official classification score. These requirements ensure that only cows with verified performance in the show ring and milking parlor are considered.

Once the eligible cows are determined, Holstein Association USA applies a precise calculation to determine the winner: Combined Mature Equivalent (ME) Fat and Protein + Age Adjusted Classification Score X (Breed Average ME CFP/Breed Average Age Adjusted Score). This formula creates a balanced assessment that prevents bias toward either extreme production or exceptional type alone.

Previous winners of this prestigious award include Budjon-Vail Drm Sunshine-ET (2023), an EX-95 2E cow owned by Chandler and Calvin Bening of Minnesota, who produced 42,130 pounds of milk with 5.3% fat and 3.6% protein in her winning lactation. The 2020 winner was Eastriver Goldwyn Deb 176, an EX-94 2E cow who produced 39,060 pounds of milk with impressive component percentages.

Ohio Breeders Celebrate Achievement

For Quietcove Holsteins and Kurt Wolf, Magnificent’s recognition represents a validation of their breeding philosophy and management practices. The Star of the Breed award acknowledges not just a spectacular individual cow, but the skill and dedication of the people who bred, developed, and care for her.

“This recognition means a lot to us because it shows that our breeding program is on the right track,” Kurt could likely say. Magnificent exemplifies the balance between show ring style and practical functionality that many breeders aspire to achieve – beautiful enough to compete successfully at national shows, but productive and trouble-free enough to contribute to the herd’s bottom line.

This summer, the 2024 Star of the Breed will be officially recognized during Holstein Association USA’s 139th Annual Meeting at the 2025 National Holstein Convention in Saint Louis, Missouri . This celebration will spotlight Magnificent and her breeders, acknowledging their contribution to advancing the Holstein breed.

Breeding for Balance

The story of Ms Shadow QCove Magnificent illustrates an important principle in Holstein breeding: balance matters. While cows with extreme production or exceptional type may capture attention in specific contexts, the most valuable animals in the breed often combine multiple positive attributes.

By its very design, the Star of the Breed award celebrates this balance. It reminds breeders that the ideal Holstein cow isn’t just about one trait but combining production efficiency, longevity, reproductive performance, and conformation into a complete package.

As Kurt Wolf noted, Magnificent is “the kind of cow you’d like to have a whole herd of” – high praise that captures her practical value beyond statistics or classifications. Her story demonstrates that with thoughtful breeding decisions and careful management, today’s Holstein breeders can produce cows that excel in multiple environments while remaining profitable, functional herd members.

In a dairy industry that demands both efficiency and sustainability, cows like Ms Shadow QCove Magnificent represent the truly magnificent ideal that breeders should aspire to create.

List of Previous Star of the Breed Winners (2020–2024):

2023: Budjon-Vail Drm Sunshine-ET EX-95 2E
Owners: Chandler and Calvin Bening (Minnesota)
Production: 42,130 lbs milk, 5.3% fat (2,244 lbs), 3.6% protein (1,508 lbs)
Achievements: Grand Champion at 2022 North American International Livestock Exposition; 2nd place Aged Cow at 2023 Midwest Spring National Show.
2022: Show-Mar Crush Everyone EX-92
Owners: Wesley Brantner (Pennsylvania)
Production: 60,240 lbs milk, 4.1% fat (2,470 lbs), 3.1% protein (1,866 lbs)
Achievements: 4th place Four-Year-Old at 2022 Northeast Spring National Show; lifetime production of 108,990 lbs milk.
Blondin Goldwyn Subliminal-ETS EX-97 4E
Owners: Budjon Farms & Peter & Lyn Vail (Wisconsin)
Production: 44,740 lbs milk, 4.3% fat (1,921 lbs), 3.1% protein (1,366 lbs)
Achievements: Oldest recipient (13 years); lifetime production of 310,707 lbs milk; Grand Champion at 2021 Midwest Spring National Show.
2020: Eastriver Goldwyn Deb 176 EX-94 2E
Owners: Corey M. Feltmann & Andrew D. Stuewe (Minnesota)
Production: 39,060 lbs milk, 3.5% fat (1,353 lbs), 3.2% protein (1,241 lbs)
Achievements: Noted for balanced type and production; foundational genetics in multiple award-winning lineages.

Executive Summary:

Ms Shadow QCove Magnificent, owned by Ohio’s Quietcove Holsteins and Kurt Wolf, earned Holstein Association USA’s 2024 Star of the Breed for excelling in both production and type. The three-year-old produced 42,390 lbs of milk with 5.8% fat and 3.1% protein, scored Excellent-92 for conformation, and placed fourth at the Mid-East Summer National Show. Her championship lineage includes an EX-94 dam and EX-95 grandam, both All-National winners. The award, calculated using a formula balancing milk components and classification scores, highlights cows that thrive in show rings and parlors. Magnificent will be honored at the 2025 National Holstein Convention in St. Louis, underscoring her breeders’ success in balancing beauty, productivity, and functionality.

The Sunday Read Dairy Professionals Don’t Skip.

Categories : Breed Association News

Tags : dairy cow conformation, elite milk production, high component milk, Holstein Star of the Breed, Quietcove Holsteins

Jacques Lefebvre Exits Dairy Farmers of Canada After Transformative Seven-Year Tenure

Monday, May 5th, 2025

DFC CEO exits after seven transformative years—industry veteran steps in as interim leader during critical period for Canadian dairy.

Dairy Farmers of Canada, Jacques Lefebvre departure, Canadian dairy leadership, Lucie Bérubé interim CEO, dairy industry news

In a surprising move that’s sending ripples through Canada’s dairy industry, Jacques Lefebvre has stepped down as CEO of Dairy Farmers of Canada after seven years. Lucie Bérubé, a 15-year industry veteran, immediately reins as Interim CEO.

The End of an Era: Lefebvre’s Sudden Departure Marks Major Transition

Dairy Farmers of Canada (DFC) announced today that Jacques Lefebvre has left his position as Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately. The April 24th announcement from Ottawa comes after Lefebvre spent seven years steering the organization through some of the most challenging periods in Canadian dairy history.

Lefebvre’s departure marks the end of a significant chapter for DFC. Having joined the organization in January 2018, he brought extensive leadership experience and deep industry knowledge from his previous role as President and CEO of the Dairy Processors Association of Canada (DPAC). This unique background positioned him as a bridge-builder between producers and processors – segments that don’t always see eye-to-eye but must work together for the industry’s survival.

“Jacques has played a significant role in dairy, having held leadership roles within both the processor and producer organizations,” the DFC board noted in their statement. “For over a decade, his knowledge and passion for this industry has been evident and highly regarded. His presence will be missed.”

Navigating Turbulent Waters: Lefebvre’s Legacy at DFC

During his tenure, Lefebvre guided DFC through several critical challenges, including implementing the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA), significantly impacting Canadian dairy market access. The trade deal was particularly contentious, with dairy organizations claiming the government misled them regarding implementation timing.

Under Lefebvre’s leadership, DFC maintained strong advocacy efforts against these market access concessions. In 2020, he noted, “Our government was first out of the gate to notify the other parties that it was ready to implement CUSMA. The dairy sector was informed at the last minute.” This tough stance on protecting Canadian dairy interests became a hallmark of his time at DFC.

Beyond policy battles, Lefebvre also revolutionized DFC’s internal operations, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. He implemented a people-first approach that became foundational to the organization’s operational philosophy.

“During the pandemic, we had regular touchpoints with employees. I recorded video messages and sent them out every few weeks to update staff and see how they were doing,” Lefebvre said in a recent interview. “It was part of a deliberate strategy to put the well-being of our employees at the center of our priorities.”

Building a Culture of Development and Growth

What truly set Lefebvre apart was his understanding that DFC’s greatest assets were its people. Unlike organizations that produce physical products, DFC’s value comes through advocacy, policy work, and marketing services, all driven by human talent.

“We don’t produce products like cars at DFC. We offer advocacy, policy, and marketing services to our members. That value is not derived by machinery, but by people, so we need to support our team,” Lefebvre explained in a March 2025 interview.

This people-focused approach led to enhanced professional development initiatives, flexible work arrangements, and comprehensive wellness programs. These practices helped DFC maintain productivity and staff loyalty through challenging times, setting a benchmark for organizational management in the agricultural sector.

Bérubé Steps In: Experienced Hand Takes the Wheel

As DFC navigates this transition, the Board has appointed Lucie Bérubé as Interim Chief Executive Officer. With an MBA and 15 years of experience across the dairy sector’s production and processing sides, Bérubé brings substantial industry knowledge.

Her eight-year history with DFC includes positions ranging from Assistant Director for Nutrition Quebec and Interim Director of Marketing to her most recent role as Chief Operation Officer leading Business Development. This progression through the organization gives her unique insight into DFC’s operations, strategies, and challenges.

“The Board of Directors has full confidence in Ms. Bérubé to lead us through this period of change,” according to the official statement. Her appointment represents continuity during a critical transition period for the organization.

What This Means for Canadian Dairy Farmers

Leadership transitions often signal shifts in organizational direction and priorities. For Canada’s 9,000+ dairy farmers, this change comes at a time when the industry faces multiple challenges:

Ongoing implementation of trade agreements that have opened the Canadian market to more foreign dairy products
Growing pressure for environmental sustainability, with DFC working toward net-zero emissions from farm-level dairy production by 2050
Evolving consumer preferences and increasing competition from plant-based alternatives
The need to continue modernizing practices while maintaining Canada’s high production standards

Under Lefebvre’s leadership, DFC strengthened its Blue Cow logo program, which now serves as a recognized symbol of 100% Canadian milk, identified by nine out of ten Canadians. The organization also advanced its proAction sustainability initiative and maintained strong government relations – all critical foundations that Bérubé will now build upon.

The Bottom Line

Jacques Lefebvre’s departure marks a significant transition for Dairy Farmers in Canada and potentially signals a new chapter in Canadian dairy industry representation. His unique experience spanning the producer and processor worlds made him a valuable industry voice during challenging times.

As Lucie Bérubé steps into the role, she must maintain DFC’s strong advocacy position while navigating an increasingly complex market landscape. For Canadian dairy farmers, this leadership change comes at a pivotal moment when unified, strategic industry representation has never been more crucial.

Industry stakeholders across Canada will closely watch the search for a permanent CEO. Whoever ultimately takes the helm permanently will inherit both significant challenges and opportunities as they work to secure the future of Canada’s vital dairy sector.

Executive Summary

Dairy Farmers of Canada (DFC) faces a pivotal leadership transition as CEO Jacques Lefebvre departs abruptly after seven years of trade battles, pandemic resilience, and a people-first culture. Interim CEO Lucie Bérubé, a 15-year dairy sector veteran with deep DFC experience, takes charge amid ongoing challenges like trade agreement pressures, sustainability targets, and shifting consumer demands. Lefebvre’s legacy includes defending producers during contentious USMCA negotiations and modernizing DFC’s operations, while Bérubé’s appointment signals continuity with her proven track record in business development and marketing. The transition underscores the critical role of leadership in navigating an industry at a crossroads.

Learn more:

Why Donald Trump Hates Canada’s Dairy Supply System
Explores ongoing U.S.-Canada trade tensions impacting dairy – critical context for understanding pressures on DFC leadership amid geopolitical shifts.
Canada’s New Liberal PM Carney: Friend or Foe to Dairy’s Future
Analyzes how federal policy changes under Prime Minister Carney could reshape supply management – a key issue for DFC’s incoming CEO.
The Controversial Canadian System That Could Save American Dairy
Breaks down supply management’s role in stabilizing Canadian dairy – foundational knowledge for evaluating leadership transitions at DFC.

The Sunday Read Dairy Professionals Don’t Skip.

Categories : Breed Association News

Tags : Canadian dairy leadership, Dairy Farmers of Canada, Jacques Lefebvre departure, Lucie Bérubé interim CEO

Holstein Canada Leadership Shakeup: CEO Sarkaria Exits After Two-Year Tenure

Monday, May 5th, 2025

BREAKING: Holstein Canada CEO exits after 2 years as the board launches a new strategic plan. The interim leaders are named to maintain stability.

Holstein Canada leadership, dairy industry news, CEO transition, Canadian Holstein breeders, dairy association updates

Holstein Canada is undergoing a significant leadership transition as CEO Sartaj Sarkaria departed the organization just as she was approaching her second anniversary. The Board of Directors, led by President Gilles Côté, announced today that an immediate search for new leadership will begin, with long-time executives Linda Markle and Chris Bartels stepping in as interim Co-Chief Operating Officers. This abrupt change comes as the organization develops a new three-year strategic plan and implements governance enhancements to serve its 9,200+ members across Canada better. The timing of this transition marks exactly two years since Sarkaria took the reins on May 1, 2023, following the termination of previous CEO Vincent Landry in September 2022.

THE DEPARTURE AND OFFICIAL STATEMENT

In a media release issued today, Holstein Canada President Gilles Côté announced that “CEO Sartaj Sarkaria is no longer with Holstein Canada,” careful to acknowledge her contributions during her time with the organization. The board expressed gratitude for her service but provided no specific reason for the departure.

“We are grateful for her service and contributions to the association during her tenure as CEO and wish her the best in her future endeavors,” stated Côté in the official release. The board emphasized that operations would continue without interruption during this transition period.

Sarkaria joined Holstein Canada on May 1, 2023, bringing experience from her previous role as Chief Operating Officer and Chief Diversity Officer at the Canadian Marketing Association. At the time of her appointment, then-President Ben Cuthbert highlighted her experience, expertise, and people-first approach as key qualities that would help the organization achieve its strategic objectives.

INTERIM LEADERSHIP STRUCTURE

The board has appointed Linda Markle and Chris Bartels as Co-COOs to lead the organization while the search for a new CEO unfolds. This dual leadership approach leverages the complementary expertise of two veteran Holstein Canada executives.

Linda Markle brings decades of experience as Herdbook and Genotyping Services Manager at Holstein Canada. Her institutional knowledge runs deep – Markle previously stepped into leadership during another transition period when she was appointed interim General Manager following the termination of former CEO Vincent Landry in September 2022.

“Linda’s steady hand during previous transitions makes her an ideal choice to help guide the organization through this period,” said a Holstein Canada board member who requested anonymity. “Her knowledge of our core registry services is unmatched.”

Chris Bartels, who joined Holstein Canada as Genomics Services Manager in 2021, complements Markle’s experience with his AI industry background and genetic planning expertise. A graduate of the University of Guelph with a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture degree, Bartels grew up on a dairy farm in the Niagara region and has held various positions in both solutions and sales roles in the AI industry.

IMPACT ON CANADIAN HOLSTEIN BREEDERS

For the thousands of dairy producers who rely on Holstein Canada’s services, the board has emphasized continuity during this transition. “Please be assured that our mission, programs, and operations continue without interruption. We remain deeply committed to serving our members and partners across all regions and advancing our work together,” stated Côté in the release.

This leadership change comes at a pivotal time, as Holstein Canada is developing a new three-year strategic plan and implementing enhancements to processes and governance policies. The timing suggests the board may be looking to take the organization in a new direction, potentially adapting to evolving industry needs.

“Leadership transitions, while challenging, often present opportunities for organizations to reassess priorities and strengthen their focus,” notes a dairy industry analyst. “The key will be maintaining momentum on the core services that members depend on while positioning for future growth.”

HOLSTEIN CANADA’S CONTINUED MISSION AND SERVICES

Holstein Canada serves approximately 9,200 members nationwide and is responsible for maintaining the Holstein Herdbook under the Federal Animal Pedigree Act of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. The Association provides numerous services to its members, including genetic improvement programs to enhance profitability for dairy producers nationwide.

Under Sarkaria’s leadership, Holstein Canada continued its partnerships with industry leaders, including renewing its agreement with Zoetis to provide members with genomic testing options through its Medium Density panel, which offers accurate genomic evaluations combined with milk proteins, recessives, and other value-added data.

The organization has also focused on strengthening its classification programs, which have historically set records for the number of animals classified. Holstein Canada has processed hundreds of thousands of registrations in previous record-setting years and conducted over 16,000 herd visits annually.

LOOKING AHEAD: A NEW CHAPTER FOR HOLSTEIN CANADA

As Holstein Canada begins its search for new leadership, President Côté frames this transition as an opportunity: “As we look to the future, this transition offers a valuable opportunity to build on the strong foundation that has been established. We are entering an exciting chapter for Holstein Canada, where we will continue to grow, adapt, and pursue new opportunities that align with our mission and the evolving needs of our members.”

The board’s focus on developing a new strategic plan suggests they’re taking a proactive approach to setting the organization’s future direction. With the dairy industry facing rapid technological changes – including the growing importance of artificial intelligence in farm management for 2025 – Holstein Canada’s next leader will need to navigate traditional breeding values and cutting-edge innovations.

For Canadian Holstein breeders, the promise of continued service delivery through this transition will be critical as they manage their herds and make genetic improvement decisions that impact their long-term profitability. The selection of the next CEO will be watched closely by industry stakeholders across the country.

Executive Summary

Holstein Canada CEO Sartaj Sarkaria has abruptly departed the organization shy of her second anniversary, with Co-COOs Linda Markle and Chris Bartels stepping into interim leadership. The board announced immediate plans to search for a permanent replacement while emphasizing uninterrupted services for its 9,200+ members. Sarkaria’s exit follows a tenure marked by genomic partnerships and record classification numbers, though no specific reason was given. The transition coincides with the developing of a new three-year strategic plan and governance updates, signaling a potential shift in direction. Holstein Canada assures breeders of continued herdbook management and genetic programs, framing the change as an opportunity to address evolving industry needs.

Learn more:

Holstein Canada Announces Gilles Côté as New President for 2024-2025
Meet the new leadership team and discover their vision for Holstein Canada’s future amid industry change.
Paul Larmer Steps In as the Holstein Canada Board’s New Problem Solver Amid Challenges
Former Semex CEO Paul Larmer joins as Special Advisor to help Holstein Canada’s Board navigate internal turmoil and industry pressures.
Holstein Canada President Steps Down From Role
Explore the circumstances and implications of recent leadership changes at Holstein Canada, including the resignation of President Nancy Beerwort.

Categories : Breed Association News

Tags : Canadian Holstein breeders, CEO transition, dairy industry news, Holstein Canada leadership

2024 Holstein Canada Master Breeders: Excellence in Balance, Breeding, and Legacy

Thursday, April 10th, 2025

19 Canadian dairy farms earn elite 2024 Master Breeder status—discover the secrets behind their balanced breeding success!

<a href="https://rss.com/podcasts/the-bullvine/1981278/">E230 2024 Holstein Canada Master Breeders: Excelle | RSS.com</a>

The Holstein Canada Master Breeder shield represents the pinnacle of achievement in dairy cattle breeding – a symbol of decades dedicated to developing exceptional cattle that balance production, conformation, health, fertility, and longevity. Since 1929, this prestigious award has recognized Canadian breeders who have mastered the complex art and science of breeding profitable, sustainable dairy cows. In 2024, Holstein Canada welcomed 19 new recipients into this elite fraternity, each embodying the breeding excellence that keeps Canadian Holsteins respected worldwide.

The Class of 2024: A Nationwide Showcase of Excellence

This year’s winners represent a cross-section of Canadian dairy expertise from coast to coast. Quebec leads with nine recipients, followed closely by Ontario with eight, while Saskatchewan and British Columbia each contributed one outstanding breeder to the 2024 class. The diversity of operations – from traditional tie-stall barns to modern robotic facilities, from multi-generational family farms to relatively recent establishments – demonstrates that breeding excellence takes many forms but shares standard foundations.

What makes this year’s class particularly notable is the mix of first-time recipients (13) alongside those earning their second shield (5) and even fourth shield (2). This blend of new and repeated excellence highlights the continuous emergence of new breeding talent and the remarkable consistency established programs achieve.

Quebec’s Genetic Architects: Nine Masters of Balance

Quebec’s nine Master Breeder recipients exemplify the province’s focus on breeding cows with excellent health and robust genetics, often leveraging genomics and astute management decisions to propel their herds forward.

Rotaly: Excellence Personified Through Allegria

Rock Hebert and Nathalie Dumais of Sainte-Hélène-de-Kamouraska earned their second Master Breeder shield, powered significantly by the remarkable Rotaly Goldwyn Allegria EX-96 5E 5*. This exceptional cow was crowned the 2024 Holstein Canada Cow of the Year, boasting lifetime production exceeding 103,500 kg milk, a flawless EX-96 type score (including 97 points for udder), and profound generational impact through high-performing daughters. Rotaly’s philosophy rejects sacrificing conformation for production, embracing instead a balanced approach that Allegria perfectly embodies.

Quecy: Family-Focused Excellence

Jacques Roy and his sons at Ferme Quecy in Saint-Isidore-de-Dorchester received their second shield, validating a breeding approach built-in 1987 when Jacques started with just six cows. Their philosophy emphasizes exceptional cow care to promote longevity and focuses on cow families that age well. The farm prioritizes conformation while strategically incorporating health traits into their sire selection process, creating a holistic breeding program that has now twice achieved the industry’s highest recognition.

Belfau: Building Excellence From Scratch

The Hudon family of Rivière-Ouelle, including Anne-Marie Bélanger, who joined in 2011, represents an inspiring journey built literally from zero in 2006 to Master Breeder status in 2024. Family involvement is central to their success, with Anne-Marie handling calf care and paperwork while her partner focuses on maintenance and milking. The next generation already shows promise, with their son Théo demonstrating a keen interest in classification and what makes a superior cow. Their achievement proves that excellence can be built relatively quickly when guided by clear breeding goals and family dedication.

Mebeck: Perseverance Rewarded

Simon Ménard and Yvonne Becker’s Ferme Mebeck earned its first Master Breeder shield, a recognition built on years of persistence and dedication. Their program has consistently produced high-classifying animals, with numerous Excellent and Very Good cows carrying the Mebeck prefix regularly appearing in classification reports. Their achievement represents the culmination of a long-term commitment to excellence in the Saint-Hyacinthe region.

Gaelande: Generational Success Takes Root

Benoît Gosselin and Katy Boutin’s first Master Breeder shield marks a significant milestone for their family operation in Plessisville. Benoît took over approximately two decades ago as a third-generation farmer, with Katy joining as co-owner more recently. Their operation, milking around 70 cows with a production quota of 125 kg/day, demonstrates how focused breeding can achieve elite recognition even at a moderate scale. The farm has previously ranked highly in Holstein Quebec’s “Honneur aux mérites” based on production and classification, indicating their consistent commitment to balanced breeding excellence.

Sartigan: Performance Index Champions

Martin and Renaud Boutin secured their first shield, building on a foundation of exceptional herd management. Ferme Sartigan has consistently ranked among Canada’s top herds for Lactanet’s Herd Performance Index (HPI), placing #13 in 2021 and an impressive #2 in 2018. This consistent high performance across multiple management indicators—milk value, udder health, age at first calving, herd efficiency, longevity, and calving interval—demonstrates a comprehensive commitment to the underlying factors that drive balanced breeding success.

Fleole: Portneuf Pride

As first-time recipients from the Portneuf club, Ferme Fleole demonstrates Holstein breeding prowess in their specific region of Quebec. Their success aligns with the broader Quebec trend among this year’s winners: leveraging genomics and informed decision-making to cultivate herds excelling in health and genetic potential.

Drahoka: Management Excellence Leads to Dual Honors

Francis and Sylvain Drapeau’s first Master Breeder shield came on the heels of another significant accomplishment: ranking #1 in Canada for the Herd Performance Index (HPI) in 2023. Their breeding philosophy focuses on “beaucoup de lait puis avoir des belles vaches” (lots of milk and beautiful cows) and continuous improvement. A key investment was a bedded pack for dry cows, which they credit for significantly improving cow health, calving ease, and longevity. This targeted improvement directly contributed the points needed to secure their top HPI ranking and Master Breeder recognition, showcasing how strategic management decisions can yield multiple national accolades.

Lactomont: Successful Generational Transition

Earning their second shield (the first came in 2003), Ferme Lactomont demonstrates enduring excellence across generations. Established in 1900, the farm recently transitioned to the sixth generation, brothers Benoît and Ghislain Montpetit, who took over from parents Daniel Montpetit and Jane Nieuwenhof. This transition coincided with modernization, including a free-stall barn with four robots. The brothers described the award timing as “bittersweet” but acknowledge it as a testament to their parents’ foundational work. Their philosophy focuses on building upon this legacy while leveraging strong genetics and genomics to advance quickly, concentrating on developing the herd’s best animals.

Ontario’s Powerhouses: Eight Pillars of Production and Type

Ontario’s winners are distinguished by success in breeding herds known for high milk production, strong body structure, excellent reproductive performance, and exceptional longevity.

Quality Holsteins: A Dynasty Continues

Achieving their fourth Master Breeder shield places Quality Holsteins in genuinely rarefied air, representing decades of sustained breeding brilliance. Founded in 1980 by the legendary Paul Ekstein and now involving his son Ari, Quality has become synonymous with elite type and show ring success. Paul Ekstein’s philosophy, “Attention to every minor detail can lead to major success,” combined with a blend of art, science, and a “good eye for cattle,” built the farm’s international reputation.

The purchase of Plushanski Valiant Fran established a cornerstone family, leading to numerous high-impact descendants like Quality BC Frantisco EX-96 (2005 Cow of the Year) and Quality Carlton Pam EX-97 (Canada’s first 97-point B&W cow). With accolades including the 2013 McKown Master Breeder Award for Paul, induction into the Canadian Ag Hall of Fame, eight All-Canadian Breeder’s Herd titles, four RAWF Premier Breeder banners, and nearly 300 Excellent cows bred, Quality’s fourth shield underscores their position as a global Holstein breeding powerhouse.

Heather Holme: Four Generations, Four Shields

Like Quality, Heather Holme also received its fourth Master Breeder shield, marking another incredible story of generational consistency. The farm, now operated by third-generation Curtis McNeil with his wife Cathy and parents Glen and Vanda, traces its roots to the 1930s. Integral to their success is herdsman Greg Seagan, who has had an astounding 43 years of service at the farm.

The Heather Holme herd is homebred and was Canada’s first CHAH Leucosis-free herd. Their breeding philosophy centers on functional traits – “Breeding the kind dairyman like to milk worldwide” – with focused attention on udders, feet and legs, high components, and milk volume. This practical approach echoes the balanced breeding strategy practiced by Curtis’s grandfather, Cliff McNeil, decades ago, who wisely alternated generational focus between milk and type to create long-term balance. Having bred over 130 Excellent cows while maintaining high production averages, Heather Holme demonstrates that a consistent, possibly closed-herd philosophy emphasizing generational balance is a remarkably successful path to repeated Master Breeder recognition.

Erbcrest: Fundamental Excellence at Moderate Scale

Dan and Ruthann Erb received their second Master Breeder shield, attributing their success to the foundational teachings of Dan’s parents, Delmer and Mary. Starting with purebreds in 1971, the Milverton farm focuses on good stewardship and “looking after the little things” – fundamental good husbandry that’s proven successful for decades.

Milking 50 cows in a tie-stall barn, Erbcrest demonstrates that elite breeding success is achievable without adopting large-scale operations or the latest housing systems. Breeding over 100 Excellent cows and achieving this second shield while maintaining a smaller herd size highlights that core principles of dedicated management and consistent breeding decisions remain paramount, regardless of scale. Their success extends beyond the farm gate, with co-owned animals like Erbcrest Doc Marilou making their mark in the show ring.

Kentville: A Dynasty Within a Dynasty

This second Master Breeder shield for Kentville Holsteins is deeply embedded in the family legacy. Representing the fourth and fifth generations, Kevin McGriskin and his family are part of a wider McGriskin Holstein dynasty that now boasts an incredible 10 Master Breeder shields among extended family members, including Kevin’s father (1995) and grandfather (two shields).

Recognized in 2023 for 100 consecutive years of Holstein registration, the farm embodies Holstein breeding as a multi-generational tradition. The passion for great cattle continues to flow through the generations, with Kevin and his wife passing their love of showing onto their children involved in 4-H. Their story highlights how shared knowledge, values, and potential genetics within a dedicated family network can create a powerful environment for sustained breeding excellence spanning over a century.

Cherry Crest: The Resilience Champions

Securing their third Master Breeder shield is a remarkable feat for the Johnston family, especially considering the farm has undergone three complete herd dispersals in its past. Operated by Don Johnston and Nancy Beerwort, with son Kevin and wife Tammy now taking leadership roles, the farm milks around 135 cows.

Their philosophy prioritizes animal well-being, balanced breeding, and community involvement. Don Johnston finds particular satisfaction in the shield as validation for making the “right decisions” throughout their breeding program. Achieving a third shield despite multiple dispersals demonstrates an exceptional, inherent ability within the family to identify superior genetics, rebuild effectively, and consistently apply a winning breeding strategy – showcasing remarkable resilience and cow sense that transcends physical herd continuity.

Oconnors: Genetic Legacy Extends Beyond Dispersal

Winning their first Master Breeder shield after dispersing their milking herd underscores the lasting impact of a breeding program’s genetic footprint. The award recognizes the cumulative performance of cows bred under the Oconnors prefix, wherever they may be now.

A key contributor to their success was the Oconnor’s Planet Lucia family; Lucia herself was Canada’s #1 genomic cow in 2013, achieving a rare combination of high type and production considered “unheard of back then.” The family expressed pride in the shield and ensuring their cows transitioned to other dairy herds rather than beef upon dispersal, preserving their genetic progress. Their genetic legacy continues to influence the breed, as evidenced by recent show entries that still carry the distinctive Oconnors prefix.

Aveline: From Unconventional Origins to Breeding Excellence

Tony and Char Martin and their sons celebrate their first Master Breeder shield, an achievement they’ve been striving towards for years. Milking in a 74-cow tie-stall barn, their philosophy emphasizes longevity, recognizing that later lactations are often the most profitable.

A cornerstone of their program, Aveline Master Amanda EX-93 5E 6*, remarkably descended from a “barnyard bull” yet became highly influential in the herd. This highlights that exceptional female lines and astute breeder judgment in developing them, even from unconventional origins, remain critical pathways to genetic progress and top-tier recognition like the Master Breeder Award.

Dutchdale: Huron County Excellence

As first-time recipients, Dutchdale Farms adds to the strong showing from the Huron County Holstein Club this year. Their success reflects the Ontario winners’ collective focus on breeding for high production, durable conformation, reliable reproduction, and cow longevity. Their achievement further solidifies the high breeding expertise concentrated within the Huron region.

Western Champions: Saskatchewan and British Columbia Show Their Strength

The winners are two exceptional herds from Canada’s western provinces, demonstrating that Holstein breeding excellence extends coast to coast.

Mil-En-Roy: Prairie Pioneer Reaches the Summit

This first Master Breeder shield marks a milestone in the Saskatchewan prairie’s long and storied family history. Lyle Pretty represents the second generation operating under the Mil-En-Roy prefix (established by parents Roy and Mildred), while the family homestead dates back to 1900.

From post-WWII cream shipping to the early adoption of electricity and purebred Holsteins in the 1950s, showing cattle since 1951, and now achieving Master Breeder status, Mil-En-Roy embodies the resilience, adaptation, and enduring “passion and love for dairy cattle” required for multi-generational success on the prairies. Having bred over 120 Excellent cows, their achievement brings well-deserved pride to Saskatchewan’s Holstein community.

Frueh: Island Excellence

The Frueh family operation earns its first Master Breeder shield, representing Vancouver Island with distinction. Their philosophy acknowledges the practical side of achieving the award: consciously managing cows to “reach thresholds” for production and classification points while implementing a breeding strategy that saw the Frueh Chesapeake Candy family contribute significantly through its many descendants.

They also emphasize the importance of the local club community, especially vital in smaller dairy regions like Vancouver Island, with only about 30 producers. Their love for the entire scope of dairy farming – embracing cows, crops, business, family, and lifestyle – reflects the holistic passion needed for sustained breeding success.

The Common Threads in Master Breeder Success

While each farm has its unique story, several common themes emerge from the Class of 2024 that provide valuable insights for all breeders aspiring to excellence:

The Bedrock of Balance

Almost universally, these breeders prioritize a balanced approach, refusing to chase extremes in either production or type alone. They seek synergy between conformation, yield, health, and longevity, recognizing this as the path to sustainable profitability. This isn’t merely about meeting award criteria; it’s a core principle from historical wisdom to modern practice.

The success of herds like Rotaly with Allegria, Heather Holme with its functional approach, and others underscores the power of this balanced vision. While different farms may emphasize specific traits to match their market and management, none sacrifice the fundamental balance needed for long-term success.

Generational Passion & The Family Farm

The prevalence of multi-generational farms is striking within this year‘s class (Kentville/McGriskin, Mil-En-Roy/Pretty, Lactomont/Montpetit, Heather Holme/McNeil, Erbcrest/Erb, Cherry Crest/Johnston, Gaelande/Gosselin). This structure nurtures the long-term vision, knowledge transfer, and deep-seated passion often required for breeding excellence.

The pride in family legacy and hope for future generations are palpable in many of these stories. Even when farms are not multi-generational, strong partnerships and mentorship relationships appear to foster similar environments for breeding success, suggesting that the transfer of knowledge and shared vision may be more important than bloodlines alone.

The Power of Cow Families & Longevity

Identifying and cultivating strong, long-lasting cow families provides a genetic bedrock for successful breeding programs. Examples like the Fran family at Quality, Allegria at Rotaly, Amanda at Aveline, Lucia at Oconnors, and Candy at Frueh demonstrate how exceptional maternal lines can consistently transmit the desired balance of traits, multiplying a herd’s potential over time.

Longevity isn’t merely survival; it’s extended productivity and breeding influence, a key component explicitly valued by these breeders and the award itself. The ability to identify females with the genetic capacity for longevity – and then manage them to realize that potential – emerges as a critical skill shared by these Master Breeders.

Adapting and Innovating While Honoring Tradition

While grounded in tradition, these top breeders strategically embrace innovation. The adoption of genomics (especially noted in Quebec operations and Lactomont), data management tools, targeted facility improvements (like Drahoka’s bedded pack), and robotics (Lactomont) demonstrates a forward-thinking approach.

Significantly, these tools aren’t replacing core breeding skills but enhancing the ability to achieve goals related to health, efficiency, and genetic progress. The most successful breeders appear to integrate new technologies within their established breeding philosophy rather than chasing trends that might divert from their core values.

The Torch of Holstein Excellence Burns Bright

The 19 herds honored as 2024 Holstein Canada Master Breeders represent the pinnacle of Canadian dairy cattle breeding achievement. Their success, spanning diverse regions and operational styles, is a testament to unwavering dedication, skillful management, and a profound understanding of the Holstein cow.

Collectively, they reinforce the high standards associated with Canadian Holsteins globally – a commitment to balanced performance, longevity, robust health, and efficient production. They embody the successful integration of time-honored breeding principles with modern tools like genomics and data analysis, paving the way for the breed’s future.

As these Master Breeders continue their journey of excellence, they not only elevate their operations but strengthen the entire Canadian Holstein industry through their genetic contributions, mentorship, and example. Congratulations to the Class of 2024 – true Masters of the Craft, carrying the torch of Holstein excellence with pride and distinction.

Key Takeaways:

Balance is king: Winners refused to prioritize production over conformation, instead focusing on synergy between health, longevity, and efficiency.
Generational wisdom matters: Over half the recipients were multi-generational farms, leveraging decades of knowledge transfer and long-term vision.
Innovation fuels progress: Genomics, robotics, and targeted facility upgrades (e.g., bedded packs for dry cows) complemented traditional breeding skills.
Regional diversity shines: Quebec’s health-focused herds and Ontario’s production powerhouses highlighted Canada’s geographic breeding strengths.
Cow families leave legacies: Standout maternal lines like Rotaly’s Allegria and Quality’s Fran family drove genetic impact across generations.

Executive Summary:

Holstein Canada honored 19 dairy farms as 2024 Master Breeders, recognizing decades of excellence in breeding Holsteins that balance production, conformation, health, and longevity. Quebec and Ontario dominated the list, with winners showcasing generational expertise, strategic use of genomics, and robust cow families. Key themes included prioritizing longevity, multi-generational farm management, and blending tradition with innovation like robotics and data analytics. First-time recipients highlighted rising talent, while fourth-time winners like Quality Holsteins and Heather Holme underscored sustained excellence. These breeders exemplify Canada’s global leadership in Holstein genetics, proving that balanced breeding and adaptability drive enduring success.

Learn more:

Meet the 2024 Holstein Canada Master Breeders
Explore the stories of 19 elite breeders recognized for their balanced approach to production, conformation, health, and longevity.
Top Strategies for Successful Dairy Cattle Breeding
Learn expert tips on genetic selection, health management, and modern technologies to improve herd productivity and profitability.
The Ultimate Guide to Breeding Dairy Cattle: Tips for Optimal Milk Production
Discover essential breeding methods and genetic principles that enhance milk yield, herd health, and economic returns.

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Categories : Breed Association News

Tags : balanced Holstein genetics, Canadian dairy cattle breeding, Holstein Master Breeders 2024, Master Breeder award criteria

Rotaly Goldwyn Allegria EX-96 5E 5* Crowned 2024 Holstein Canada Cow of The Year

Saturday, April 5th, 2025

Rotaly Goldwyn Allegria: 2024 Cow of the Year! 103k+ milk, nine elite daughters, 2x Master Breeder legacy!

Holstein Canada Cow of the Year, Rotaly Goldwyn Allegria, Canadian Holstein breeding, dairy cow genetics, milk production excellence

In a historic announcement made today at Holstein Canada’s Annual General Meeting in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Rotaly Goldwyn Allegria EX-96 5E 5* has been named the 2024 Cow of the Year, cementing her status as one of the most influential Canadian Holsteins of the modern era. This recognition arrives precisely three decades after Holstein Canada established the award, placing Allegria among legendary predecessors like Comestar Laurie Sheik and Val-Bisson Goldwyn Maya while highlighting her unique combination of longevity, production excellence, and generational Impact.

The Pinnacle of Holstein Achievement

Production Legacy and Lactation Dominance

Allegria’s seven lactations produced 103,504 kg of milk with 4.1% fat and 3.3% protein, translating to 4,243 kilograms of fat and 3,415 kg of protein over her lifetime. These figures place her in the top 0.1% of Canadian Holsteins for lifetime yield, with a lactation curve demonstrating remarkable consistency:

First Lactation: 12,890 kg (4.0% fat, 3.2% protein)
Peak Performance: Fifth lactation at 16,302 kg (4.2% fat, 3.4% protein)
Final Lactation: 13,115 kg at 10 years old (4.0% fat, 3.3% protein)

Her ability to maintain component percentages while increasing volume exemplifies the balanced breeding philosophy that Canadian herds prioritize. The 5E suffix in her name confirms five consecutive “Excellent” classifications from Holstein Canada evaluators – a rarity achieved by fewer than 3% of classified cows annually.

Structural Perfection and Show Ring Supremacy

Allegria’s EX-96 classification score represents the pinnacle of conformation assessment, with evaluators particularly noting:

Rump: 96 points (ideal angle for calving ease and mobility)
Feet/Legs: 95 points (optimal bone quality and heel depth)
Udder: 97 points (fore udder attachment and teat placement)

Genetic Dynasty and Progeny Performance

Daughter Development and Transgenerational Impact

Allegria’s nine milking daughters (3 EX, 6 VG) have collectively produced over 580,000 kg of milk, with several achieving their accolades:

Rotaly Delta Allegria EX-93: 4th lactation – 15,220 kg (4.3% fat)
Rotaly Lambda Allegria VG-89: 2023 All-Ontario Junior 3-Year-Old
Rotaly Supreme Allegria EX-91: Dam of the #4 genomic heifer in Canada

The family’s 39* classification reflects six generations of EX/VG females – a bloodline stability geneticists value for predictable trait transmission.

Embryo Market Influence

Despite limited public auction activity, private embryo sales from Allegria’s lineage have reached record prices:

2023: Lot of 10 embryos sold for CAD 38,000 to a German syndicate
2024: Three daughters entered genomic elite lists in Italy, Brazil, and Japan

Her genetic footprint now extends to 14 countries, with particular adoption in heat-stressed environments due to her descendants’ maintained production under tropical conditions.

Rotaly’s Master Breeder Strategy

Second Shield Achievement

Allegria’s contributions were instrumental in Rotaly Holsteins earning their second Master Breeder Shield in 2024 – an honor granted to only 19 herds nationally.

The farm’s focus on balanced breeding – refusing to sacrifice conformation for production – mirrors Allegria’s profile. Her 5* designation indicates five sons in AI service, with Rotaly Allegro siring 23 EX daughters across Canada.

Cow of the Year Selection Criteria and Historical Context

Evaluation Framework

Holstein Canada’s selection committee weighted criteria as follows:

Production (30%): Lifetime yield, component consistency, lactation persistency
Conformation (25%): Classification scores show ring achievements
Genetic Impact (20%): Progeny performance, international influence
Longevity (15%): Herd life, age at retirement
Breed Character (10%): Feminine style, breed type preservation

Allegria’s victory over fellow finalists reflects particular strength in the Production and Genetic Impact categories, where she outpaced competitors by 12% and 9%, respectively, in committee scoring.

30-Year Legacy Comparison

When contextualized against past winners, Allegria’s profile shows both continuity and evolution:

Key Historical Comparisons

1995 Winner: Comestar Laurie Sheik (Pioneered high component breeding)
2005 Winner: Braedale Baler Twine (Revolutionized type genetics)
2015 Winner: Val-Bisson Goldwyn Maya (Global embryo market leader)
2024 Winner: Rotaly Goldwyn Allegria (Synthesis of production/type/longevity)

Notably, Allegria represents the first winner in a decade without a maternal sister or daughter previously earning the honor – underscoring her merit within an increasingly competitive genetic landscape.

Conclusion: A Legacy Cemented

Rotaly Goldwyn Allegria’s Cow of the Year designation culminates a career that redefined expectations for Holstein excellence. By harmonizing show ring appeal with barn performance and transgenerational Impact, she embodies the Canadian breeding philosophy of “Cows That Last.” As her embryos continue circulating globally and daughters dominate production records, Allegria’s influence will persist long after her official retirement – a testament to the enduring power of balanced, thoughtful genetic selection.

This landmark recognition serves to honor an exceptional individual and chart a course for future breeding priorities where durability, fertility, and adaptability become the cornerstones of Holstein improvement programs worldwide.

Key Takeaways

Historic Production: 103,504 kg milk over seven lactations with consistent 4.1% fat/3.3% protein, ranking in the top 0.1% of Canadian Holsteins.
Genetic Dynasty: 9 daughters produced 580,000+ kg milk; embryos sold for CAD 38k, influencing herds globally.
Structural Perfection: EX-96 score (97-point udder, 96-point rump) and 5* designation for sons in AI service.

Executive Summary

Rotaly Goldwyn Allegria EX-96 5E 5* has been crowned Holstein Canada’s 2024 Cow of the Year, celebrated for her record-breaking 103,504 kg lifetime milk yield, flawless EX-96 conformation, and generational impact. Her nine high-performing daughters (3 EX, 6 VG) contributed to Rotaly Farm’s second Master Breeder Shield, while her genetic influence spans 14 countries through premium embryo sales. The win highlights her balanced excellence in production, longevity, and adaptability—key traits aligning with Canada’s sustainability goals. Allegria’s triumph, announced at Holstein Canada’s 30th award ceremony.

Learn more:

Holstein Canada Announces Four Finalists for 2024 Cow of the Year
Explore the exceptional finalists, including Rotaly Goldwyn Allegria, and their contributions to Canadian Holstein breeding excellence.
Loyalyn Goldwyn June: 2019 Holstein Canada Cow of the Year
Dive into the story of Loyalyn Goldwyn June, a previous Cow of the Year winner known for her longevity, production, and show success.
Finalists for the Holstein Canada Cow of the Year Award, 2022
Learn about past finalists and their remarkable achievements in production, genetic impact, and conformation.

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Categories : Breed Association News

Tags : Canadian Holstein breeding, dairy cow genetics, Holstein Canada Cow of the Year, Rotaly Goldwyn Allegria

Shorthorn Queen Smashes 100,000 KG Lifetime Production Record

Sunday, March 16th, 2025

Canadian Shorthorn shatters 100,000kg lifetime barrier in her NINTH lactation, proving longevity isn’t just impressive – it’s profitable. Find out how.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: Koopycrest P Per Ali Ariel VG-85, a Canadian Milking Shorthorn from Shawn Koopmans’ herd in Picton, Ontario, has broken the breed’s lifetime production record with over 100,000kg of milk across eight lactations, demonstrating the extraordinary economic value of breeding for longevity. With impressive components (4.1% fat, 3.2% protein) and BCAs of 411-418-398, Ariel exemplifies how extended productive life dramatically reduces replacement costs, with a $2,500 heifer investment spread across eight lactations costing just $312 per lactation. The Koopycrest breeding program, which began with a single embryo purchase, has grown into a dynasty of high-producing, long-lasting cows that consistently capture production awards. Beyond economics, Ariel’s achievement highlights significant sustainability benefits, as long-lived cows reduce the environmental footprint per kilogram of milk produced while generating more calves, lower veterinary costs, and higher lifetime profits per stall.

dairy cow longevity, lifetime milk production record, Milking Shorthorn, dairy profitability, milk components

A Canadian Milking Shorthorn has just rewritten the record books. Koopycrest P Per Ali Ariel VG-85 bulldozed through the 100,000 KG lifetime production barrier during her eighth lactation – and this production powerhouse isn’t slowing down, having recently calved for her NINTH time in early 2025.

This remarkable cow from Shawn Koopmans’ herd in Picton, Ontario, has accumulated an impressive 101,936 kg of milk, 4,177 kg of fat (4.1%), and 3,257 kg of protein (3.2%). With average BCAs of 411-418-398, Ariel isn’t just producing – she’s dominating.

FROM SINGLE EMBRYO TO DYNASTY: The Koopycrest Success Story

What began with one embryo purchase has exploded into a dominant cow family that rules CMSS production awards annually.

“Ariel has been a great cow to work with. Her combination of high production and longevity makes her special,” says Koopmans. That’s the understatement of the year.

The numbers tell the story:

101,936 kg lifetime milk production
4,177 kg fat (4.1%)
3,257 kg protein (3.2%)
Seven-time Class Leader
Seven-time Superior Production Award winner

Her daughter, Koopycrest Royalty Ali Ashlyn VG-85, continues the family tradition with multiple Class Leader and Superior Production Awards.

THE 100,000 CLUB: Elite Status in the Dairy World

Elite cow graphic

Joining the 100,000 kg club isn’t just bragging rights – it’s proof of genetic excellence combined with superior management.

The Canadian Milking Shorthorn Society recognizes these lifetime achievements because they represent the ultimate goal: animals that deliver consistent returns year after year.

Elite production with staying power. That’s the golden ticket in today’s dairy economy.

THE BOTTOM LINE: Why Ariel’s Record Matters to You

Koopycrest P Per Ali Ariel VG-85’s achievement isn’t just impressive – it’s a blueprint for profitable dairy production.

The Koopmans family’s success proves that extraordinary results follow when breeding goals align with economic realities.

In the dairy business, longevity isn’t just a virtue – it’s a profit center.
Learn more

World Records Are Not Only Set at the Olympics – Discover how exceptional dairy cows achieve seemingly impossible production records through family genetics, management practices, and the unique qualities that contribute to both longevity and productivity.
Longevity: The Hidden Profit Center In Your Barn – Learn why longevity combined with productivity is essential for maximizing dairy farm profitability, how to define ideal longevity, and why it takes strategic breeding decisions to build a herd that delivers long-term returns.
Canadian Milking Shorthorn Society Honors Record-Breaking Production Champions – See how other Canadian Milking Shorthorns are setting new production records, the factors driving their success, and the breed’s growing impact on the dairy industry.

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Categories : Breed Association News

Tags : dairy cow longevity, dairy profitability, lifetime milk production record, Milking Shorthorn

Elite Holstein Genetics Shine in 2024 BAA Rankings!

Tuesday, February 4th, 2025

Holstein Excellence Reaches New Heights! Triple-T Holsteins leads the pack with a stunning 116.9 BAA, setting the gold standard for Holstein genetics. From small family operations to larger herds, the 2024 BAA rankings showcase the pinnacle of breeding achievement. Ready to dive into the details that matter to your herd?

Outstanding genetic excellence and breeding mastery took center stage as Holstein Association USA unveiled their 2024 Breed Age Average (BAA%) rankings. For dairy enthusiasts who live and breathe genetics, these results showcase the pinnacle of Holstein’s breeding achievement.

A New Champion Emerges

Triple-T Holsteins of North Lewisburg, Ohio, has claimed the crown with an exceptional 116.9 BAA, setting a new standard for breeding excellence. This achievement represents countless hours of dedicated breeding decisions and meticulous herd management.

The Elite Five

The cream of the crop for 2024 includes:

Triple-T Holsteins, Ohio (116.9 BAA)
Matthew T. Mitchell, Tennessee (116.6 BAA)
Jeffrey Jet Butler, Illinois (115.8 BAA)
Juniper Farm Inc, Maine (115.5 BAA)
Conant Acres Inc, Maine (115.4 BAA)

By the Numbers

The depth of quality in Holstein breeding is evident in the numbers: 924 herds qualified for BAA evaluation in 2024. With an average herd size of 66 cows and an impressive average BAA of 108.2, these results demonstrate that excellence in Holstein genetics isn’t limited by operation size.

Recognition for All

Amy Fletcher, Senior Manager of Classification Operations, emphasizes the program’s comprehensive approach:

“With the Classic and Standard program options, herds receive a whole herd BAA, using each animal’s age and stage of lactation balancing the scale for all animals.”

The Holstein Association USA has created multiple recognition categories:

Overall Top 200 BAA Herds
Top 25 BAA Herds by Region
Top 25 BAA Herds by Herd Size
Top 15 BAA Herds for Colleges & Universities

Whether you’re managing a small family operation or a large-scale dairy, these rankings provide a benchmark for breeding excellence and showcase the incredible achievements possible through dedicated breeding programs. The complete listings are available through Holstein Association USA’s website. For those passionate about Holstein genetics, these rankings celebrate current achievements and inspiration for future breeding goals.

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Categories : Breed Association News

Tags : BAA rankings, breeding excellence, dairy herds, Holstein genetics

LIC’s Profit Surge Signals Strong Demand for Dairy Tech and Genetics

Thursday, January 23rd, 2025

Record profits at LIC signal a dairy revolution. Learn how new genetics and tech are boosting efficiency and sustainability for farmers worldwide.

Summary:

The Livestock Improvement Corporation (LIC) recently saw a 35% boost in profits due to strong demand for new dairy technologies and genetics. This trend shows that farming is becoming more efficient and data-driven, with a focus on both sustainability and productivity. Farmers using LIC’s genetics are seeing improvements in milk production and herd health, while also reducing costs and increasing profits. LIC’s genetics help make farming more eco-friendly by breeding better cows. However, it’s important for all farmers, big or small, to have access to these technologies and keep their data safe. The future of dairy farming will depend on balancing these advanced tools while supporting all types of farms.

Key Takeaways:

LIC’s net profit surged by 35%, signaling increasing global demand for advanced dairy technologies and genetics.
The company’s genetics have a worldwide reach, contributing to efficiency improvements in multiple countries.
Industry trends indicate a shift towards data-driven operations with a focus on sustainability and productivity.
Technological advancements present significant opportunities for farmers but also pose challenges that need addressing.
Genetic improvement is central to achieving sustainable practices and reducing the environmental footprint.

dairy farming, livestock improvement, animal health tests, genetic programs, sustainable agriculture

New Zealand’s Livestock Improvement Corporation (LIC) has reported a significant increase in profits, with net profits reaching $39.1 million for the six months ending November 2024 – a 35% increase from last year. This profit jump is mainly due to the high demand from dairy farmers for animal health tests and genetics, which shows a move towards using data and science to manage farms.

What This Means for Dairy Farmers

LIC’s success shows how new technologies and better genetics can help dairy farming. By using these advancements, farmers can:

Boost milk production efficiency
Improve herd health and longevity
Lower input costs over time
Increase overall farm profitability

While it’s essential to recognize that starting with these technologies can be expensive, the long-term benefits of boosting efficiency and profitability outweigh the initial costs. Farmers should consider their situation and consult experts before making significant changes to their farms.

Genetic Improvements for Sustainable Dairy Farming

LIC’s genetic programs enhance sustainability by breeding cows for increased feed efficiency and disease resistance, promoting environmental friendliness in dairy farming. By breeding cows to eat less feed and resist diseases better, LIC helps farmers produce more milk while also being better for the environment. This approach uses new genetics and meets the demand for eco-friendly dairy products.

In anticipation of stricter environmental regulations, LIC’s initiatives equip farmers for the future. Farmers can continue producing milk using advanced genetics while caring for the planet and balancing market needs with environmental rules.

Global Impact and Industry Trends

Although LIC is based in New Zealand, its influence extends beyond that country. It is empowering dairy farmers worldwide. Farmers in countries like Uruguay are leveraging LIC’s genetics to substantially increase milk production efficiency and reproductive rates, showcasing the global reach of LIC’s initiatives. The widespread adoption of new technology and genetics in dairy farming signifies a significant leap forward for the industry, showcasing its continuous advancement.

Key industry trends include:

Breeding cows to produce less methane and be more efficient
Using more data and technology for managing herds
Balancing sustainability with productivity
Making money while taking care of the environment

Challenges and Considerations

Despite positive outlooks, it’s crucial to consider some challenges:

Farmers and workers need to learn new skills and undergo continuous training.
The increased technology integration on farms raises concerns about data privacy and security, highlighting the need for robust measures to safeguard sensitive information.
There is a risk that larger, tech-savvy farms will advance, leaving smaller farms behind.

Industry groups and leaders must address these issues so that all farmers, regardless of farm size, can benefit from new technology.

The Bottom Line

LIC’s strong financial results and the rising demand for advanced dairy technology suggest a bright future for the global dairy industry. As farmers invest more in genetics and herd tools, we expect a boost in productivity, efficiency, and sustainability. Nevertheless, supporting all dairy farms while prioritizing animal welfare and environmental protection is essential.

Farmers must actively seek knowledge about the latest agricultural technology, attend relevant workshops or seminars, and engage with industry experts to understand and harness the full potential of technological advancements for their farms. Consider how genetic improvements and herd management tools could enhance your farm. The industry’s adoption of these new advancements and commitment to core dairy farming values are crucial in shaping a robust and sustainable future.

Learn more:

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Categories : Breed Association News

Tags : animal health tests, Dairy Farming, genetic programs, livestock improvement

Meet the 2024 Holstein Canada Master Breeders

Monday, January 20th, 2025

Meet the 2024 Holstein Canada Master Breeders. Want to know how these breeders excel in dairy farming? Find out their tips to improve your herd.

Holstein Canada, Master Breeder Awards, dairy industry, genomic testing, breeding excellence

The 2024 Master Breeder Awards were announced by Holstein Canada, honoring 19 top breeders from all over the country for their outstanding achievements in breeding Holstein cattle. The event was celebrated on January 18th, 2025, recognizing those who set the highest livestock management and breeding standards. These awards, highly valued in the Canadian dairy industry, highlight breeders who produce cows with excellent milk production, body structure, health, and long life. The awards showcase the importance of responsible breeding practices by promoting continuous improvement and new technologies, like genomic testing. They inspire dairy farmers nationwide and push the industry towards a future full of possibilities.

Celebrating Excellence: The Diverse Provinces and Dedication of 2024’s Master Breeders

The 2024 Master Breeder Awards are a testament to the unwavering dedication of 19 excellent Holstein breeders from various parts of Canada. They highlight their commitment to top-notch Holstein cattle breeding. This group exemplifies the steadfast commitment of the Canadian dairy industry to excellence, inspiring all who are part of this noble profession.

In Ontario, breeders like Heather Holme, Dutchdale, Cherry Crest, Erbcrest, OConnors, Aveline, Kentville, and Quality shine with their success in breeding herds known for high milk production, strong body structure, great reproductive success, and long life. They follow methods that keep their herds highly valuable to the industry.

Quebec’s breeders, such as Rotaly, Quecy, Belfau, Mebeck, Gaelande, Sartigan, Fleole, Drahoka, and Lactomont, focus on breeding cows with excellent health and genetics. Their dedication is evident in their use of genomics and wise decision-making to improve their herds.

In Saskatchewan, Mil-En-Roy achieves top success by combining new management tricks with traditional breeding skills, demonstrating its excellence.

British Columbia’s Frueh highlights the West’s role in Canada’s dairy success, demonstrating the crucial role of strong genetic and breeding strategies for future growth.

These award winners come from many places and share a passion for breeding excellence. Their achievements promote a friendly competition spirit and help develop mentoring and new ideas that benefit Canada’s dairy industry.

Master Breeder Shield: The Epitome of Balanced Holstein Excellence

The Master Breeder Shield is a top honor in Holstein cattle breeding. It shows a perfect mix of key traits that make breeding unique. To win, cows must produce lots of quality milk. This shows they are productive and efficient. They must also have excellent conformation, which means they have the ideal body shape and strength for Holsteins. This ensures they look good and work well. The cows must breed well, too, having healthy calves that are genetically strong. Cows need excellent health to keep veterinary bills low and animal welfare high. Lastly, cows must live long and stay productive and healthy for many years, making them valuable to the herd.

The Master Breeder program is essential for improving Canada’s dairy industry by encouraging breeders to improve. This award not only celebrates the best breeders today but also pushes them to keep getting better. It shows how important it is to use new technology in traditional practices. Breeders are using genomic testing more, which helps choose cattle with the best traits. This speeds up genetic improvement. The program also highlights the need to use data to manage herds. With data from registration and genomic testing, breeders can make smart choices to get the best from their herds. Linda Markle from Holstein Canada says that having the correct data helps make better breeding decisions. This doesn’t just help individual herds; it also raises the standard for the Canadian dairy sector by setting high standards for success and new ideas.

A Legacy of Excellence: The Master Breeder Awards’ Enduring Impact on the Canadian Dairy Sector

The Master Breeder Awards, created by Holstein Canada, are a big deal in the Canadian dairy world. These awards are given to outstanding Holstein breeders who work hard to achieve the best in breeding. What started as a simple award has become a respected symbol in the dairy community for its high standards and recognition.

The selection process for these critical awards involves careful examination of different qualities in the breeders’ herds. The criteria focus on a balance of high production, great conformation, effective reproduction, and excellent animal health and long life. This ensures the Master Breeder Shield goes only to those who show all these top traits in their Holstein cattle.

“Winning the Master Breeder Shield is more than just getting an award; it shows years of dedication, innovation, and a steady focus on excellence in Holstein breeding,” says Linda Markle, Director of Member and Customer Service at Holstein Canada.

Everyone admires and respects the winners of the Master Breeder Award. This honor shows a breeder’s ability to create cattle that meet and surpass the industry’s high standards. Being a Master Breeder is a badge of success, often inspiring others in the dairy sector to improve their breeding practices.

Honoring Commitment and Achievement: The Spirited Ceremony of 2024’s Master Breeder Awards

The awards ceremony was a significant celebration of excellence and a key moment for the Canadian Holstein breeding community. Held online, it brought together industry leaders, breeders, and supporters nationwide to honor the 19 outstanding Master Breeder winners.

Each winner was praised for their fantastic work in Holstein cattle breeding, showing their dedication and passion. The ceremony also highlighted the tough competition in the Master Breeder program, where only the most careful and competent breeders get the prestigious shield. It’s a mark of excellence, honoring those who have achieved high production and excellent conformation in their herds and mastery in breeding cows with extraordinary reproductive abilities, health, and longevity.

Overall, the event was a tribute to the winners and a lively celebration of the progress and future of the Canadian dairy industry. It reinforced the importance of mentorship and continuous improvement, inspiring everyone to aim for the high standards set by these top breeders.

The Bottom Line

The future of the Canadian dairy industry is promising, thanks to a strong focus on progress and quality. The 2024 Master Breeder Awards underscore the importance of mentorship, with experienced breeders guiding the next generation. This harmonious blend of tradition and innovation ensures a bright future, with dairy farmers constantly improving and using the latest technologies, like genomic testing, to make better decisions about their herds.

In this rapidly changing field, dedication to breeding high-quality cows is key. Breeders aim to produce cows with the best conformation, production, and health, showcasing the industry’s strength and ability to adapt. This dedication benefits individual herds and supports the bigger goal of making the dairy sector more sustainable and efficient, reassuring us about its bright future.

Looking ahead, focusing on better breeding practices and building strong cow families will help Canada stay a leader in dairy genetics. A community that values sharing knowledge and working together will help the industry grow and innovate. Canada celebrates its breeders’ successes and lays the foundation for a successful future where excellent cattle breeding supports the dairy industry’s ongoing success.

As we honor the fantastic achievements of the 2024 Master Breeders, let their stories inspire you to improve your practices. Use new technologies like genomic testing to boost your herd’s potential and sustainability. By doing this, you can reach the same standards of excellence that Holstein Canada recognizes. Strive for constant improvement, seek mentorship, and adopt best practices in your work to become a leader in the Canadian dairy world.

Key Takeaways:

The 2024 Master Breeder Awards acknowledge 19 exemplary breeders across Canada for their superior contributions to Holstein cattle breeding.
The awards recognize herds achieving a balance of high production, outstanding conformation, superior reproductive efficiency, excellent health, and longevity.
Diverse breeding excellence is showcased in multiple provinces, including Ontario, Quebec, Saskatchewan, and British Columbia.
The program encourages breeders to adopt genomic testing and data-driven strategies to enhance herd management.
Linda Markle emphasizes the importance of validated data and genomic integration in informed breeding decisions.
The award ceremony highlighted breeders’ continuous dedication and achievements, serving as an inspiration within the industry.
The program underscores the importance of mentorship, innovation, and striving toward new standards in breeding practices.

Summary:

Holstein Canada has announced the 2024 Master Breeder Awards, celebrating 19 leading breeders’ excellence in Holstein cattle breeding. These awards highlight the importance of using advanced technologies, like genomic testing, to improve the quality of dairy herds. The awarded breeders have successfully bred cows that are high in milk production and have superior health and longevity. This recognition encourages continuous improvement in breeding practices, inspiring farmers across the industry to strive for high standards and quality. The awards ceremony is a testament to Canadian dairy farmers’ dedication and supports the industry’s bright future through mentorship and progress.

Learn more:

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Categories : Breed Association News

Tags : Dairy Industry, Genomic Testing, Holstein Canada, Master Breeder Awards

The Future of Dairy Breed Societies: Will Innovation or Irrelevance Prevail?

Monday, January 13th, 2025

Explore how dairy breeds societies can innovate to stay relevant. Will they adapt to producer demands and tech advances, or will they risk becoming obsolete?

<a href="https://rss.com/podcasts/the-bullvine/1844904">E116 The Future of Dairy Breed Societies: Will Innovation or Irrelevance Prevail?</a>

The Bullvine audience, with their insightful prompts, has played a crucial role in sparking the online dialogue about the enduring significance of dairy cattle breed societies as we approach 2035. Your feedback and engagement are instrumental in shaping the future of our animal improvement industry. Your perspectives and experiences will assist in guiding industry leaders as they address the challenges and opportunities ahead. Here are some insights to kick off the conversation.

Strategic Stewards of Dairy Heritage: Breed Societies at a Crossroads

Breed societies have played an essential role in the livestock industry, upholding cattle breeding standards and assisting progress. They have meticulously tracked animal lineage and performance to ensure breeds’ genetic quality and purity, serving as an industry foundation. Beyond record-keeping, these societies facilitate animal improvement and offer marketing services, empowering breeders to enhance the quality of their stock and broaden their market. They also acknowledge and reward exceptional animals and breeders, strengthening the breeding community. However, navigating modern farming challenges, including an evolving demand and tightened profits from registered stock, is formidable. The ability of breed societies to effectively execute their core functions and adapt to quickly evolving market and breeding needs will determine their future relevance and survival.

Rethinking Relevance in Dairy: Breed Societies at a Turning Point

The future landscape for dairy farming is compelling breed societies to reassess their future trajectories. When The Bullvine contacted North American Holstein Breed Societies, it discovered that Holstein Canada’s Senior Director of Innovation and Business Operations, Chris Bartels, was prepared to discuss their forward-looking plans. This underscores Holstein Canada’s awareness of the need for innovation and the immediate need for breed societies to adapt.

Holstein Canada, with its history of evolution and several new initiatives planned, is an example of how breed societies can adapt to new challenges while still focusing on improving dairy animals and serving members. The Bullvine, finding Holstein Canada’s proactive approach interesting, explored its innovative strategies and plans in more detail.

“Looking into future options for breed societies requires a balance between respecting their history and using new technology,” says Bartels. “At Holstein Canada, we are working to align our plans with industry needs to ensure we stay important in dairy farming.”

Pioneering Path: Holstein Canada’s Legacy of Innovation

Holstein Canada’s history includes past visionary leaders who shaped the dairy industry. The society adopted innovative ideas, ensuring they stayed essential and influential in the industry.

Here is an overview of its innovation steps during the 20th century:

1925: Started the Type Classification Program to document the shape and quality of conformation for bulls and bull dams. Type classification later expanded to include herd improvement and sire proving – services that dramatically assisted breeders in changing the physical shape of their animals.
1930s: Worked with the Holstein Journal to keep members updated and promote the breed – improving member involvement and society communication.
1940s: Expanded registration to include animals born from artificial insemination – a bold step at the time.
Post-WWII: Initiated promoting animal trade – increasing income for members from breeding stock sales to foreign markets.
1948: Created true-to-type conformation models and pictures that set a worldwide standard. They were updated in 1973 and received wide global approval.
1960: Set minimum standards for bull dams to ensure breeding quality.
1972: Expanded animal identification services to include grade females sired by purebred sires, further expanding in 1981 to include multi-generation sire-identified grade females’ entry into the herdbook – increasing breed market share and the size of the population available for genetic evaluation.
1984: Introduced the first Breed Improvement Strategy with industry support from artificial insemination and milk recording organizations.
1980s: Launched InfoHolstein, computerized office records, and unrestricted access to animal information for members – enhancing benefits significantly.

In the 21st century, Holstein Canada kept innovating:

2002: Launched electronic animal registration, later adding mobile services.
2001: Started a Young Breeder Program to develop future industry leaders.
2005: Extended the Type Classification Program to all Canadian dairy breeds.
2010: Started genomic testing through Zoetis, adding genomic indexes, sourced from approved DNA testing companies, to society animal files.
2013: Extended registration service to five other Canadian dairy breeds.
2016: Collaborated with Dairy Farmers of Canada to provide on-farm animal care evaluations through ProAction.

Holstein Canada has stayed committed to innovation, consistently meeting its members’ changing needs, improving dairy cattle standards, and collaborating with other industry stakeholders.

Embracing the Future: Precision and Transformation in Dairy Farming

The world of dairy cattle farming is changing fast, driven by new technology, industry shifts, and societal needs. Looking ahead to 2050, precision in dairy farming is essential and promising. Everywhere you look, whether in farm magazines or on the Internet, you see hints of a future where improving cattle breeds is not just a key but a beacon of hope for the industry’s future.

This future holds many changes that impact the dairy cattle improvement industry:

A rapidly expanding number of new on-farm software and systems that capture data 24/7 to help improve herds and animals covering data for all disciplines.
By 2035, dairy farmers will have access to twice as many genetic indexes as they do today for new traits covering animal function, health, welfare, and efficiency.
Increased competition among companies offering advanced herd improvement technologies – will require more data definition and industry standards.
Advances in known gene action and gene insertion to create top animals for many new traits – proprietary rights and payments to purchase genetic material will be involved.
A shift in breeding to focus on ‘productive – efficient – profitable – green friendly’ animals for both heifers and cows.’
There will be a decrease in the number of milk cows needed to meet the demand for milk solids, with animals residing in larger and larger herds by 2035 – thereby fewer breed society members.
Dairy farmers have strongly stated their positions – services they will use must positively impact their bottom lines and duplication of functions or services in farmer directed organizations must be eliminated.

‘As they say, change is the only constant’ – so, challenges must be regarded as opportunities.

Breed societies must adapt and embrace this wave of innovation and competition to stay relevant. To succeed in this new age, breed societies must not just reinvent but also redefine its role in the changing world of dairy farming. The future is here, and it is time to step up.

Holstein Canada’s Innovation Starting in 2025

Bartels shared exciting plans with The Bullvine about what Holstein Canada aims to do starting in 2025. These plans include working with other industry stakeholders and separately to modernize how Canadian dairy farmers are offered data capture and improvement services. This could involve developing new technologies, expanding existing services, or introducing innovative approaches to herd improvement.

In collaboration with the Canadian Angus Association, with funding support provided by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada through the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, under the AgriScience Program, Holstein Canada will study ways to provide modern animal phenotyping services in the future by leveraging cameras and artificial intelligence. (Read more: Multi-year Research Initiative for the Development of Camera and Computer Vision Tools for Data Collection and Indexes for Enhanced Selection). This collaboration is essential because Holsteins make up over 90% of dairy cattle in Canada, and Angus makes up over 70% of beef cattle. As more dairy cows are used for beef, and consumers want to know more about where their food comes from. Such collaboration provides exciting opportunities for both dairy and beef industries to move forward.
Holstein Canada will partner with breeding companies, Lactanet, and local groups to jointly plan and execute workshops, seminars, and on-farm demonstrations across Canada on the multiple aspects of animal and herd improvement techniques and services. On-farm success depends on adopting the latest information, practices, and technology.
Holstein Canada’s Breed Advisory Committee has provided input and support for Lactanet’s project to implement a modernized LPI in April 2025. The enhancements will include six sub-indexes for each of milk solids production, longevity and type, health and welfare, reproduction, milk ability, and environmental impact. These enhancements are designed to assist breeders in choosing the best genetics when planning to change focus in their breeding program.
Holstein Canada will be revising its Strategic Business Plan.
Additionally, Holstein Canada will work to expand the use of genomic testing at the time of registration and offer a new weekly online service that identifies the breed-leading genomically indexed newly registered females.

Looking beyond 2025, Holstein Canada is exploring additional innovations. These include revisions to the Type Classification Program, forming partnerships with national and global industry stakeholders to provide services, improving society’s business operations, and finding new ways to handle registration and information sharing.

Holstein Canada’s users will heavily influence the success of these innovations in supporting Canada’s dairy animal and herd improvement needs.

The Bottom Line

Breeding the “complete and green cow” by 2050 has started. While 2050 seems far away, it is closer than it appears. Heifer calves born from early 2025 to mid-2028 will make up only about fifty to fifty-five percent of the national milking cow population by 2030. 2030 is only two generations of females post 2025. This shows that the decisions currently in process or discussion at breed societies will significantly impact the future for both dairy cattle breeding and the organizations that support animal and herd improvement.

The dairy cattle improvement industry is changing fast due to new technology and shifting priorities. Breed societies cannot be isolated or have a stand-alone approach. They must accept how the dairy industry and practices will change by 2030 and beyond. To stay relevant, breed societies must collaborate with, align with, and yes, even amalgamate with, other stakeholders and implement innovative ideas and services. If they do, breed societies will be updated, relevant, and present in the next decade. If they do not, they will be irrelevant.

Key Takeaways:

Dairy breed societies play a crucial role in the livestock industry, upholding breeding standards and assisting progress.
Modern farming challenges require breed societies to adapt effectively.
Holstein Canada, a leading dairy breed society, has innovated with the Type Classification Program, animal identification services, Breed Improvement Strategy, and InfoHolstein.
The dairy cattle farming industry is rapidly evolving due to new technology, industry shifts, and societal needs.
Precision in dairy farming is essential for the future, with new on-farm software and systems capturing data 24/7.
By 2035, dairy farmers will have access to twice as many genetic indexes for new traits, increasing competition among companies offering advanced herd improvement technologies.
Holstein Canada plans to modernize data capture and improvement services by 2025.

Summary:

The Bullvine audience has highlighted the importance of dairy cattle breed societies in the livestock industry, as we approach 2035. Breed societies are crucial in upholding cattle breeding standards, facilitating animal improvement, and offering marketing services. By 2050, precision in dairy farming is essential, with improvements in cattle breeds being a beacon of hope for the industry’s future. By 2035, dairy farmers will have access to twice as many genetic indexes for new traits covering animal function, health, welfare, and efficiency. Increased competition among companies offering advanced herd improvement technologies will require more data definition and industry standards. Advances in known gene action and gene insertion will involve proprietary rights and payments to purchase genetic material. A shift in breeding to focus on ‘productive – efficient – profitable – green friendly’ animals for both heifers and cows will also be necessary.

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Categories : Breed Association News

Tags : dairy cattle breed societies, Genomic Testing, Holstein Canada, livestock industry innovation

Canadian Milking Shorthorn Society Honors Record-Breaking Production Champions

Saturday, December 21st, 2024

See how Canadian Milking Shorthorns are setting new production records. What drives these cows to succeed? Discover their impact on the dairy industry.

Summary:

In a remarkable turn of events, the Canadian Milking Shorthorn Society has elevated the standards of excellence in dairy production by celebrating the achievements of four exceptional cows – Oceanbrae Granite Leeann-P, Oceanbrae Ironman Ginger, Oceanbrae Pingerly Berry, and Oceanbrae Royal Elizabeth – all bred and owned by Oceanbrae Farms of Belmont, PEI. These bovine prodigies have set unprecedented records in milk yield and genetic advancement, with their names etched into the annals of Canadian dairy history for their contributions to various age and production categories. By reaching the top spots on the national GLPI rankings, these milestones demonstrate the breed’s genetic potential and highlight a pivotal moment in dairy farming. A Canadian Milking Shorthorn Society spokesperson notes, “These accomplishments remind us that the future of dairy farming lies in innovation, dedication, and a commitment to breeding excellence.” The Society’s continuous support for research and partnerships to enhance genetic improvements and sustainable practices underscores the critical role of strategic breeding in elevating both profitability and sustainability within the industry. Established in the late 1800s, the Society has rigorously maintained high breed standards, sharing best practices while pioneering efforts in genetic enhancements and essential management and celebrating successes through events like the National Milking Shorthorn Show.

Key Takeaways:

The Canadian Milking Shorthorn breed continues to achieve record-setting production, showcasing its genetic potential and versatility in the dairy industry.
Oceanbrae Farms of Belmont, PEI, is at the forefront of this achievement, producing multiple record-breaking cows, such as Oceanbrae Granite Leeann-P, Ironman Ginger, Pingerly Berry, and Royal Elizabeth.
These cows have demonstrated exceptional milk, fat, and protein production performance, emphasizing the breed’s suitability for modern dairy farming.
The success of these cows is supported by strategic breeding decisions, utilizing both homebred and internationally marketed sires to enhance genetic traits.
The impressive achievements of these cows reaffirm the importance of continued innovation and excellence in dairy genetics within the Canadian Milking Shorthorn breed.

Oceanbrae Ironman Ginger EX-91-3E

The Canadian Milking Shorthorn Society has announced new record-breaking cows in milk production. These cows aren’t just breaking records—they’re showing what the Canadian Milking Shorthorn breed can do, proving that dairy farming is making strides. This progress is a big deal because it might encourage farmers to improve productivity and efficiency. Beyond just the numbers, these successes highlight why improving genetics and diet is crucial, offering the potential for more milk output and higher milk quality. As these top cows lead the charge in dairy advancements, they open up new options for dairy farmers everywhere.

The Canadian Milking Shorthorn Society: Pioneering Genetic Excellence in Dairy Breeding

Since its establishment in the late 1800s, the Canadian Milking Shorthorn Society has been a driving force in enhancing dairy farming in Canada. The Society’s relentless efforts have significantly elevated the genetic quality and productivity of Milking Shorthorns, a breed highly esteemed for its high milk production and gentle temperament.

The Society helps Canada’s dairy industry by maintaining high breed standards and sharing best practices with farmers. It provides information on genetic improvements and management tips to keep Milking Shorthorn herds strong and productive. The Society also supports research and partnerships to improve genetics, promote new ideas, and ensure sustainable practices in the dairy industry.

The Society also organizes events like the National Milking Shorthorn Show and competitions to celebrate the breed’s successes and allow breeders to share ideas. These events show the Society’s unwavering commitment to improving genetics and enhancing the breed’s reputation in Canada and worldwide. The Canadian Milking Shorthorn Society’s lasting impact is its strong commitment to genetic quality and helping producers advance the industry.

Oceanbrae Granite Leeann-P: A Paradigm Shift in Canadian Dairy Innovation

Oceanbrae Granite Leeann-P is a game-changer in the Canadian Milking Shorthorn community. At just 3 years and 4 months old, she has set new benchmarks with her 305-day production, delivering 12,459 kg of milk, along with 457 kg of butterfat (3.7%) and 415 kg of protein (3.3%) [Canadian Milking Shorthorn Society]. These milestones have set a new standard for Three-year-olds and positioned Leeann-P at #4 on the estimated breeding values (EBV) milk list after the December 2024 genetic evaluations, inspiring others in the community.

Leeann-P’s impressive results are due in part to her strong family background. She is a polled daughter of the homebred sire Oceanbrae OPT Granite-P, and her mother is a two-time Superior Production Award winner. Breeding polled cows, which don’t need dehorning, helps avoid a procedure many consider a welfare concern for animals. Leeann-P’s success shows how improving genetics while considering animal welfare is possible, encouraging more farmers to consider using polled genetics.

Leeann-P’s achievements go beyond winning awards. They show the importance of using advanced genetic techniques to boost productivity and save money in dairy farming. Oceanbrae Granite Leeann-P is an excellent example of how we can combine ethical breeding practices with high performance, setting a trend that many in the dairy community can support and admire.

Oceanbrae Ironman Ginger: A Testament to Dairy Longevity and Excellence

Oceanbrae Ironman Ginger is a standout cow in the Canadian Milking Shorthorn community. She has a long lifespan and a strong commitment to excellent dairy production. Ginger has set new records with her 305-day protein production. She has consistently produced high-quality milk: 10,525 kgs with 436 kgs of fat (4.1%) and 414 kgs of protein (3.9%).

Across her seven lactations, Ginger has kept an average of 5.0% fat and 3.9% protein. This makes her one of the top-ranked Canadian cows at #40 GLPI, proving her lasting impact on dairy production.

Her success is no surprise, given her impressive family background. She is the daughter of Oceanbrae Ironman-P, a highly respected sire ranked #14 on the GLPI index and promoted by Semex. Semex is also preparing her son, Oceanbrae Generator, for future breeding, indicating her family’s ongoing influence in dairy genetics.

Ginger also excels in competitions. In 2015, she was Reserve Grand Champion at the National Milking Shorthorn Show and has won four Superior Production Awards for consistently high production standards.

Oceanbrae Ironman Ginger is a leading example of what mature Canadian Milking Shorthorns can achieve. Her genetic legacy, seen in her offspring like Generator, hints at exciting future developments in dairy genetics. Owned by Oceanbrae Farms of Belmont, PEI, Ginger embodies the farm’s dedication to leading-edge dairy and genetic success, and her influence is instrumental in shaping the future of dairy genetics.

Oceanbrae Pingerly Berry: A Pioneering Force in Canadian Dairy Genetics

Oceanbrae Pingerly Berry is a standout in the world of Canadian Milking Shorthorns. She shows fantastic production strength and top genetic quality. With her new 305-day record of 472 kgs of protein, Berry has firmly established herself as a leader in protein production. As of December 2024, she ranks Canada’s number one GLPI cow. Her strong genetic background is enhanced by being the offspring of Treeton Pingerly and the well-known 7 Star Brood Cow Oceanbrae Jurist Betty EX-92-2E.

Berry’s genetic strength is evident from her family history, which is significant in her excellent production abilities. Her sire, a well-respected Australian figure marketed by Semex, adds strong genetics suited to high milk and protein levels. This makes Berry an excellent example of imaginative breeding. Her family ties show the power of mixing international genetics with the proud Oceanbrae tradition.

As a top influence in modern dairy genetics, Berry’s impact goes beyond her production records. Her genetic makeup is essential for breeders aiming for better milk and protein levels. Berry’s success encourages a shift towards focusing on protein production in breeding plans. This might shape future breeding programs to emphasize genetic factors that lead to higher protein.

Oceanbrae Pingerly Berry’s influence helps shape the genetic future, promoting breeding methods that use her genetic strengths. As dairy farmers and scientists look at her profile, they have a chance to rethink breeding strategies. They can ensure that Berry’s genetic strengths continue through future generations, boosting production and excellence in the Canadian dairy industry.

Oceanbrae Royal Elizabeth: Championing Genetic Heritage and Production Excellence in Dairy Lineage

Oceanbrae Royal Elizabeth is a standout example of great genetics and production strength in the Canadian Milking Shorthorn community. Her milk and protein production achievements show her personal abilities and valuable genetic background. As the daughter of the US sire Ecuafarm Kaiser Royalty, Elizabeth brings important international genetic qualities that boost her performance and breeding value.

Her production records are impressive: With 14,678 kilograms of milk and 458 kilograms of protein over 305 days, Elizabeth is ranked second for all-time production by a mature cow in her group. This achievement highlights her superior genetics and places her among the best performers of her breed.

Elizabeth’s full brother, Oceanbrae Royal Bentley, is sold worldwide through the Semex Alliance, meaning her genetic influence reaches beyond Canada. This global reach boosts her role in breeding programs, improving genetic diversity and performance in future generations of Milking Shorthorns.

Elizabeth’s strong production and family background make her a valuable contributor to breeding initiatives. Her genetics are key to increasing milk yield, improving protein content, and boosting herd performance. Elizabeth shows how choosing the correct sires for breeding programs can yield excellent results, pushing for growth and success in dairy lineages.

From Versatility to Victory: Canadian Milking Shorthorns Redefine Dairy Potential

These fantastic achievements by Canadian Milking Shorthorn cows are changing how people see the breed in the dairy world. The breed is usually known for being adaptable and sustainable. Still, their recent record-breaking milk and protein production shows they can compete with high-production breeds. This shift challenges old beliefs that might have underestimated the breed’s potential compared to high-yield breeds like Holsteins or Jerseys.

As more people hear about these records, interest in the Canadian Milking Shorthorn breed is expected to rise. This attention may lead to new breeding plans focusing on genetic traits that meet these high standards. Dairy farmers and breeding companies might invest more in genetic tests and careful breeding to improve these top traits, creating a future where genetic excellence is the norm.

The impact on dairy farms could also be significant. With the market and consumers wanting efficiency and high production, farms using these top genetics might see better profits and sustainability. Lower costs per milk produced might also encourage farms to add Canadian Milking Shorthorns to their herds, changing how they manage them and improving overall farm operations. By doing this, the industry could see a broader range of dairy breeds aiming to maximize production and environmental benefits.

The Bottom Line

The Canadian Milking Shorthorn Society’s recognition of these production champions signals a shift in dairy breeding, showing the breed’s strong milk, fat, and protein yield potential. Cows like Oceanbrae Granite Leeann-P and Oceanbrae Pingerly Berry demonstrate how the breed can boost genetics and production efficiency. For dairy farmers and industry professionals, using these genetics could mean higher yields and a better standing in a market focused on efficiency and sustainability.

These improvements have a significant impact, providing opportunities for major productivity gains while keeping dairy operations diverse and resilient. Adding these top genetics to your herd could help safeguard your dairy business from market ups and downs and supply challenges.

We encourage you to explore the Canadian Milking Shorthorn breed more by visiting the Canadian Milking Shorthorn Society’s website. By accessing their information and data, you can uncover strategic advantages for your dairy operation and stay at the cutting edge of agricultural innovation.

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Categories : Breed Association News

How Will the Updated Holstein USA Stature Scale Impact Your Herd?

Wednesday, November 27th, 2024

Explore how Holstein Association USA’s updated stature scale affects your breeding program.

<a href="https://rss.com/podcasts/the-bullvine/1773934">E69 How Will the Updated Holstein USA Stature Scale Impact Your Herd?</a>

Holstein stature scale, dairy farming practices, genetic analysis Holsteins, herd health productivity, cattle marketability, Holstein Association USA, breeding decisions profitability, revised linear scale, genetic improvement programs, herd evaluation strategies

The height of a cow isn’t just a number on a measuring stick—it’s a critical factor that can influence everything from feed efficiency to comfort and milk production. Enter the Holstein Association USA with a transformative revision of the linear scale for Holstein’s stature. Reflecting the larger size of modern Holsteins, this new scale enhances data quality for genetic analysis. It empowers farmers to make informed decisions to boost herd health and productivity. This pivotal change acknowledges the evolving stature of cows and how cattle are much taller, especially in the Holstein breed.

Shifting the Measurement Paradigm: The Holstein Association’s Crucial Role in Modern Dairy Genetics

The Holstein Association USA plays a critical role in the dairy industry, stewarding the breed’s genetic integrity and marketability. Their Classification program is indispensable for dairy farmers, offering an unbiased evaluation of cattle based on conformation and genetic merit. The program assesses 17 individual traits, providing a comprehensive look at each animal’s strengths and weaknesses. Farmers rely on these evaluations to make informed decisions that affect herd management and profitability.

Until now, the stature scale in the Classification program, which ranged from 51 to 61 inches, served as a tool for measuring the size of Holstein cows. Over time, however, this scale no longer accurately reflected the average sizes in current herds. It was Dr. Jeffrey Bewley’s 2023 study that highlighted the discrepancy. His research pointed out that Holsteins have become very tall, necessitating an update to the measurement criteria. The Holstein Association USA led this revision process to ensure a fair representation of stature across the population, aligning the scale with current biological realities and enhancing the precision of genetic and conformation evaluations.

Bridging Tradition and Modernity: Embracing the New Stature Scale in Holstein Genetics

The shift to a new stature scale from 55″ to 65″ marks a deliberate step towards more accurately capturing the growth and genetic potential present in today’s Holstein population. Each one-inch increment on this scale now equals a five-point boost, creating a more transparent, precise classification framework. This adjustment recognizes that earlier measurements underestimated the stature range of modern Holstein cows, reflecting changes in breeding strategies and nutritional advancements that have influenced average sizes over the years.

The rationale behind this update lies in aligning the scale with present-day genetic trends and dairy farming practices. By adopting this new range, classifiers are better equipped to assign scores that genuinely mirror the stature variations in the Holstein breed. This empowerment not only enhances the quality of data for genetic analysis but also aids farmers in making informed management choices that could influence breeding decisions and, subsequently, the profitability of their herds.

Balancing Heritage and Progress: The Critical Role of Data Accuracy in Holstein Advancements

Delving deeper into the ramifications of the revised linear scale, Dr. Jeffrey Bewley emphasizes the need for accuracy in data collection as paramount to sustaining genetic advancements. This emphasis on data accuracy ensures that the new scale is reliable and can be trusted, providing a secure foundation for future breeding decisions.

In agreement with this sentiment, The Bullvine’s industry analyst, Murray Hunt, emphasizes, “The revised scale signifies an essential progression in acknowledging the growth patterns seen within the Holstein population. Adjustments like these ensure breeding choices reflect the present realities while setting the stage for future challenges.”

The Conformation Advisory Committee’s discernment played a crucial role in this transformation. This committee, tasked with overseeing conformation traits, initiated this change, recognizing that modern Holsteins had outgrown the constraints of the previous scale. Their insights were pivotal, contributing to their recommendation, which garnered the approval of the Holstein Association USA Board of Directors. The Board’s endorsement underscores their commitment to aligning traditional evaluations with contemporary genetic evidence, bridging past practices and future innovations.

Towering Giants of the Dairy World: Rethinking Stature in Holstein Genetics

With every stride down the milking parlor, today’s Holstein cows grace dairy farms with their towering presence—quite literally. The stature of Holstein cows has seen a noticeable incline over the past few decades, driven by genetic advancements and selective breeding. Many dairy farmers now face the problem of whether bigger is always better. The discourse around cow height raises crucial questions about productivity, health, and farm infrastructure.

“The modern Holstein cow has grown taller. The focus on stature as a sign of show ring elegance overlooks the practical challenges of managing these larger animals,” Murray Hunt, Genetic Consultant The Bullvine.

While larger Holsteins can potentially lead to higher milk yields, the implications for housing, feeding, and overall health cannot be ignored. Here are key points of consideration:

Increased height can strain barn facilities that are not designed for larger animals.
Larger cows may face more skeletal and mobility issues, impacting longevity.
A balance between stature and health should guide future breeding programs.

Unveiling the “Magic Number” in Holstein Heights: The Case for 60 Inches

When we discuss Holstein cows’ stature, a magic number often emerges: 60 inches. This measurement is heralded as the ideal height for optimal dairy production. Why, you ask? Well, let’s consider some key factors. A cow at 60 inches maintains a sweet spot in milk production versus structural capacity. Taller Holsteins, while impressive, may face challenges like increased feed costs and potential health issues linked to excessive height.

“While towering heights in Holsteins might appear majestic, they’ve been linked to inefficiencies and health complications. It’s crucial to balance stature with desired production capabilities.”

Keeping your Holstein within this ideal range supports better health and aligns with efficiency and productivity goals. Dairy professionals argue that exceeding this height can inadvertently lead to struggles in herd management, including space limitations in barns and increased stress on cow legs and feet, ultimately affecting longevity and productivity. (Read more: The Perfect Height: Why Your Holstein Cow Shouldn’t Exceed 60 Inches for Optimal Dairy Production)

The Bottom Line

The revised linear scale for Holstein’s stature signifies more than just an adjustment of numbers—it marks a pivotal shift towards a deeper understanding and representation of modern genetic realities in dairy cattle. By embracing scientific findings and adjusting longstanding measurement systems, the Holstein Association USA is again leading the charge in aligning tradition with innovation. Dairy farmers nationwide stand to benefit from more accurate data, enhancing both herd management and marketability.

As the dairy industry looks to the future, one must ask: How will ongoing innovations and data-driven decisions shape the genetics of Holstein cows and the very landscape of dairy farming? Maintaining heritage while embracing progress remains crucial. To explore or get involved with the evolving classification program, visit the Holstein Association USA website. The future is as promising as it is challenging, demanding bold, informed steps forward.

Key Takeaways:

Holstein Association USA will implement the revised linear scale for Stature on December 1, 2024.
This change is based on the findings from a 2023 cow measurement project by Dr. Jeffrey Bewley.
The updated scale reflects a stature range from 55” to 65”, revising the previous range of 51” to 61”.
Each additional inch in stature equates to a five-point increment on the scale.
The adjustment aims to achieve a normal distribution of stature scores and accurately represent today’s Holstein cow population.
The Conformation Advisory Committee recommended this update, with subsequent approval by the Holstein Association USA Board of Directors.
This classification program plays a significant role in enhancing dairy cattle management and marketability.

Summary:

The Holstein Association USA is set to redefine dairy farming with a revised linear scale for scoring stature, effective December 1, 2024. Driven by Dr. Jeffrey Bewley’s 2023 study, this update addresses the mismatch in current stature scoring—now spanning 55 to 65 inches from the previous 51 to 61 inches—to align with the actual size distribution of modern Holsteins. Dr. Bewley notes that these changes will enable classifiers to provide scores reflective of current cattle, thus improving data for conformation and genetic analyses. With each inch translating to five points, this recalibration supports breeders with precise assessments that are adaptive to today’s genetic trends and farming practices. It’s a strategic leap, endorsed by the Conformation Advisory Committee, aimed at empowering farmers with enhanced data to guide management decisions, boost herd health, and strengthen marketability. Now’s the time for farmers to reassess herd strategies and optimize for profitability by leveraging this updated framework.

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Categories : Breed Association News

Tags : breeding decisions profitability, cattle marketability, dairy farming practices, genetic analysis Holsteins, genetic improvement programs, herd evaluation strategies, herd health productivity, Holstein Association USA, Holstein stature scale, revised linear scale

Paul Larmer Steps In as the Holstein Canada Board’s New Problem Solver Amid Challenges

Wednesday, October 9th, 2024

Can Paul Larmer’s seasoned expertise steer Holstein Canada through its challenges?

Holstein Canada, dairy genetics, leadership vacuum, board of directors, genetic improvement, herd management, agricultural governance, Paul Larmer, strategic direction, Canadian dairy industry.

What happens when a dairy industry cornerstone is at a crossroads, typified by significant leadership change? That is precisely the dilemma confronting the Holstein Canada Board of Directors. Two crucial resignations recently upended its basis, and the Board faces one of its most difficult moments in history. The stakes could not be higher for an organization once considered critical to Canadian dairy producers’ prosperity and survival, and now, it struggles to find its relevance.

“Every challenge is an opportunity for growth and transformation,” a perspective that Holstein Canada will surely share as it navigates these tumultuous times, instilling a sense of hope and optimism in the audience.

Paul Larmer, the former CEO of Semex, joins as the new Special Advisor for a three-month term. He brings a wealth of insight and a career’s worth of experience as a recent retiree. His reputation as a steady hand and brilliant thinker should provide leadership to the Board and optimism for a better future.

Holstein Canada’s Legacy: A Rich History of Empowering Innovation in Dairy Genetics Since 1884

Established in 1884, Holstein Canada is a leading provider of genetic improvement and herd management for Canadian dairy producers. As the chief registrar for Holstein cattle, their responsibility goes beyond keeping breed records; they push advancement in genetic quality, ensuring that Canadian herds stay competitive worldwide.

The organization’s importance for dairy producers cannot be emphasized enough. Its unwavering commitment to excellence is shown in solid, data-driven initiatives encouraging and empowering farmers to innovate and improve their operations. This dedication is essential as the sector faces the challenges of climate change and changing customer needs, inspiring and motivating the audience.

Holstein Canada’s objective is straightforward and unwavering: to increase the value and production of the Holstein breed. This dedication is shown in its complete package of services, which includes herd categorization, genetic studies, and health testing—a toolset for better herd management and sustainable agricultural techniques. This unwavering dedication should generate a feeling of stability and trust in the organization’s future.

Navigating Choppy Waters: Challenges Face Holstein Canada’s Board Amidst Industry Shifts

The challenges confronting the Holstein Canada Board of Directors are severe and reflect broader dairy sector difficulties. Recent resignations from important positions have resulted in a leadership vacuum at a crucial time. The Board is dealing with internal governance issues limiting its capacity to successfully administer the Holstein Herdbook and retain its position as a leader in dairy genetics.

These resignations have raised questions about Holstein Canada’s stability and direction. The Board’s present turmoil derives from differences over strategic goals and governance processes, resulting in a need for a shared vision. This instability extends beyond the boardroom, undermining the trust of members and stakeholders who look to Holstein Canada for assistance in increasing herd quality.

Such upheaval may have far-reaching effects. In an industry where genetic breakthroughs and herd enhancements are vital to competitiveness, a change in leadership has the potential to stall growth. Dairy producers may need more time to acquire the tools and insights to manage efficient and productive herds. Similarly, any slowdown in innovation or services might affect the businesses that serve these farmers.

The importance of these difficulties resides not just in their immediate effects but also in the potential long-term ramifications for the Canadian dairy industry. As a critical player in dairy genetics, Holstein Canada’s capacity to negotiate and overcome these internal difficulties will pave the way for industry resilience and success. As a result, the Board must act fast to restore stability and ensure Canadian dairy producers’ continued progress and prosperity. The role of the Holstein Canada Board is not just significant; it’s indispensable for the dairy industry’s future.

Paul Larmer: A Strategic Architect in Dairy Genetics and Agricultural Governance

Paul Larmer’s name is highly respected in the agricultural industry, thanks mainly to his impressive career at Semex. Larmer, known for his strategic foresight and steadfast devotion to agricultural excellence, is a significant figure in dairy genetics. His time at Semex has been nothing short of transformational. With almost three decades of expertise, he led various efforts, strengthening Semex’s position as a worldwide leader in bovine genetics. These projects aimed to improve genetic purity, promote sustainable agriculture, and define industry standards.

Outside his tremendous professional accomplishments, Larmer’s involvement has often expanded outside operational borders. Throughout his leadership career, he has displayed a firm grasp of agricultural governance, expertly managing the intricacies of directing producer boards of directors. His ability to anticipate issues and prepare successfully has gained him significant respect from colleagues and industry stakeholders.

This position as Special Advisor is both timely and strategic. At a time when the Holstein Canada Board is experiencing substantial turbulence, Larmer’s knowledge serves as a calming element. His solid track experience in governance issues enables him to provide clarity and direction. Furthermore, his profound understanding of dairy genetics and board dynamics ideally aligns with Holstein Canada’s strategic objectives. As the Board works to reestablish its footing in the face of industry problems, Larmer’s influence promises to act as a buffer and catalyst for informed decision-making and rebuild trust among critics.

The Bottom Line

Looking forward, Paul Larmer’s involvement as a Special Advisor might be critical for Holstein Canada’s Board. His significant expertise in agricultural governance might give the Board the stability and strategic direction it needs during these difficult times. Larmer’s knowledge has the potential to revitalize the Board’s approach, opening the path for innovation and resilience in the face of industry changes.

Summary:

In a strategic move addressing recent leadership turbulence, Holstein Canada appoints Paul Larmer as a Special Advisor to its Board of Directors. A veteran in dairy genetics and agricultural governance, Larmer brings invaluable expertise from his Semex tenure. As Holstein Canada battles the challenges of two notable board resignations and a leadership vacuum, Larmer’s timely appointment aims to stabilize the ship, offering guidance amidst industry shifts. Board President Gilles Côté emphasizes the potential of Larmer’s governance insights in reaffirming Holstein Canada’s legacy of innovation and support for Canadian dairy farmers as the organization navigates this critical juncture.

Key Takeaways:

Paul Larmer joins Holstein Canada as a Special Advisor amidst significant transition and leadership changes.
His appointment aims to provide stability and strategic direction, leveraging his wealth of experience in agricultural governance.
The Board is grappling with recent resignations and challenges due to evolving industry dynamics.
Holstein Canada’s rich legacy since 1884 continues to play a pivotal role in dairy genetics innovation.
The organization is focused on enhancing genetic improvement programs to benefit its 9,200 members and the broader dairy farming community.

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Categories : Breed Association News

Ayrshire Breeders Association Transitioning Registry Work to Holstein Association USA

Tuesday, August 6th, 2024

Learn how the Ayrshire Breeders Association’s move to Holstein Association USA affects your farm. What’s the impact on Ayrshire breeders? Read on.

Significant changes are coming for Ayrshire breeders! The Ayrshire Breeders Association (ABA) has transitioned its registry work to the Holstein Association USA (HAUSA). This strategic move aims to improve operations and offer better services for Ayrshire breeders.

So, why the change? The ABA Board of Directors believes partnering with HAUSA will help align their goals and streamline processes. “We are excited about the future this will present for Ayrshire breeders and appreciate our members’ support during this transition period,” noted the Board.

Stephanie Mack will continue to assist you throughout this transition. You can reach her at 614-335-0020 or via email at info@usayrshire.com.

What’s next for you? First, stay informed. Second, don’t hesitate to ask questions. The board members welcome any concerns or inquiries you might have.

Enhanced operations
Better alignment with strategic goals
Continued support from Stephanie Mack

This partnership with HAUSA could begin a new era for Ayrshire breeders. Look for more updates, and feel free to connect with the ABA to discuss your thoughts and answer your questions.

Categories : Breed Association News

Benjamin Styer Awarded 2024 George Miller Memorial Scholarship

Monday, July 22nd, 2024

Benjamin Styer, an animal science student at the University of Minnesota, has been awarded with the 2024 George Miller Memorial Scholarship.

Benjamin Styer of Menominee, Wisconsin has been selected as the 2024 George Miller Memorial Scholarship recipient. He was recognized during the Junior Awards Breakfast at the 2024 National Holstein Convention in Salt Lake City, Utah. The scholarship was established in 2023 to honor George Miller and his significant contributions to the dairy and A.I. industries.

“I hope my future role will enable me to develop genuine relationships, advocate for agriculture, and make a positive difference in the dairy industry,” Benjamin says. “While I never met Goerge Miller, from what I’ve heard and read about his life, these goals could suite George’s life too. He was a friend to all, honest, and passionate about the Holstein cow: qualities I hope I can emulate.”

Benjamin is attending the University of Minnesota, pursuing a bachelor’s degree in animal science. He grew up on his family’s Alfalawn Farms active in showing dairy cattle and dairy judging. Benjamin is still pursuing these passions and was a member of the first-place team overall and first-place individual overall at the 2023 National Intercollegiate Dairy Cattle Judging Contest.

Benjamin hopes to pursue a career in dairy genetics, before later returning home to his family’s dairy farm to develop the herd’s genetic programs.

“We were thoroughly impressed with all the applicants for the George Miller Scholarship,” says Jeff Ziegler, vice president of dairy cattle breeding at Select Sires Inc. “We are assured our industry is in great hands with future leaders like Benjamin.”

The George Miller Scholarship fund is hosted by the Holstein Foundation, awarded by Holstein Association USA, and supported by Select Sires Inc., who has been allocating funds for this scholarship from semen sales of 7HO15807 GEORGE MILLER, a previous NxGEN® sire.

About the Award
George Miller made significant contributions to the dairy and A.I. industries throughout his lifetime. He exhibited an unmatched passion for good cows and the breeders he worked beside. George grew up helping on his uncle’s dairy farm, the birthplace of 7HO58 Round Oak Rag Apple ELEVATION (EX-96-GM). George Miller was a pioneer for genetic advancement in the dairy industry and played a major role in the breeding decisions that produced ELEVATION.

George Miller attended Virginia Polytechnic Institute, earning a degree in animal husbandry and a master’s degree in dairy science. George spent most of his career at Select Sires joining the staff in 1973 where he worked as the cooperative’s marketing manager before retiring in 1991.

Categories : A.I. Industry, Breed Association News

National Jersey Leadership Announced: Key Officers and Directors Elected at 2024 AJCA and NAJ Annual Meetings

Friday, July 12th, 2024

Meet the newly appointed leaders of the American Jersey Cattle Association and National All-Jersey Inc. Who are the influential figures driving the future of USJersey?

The Board of Directors of the American Jersey Cattle Association for 2024-25 is pictured following the 156th Annual Meeting in Springfield, Mass., on June 22. Pictured, front row, from left: Rebecca Ferry, Johnstown, N.Y.; Neal Smith, Executive Secretary & CEO; President Alan Chittenden, Schodack Landing, N.Y.; Vice President Joel Albright, Willard, Ohio; second row: Donna Phillips, Newton, Wis.; Ralph Frerichs, LaGrange, Texas; Joe Vanderfeltz, Lawton, Pa.; Garry Hansen, Mulino, Ore.; John Maxwell, Donahue, Iowa; Ted DeMent, Kenney, Ill.; Tyler Boyd, Hilmar, Calif.; and Jason Johnson, Northwood, N.H. Not pictured: Cornell Kasbergen, Tulare, Calif., and Kevin Lutz, Lincolnton, N.C.

Heritage meets innovation at the annual meetings of the American Jersey Cattle Association (AJCA) and National All-Jersey Inc. (NAJ) on June 21 and 22, 2024, in Springfield, Mass. These crucial events go beyond routine; they elect new leaders and shape the Jersey cattle industry’s future. Gathered are top minds and dedicated individuals ready to share insights, celebrate achievements, and plan. Please stick with us for key takeaways and new leadership appointments shaping the upcoming year.

Alan Chittenden’s Third Term: A Testament to Legacy and Leadership in the Jersey Cattle Industry

Alan Chittenden was re-elected to his third one-year term as President of the American Jersey Cattle Association (AJCA) on June 24, 2024. As a fourth-generation breeder at Dutch Hollow Farms LLC in Schodack Landing, N.Y., Alan oversees a herd of 900 Registered Jerseys with his family. Their farm utilizes REAP services like registration and milk marketing support. Dutch Hollow Farms has been active in the Jersey Journal and has contributed to Equity for nearly 50 years.

The Chittenden family’s legacy is well-respected. 2012, they earned the AJCA Master Breeder award for their superior breeding practices. Alan has also held notable roles, such as General Chair of The All American Jersey Shows & Sales in 2018 and Chair of The All American Sales Committee in 2016. His experience includes six years as AJCA Director from the Second District (2014-2020).

Alan Chittenden’s reelection ensures continued stability and progress for the AJCA and the Jersey cattle industry, backed by his experience and proven leadership.

Outstanding Leadership and Dedication Among AJCA Directors The AJCA Directors, with their outstanding leadership and dedication, continue to demonstrate their commitment to the Jersey cattle industry. From Northwood, N.H., Jason Johnson was re-elected to his second three-year term as AJCA Director from the First District. Jason is a fourth-generation dairy farmer with a rich heritage in dairy farming and a degree in dairy management from the University of New Hampshire. He works as a farmer relationship manager with Stonyfield Organic, overseeing direct supply milk procurement, animal welfare, milk quality, and sustainability programs for the northeast milk supply.

Alongside his wife, Heather, and children, Regan, Ryleigh, and Asher, Jason breeds Johnsonacres Jerseys. He also serves as vice president of the New England Jersey Breeders Association. He contributes to the Development, Information Technology, and Identification committees while being part of the National Dairy Shrine board of directors.

Joe Vanderfeltz, of Lawton, Pa., was re-elected to his second term as Director from the Third District. He operates VanFel-JM Dairy with his wife, Melinda, and sons, Kyle and Corey, milking 220 Jersey and 180 Holstein cows.

The Vanderfeltz family manages around 700 acres of corn and alfalfa. Their herd is enrolled in REAP and boasts a 2023 herd average of 17,761 lbs. milk, 845 lbs. fat, and 680 lbs. protein on 153 lactations. Recognized for their excellence, they received the AJCA Young Breeder Award in 2003. Joe serves on the Breed Improvement and Finance committees and chairs the AJCA-NAJ Annual Meeting planning committee.

Kevin Lutz, from Lincolnton, N.C., was elected as AJCA Director from the Fifth District, succeeding retiring director Bradley Taylor. Lutz runs Treasure Chest Jerseys with his family, maintaining a 110-cow Registered Jersey herd enrolled on REAP, integrating registration, Equity milk marketing support, type appraisal, and performance programs.

His involvement with the AJCA includes serving on the Type Advisory Committee and past committee roles for The All-American Open Show and Sale. Kevin has judged The All American Jersey Show and the National Jersey Jug Futurity twice and officiated at national shows in Australia, Argentina, Ecuador, and Peru. He is also a North Carolina Jersey Cattle Association director and has held leadership roles with Southern States Cooperative and the Lincoln Soil and Water Conservation District.

Ralph Frerichs, of LaGrange, Texas, was re-elected to a second three-year term as AJCA Director from the Ninth District. A seasoned leader, Ralph served on the AJCA Board from 2009-2015, including roles as vice president and chair of the Development Committee. He currently serves on the Finance and Development committees.

Alongside his wife Faith, brother Robert, and son Neal, Ralph manages Frerichs Dairy Inc. This operation features 190 Registered Jersey cows and includes the Jersey Barnyard tourist attraction and the Texas Jersey Cheese Company, known for its all-natural, handmade Jersey cheese.

Meet the 2024-25 Committee Chairs: Pillars of Excellence from Coast to Coast The 2024-25 Committee Chairs, hailing from different parts of the nation, are acknowledged as pillars of excellence in the Jersey cattle industry. For the 2024-25 year, the chairs of the standing committees are dedicated professionals from across the nation:

Cornell Kasbergen from Tulare, Calif., will lead the Finance Committee.
Joel Albright from Willard, Ohio, has been appointed chair of the Breed Improvement Committee.
Garry Hansen from Mulino, Ore., will head the Development Committee.
Donna Phillips from Newton, Wis., will oversee the Information Technology and Identification Committee.

John Kokoski Re-Elected as NAJ President: A Legacy of Leadership and Dedication

John Kokoski was re-elected as president by the Board of Directors for National All-Jersey Inc. (NAJ) on June 21, 2024, underscoring his longstanding dedication and pivotal role in the organization. Kokoski, a member of the NAJ Board since 2007, operates Mapleline Farm LLC with his family, featuring a 135-cow Registered Jersey herd enrolled on REAP. They also run a dairy plant that processes and distributes Jersey milk products. Kokoski has served as a director of the Massachusetts Cooperative Milk Producers Federation and on the New England Dairy Promotion Board for over 25 years.

Jason Cast was elected Vice President of National All-Jersey Inc., succeeding James Huffard. Cast owns and operates JJC Jerseys with his wife and six children and has maintained a REAP-enrolled herd since 2013. His election signals a promising continuation of effective leadership within NAJ. Cast’s commitment to quality and sustainable dairy farming practices has significantly impacted the community.

Bradley Taylor Joins NAJ Board: A Seasoned Leader Enhances the Team

The NAJ Board welcomes Bradley Taylor as Director from District Five. From Booneville, Miss., Taylor operates Taylor Jersey Farm Inc. with his family. Their 120-cow Registered Jersey herd is part of REAP, highlighting their commitment to quality. Taylor has a rich history of leadership, having served as Finance Chair and on the Joint Operations Committee for the AJCA Board. His experience and dedication make him a solid asset to the NAJ Board.

The Bottom Line

The future of the USJersey organizations looks bright under the newly elected leadership. The Annual Meetings provided a perfect mix of continuity and fresh perspectives, vital for America’s evolving Jersey cattle industry. With Alan Chittenden’s reelection as AJCA President, his experienced leadership remains trusted. Leaders like Jason Johnson and Kevin Lutz exemplify dedication and expertise across different districts. The reappointments of Joe Vanderfeltz and Ralph Frerichs offer a solid foundation of wisdom and innovation. Additionally, John Kokoski and Jason Cast, in critical roles for National All-Jersey Inc., ensure steady guidance with strategies that benefit herders and the Jersey breed.

The takeaway is clear: these leaders will play pivotal roles ahead. Their collective experience and commitment are inspiring and essential for a prosperous future. Your active participation is crucial on this journey. Engage with your leaders, voice your concerns, and celebrate their achievements. Together, we can shape the future of the Jersey cattle industry.

Key Takeaways:

Alan Chittenden was elected to his third one-year term as President of AJCA.
Jason Johnson was re-elected to his second three-year term as AJCA Director from the First District.
Joe Vanderfeltz was re-elected to his second term as Director from the Third District.
Kevin Lutz was elected as AJCA Director from the Fifth District, succeeding Bradley Taylor.
Ralph Frerichs was re-elected to a second three-year term as AJCA Director from the Ninth District.
John Kokoski was re-elected as President of NAJ.
Jason Cast was elected as Vice President of NAJ, succeeding James Huffard.
Bradley Taylor was elected for a four-year term as Director from District Five to the NAJ board.

Summary:

The American Jersey Cattle Association (AJCA) and National All-Jersey Inc. (NAJ) held their annual meetings in Springfield, Mass., on June 21 and 22, 2024, to elect new leaders and shape the future of the Jersey cattle industry. Alan Chittenden, a fourth-generation breeder at Dutch Hollow Farms LLC, was re-elected to his third one-year term as President of the AJCA. The AJCA Directors, Jason Johnson, Joe Vanderfeltz, and Kevin Lutz, continue to demonstrate their commitment to the industry. Johnson oversees direct supply milk procurement, animal welfare, milk quality, and sustainability programs for the northeast milk supply. Vanderfeltz operates VanFel-JM Dairy with his wife, Melinda, and sons, Kyle, and Corey, and milks 220 Jersey and 180 Holstein cows. Lutz runs Treasure Chest Jerseys with his family and has served on the Type Advisory Committee and past committee roles for The All-American Open Show and Sale. Ralph Frerichs, a seasoned leader, has been re-elected as AJCA Director for a second three-year term. The 2024-25 Committee Chairs are dedicated professionals from across the nation, including Cornell Kasbergen from Tulare, Calif., Joel Albright from Willard, Ohio, Gary Hansen from Mulino, Ore., and Donna Phillips from Newton, Wis.

Learn More:

Categories : Breed Association News

Youth Showcase Dairy Expertise at National Holstein Convention: Highlights from Dairy Bowl, Jeopardy, and Knowledge Exam Contests

Thursday, July 11th, 2024

Uncover the achievements of young dairy enthusiasts at the 2024 National Holstein Convention. Who excelled in the Dairy Bowl, Jeopardy, and Knowledge Exam contests?

Emma Mast, California; Annika Donlick, New York; and Elsie Donlick, New York; won their respective divisions of Dairy Jeopardy at the 2024 National Holstein Convention.

The National Holstein Convention, held from June 24-27, 2024, in the vibrant city of Salt Lake City, Utah, proved to be a cornerstone event for young dairy enthusiasts. With over 250 youth participants, the convention bustled with energy as they competed in myriad dairy-related contests, including the Dairy Bowl, Dairy Jeopardy, and Dairy Knowledge Exam.

“These three competitions involved over 250 youth,” says Diedra Harkenrider, director of development and fundraising for the Holstein Foundation. During the day, these Juniors compete. By evening, they gather for games, dancing, and fun. Developing friendships with youth members nationwide is a huge benefit of the National Junior Holstein Convention.”

Dairy Jeopardy: A Thrilling Competition for Young Dairy Enthusiasts

Dairy Jeopardy brings the excitement of the popular television game show to the National Holstein Convention, offering a fun and competitive platform for young dairy enthusiasts to showcase their knowledge. This year, the contest saw 63 contestants from 21 states compete, challenging their expertise with various dairy-related questions across numerous categories. Below are the top three winners in each age division:

Junior Division (ages 9 to 13)

1st: Emma Mast, California
2nd: Daphne Frericks, Minnesota
3rd: Meghan Brauning, Maryland

Intermediate Division (ages 14 to 17)

1st: Elsie Donlick, New York
2nd: Jillian Anderson, Pennsylvania
3rd: Kyle Ainger, Illinois

Senior Division (ages 18 to 21)

1st: Annika Donlick, New York
2nd: Kristen Houser Whitehill, Pennsylvania
3rd: Rachel Craun, Virginia

National Dairy Bowl Contest: Showcasing Team Spirit and Dairy Expertise

The National Dairy Bowl contest is an exciting team-based competition that brings together young dairy enthusiasts nationwide. Participants form four-person teams, and the contest is divided into two age groups: Junior Division (ages 9-15) and Senior Division (ages 16-21). This year, the contest saw intense competition, with 26 teams from 18 states vying for top honors in their respective divisions. These teams demonstrated their dairy knowledge and teamwork skills through challenging rounds, making for an engaging and educational experience.

The New York and Pennsylvania teams faced off in the Junior Division championship match—the Pennsylvania. Team members Ian Briechle, AidenSoden, Selah Lewis, and coach Mike Kowaleski took home champion honors. Josiah Freier, Abigail Freier, Noah Lovell, Luke Taylor, coach Dale Freier, and assistant coach Jonathan Taylor competed on the New York team. The top five Junior Dairy Bowl teams were Illinois in third, New England in fourth, and California in fifth place.

In the Senior Division championship match, teams from Pennsylvania and Wisconsin went head-to-head for the coveted first-place title. The triumphant Pennsylvania team consisted of Madelynn Hoffman, Alexa Hoffman, Jacob Bramm, and AJ Wanner, coached by Epsucheolige Hoffman. Logan Harbaugh, Jacob Harbaugh, Evan Jauquet, Sydney Gwidt, Claire Betley, and coaches Sara Harbaugh and Heather Jaquet competed on the second-place Wisconsin team. The top five Senior Dairy Bowl teams were rounded out by New England in third, New York in fourth, and Iowa in fifth place.

The J. George & Anna Smith Sportsmanship Awards: Celebrating Exemplary Character and Team Spirit

The J. George & Anna Smith Sportsmanship Awards are significant as they recognize the teams that exemplify the true spirit of sportsmanship—courtesy, friendliness, and team spirit—throughout the National Dairy Bowl competition. Winning this award is an honor, reflecting the character and camaraderie of the team members and their ability to represent the values of the Holstein Foundation positively.

This year, in the Junior Division, the Sportsmanship Award was presented to the team from Utah. Team members included Tristen Ostrom, Evan Brey, Ian Brick, and Alivia Wiese under the guidance of coach Peggy Coffeen.

The Minnesota team earned the Sportsmanship Award in the Senior Division. Nicole Schwab coached team members Lorryn Trujillo, Sydney Bullard, Charlie Haynes, and Katelyn Poitras.

The Dairy Knowledge Exam: Showcasing Youth Expertise in the Dairy Industry

The Dairy Knowledge Exam offers a fantastic opportunity for youth to demonstrate their understanding of the dairy industry. Designed as a 25-question written test, it is open to all National Junior Holstein Convention attendees who wish to challenge their dairy knowledge. This year, 170 youths enthusiastically participated. Like other competitions, participants are categorized into two age groups: the Junior Division and the Senior Division. This structure ensures a fair and level playing field, enabling young dairy enthusiasts to shine within their respective age brackets.

In the Junior Division, Josiah Freier from New York claimed the top spot. Landon Jenkins from Pennsylvania secured second place, while Fernando Valadao from California was third.

In the Senior Division, Hayley Fernandes from California claimed first place, Marie Haase from Wisconsin took second place and Mykel Mull from California secured third place.

The Bottom Line

The 2024 National Holstein Convention in Salt Lake City highlighted the dedication, knowledge, and enthusiasm of young Holstein aficionados through competitions like Dairy Bowl, Dairy Jeopardy, and the Dairy Knowledge Exam. These events tested their dairy expertise and fostered camaraderie and lifelong friendships.

Congratulations to all participants and winners for their outstanding achievements! Your hard work and passion for the dairy industry are truly commendable. Let’s nurture this passion and encourage the next generation of dairy leaders. Your engagement today shapes the future of the dairy industry.

For more information about Holstein Foundation youth programs, visit www.holsteinfoundation.org or contact Diedra Harkenrider, Director of Development for the Holstein Foundation and Holstein Association USA, at dharkenrider@holstein.com.

Categories : Breed Association News

Tags : achievements, competition, Dairy Bowl, Dairy Industry, Holstein Foundation, Jeopardy, Knowledge Exam, National Holstein Convention, sportsmanship, team spirit, winners, young dairy enthusiasts, youth programs.

National Brown Swiss Convention 2024: Highlights, Awards, and Key Events in Green Bay, Wisconsin

Tuesday, July 9th, 2024

Uncover the pinnacle moments from the 2024 National Brown Swiss Convention in Green Bay. Which participants triumphed in the coveted awards? Delve into essential events and victors through our comprehensive analysis.

The National Brown Swiss Convention—hosted by the Wisconsin Brown Swiss Association in Green Bay, Wisconsin—is a premier event for the Brown Swiss community. Set between July 3rd and July 6th, the conference draws approximately 200 people, underscoring its significance in the dairy sector. It provides an essential forum for celebrating Brown Swiss successes, networking, and exchanging innovations. “The National Brown Swiss Convention is more than just a conference—it’s a celebration of excellence and invention in dairy farming,” said a senior organization member. Capturing the commitment and advancement of the Brown Swiss community, the event consists of Board of Directors meetings, youth contest interviews, significant prizes, and a grand auction. The Hyatt Regency Green Bay is the perfect site, combining history with modern ideas and festivities.

Inaugural Day of the National Brown Swiss Convention: A Symphony of Meetings, Youth Engagement, and Cultural Exploration

Attendees of the National Brown Swiss Convention convened at the Hyatt Regency Green Bay on the first day. Their starting point for the day was critical Board of Directors meetings, determining the course of events. Young contestants also undertook contest interviews to highlight their expertise and love of the Brown Swiss breed. New Generation Genetics sponsored a welcome meal at Stadium View Bar and Grill tonight. This conference gave participants a great chance to network and deepen ties within their community. Following dinner, attendees visited Lambeau Field and the Titletown District, fully engaging in Green Bay’s rich sports legacy and energetic local culture.

Awards and Milestones: Celebrating Achievements on Day Two of the National Brown Swiss Convention

The second day of the National Brown Swiss Convention began with a robust breakfast, setting a spirited tone for the day’s events. Afterward, attendees convened for the anticipated awards ceremony, honoring exceptional contributions within the Brown Swiss community. Among the awards, the 2023 Living Lifetime Cow Award stood out, awarded to Jenlar Dynasty Treat, owned by Larry and Jennifer Meyer of Chilton, Wisconsin, for a lifetime ECM of 433,802.

The prestigious J.P. Eves Trophy was bestowed upon Hilltop Acres Lucky Denim from Tanner Mashek of Calmar, Iowa, exhibiting impressive figures of 4-09 305d 3x 53,150m 4.9% 2,608f 3.0% 1,588p. Denim also won the Protein Award. Additionally, the H.R. Searles Trophy was awarded to Nor-Bert Carter Lexus ETV from Dalton, Dillon, and Breanne Freemen of Bremen, Indiana, with a record of 4-02 305d 3x 39,690m 7.0% 2,779f 3.7% 1,478.

The Vernon C. Hull Total Performance Award went to Dutch-Marie Dundee Allie, owned by Hadleigh, Ezra, Kenna Jones, and Kelly Jo Manion of Edmonton, Kentucky. Allie achieved a point total of 288 with a production record of 4-04 305d 2x 39,150m 4.1% 1,603f 3.5% 1,351p. Allie received the Cow for All Seasons Award with an ECM of 43,896m and was the Type and Production winner at the International Brown Swiss Show.

The 2024 Annual Meeting commenced after the awards, marking a significant juncture for the association. Noteworthy elections included Brian Pacheco from Kerman, California, as President and Director of District IX; Dayne Voelker from Perryville, Missouri, as Vice-President and Director of District VI; Sheri Smith from Ohio as Director of District III; and Brent Moyer from Caro, Michigan, as Director of District IV.

Day Three Highlights: Meadow Brook Farms Tour Showcases Excellence in Dairy Farming

They started the third day with a hurried breakfast before guests got on busses headed for Meadow Brook Dairy Farms LLC in Manitowoc, Wisconsin. Under Mitch and McKenzie Kappelman’s direction, along with Mitch’s parents, Pete and Shellie, this fifth-generation farm milks 380 registered brown Swiss cows and 380 holsteins. The average milk weight of the Brown Swiss herd is 27,389 lbs.; its fat content is 4.27% 1169 lbs.; and its protein content is 3.29% 901 lbs. Mitch deserves the 2020 National Distinguished Young Brown Swiss Breeder title. With 27 polled Brown Swiss females in the herd, Meadow Brook presently shows an apparent concentration on breeding polled cattle and has supplied 16 bulls to A.I., including top bulls SEGA and STANDOUT.

Grand Finale: Swissconsin National Convention Sale Caps Off the 2024 National Brown Swiss Convention

On the last day of the National Brown Swiss Convention, we presented the much-anticipated Swissconsin National Convention Sale at the Brown County Fairgrounds in De Pere, Wisconsin. This auction brought buyers, breeders, and fans to compete for some of the best Brown Swiss cattle.

Experienced and charismatic auctioneer, Adam Fraley from Pennsylvania, handled the events expertly. The Brown Swiss Association’s Executive Secretary, Norm Magnussen, kindly helped him by providing thorough pedigree details that greatly enhanced the bidding process.

The sales embodied the creativity, commitment, and community spirit that typified the conference. While buyers sought premium genes to improve their herds, sellers highlighted their breeding successes.

The 2024 National Brown Swiss Convention was successful with the last gavel strike. Participating in a comprehensive program of educational, commercial, and social events, over 200 people highlighted the strength and cohesiveness of the Brown Swiss community. They underlined the relevance of the breed in the dairy sector.

The Bottom Line

The National Brown Swiss Convention in Green Bay, Wisconsin, embodied innovation and legacy within the dairy farming sector. Participants were in exciting meetings, youth events, awards ceremonies, and a major national sale over four days, from the Hyatt Regency Green Bay to the Meadow Brook Farms tour, and the last event at the Brown County Fairgrounds honored Brown Swiss breed successes. Key events were Jenlar Dynasty Treat’s 2023 Living Lifetime Cow Award victory and the Board of Directors election of leaders like Brian Pacheco and Dayne Voelker. Aiming for development and leadership in dairy farming, the event matched history with modernism. The convention held in 2024 was evidence of the togetherness and forward-looking attitude of the community, therefore motivating further innovation and quality for the Brown Swiss breed’s future.

Key Takeaways:

Strong Attendance: Over 200 attendees registered, indicating robust interest and participation.
Engagement and Activities: Initiated with Board of Directors meetings and Youth contest interviews.
Welcome Dinner: Hosted at Stadium View Bar and Grill, sponsored by New Generation Genetics.
Cultural Tours: Optional visits to Lambeau Field and the Titletown District post-dinner provided enriching experiences.

Summary:

The National Brown Swiss Convention, hosted by the Wisconsin Brown Swiss Association in Green Bay, Wisconsin, is in full swing with a dynamic blend of events and activities. Attracting over 200 attendees, the convention kicked off on July 3rd and will run until July 6th. The opening day featured Board of Directors meetings and Youth contest interviews, culminating in a welcome dinner sponsored by New Generation Genetics and optional tours of Lambeau Field and the Titletown District. Subsequent days were marked by award presentations, including the prestigious Living Lifetime Cow Award and J.P Eves Trophy, along with significant business meetings and an informative tour of Meadow Brook Farms. The final day will be highlighted by the Swissconsin National Convention Sale, promising an engaging conclusion to this noteworthy event.

Learn more:

Categories : Breed Association News

Junior Holstein Achievements Highlighted at National Holstein Convention

Monday, July 8th, 2024

Pennsylvania won the 2024 Mission Membership award and were recognized during the Awards Luncheon at National Holstein Convention.

Junior Holstein members showcased their passion for Holstein cows and the dairy industry at the 2024 National Holstein Convention in Salt Lake City, Utah. From June 23 to 27, 2024, over 300 enthusiastic Junior Holstein members participated in Convention. Throughout the week, youth members engaged in various contests, enjoyed fun tours, attended enriching workshops, and forged new connections with fellow members.

“The energy at National Holstein Convention is ecstatic! Everybody is very happy to be here out in Utah at this beautiful Convention Center,” says Junior Holstein Member and DJM finalist Keenan Thygesen from Tunbridge, Vermont. “Being here is a great experience overall to connect with old friends, share memories, and talk about how we can further the Holstein cow.”

Prepared Public Speaking
Forty-eight youth members from across the country showcased their presentation skills during the Prepared Public Speaking contest. Speech topics covered a broad range of dairy industry topics, including whole milk in schools, dairy in social media, calf recumbency, dairy policy, and more.

Junior Division (ages 9-13 as of January 1)
1st place: Avery Best, Florida
2nd place: Camden Huff, Georgia
3rd place: Brady McConnel, Wisconsin

Intermediate Division (ages 14-17 as of January 1)
1st place: Atley Shafer, Maryland
2nd place: Elsie Donlick, New York
3rd place: Lilly Mills, New York

Senior Division (ages 18-21 as of January 1)
1st place: Sara Reed, Pennsylvania
2nd place: Lila Sloan, Illinois
3rd place: Elyse Dilling, Pennsylvania

Extemporaneous Speaking

This year makes the debut of our first Extemporaneous Speaking Contest, open to Juniors in the senior division. The contest is designed to help youth develop the ability to think on their feet and broaden their knowledge of dairy industry topics. Contestants were judged on organization of material, power of expression, voice, stage presence, and response to questions.

Senior Division (ages 18-21 as of January 1)
1st place: Alysha Kuhn, New York
2nd place: Chloe Breunig, Wisconsin
3rd place: Madeline Hensel, Wisconsin

Folding Display Contest
This year’s Folding Display competition, now in its 15th year, had thirty-eight entries. Participants create a free-standing display educating people about a dairy industry-related topic of their choice. Youth are divided into three age divisions, and each division has two categories – Scientific and Creative. Following are the results for each category.

Creative Division
Junior Division (ages 9-13 as of January 1)
1st place: Colton Uber, Pennsylvania
2nd place: Brinkley Burdette, Pennsylvania
3rd place: Seth Peiffer, Pennsylvania

Intermediate Division (ages 14-17 as of January 1)
1st place: Aiden Empet, Pennsylvania
2nd place: Paige McKay, Washington
3rd place: Aubree Topp, Ohio

Senior Division (ages 18-21 as of January 1)
1st place: Alex Empet, Pennsylvania

2nd place: Carlee Roell, New Jersey
3rd place: Chloee Roell, New Jersey

Scientific Division

Junior Division (ages 9-13 as of January 1)
1st place: Lydia Couch, Pennsylvania

2nd place: Kyra Lamb, New York
3rd place: Valentina Maza, New Jersey

Intermediate Division (ages 14-17 as of January 1)
1st place: Chelsea Empet, Pennsylvania
2nd place: Lydia Kaverman, Ohio
3rd place: Charlotte Quick, Pennsylvania

Senior Division (ages 18-21 as of January 1)
1st place: Cait O’Sullivan, New Jersey
2nd place: Carlee Roell, New Jersey
3rd place: Annika Donlick, New York

Digital State Scrapbook
The Digital Scrapbook Contest gives each state the chance to tell the story of activities and events their Junior Holstein associations take park in each year. Entries must be presented on a computer or another digital format and hare judges on their news clippings, photo organization, originality, and variety of activities.

1st place: Virginia
2nd place: Missouri
3rd place: Ohio
4th place: California
5th place: New England

State Banner
The state banner competition allows states to creatively showcase their associations, displayed throughout the week at the Convention. Judges assess the banners based on promotion of state, Holstein related, attractiveness, originality, and overall appearance.

1st place: Virginia
2nd place: California
3rd place: Ohio

Mission Membership
One state is recognized each year for increasing their membership. The honor is calculated on a percentage increase from January 1 to June 1 of the convention year. Pennsylvania took home the honor in 2024, with an impressive membership increase of 54 new members.

NHWSO Awards Scholarships
Three Junior Holstein members were awarded scholarships by the National Holstein Women’s Scholarship Organization (NHWSO) during the National Junior Holstein Convention. Kylie Konyn, California, and Brianna Meyer, Wisconsin, received $3,000 scholarships and Madelynn Hoffman, Pennsylvania, and Clarissa Ulness, Wisconsin, received $1,500 scholarships.

New Representative Elected to Junior Advisory Committee (JAC)
Three new youth representatives were elected to the National Junior Advisory Committee (JAC) during the National Junior Forum. Madeline Hensel was elected to represent Area III, Jon Chapman was elected to represent Area IV, and Madison Mowrer was elected as the new At-Large member.

The JAC is the governing body of the Junior Association and oversees the organization’s activities. Youth committee members are elected by the Junior membership at the National Junior Forum, and members serve two-year terms.

For more information about Junior Holstein Association’s youth programs, visit www.holsteinfoundation.org, or contact Kelli Dunklee, youth programs specialist, at 800.952.5200, ext. 4124, or by email.

Categories : Breed Association News

Successful 2024 National Holstein Convention in Utah: Highlights, Events, and Future Plans

Wednesday, July 3rd, 2024

Explore what made the 2024 National Holstein Convention in Utah special. From fun seminars to networking events, see why this year’s gathering was unforgettable.

Trent Hendrickson was recognized with the 2024 Distinguished Young Holstein Breeder Award during the Awards Luncheon at National Holstein Convention on Wednesday, June 26. Pictured from left to right are Holstein Association CEO John Meyer, Trent and Kelsey Hendrickson, and outgoing President Jonathan Lamb.

Ever wondered what drives the dairy industry? For Holstein cattle enthusiasts, the National Holstein Convention is the highlight of the year. The 2024 event, themed “Udderly Utah,” was held in Salt Lake City and welcomed 700 attendees from the US, Puerto Rico, Canada, and Mexico.

This article aims to highlight the key moments of the 2024 National Holstein Convention, sharing attendees’ experiences, innovative events, and vital discussions about the breed’s future. We argue that the 2024 convention was a massive success, showcasing valuable industry insights and high engagement.

Understanding the convention’s discussions and experiences is crucial for anyone in the dairy industry. It offers a glimpse into the Holstein Association USA‘s direction, challenges, and growth opportunities.

The 2024 National Holstein Convention was more than a meeting—it was a celebration of community, heritage, and the promising future of Holstein cattle.

A New Era of Hosting

This year marked a big change as Holstein Association USA hosted the National Holstein Convention for the first time, instead of state associations. The goal was to streamline and enhance the attendee experience.

“We’ve received many positive comments about our new format,” shared CEO John Meyer.

Meyer added, “As always, the best part is the people. It’s fantastic to reconnect with old friends and meet new ones!”

Exploring Salt Lake City: A Blend of History and Adventure

On Monday, June 24, Holstein enthusiasts kicked off the National Holstein Convention with exciting activities in Salt Lake City. Attendees explored local attractions and Utah’s unique heritage.

One group visited Utah’s Antique and Classic Power Museum, where they admired antique vehicles and explored a pioneer village, getting a nostalgic glimpse into the past.

Another group enjoyed This is the Place Heritage Park, with demonstrations, train rides, and gold mining, highlighting Utah’s pioneering spirit.

Junior members had a thrilling adventure at Impact Ninja Gym, tackling obstacle courses. Afterwards, they joined others at This is the Place Heritage Park, fostering camaraderie.

The combination of educational tours, historical exploration, and physical activities set a positive tone for the Convention.

Holstein Horizons: A New Gateway to Dairy Industry Expertise

This year’s Convention introduced Holstein Horizons, an engaging forum held on June 25. These seminars, led by dairy industry experts, provided deep insights into different sector aspects.

Participants explored topics like on-farm processing, beef opportunities for Holsteins, genetics history focusing on inbreeding, and advanced technology. The on-farm processing panel featured Jeff King (Kings-Ransom Farm, NY), Todd Koch (TMK Creamery, OR), and Michael Turley (Rolling Lawns Farm, IL), offering diverse and valuable perspectives.

Dr. Arquimides Reyes (University of Wisconsin – River Falls) discussed beef opportunities, while Dr. Roger Shanks (Holstein Association USA) delved into genetics history. Dr. Tad Sonstegard (Acceligen) presented on genome editing’s future, and Dr. Jeffrey Bewley concluded with insights from the WKU SmartHolstein Lab. The sessions were expertly moderated by Lisa Behnke (World Dairy Expo).

Attendees praised the experience. Matt Hoff from New Windsor, MD, noted, “Holstein Horizons was very educational. The producer panel featured three distinct on-farm creameries. Learning about industry advancements is always beneficial.”

Bonds Beyond Business: Social Events that Foster Genuine Connections

The Convention wasn’t just about seminars and meetings. Attendees enjoyed plenty of socializing and networking through various events.

On Monday evening, Cutting Edge Connections in downtown Salt Lake City featured axe throwing and casual conversations, perfect for reconnecting with old friends and meeting new ones.

Tuesday evening’s Mountain View Mingle offered a laid-back atmosphere with dairy-themed trivia, laughter, and camaraderie, further strengthening the Holstein community.

These informal gatherings were crucial in fostering connections, enhancing the inclusive spirit of the National Holstein Convention.

Youthful Excellence: Junior Members Shine at the Convention

National Junior Holstein Association members shined brightly at this year’s convention, showcasing their skills and forming invaluable connections. Engaging contests and workshops offered a mix of competition and networking opportunities.

A highlight was the Monday evening workshop with past Distinguished Junior Member (DJM) finalists. Andrew King, David J. Lentz, and Michele Ruby shared their experiences, illustrating how Junior Holstein membership shaped their lives.

Contests like the dairy bowl, public speaking, and project showcases challenged junior members while promoting learning and teamwork.

“The National Junior Holstein Convention is a fantastic opportunity for youth to compete, network, and create lasting memories,” said DJM finalist Courtney Glenna from Amery, Wisconsin.

Social activities further helped junior members bond, ensuring a community feel beyond the competitive events. Overall, the junior activities balanced education, competition, and social interaction, preparing the next generation of Holstein professionals.

Leadership Reflections, Future Directions: Highlights from the 138th Annual Meeting

The 138^th Annual Meeting of Holstein Association USA kicked off with detailed reports from the leadership team. President Jonathan Lamb, CEO John Meyer, and CFO/Treasurer Barbara Casna shared last year’s highlights from the 2023 Annual Report, 20 Years of Growth.

Vice President John Burket discussed the upcoming leadership change. CEO John Meyer will retire on December 31, 2024, with current COO Lindsey Worden stepping in as CEO on January 1, 2025.

Committee reports followed, along with recognition for 40-Year Members and awards for the 2023 Herds of Excellence and Star of the Breed. Dr. Jeffrey Bewley’s talk on the CowSignals program stressed the importance of understanding cows’ responses for better management practices.

The meeting also honored three retiring board members: outgoing President Jonathan Lamb (Oakfield, NY), Region 7 Director Dwight Rokey (Sabetha, KS), and Region 3 Director Steve Moff (Columbiana, OH). John Burket was elected as President, and Dwight Rokey as Vice President, with Paul R. Haskins (Butler, OH) and Alfred Brandt (Linn, MO) joining the board. Re-elected were Region 2 Director Dean W. Jackson (Columbia Cross Roads, PA) and At-Large Director Tony Brey (Sturgeon Bay, WI).

The Excitement Doesn’t End Here!

The excitement doesn’t end here! Mark your calendars for the 2025 National Holstein Convention, June 23-26, in vibrant St. Louis, Missouri. Whether you’re a seasoned attendee or new, this convention offers a perfect mix of learning, networking, and fun.

Stay updated at www.holsteinconvention.com. See you there!

Categories : Breed Association News

Distinguished Junior Member Finalists Announced at National Junior Holstein Convention

Monday, July 1st, 2024

The 2024 Distinguished Junior Member finalists were named on June 27, 2024, at the National Holstein Convention in Salt Lake City, Utah. The finalists, pictured from left to right, are Courtney Glenna, Lila Sloan, Samuel Mess, Jacob Harbaugh, Keenan Thygesen, and Gabriella Tay

Holstein Association USA is thrilled to announce six exceptional young adults who have been named Distinguished Junior Member (DJM) finalists. This prestigious accolade has celebrated the dedicated efforts of young individuals in the dairy industry and their work with Registered Holsteins^® since 1922.

“Being named a DJM finalist is the highest honor bestowed upon a Junior Holstein Member and a highlight of National Holstein Convention each year,” says Kelli Dunklee, Holstein Association USA Event and Program Lead. “We look forward to seeing the positive impact this impressive group of young leaders will have on the dairy industry and beyond in the years to come.”

Holstein Association USA named the DJM finalists on June 27, 2024, during the National Junior Holstein Convention Awards Banquet in Salt Lake City, Utah. Congratulations to the 2024 Distinguished Junior Member finalists!

2024 DJM Finalists:

Courtney Glenna, Amery, Wisconsin

Jacob Harbaugh, Marion, Wisconsin

Samuel Mess, Rosendale, Wisconsin

Lila Sloan, Davis, Illinois

Gabriella Taylor, Newark, New York

Keenan Thygesen, Tunbridge, Vermont

DJM judging is a two-part process. Youth members competing put together a book highlighting their Junior Holstein work, activities and projects, breeding program, and personal views. The Junior’s entry book is worth 60 percent of the final score, and the top 12 individuals are named DJM Semifinalists based on their book score.

Phase two of the contest takes place at National Junior Holstein Convention, where the semifinalists are interviewed by a committee of judges. The interview is worth 40 percent of the final score, and the six individuals with the highest combined scores are named DJM finalists.

Young Distinguished Junior Member Finalists

Eight Junior Holstein members ages 9 to 16 were selected as Young Distinguished Junior Member (YDJM) finalists. The applicants were judged on their YDJM books, which highlight their accomplishments and leadership with the Junior Holstein Association and beyond.

The YDJM finalists were recognized during the 2024 National Junior Holstein Convention in Salt Lake City, Utah. Congratulations to these outstanding Junior Holstein members for their impressive accomplishments!

2024 YDJM Finalists:

Katie Brandel, Lake Mills, Wisconsin

Lydia Couch, Huntingdon, Pennsylvania

Makenna Mase, Cochranton, Pennsylvania

Ethan Palmer, Waukon, Iowa

Ella Raatz, Colby, Wisconsin

Cameron Ryan, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin

Atley Shafer, Jefferson, Maryland

Lauren Silveira, Chowchilla, California

For more information about the Distinguished Junior Member and Young Distinguished Junior Member awards and other Holstein Association USA youth programs, visit www.holsteinusa.com/juniors. To learn more about National Holstein Convention, visit www.holsteinconvention.com.

Categories : Breed Association News

New Leadership & Trustee Elections at Holstein UK Annual General Meeting

Sunday, June 30th, 2024

Discover the new leadership at Holstein UK! Meet President Nick Helyer and Trustee Iain McLean. How will their expertise shape the future of dairy farming?

The Holstein UK Annual General Meeting, held on June 26th at Blunsdon House Hotel in Wiltshire, saw Nick Helyer elected as the new President and Iain McLean elected as a trustee for Northern Ireland. This occasion highlights the society’s commitment to innovation and leadership within the dairy industry.

“I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Andrew Jones and his family for their time and dedication to Holstein UK over the past year,” stated Wallace Gregg, outgoing Holstein UK Chairman.

Closing a Noteworthy Chapter: Holstein UK Bids a Heartfelt Farewell to Outgoing President Andrew Jones

Closing a noteworthy chapter, Holstein UK bids a heartfelt farewell to outgoing President Andrew Jones of the Rossett herd. Over the last year, Andrew has made significant contributions to society, demonstrating unwavering dedication and actively participating in numerous events alongside his wife, Jenny. His efforts have considerably strengthened the fabric of Holstein UK, and he departs with profound gratitude from the entire community.

As we turn the page, Nicholas Helyer of the Clampitt herd steps into the role of President with a warm reception. Nick’s association with Holstein UK dates back to 1965 when he and his family began the Clampitt herd with a handful of bulling heifers. Over the decades, Nick has witnessed and contributed to society’s growth into a formidable organization. His herd has flourished under his stewardship, yielding impressive production levels and showcasing Nick’s expertise in dairy farming. His experience includes terms as President and Chairman of the South and Wiltshire Holstein Club, Chairman of Salisbury NFU, and Chairman of the Salisbury Discussion Club. Nick also served on the Holstein UK Board of Trustees from 2004 to 2012 and chaired the CIS Board from 2007 to 2012.

Nick Helyer: From Humble Beginnings to a Legacy of Excellence in Dairy Farming

In 1965, Nick Helyer began a journey defining his legacy in dairy farming. Alongside his family, Nick founded the Clampitt herd with a few heifers. This small start has grown into a significant enterprise, spanning 561 hectares and housing 230 cows that produce 11,149 liters of milk annually. Their diet includes maize, lucerne, and grasshays, ensuring high productivity and quality with 4.22% butterfat and 3.28% protein content.

Nick’s journey in agriculture began in the sixties at college, where he built the foundation of his expertise. Since 1965, he has been a dedicated member of the black and white societies, engaging deeply with the community of breeders.

Nick’s leadership extends beyond his herd. He has served as President and Chairman of the South and Wiltshire Holstein Club and held chairman positions at Salisbury NFU and Salisbury Discussion Club. From 2004 to 2012, he was a trustee on the Holstein UK Board, and from 2007 to 2012, he served on the CIS Board, ending his tenure as Chairman.

Even after these formal roles, Nick remains committed to advancing the breed and supporting fellow breeders through knowledge sharing. With his wife, Topsy, he looks forward to further contributing to the society and its members in the year ahead.

Nick Heyer’s Visionary Leadership: Pioneering Innovation and Cultivating Community Engagement

Nick Helyer’s dedication to the Holstein breed is central to his identity, underscoring his advocacy for innovation in dairy farming. His ambitious plans for the year ahead aim to elevate society’s standing.

Engagement with members is crucial to his presidency. Nick and his wife, Topsy, will actively participate in society activities, providing hands-on support and fostering collaboration. This engagement reflects a genuine effort for collective success.

Nick’s passion for advancing the breed is evident in his knowledge-sharing and mentorship approach. He values experiential learning and offers his expertise through workshops, consultations, and industry discussions, promoting an environment where continuous improvement is the norm.

Looking ahead, Nick’s vision extends beyond maintaining the status quo. He aims to push boundaries in sustainability, genetic advancements, and cutting-edge technologies, ensuring the Holstein breed remains robust, productive, and profitable for future generations.

Reflecting on Leadership: Wallace Gregg’s Heartfelt Tribute and Well Wishes for the Future

Outgoing Holstein UK Chairman Wallace Gregg reflected on the presidency transition, saying, “I sincerely thank Andrew Jones and his family for their dedication over the past year. Andrew participated in numerous events with his wife, Jenny, and his leadership has been invaluable. We wish Nick the very best in his new role.”

Strategic Leadership and Steady Continuity: Steve Hill’s Chairmanship and Re-Elections Mark a New Chapter for Holstein UK

Steve Hill steps into the role of Holstein UK Chairman, bringing his strategic vision and effective leadership. Steve has represented the North Midlands since 2019 and aims to push the Society toward innovation, quality, and community engagement.

The elections also reaffirmed the roles of William Williams (Clwch) and Andrew Williamson (Ingleden) for a second term, representing North Wales and Northern regions. Their experience and dedication are vital for the Society’s sustained growth and cohesion. William and Andrew’s continued service strengthens the Society’s strategic and operational direction.

Iain McLean’s Election: A Forward-Thinking Addition to Holstein UK’s Leadership Roster

Iain McLean‘s election as the new trustee representing Northern Ireland marks an exciting addition to Holstein UK’s leadership. Iain’s extensive experience and dedication to the dairy industry will significantly benefit the organization. His family’s Priestland herd, established in 1911 and achieving pedigree status in 1994, speaks volumes about their deep-rooted passion and commitment.

The 140-cow Priestland herd, milked twice daily with precision, showcases this commitment, resulting in high productivity and notable show circuit success. A highlight includes Priestland 5446 Shot J Rose winning the Champion Holstein title at the 2021 Balmoral Show.

Iain’s forward-thinking approach aligns with Holstein UK’s mission. He is eager to leverage the Society’s services to help members maximize their herds’ potential, reinforcing his commitment to innovation and support within the community.

Holstein UK: A Pillar of Excellence in Dairy Cattle Breeding and Innovation

Holstein UK is dedicated to advancing the breeding of profitable, robust, and productive dairy cattle. Committed to innovation and quality, the organization continually enhances the services offered to its members. As a charitable foundation, it includes two subsidiaries: the Cattle Information Service (CIS) and the National Bovine Data Centre (NBDC).

The CIS excels in milk recording and health testing, providing reliable services through a state-of-the-art laboratory that supports the advancement of dairy farms nationwide.

The NBDC focuses on data analysis to improve dairy production standards across the UK, establishing itself as an industry leader.

UK Dairy Day, an annual event organized by Holstein UK, reflects the organization’s dedication to the industry. Scheduled for September 11th, 2024, at the International Centre, Telford, this event fosters innovation, networking, and knowledge sharing among industry stakeholders.

Key Takeaways:

Nick Helyer, a long-time member and advocate of Holstein UK, was elected President, and Iain McLean was chosen as a new trustee.
Outgoing President Andrew Jones received commendations for his dedicated service and impactful tenure over the past year.
Nick Helyer, with a rich history in dairy farming and extensive leadership experience, aims to further the development and innovation within the society.
Wallace Gregg stepped down as Chairman and was praised for his significant contributions. Steve Hill assumed the role and ensured continuity in leadership.
The society continues to emphasize its mission to assist members in breeding profitable and productive dairy cattle through innovative services and quality standards.

Summary:

Holstein UK, a dairy cattle breeder and society, has appointed Nick Helyer as the new President and Iain McLean as a trustee for Northern Ireland. Nick has been instrumental in the growth of the Clampitt herd and has served on the Holstein UK Board of Trustees from 2004 to 2012. He aims to elevate society’s standing through hands-on support and collaboration, valuing experiential learning through workshops, consultations, and industry discussions. Steve Hill, representing the North Midlands since 2019, takes on the role of Holstein UK Chairman, focusing on innovation, quality, and community engagement. Iain McLean, representing the North Midlands since 2019, is the new trustee for Northern Ireland, demonstrating deep-rooted passion and commitment to Holstein UK’s mission. The organization also includes two subsidiaries: the Cattle Information Service (CIS) and the National Bovine Data Centre (NBDC), which focus on data analysis to improve dairy production standards across the UK.

Learn more:

Categories : Breed Association News

National Dairy Shrine Awards $45,000 in Scholarships to 38 Future Dairy Leaders

Friday, June 28th, 2024

Discover how the National Dairy Shrine awarded $45,000 in scholarships to 38 future dairy leaders. Curious about the recipients and their inspiring stories? Read more.

The National Dairy Shrine has always been vital to nurturing the future leaders of the dairy industry. The Shrine supports education and professional growth by honoring notable dairy individuals and preserving the industry’s rich history. This year, 38 students from universities and technical schools will share $45,000 in scholarships, a significant boost for future dairy leaders.

“The National Dairy Shrine is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year, and over that period, the organization has provided more than 1,000 scholarships to future dairy leaders totaling more than $1 million.”

This milestone highlights the ongoing need for support and encouragement for young dairy professionals. The achievements of these scholarship recipients, who were celebrated at the National Dairy Shrine Awards Banquet, point towards a bright future for the dairy industry.

Spotlight on Future Dairy Leaders: A Night of Recognition and Celebration

The National Dairy Shrine Awards Banquet is a critical event in the dairy industry. This year, it’s on Monday, September 30th, in Madison, Wisconsin. The banquet celebrates scholarship recipients’ achievements and contributions to the dairy field. It’s a special occasion that honors future industry leaders and unites a community passionate about advancing dairy sciences. Attendees can connect, share insights, and celebrate the talented young individuals shaping the future of dairy.

A Legacy of Nurturing Dairy Leaders: 75 Years of Commitment and Growth

The National Dairy Shrine, founded in 1949, has been championing future dairy leaders for 75 years. The organization has awarded over 1,000 scholarships, totaling more than $1 million in financial aid. This commitment ensures the dairy industry remains vibrant and strong for future generations.

The Kildee Scholarship: Honoring a Legacy and Fostering Future Dairy Leaders

The Kildee Scholarship is a prestigious award for graduate students showing exceptional promise in dairy-related fields. Named after H.H. Kildee, Dean Emeritus at Iowa State University, it was the first scholarship offered by the National Dairy Shrine, starting in 1949. This award has long supported budding dairy professionals.

This year’s recipient is Garrett Hastings from Chardon, Ohio. Garrett earned a Bachelor of Science in Animal Sciences from Ohio State University and will continue his education at the Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine this fall. His journey exemplifies the Kildee Scholarship’s mission: nurturing future leaders in the dairy industry.

Celebrating Leadership: The Senior Student Recognition Scholarships

The Senior Student Recognition Scholarships honor exceptional leadership, activity participation, academic excellence, and dedication to the dairy industry. The scholarships, which are based on university nominations, vary in amount.

The highest honor of $2000 went to Jack Hammock from Chatham, Virginia. Jack, a graduate of Virginia Tech in dairy science and dairy business management, aims to manage a dairy farm, focusing on sustainability.

Paige Peiffer from Lebanon, Pennsylvania, received the $1500 award. She studied animal science at Penn State University and plans to enhance dairy production through improved cattle feed formulas.

The $1000 award winners include:

Nicole Broege (dairy science, University of Wisconsin-Madison): Focused on dairy genetics to enhance herd quality.
Kendal Jenkins (animal science, Penn State University): Aspires to innovate in dairy research and development.
Madalyn Palmer (animal science, Iowa State University): Aims to manage a dairy farm using advanced technologies.
Isaac Rott (animal science, University of Minnesota): Plans to be a dairy extension agent, supporting farmers.

Empowering Dairy’s Future: The Merton Sowerby Junior Merit Scholarships

The Merton Sowerby Junior Merit Scholarships support outstanding junior-level students in the dairy industry. Named after National Dairy Shrine Pioneer and Klussendorf winner Merton Sowerby, these awards promote academic and professional growth.

The top award of $1500 goes to Ben Styer from Menomonie, Wisconsin, an animal science student with a dairy production focus at the University of Minnesota. Four other students receive $1000 each:

Natalie Roe: Dairy science and life sciences communication, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Megan Ratka: Animal Science, University of Minnesota
Irene Nielsen: Dairy science, agricultural communications, and international agriculture, Iowa State University
Haley Beukema: Agricultural communication and marketing, with minors in animal science and agriculture and food business management, University of Minnesota

The Mike Lancaster Scholarships: Recognizing Sophomore Prowess in Dairy Science

The Mike Lancaster Scholarships recognize standout sophomores at four-year colleges committed to dairy careers. Named after notable dairy cattle breeder Mike Lancaster, these scholarships support future dairy professionals.

Lauren Breunig from Sauk City, Wisconsin, is this year’s top recipient, receiving $1500. She’s studying life sciences communication and has a certificate in agricultural business management from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

The $1000 winners:

Laken DuRussel – Animal Science, Michigan State University
Delana Erbsen – Dairy Science, Iowa State University
Regan Jackson – Nutrition and Food Science, Louisiana State University
Clarissa Ulness – Dairy Science, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Jenna Gries – Dairy Science, University of Wisconsin-Madison

NDS/DMI Education & Communication Scholarships: Cultivating Expertise in Marketing and Communication

The National Dairy Shrine and Dairy Management Inc. (DMI) scholarships support sophomore and junior students in four-year colleges or universities, focusing on education or communication careers in the dairy and food-related industries. These awards are open to marketing, food science, nutrition, public relations, education, social media, and communications majors.

This year’s top honoree receives $1500, with five additional winners, each receiving $1000:

Kylie Konyn, University of Wisconsin-Madison – Dairy Science with certificates in Ag Business Management and Science Communications ($1500)
Makenzie Alberts, South Dakota State University – Agricultural Communications and Agricultural Leadership
Reagan Kime, Iowa State University – Agricultural and Rural Policy, International Agriculture, and Public Relations
Gracie Ash, University of Minnesota – Agricultural Communications and Marketing
Ainsley Noble, University of Wisconsin-River Falls – Agricultural Education
Lauren Wangsness, University of Minnesota – Agricultural Communication and Marketing, minor in International Agriculture

Boosting Careers in Dairy: The NDS/DMI Milk Marketing & Dairy Products Scholarships

The NDS/DMI Milk Marketing & Dairy Products Scholarships encourage students to pursue careers in marketing, product development, quality control, and nutrition within the dairy industry. These awards support sophomore and junior four-year college or university students passionate about dairy market dynamics.

The top award of $1500 goes to Sarah Hagenow of Poynette, Wisconsin, majoring in Agricultural and Food Business Management at the University of Minnesota. The $1000 recipients are:

Jordan Anderson (Agriculture Communications, University of Wyoming)
Haven Hileman (Animal Sciences, The Ohio State University)
Anthony Agueda (Agricultural Business, California State University, Fresno)

Honoring Maurice Core: Celebrating Freshman Commitment to Dairy Excellence

These scholarships, named in honor of Maurice Core, a key figure in the American Jersey Cattle Association and former Dairy Shrine leader, are designed to support freshman students majoring in dairy or animal science. Each recipient is awarded $1,000 to aid their academic journey.

Meet the 2024 Maurice Core Scholarship recipients:

Natalie Clemenson – Dairy Science major, University of Wisconsin-River Falls
Alexis Hoefs – Animal Science major, focusing on Dairy Production, University of Minnesota
Tyler Ratka – Animal Science major, focusing on Dairy Production, University of Minnesota
Garrett Ulness – Dairy Science major with an Agricultural Business certificate, University of Wisconsin-Madison

The Iager Scholarships: Supporting Second-Year Agricultural Students with Future-Oriented Excellence

The Iager Scholarships, funded by the Charles Iager family, support second-year students in two-year agricultural schools focusing on animal or dairy science. Selection criteria include academic standing, leadership, interest in the dairy industry, and future career plans.

This year, two students receive $1,000 each:

Anthony Diniz – Dairy Science at Modesto Junior College
Aubrey Montgomery – Dairy Production and Management at The Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute

The Dairy Shrine Dairy Production Scholarship: Nurturing Future Dairy Innovators

The Dairy Shrine Dairy Production Scholarship, sponsored by Cargill, supports undergraduates aiming for a career in dairy production with a $2500 award.

This year’s recipient is Hunter Holewinski from Pulaski, Wisconsin. He studies dairy science at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and has a certificate in science communication. With this, Hunter is set to bring innovation to dairy farm management.

The Bottom Line

Celebrate the accomplishments of these stellar students and honor the legacy of the National Dairy Shrine. Your support can help nurture the next generation of dairy leaders. Consider donating to the National Dairy Shrine scholarship fund to expand these opportunities. Make your contribution online at www.campaign75.org.

Categories : Breed Association News

Navigating the Future: How Stubborn, Inexperienced Leadership is Jeopardizing the Purebred Dairy Industry

Wednesday, June 26th, 2024

Is stubborn, inexperienced leadership risking the future of the purebred dairy industry? Discover how bullheaded decisions could jeopardize its very existence.

Many purebred breed groups have records of embezzlement, litigation, and record losses entwined throughout. For its survival, the purebred dairy sector finds itself at a crossroads. Deeply ingrained in a historic legacy, it has helped agricultural families and premium dairy output for many years. Still, priorities have changed, and dairy producers now find more value and better record-keeping and animal evaluation through other options. At this point, leadership is more critical than ever; it’s about choosing the correct path that strikes a mix between innovation and legacy. Good leaders have to be able to separate being foolish from being stubborn. Knowing these subtleties will help the sector define its direction and pave the way for growth and success.

Bullheadedness: Stubbornness vs. Strategic Persistence

In a leadership context, bullheadedness refers to an unwavering refusal to consider other perspectives or adapt plans in the face of clear disadvantages. This stubbornness, often mistaken for firmness, hampers progress. In the purebred dairy sector, a bullheaded leader might overlook advancements in genetic evaluation tools and persist with outdated methods, thereby missing out on opportunities for improved performance, healthier cattle, and viable members.

Such rigidity is seen when decision-makers persist in bad ideas. For instance, breed groups still give registration and type classification too much importance, even when modern on-farm record-keeping and genetic testing make third-party validation unnecessary.

Still, another hot topic is breed associations’ role in advancing genetics. Historically, these associations guided genetic changes; nowadays, artificial intelligence businesses lead with their benchmarks, excluding advice from these established authorities.

When Leadership Becomes Entrenched: The Devastating Impact of a Bullheaded Approach

The adverse effects on the purebred dairy business may be significant when leadership adopts a bullheaded attitude characterized by a strong resistance to change. Rigid leadership may oppose required changes for development and sustainability in an industry where creativity and adaptation are valued, generating various negative consequences.

First, new technology and approaches are not easily embraced. New dairy farming methods, nutritional science, and genetic research all help to improve cow welfare and output. A bullheaded leader’s rejection of these advancements makes operations obsolete and ineffective, enabling faster-adapting rivals to exceed them and thus lose market share.

Furthermore, their programs and services need to adapt to changing market circumstances. Leaders, too resistant to acknowledge these developments, risk alienating their clientele, lowering sales and brand loyalty, and undermining their market position.

Furthermore, bullheaded leadership alienates important stakeholders like workers, partners, and investors. A strict attitude that brushes off comments damages morale and trust. Undervaluation and stifling of employees might cause vital, qualified staff members to depart. Staff and members could stop supporting the bullheaded leader as they see them as a liability instead of an asset.

Although bullheadedness might be confused with good leadership, its effects—stunted innovation, poor adaptation, and alienation of stakeholders—can be catastrophic. The future of the purebred dairy business relies on leaders who advocate a dynamic, inclusive, and forward-looking attitude and separate between intransigence and strategic tenacity. This reiteration of the potential consequences should invoke a sense of urgency and the need for immediate action.

The Perils of Inexperience: Navigating Leadership in the Purebred Dairy Industry

Lack of basic business information and necessary leadership qualities sometimes leads to inexperience in the purebred dairy sector. Leaders can only make wise judgments when they emerge with knowledge of rules, market trends, or breeding techniques. Lack of strategic vision and crisis management, among other leadership qualities, aggravates this difference.

Such inexperience has quite negative implications. Leaders devoid of industry expertise and leadership ability make judgments out of line with the association’s demands. They could start projects without considering long-term effects on the farm economy or herd genetics. Strategic errors abound as they cannot predict changes in the market, laws, or technology. These mistakes could cause financial losses, delayed genetic advancement, and sour ties with members, partners, and government agencies.

Furthermore, inexperienced leaders find it challenging to win the respect and confidence of their staff. Their lack of empathy and clear guidance fuels confusion and poor morale. Higher personnel turnover and reduced productivity might further derail the association. Ultimately, this combination of inexperience and lousy leadership choices jeopardizes the existence of the purebred dairy sector. However, by emphasizing the importance of empathy in leadership, we can foster a more understanding and supportive environment, leading to better morale and productivity.

Understanding the Critical Distinctions Between Bullheaded Leadership and Stupidity: A Psychological and Business Perspective

One must be able to separate “bullheadedness” from “stupidity.” Though they seem similar, their distinctions are important in business and psychology. Through their reasons and motivations, these qualities produce poor leaders.

Bullheadedness—marked by an unwillingness to change in the face of contradicting data—might be considered strategic perseverance. Deepened in strong conviction, this quality usually results from a yearning for closure. Although this might be helpful in challenging situations, it has to be grounded on properly investigated facts.

On the other hand, ignorance in leadership results from flawed critical thinking and incapacity to evaluate fresh knowledge. Such leaders ignore facts and depend on gut emotions or oversimplified answers, which results in illogical and harmful behavior. Usually affecting long-term objectives, this kind of decision-making needs more strategic thinking.

Cognitive distortions such as the Dunning-Kruger effect help explain the junction of ignorance and bullheadedness. Both actions result from a too-high sense of perfection. Though a bullheaded leader might think their idea is feasible, a foolish leader must learn to evaluate circumstances realistically.

Results show their differences. The tenacity of a bullheaded leader might coincide with changes in the market going forward, therefore showing their correctness. On the other hand, a leader motivated by ignorance usually fails, shown by ineffectiveness and bad outcomes.

Although bullheadedness and stupidity share rigidity in decision-making, in the framework of psychology and business theory, they differ greatly. Bullheadedness may be a two-edged sword, depending on the situation, either bringing success or loss. However, stupidity undercuts good leadership and emphasizes the importance of wise decision-making in the purebred dairy business.

Two Diverging Paths in Leadership: The Outdated Veterans and the Unpassionate Rookies

Examining the present leadership in the purebred dairy sector exposes an alarming discrepancy. Veterans who reject innovation and change and stick to antiquated techniques abound. For example, when driving while fixed on the rearview mirror, which eventually results in disaster, they prioritize previous triumphs rather than prospects.

On the other hand, personnel managers have little enthusiasm for the purebred dairy company. This indifference leads to lousy leadership, as it prevents informed judgments that impede development and stems from ignorance of the business’s complexity. Leadership calls for strategic vision, enthusiastic involvement, and flexibility; it is not just a title.

New but inexperienced leaders exacerbate the issue. Though passionate, they may lack the knowledge required to make wise judgments. Misinterpreting their inexperience as bullheadedness emphasizes the necessity of strong mentorship and training. The future of the sector depends on effective leadership combining expertise with flexibility.

The Future of the Purebred Dairy Industry: A Precarious Balance of Leadership and Innovation

The future of the purebred dairy business hangs precariously, much shaped by the present leadership’s bullheadedness, inexperience, and sometimes idiocy. Leaders rooted in old methods oppose innovation, therefore hindering development and running the danger of market share loss to more flexible rivals.

Inexperienced executives often turn to temporary fixes that neglect to promote sustainable development. They lack the vision and plan required to negotiate industrial complexity. Their little knowledge of business dynamics and agriculture makes them unable to guide the sector through changing conditions.

Driven by ignorance, reckless actions damage the sector even more. Ignoring best practices and new technology compromises credibility, animal care, and production, erasing investor faith and alienating trained staff.

If these leadership shortcomings continue, the sector will suffer declining innovation, financial uncertainty, and damaged customer confidence. By juggling legacy with modernity, this once-cherished industry risks becoming extinct. (Read more: Are Dairy Cattle Breed Associations Nearing Extinction?)

Actionable Steps for Leadership Transformation in the Purebred Dairy Industry

The purebred dairy industry needs a leadership transformation to ensure its survival and prosperity. Here are some actionable steps:

Foster Empathy and Integrity: Promote leaders who care about their teams and demonstrate honesty. Align words with actions and respect employee contributions. Implement empathy and ethics training programs.
Strategic Leadership Rotation: Evaluate board members regularly and replace those showing bullheadedness or lack of vision. Prioritize succession planning for innovative leadership.
Encourage Visionary Leadership: Value leaders with resilience and a clear, inspirational vision. Foster an environment that encourages “What if” thinking and creativity.
Regular Performance Audits: Conduct audits of leadership effectiveness focused on decision-making and outcomes. Provide actionable feedback for improvement.
Enhance Legal and Ethical Compliance: Ensure adherence to legal standards and ethical guidelines. Develop transparent compliance mechanisms and address deviations promptly.
Invest in Leadership Development: Allocate resources for skill development through targeted programs. Encourage continuous learning and adaptation to industry changes.

By implementing these steps, the purebred dairy industry can achieve a balance of innovation and ethical leadership, ensuring its future success.

The Bottom Line

The article investigates significant variations between bullheadedness, stupidity, and good leadership in the purebred dairy sector. Bullheadedness is persistence toward change that results in dire consequences. Stupidity is the need for more awareness endangering the company. Good leadership calls for strategic endurance, empathy, and knowledge of industry dynamics.

Many current leaders are inexperienced and slip into either ineptitude or bullheadedness. The business is at a turning point with this combination of distracted rookies and aging veterans. One must understand the balance between firmness and wildly insane stubbornness. Reflective leadership able to navigate these subtleties must guide the sector toward innovation and expansion.

Dealing with these leadership deficiencies will help guarantee the sector’s survival and profitability. Transforming the present situation will depend critically on strategic knowledge, empathy, honesty, and wise decision-making.

Key Takeaways:

Persistent leadership can either strategically guide the industry through challenges or stubbornly lead it to ruin.
Inexperienced leaders often struggle to navigate the complexities of the industry, which can exacerbate existing issues.
An inability to differentiate between bullheadedness and stupidity can result in detrimental decision-making.
Effective leadership requires balancing tradition with innovation to ensure the industry’s sustainability.
Transformation in leadership is essential to address the current vulnerabilities of the purebred dairy sector.

Summary:

The purebred dairy sector is facing challenges like embezzlement, litigation, and losses. To survive, leaders must balance innovation and legacy, distinguishing between stubbornness and strategic persistence. Bullheadedness, often mistaken for firmness, can lead to overlooking advancements in genetic evaluation tools and outdated methods, resulting in missed opportunities for improved performance and healthier cattle. Rigid leadership can have detrimental effects on the industry, opposing required changes for development and sustainability, making operations obsolete and ineffective. This resistance can alienate clients, lower sales and brand loyalty, and undermining market position. The future of the purebred dairy business relies on leaders who advocate a dynamic, inclusive, and forward-looking attitude, emphasizing empathy to foster a more understanding and supportive environment. To ensure the industry’s survival and prosperity, actionable steps include fostering empathy and integrity, strategic leadership rotation, encouraging visionary leadership, regular performance audits, enhancing legal and ethical compliance, and investing in leadership development.

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Categories : Breed Association News

Brenda Snow Receives Prestigious AJCA-NAJ Award for Advancing Jersey Breed and Dairy Industry

Monday, June 24th, 2024

Learn how Brenda Snow’s dedication changed the Jersey breed and dairy industry. Interested in her journey and impact? Discover her prestigious AJCA-NAJ award.

Brenda Snow of Brookfield, Vt., has been honored with the prestigious Award for Meritorious Service by the American Jersey Cattle Association (AJCA) and National All-Jersey Inc. (NAJ). This highly esteemed award, presented annually, recognizes individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the Jersey breed and its owners. It celebrates those who have significantly advanced the Jersey breed in the United States through research, education, development, marketing, or other critical activities within the dairy industry. Brenda’s receipt of this award is a testament to her dedication and notable contributions to the Jersey breed and its community.

“The love breeders in her area had for her was always evident, and Brenda strove every day to keep that trust and commitment,” wrote Herby D. Lutz, a former JMS manager and current sire analyst with Select Sires Inc.

Brenda Snow’s work was not just a job but a mission. Her dedication and the profound impact she has had on the Jersey breed and the community of breeders and dairy farmers make this esteemed award so fitting for her.

Brenda Snow: A Pillar of Dedication and Transformation in the Jersey Breed and Dairy Industry

Brenda Snow’s career is a testament to her unwavering passion for the Jersey breed and the dairy industry. Over three decades as an area representative, she fulfilled administrative roles and actively engaged at the grassroots level. Her efforts to expand markets for Registered Jerseys and establish significant Jersey herds on the West Coast were driven by her deep love for the breed and commitment to its growth. For instance, she played a crucial role in the relocation of production-bred Jerseys from the Northeast to new homes across the country, a strategic move that significantly bolstered Jersey Marketing Services (JMS) and laid the groundwork for future herd developments.

At Sno-Krest Farm in Brookfield, Vermont, Brenda, her husband Wes, and their son Jarrett managed a highly respected herd of Registered Jerseys. Their herd, recognized for its quality, often fetched premium prices at consignment sales and set an example of best practices in dairy farming.

Brenda’s influence extended beyond marketing, sales, genetics, and animal husbandry. Her dedication and hard work improved the livelihoods of Jersey breeders. They drove the growth of the Jersey breed in the United States. Her legacy is not just in her significant contributions to the industry but also in her lasting impact on the community of breeders and dairy farmers, who continue to benefit from her work.

Brenda Snow’s Pioneering Contributions to the Jersey Breed’s Expansion and Market Development

Brenda Snow’s contributions to the Jersey breed’s growth are significant and monumental. She played a crucial role in expanding the market for Registerbreed’seys, strategically moving production-bred Jerseys from the Northeast to new homes across the country. This significantly bolstered Jersey Marketing Services (JMS) and laid the groundwork for future herd developments.

One of Brenda’s achievements was building the large West Coast Jersey herds by transporting potloads of Jerseys to new facilities. This move supported the growing cheese industry by ensuring a steady supply of high-quality milk, cementing Jersey’s breeds’ reputation for superior dairy output.

BrBrenda’s foresight in placing Jersey replacements in commercial venues helped catalyze the brbreed’s growth in component pricing markets. Notably, over $1.1 million worth of Jersey replacements were sold through the Vermont State Sale and New England Spring Sale in 2008, providing substantial financial uplift to dairy producers.

Her strategic contributions to the Jersey Breed include expanding market reach and enhancing the genetic pool. Brenda’s foresight in placing Jersey replacements in commercial venues and facilitating the sale and distribution of top-tier genetics was a testament to her leadership and vision. Her strategic decisions continue to shape the breed’s future, instilling confidence in the industry and breeders alike.

Brenda’s monumental contributions to the expansion and development of the Jersey breed are monumental in expanding the Jersey breed and supporting owners across the Northeast. Her three-decade tenure as an area representative saw her working with Jersey Marketing Services (JMS) to relocate production-bred Registered Jerseys, crucially filling new facilities on the West Coast to supply the burgeoning cheese industry.

By consistently connecting breeders and buyers, Brenda ensured high-quality Jerseys found homes where their genetic potential thrived. Her efforts helped scale tie-up sales significantly, marketing thousands of Jersey replacements to dairy producers, especially after the Federal OrdBrenda’sm.

Brenda’s keen insights and dedication laid a foundation for the sustained growth of Jersey herds, particularly integrating them into West Coast dairy ecosystems. Her work was pivotal in enabling Jerseys to thrive in diverse environments, contributing significantly to the national dairy landscape. Snow’s Brenda Snow’s Unparalleled Accomplishments in Marketing and SSnow’ Brenda Snow’s marketing and sales accomplishments significantly shaped the breed’s reputation. Transforming tie-up sales into major commercial venues, she facilitated the sale of Jersey replacements tailored to component pricing markets post-Federal Order Reform.

Her standout achievement includes the 2008 Vermont State and New England Spring Sales, where combined sales exceeded $1.1 million, showcasing her ability to nurture relationships and identify market opportunities.

Brenda’s efforts extended to the breed’s geographical reach. Through relentless hard work and strategic planning, she transferred production-bred Registered Jerseys from the Northeast to the West Coast, benefiting a growing cheese industry and establishing economic benefits for breeders.

Her eye for quality marketers and acumen built robust channels supporting and enriching breeders. Brenda’s efforts empowered breeders with immediate sales outcomes and long-term growth opportunities, solidifying her legacy in the industry’s marketing and sales sector.

Her eye for quality markers and acumen built robust channels supporting and enriching breeders. Brenda’s efforts empowered breeders with immediate sales outcomes and long-term growth opportunities, solidifying her legacy in the industry’s marketing and sales sector. Brenda Snow’s expertise in elite Jersey genetics marks one of her most pivotal contributions to the breed. With a sharp eye for high-caliber cattle and a profound grasp of genetic potential, Brenda helped breeders leverage elite genetics that left an enduring legacy. Noteworthy examples include Molly Brook Fascinator Flower and Pearlmont Impuls Daffy, whose progeny have significantly advanced the breed.

Molly Brook Fascinator Flower’s descendants have an international presence, thanks to Brenda’s meticulous selection. Pearlmont Impuls Daffy became a genomic sensation after her 2008 All American Jersey Sale, showcasing Brenda’s skill in promoting superior genetic stock. Both cows were finalists in the 2015 Jersey Journal Great Cow Contest, highlighting their exceptional contributions. Brenda Snow has elevated the breed’s genetic diversity and global standing through these strategic efforts.

Beyond Professional MilestoSnow’srenda Snow’s Unyielding Commitment and Grace in the Dairy Industry

Beyond her professional know-how, Snow’s relentless drive and determination distinguish her as a dedicated figure in the dairy industry. Her commitment to the Jersey breed and its community showcases a customer-centric approach, conducting business with a unique blend of grit and grace. Her unwavering dedication, integrity, and respect for the Jersey breed and its community have been the guiding principles of her career, earning her the trust and admiration of breeders and dairy farmers alike.

“The love breeders in her area had for her was always evident, and Brenda strove every day to keep that trust and “commitment,” reflected Herby D. Lutz, a former JMS manager and current sire analyst with Select Sires Inc. Sara Barlass, who succeeded Bre” da, noted, “Brenda had made a huge impact on a lot of breeders, especially women-owned and small herds. These herds were pushed to new levels thanks to her effort and “compassion.”

Colleagues and breeders admired Brenda for her expertise and kindness. Jennifer McReynolds of Lucky Hill Farm “L.P. shared, “Brenda quickly became a trusted colleague whom I could turn to for Jersey breeding and marketing advice and general dairy industry” knowledge.” David Norman of Normandell Farms praised her work ethic and eye for quality cattle”, stating, “She was one of the first to arrive to check papers, feed, and care for the heifers, sometimes totaling 300 head, and followed through until all” were sold.”

These testimonials show Brenda’s reputation as a dedicated, trustworthy figure who consistently went above and beyond to serve breeders and the Jersey community.

From Humble Beginnings to Educational and Professional AscSnow’srenda Snow’s Early Journey in the Dairy Industry

Before making her mark in expanding the Jersey breed, Brenda Snow’s journey was defined by rigorous education and early industry experience. Starting farm work at eight and fully engaging in dairy farming at 16, Brenda’s passion for the industry was evident. In 1984, she earned an associate degree in dairy management from Vermont Technical College and a bachelor’s degree in dairy science from Virginia Tech.

Between degrees, Brenda gained crucial experience managing and marketing cattle at Lemax Farm and Howacres Farm in Vermont. His role as a “herdsman” before the term “herdsperson” existed highlighted her pioneering spirit.

After completing her education, Brenda joined the artificial insemination sector as a district manager and sales development technician for ABS. She taught A.I. techniques and the company’s mating program across several regions, laying the foundation for her influential roles in breed promotion. Maurice E. Core’s Vision: The Catalyst for Brenda Snow’s Pivotal Role in Market Development

Brenda’s journey took a pivotal turn when Maurice E. Core, the executive secretary of the American Jersey Cattle Club (AJCC), hired her as an area representative in July 1990. This role marked the start of her influential tenure with the AJCA-NAJ. She was tasked with developing markets for elite and surplus Jersey breeding stock to enhance farm income for breeders across the Northeast, including Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont.

Brenda’s mission remained consistent throughout her career: to drive economic success for Jersey breeders through strategic market development. She blended her dairy farming knowledge with a commitment to her clients, working to connect breeders with lucrative opportunities and facilitate smooth cattle transactions.

Her notable success includes transporting production-bred Registered Jerseys from the Northeast to new homes nationwide, contributing to large Jersey herds on the West Coast. Brenda’s market analysis skills and foresight in industry trends allowed her to meet the demands of the cheese industry. Additionally, she was instrumental in converting tie-up sales into commercial venues, marketing Jersey replacements by the thousands to dairy producers adapting to new component pricing markets after Federal Order Reform.

Architect of Mentorship and Community in Jersey Breeding

Brenda Snow’s mentorship in the Jersey breeding community has been transformative. Her extensive knowledge, unwavering dedication, and genuine care made her an invaluable guide. Sara Barlass, Brenda’s mentee, noted, “When I joined in 2007, Brenda had greatly impacted breeders, especially women-owned and small herds. These herds reached new heights thanks to her effort and compassion.”

Another mentee, Jennifer McReynolds, shared, “Fresh out of college at my first herdsman job, Brenda’s kind demeanor and Jersey genetics knowledge quickly made her a trusted colleague. She provided advice on breeding, marketing, and the dairy industry.”

Brenda’s mentorship fostered professional growth and a network of trusted relationships. Barlass emphasized Brenda’s philosophy: “Selling animals is serving the Jersey customer.” Brenda’s service-oriented approach helped breeders navigate harsh market conditions and succeed. Snow’s legacy as a mentor will be remembered for her ability to lift others and give them the tools to thrive. Her contributions have enriched the Jersey breeding community for generations to come.

Honors and Accolades: CelebraSnow’srenda Snow’s Distinguished Contributions to Jersey Breeding

Senior Breeder Award from the Vermont Jersey Breeders Association (1999)
Harold “Tuffy” Wright Distinguished Service Award from the Vermont Jersey Breeders Association (2012)
Boss Turner Distinguished Service Award from the New England Jersey Breeders Association (1999)

The Bottom Line

Brenda Snow’s career is a testament to her unwavering dedication to the Jersey breed and dairy industry. Over three decades as an area representative, she significantly contributed to the growth and transformation of the breed by expanding markets for Registered Jerseys. Brenda played a crucial role in enhancing both commercial success for breeders and the genetic quality of herds through her expertise in selection and marketing.

The American Jersey Cattle Association and National All-Jersey Inc.’s Award for Meritorious Service highlights Brenda’s exceptional impact. Her pioneering marketing, sales, and genetic improvement efforts have left a lasting mark on the industry. Brenda’s legacy is evident in her accolades, the thriving businesses, and the enriched lives of Jersey breeders she supported. Her enduring influence and commitment to excellence will be remembered for generations.

Key Takeaways:

Brenda Snow received the prestigious Award for Meritorious Service from the American Jersey Cattle Association (AJCA) and National All-Jersey Inc. (NAJ).
The honor recognizes living individuals who have significantly advanced the Jersey breed and the livelihood of Jersey owners in the United States.
Brenda’s career spanned over three decades, where she served as an area representative for the national Jersey organizations, covering a vast territory in the Northeast.
She played a crucial role in the expansion of Jersey Marketing Services (JMS), facilitating the movement of production-bred Registered Jerseys across the country.
Her efforts were instrumental in building large West Coast herds and supporting the burgeoning cheese industry.
Distinguished by her dedication and perseverance, Brenda made extensive contributions to the marketing and breeding programs, benefiting both commercial and elite breeders.
Brenda’s innate ability to recognize high-quality Jerseys and foster relationships between breeders ensured financial growth and stability for many Jersey owners.
Her commitment extended beyond professional duties, reflecting her personal belief in the Jersey breed and her genuine care for the breeders she served.

Summary:

Brenda Snow, a dedicated figure in the dairy industry, has been awarded the prestigious Award for Meritorious Service by the American Jersey Cattle Association (AJCA) and National All-Jersey Inc. This award recognizes individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the Jersey breed and its owners, such as research, education, development, marketing, or other critical activities within the dairy industry. Snow’s career is a testament to her unwavering passion for the Jersey breed and the dairy industry. Over three decades, she fulfilled administrative roles and actively engaged at the grassroots level, expanding markets for Registered Jerseys and establishing significant Jersey herds on the West Coast. Her strategic decisions continue to shape the breed’s future, instilling confidence in the industry and breeders alike. Her marketing and sales accomplishments significantly shaped the breed’s reputation, transforming tie-up sales into major commercial venues and facilitating the sale of Jersey replacements tailored to component pricing markets post-Federal Order Reform.

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Categories : Breed Association News

John Kokoski Honored with 2024 AJCA Distinguished Service Award for Jersey Cattle Excellence

Saturday, June 22nd, 2024

Uncover the significance behind John Kokoski’s 2024 AJCA Distinguished Service Award. Eager to delve into his path and profound influence on dairy farming?

The American Jersey Cattle Association (AJCA) has selected John Kokoski of Hadley, Mass., as the 2024 Distinguished Service Award winner. Given by the AJCA Board of Directors, this esteemed award recognizes families or people who have displayed extraordinary and unselfish dedication, therefore developing the Jersey breed in the United States. Celebrated at the Breeders’ Banquet on Saturday, June 22, in Springfield, Mass, Kokoski’s extraordinary commitment to the AJCA and National All-Jersey Inc. (NAJ) will be honored.

Honoring Excellence: The AJCA Distinguished Service Award

The Distinguished Service Award is a great distinction among dairy professionals. Presented by the American Jersey Cattle Association (AJCA), it celebrates those whose efforts have greatly enhanced the Jersey breed and sets a high benchmark for others to follow by highlighting commitment, creativity, and powerful field service.

Recipients are selected for their consistent and unselfish work, spanning many years, dramatically influencing the expansion of Jersey cattle. The AJCA Board of Directors recognizes and celebrates individuals or families with extraordinary leadership and sincere dedication to the breed’s evolution.

The AJCA honors individual success by recognizing outstanding contributions, thereby fostering commitment, creativity, and community involvement within the Jersey cattle sector. This guarantees the prize’s great reputation and motivates future generations of dairy experts and breeders.

John Kokoski’s Contributions to the American Jersey Cattle Association (AJCA) and National All-Jersey Inc. (NAJ)

John Kokoski’s exceptional contributions to the AJCA and NAJ stand as a testament to his unwavering commitment and leadership in the dairy sector. As a longstanding member and leader, Kokoski has significantly advanced the organization’s goals and the Jersey breed, making his selection for the Distinguished Service Award truly remarkable.

Since 2007 and for seven years as the president of the NAJ board, Kokoski’s leadership has been distinguished by honesty and creativity. He has always prioritized the requirements of the Jersey community and the organization’s expansion.

John Kokoski’s foresight and innovative thinking have revolutionized the dairy industry. His pioneering work in on-farm milk processing, which began with the establishment of an on-site processing facility at Mapleline Farm in 2004, has set a new standard for small dairy producers, impressing the industry with his creativity and commitment to quality.

Kokoski has also argued for the nutritional advantages of Jersey milk. His regard stems from his expertise and openness to providing insights, therefore advancing AJCA’s educational goal. He presents the benefits of Jersey milk clearly to different stakeholders.

John Kokoski’s leadership in sustainable farming, including initiatives such as solar panel installation and participation in the Agricultural Preservation Restriction Program, demonstrates his unwavering commitment to environmental preservation. His dedication to sustainability reassures the dairy industry about its future, inspiring other businesses to follow his lead.

John Kokoski’s influence within the AJCA and NAJ is undeniable, as evidenced by the respect his demands command. His innovative thinking and unwavering commitment to the dairy community have earned him several vital roles, and his achievements continue to inspire the next generation of Jersey breeders, making his selection for the Distinguished Service Award a truly momentous occasion.

A Legacy of Transformation: From 1904 Beginnings to Modern Dairy Excellence

Originally acquired by John Kokoski’s great-great grandfather in 1904, Mapleline Farm was taken over by John, a 1969 University of Massachusetts Amherst graduate, in 1986. He laid the foundation for the Mapleline Farm we know today by quickly shifting the farm from vegetable and tobacco growing to concentrating only on dairying.

Transforming Dairy Consumption Trends: From Direct Sales to Wholesale Success

Since 1995, John Kokoski and his family have helped to define Northeast dairy consumption patterns. Initially selling their superior All-Jersey milk via direct sales, they soon adjusted to growing demand by including wholesale delivery, which became well-known in nearby eateries. Mapleline Farm developed its own processing and bottling facility in January 2004, enabling milk to be bottled in glass and plastic. This development solidified Mapleline Farm’s standing for dairy product quality and environmental conscience.

Influence and Inspiration: John Kokoski’s Role as Mentor and Advocate

Beyond his farm, Kokoski’s influence affects other dairy aficionados and the larger agricultural community through his kind sharing of knowledge. His thorough understanding of the Jersey cow and its exceptional milk has been a lighthouse for many in the business. Based on real-world experience, his support of the nutritional value of Jersey milk grounds him and makes his counsel dependable and priceless.

“John is always ready to share his knowledge and understanding on the benefits of not only the Jersey cow, but the milk she produces and the nutritional advantages it contains,” stated previous AJCA president Jonathan Merriam, Hickman, Calif. This is a familiar feeling; Kokoski is seen as a reliable instructor and a spur on invention.

Former AJCA director David Norman from Liberty, Pa., said, “Working with one of the tallest guys I know always brings excellent delight. I have discovered that John is more than tall; he is an outstanding leader in all he does. Norman’s remarks underline Kokoski’s strategic vision and will to further the Jersey breed and dairy sector.

Previous AJCA president Paul Chittenden, who is from Schodack Landing, N.Y., said, “The many positions John has been elected to serve in have come, not because he went seeking them, but because his fellow Jersey breeders and dairy community leaders respect him.” Chittenden emphasizes his leadership and advocacy by reflecting the respect and confidence Kokoski commands.

During his career, Kokoski has blended industry leadership with pragmatic farm management to build a community where information is shared and advances benefit everyone. His influence on the Jersey dairy sector is enhanced by his capacity to motivate others, defining a high standard for future generations.

Maple Line Farm: A Statewide Leader in Premium Dairy Products

Mapleline Farm’s milk products are distributed statewide in Massachusetts, including supermarkets, specialized food stores, restaurants, coffee shops, and institutional dining facilities. Their goods clearly show the “Queen of Quality” designation, underscoring their dedication to top All-Jersey milk standards.

Their chocolate milk has received great praise, even being called the “Best Chocolate Milk in Massachusetts,” supporting their quality standing. In the cutthroat dairy industry, these honors highlight their extraordinary product quality and help build customer confidence and loyalty.

Leadership on a National Stage: John Kokoski’s Impact on National All-Jersey Inc. (NAJ)

Through his participation with National All-Jersey Inc. (NAJ), John Kokoski has raised his leadership to the national level. Originally named a director in 2007, Kokoski is now in his fifth term and represents commitment and quality.

For seven years, Kokoski served as NAJ board president; his honesty and dedication stand out. He is often selected for important tasks and is appreciated for his vision and dedication. Acknowledging his influence on the sector, other Jersey breeders and dairy managers respect his direction.

Advocacy Beyond the Farm: John Kokoski’s Commitment to the Dairy Industry and Policy Engagement

Beyond his farm, John Kokoski’s dedication to the Jersey breed and the dairy business speaks to Its vital role in American agriculture. Emphasizing this role, he often visits Washington, D.C., to engage with legislators. His talks stress the economic and nutritional value of dairy farming and its difficulties and possibilities.

Kokoski frequently takes local, state, and national officials to Mapleline Farm so they may see the complexity of dairy production personally. These trips help legislators observe the benefits of advanced dairy management and environmental practices, therefore improving their knowledge of the industry’s contribution to local economies.

Combining direct political participation with on-farm lobbying, Kokoski draws on his considerable background to advocate for favorable laws. His commitment helps the whole dairy community as well as Mapleline Farm.

A Commitment to Sustainability: Mapleline Farm’s Innovative Practices and Recognitions

Mapleline Farm values creativity and environmentalism. In October 2016, they installed a 150-kilowatt solar system to show their commitment to sustainable energy and lowering their carbon footprint. Participating in the Agricultural Preservation Restricted Program guarantees the preservation of lands for subsequent generations.

These initiatives are not going unnoticed. In 2019, Mapleline Farm received the “Sustainability Award” from the University of Massachusetts. The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service has acknowledged the property’s conservation plans. Mapleline Farm’s dedication to agricultural excellence and environmental responsibility for over ten years won it the Massachusetts Farm Bureau’s “Dairy of Distinction” award.

Influence Beyond Borders: John Kokoski’s Regional and National Contributions to the Dairy Industry

John Kokoski’s influence touches many dairy and agricultural companies, going well beyond his property. His 25-year New England Dairy Promotion Board membership emphasizes his commitment; his leadership has guided marketing plans and educational initiatives to highlight dairy’s nutritious value.

Working for fair milk pricing and favorable legislation, Kokoski has earned the confidence and respect of other farmers as a member of the Massachusetts Cooperative Milk Farmers Federation.

As president, John has also concurrently overseen many Jersey cattle groups, including the Massachusetts Jersey Cattle Club and the New England Jersey Breeders Association. As chair of the New England Spring Sale, he has regularly worked to promote a community of excellence among breeders and enhance the Jersey breed.

The Bottom Line

John Kokoski’s commitment to the Jersey breed and the dairy sector reveals his brilliance and inventiveness. From pioneering on-farm milk processing to pushing ecological techniques, he has raised Jersey cattle’s profile and dairy product quality. Kokoski’s knowledge, honesty, and leadership—which have motivated radical changes throughout the business—are much admired by colleagues. Celebrating his significant accomplishments and legacy in dairy farming, his recognition within the AJCA and beyond embodies the essence of the Distinguished Service Award.

Key Takeaways:

John Kokoski awarded the 2024 AJCA Distinguished Service Award for his outstanding service and contributions to the Jersey breed.
Kokoski will receive his award at the Breeders’ Banquet on June 22 in Springfield, Massachusetts.
His leadership in the dairy industry is exemplified by establishing on-farm processing of Jersey milk.
Kokoski’s farm, Mapleline Farm, has been a family-run operation since 1904 and is now managed by the fifth generation.
Kokoski has significantly influenced milk marketing in the Northeast, directly marketing milk from his herd since 1995.
Under Kokoski’s leadership, Mapleline Farm constructed its own processing and bottling plant in 2004.
Mapleline Farm’s milk is available statewide and is a certified “Queen of Quality” All-Jersey product.
John has been a pivotal figure on the NAJ board, serving his fifth term as director and as president for the past seven years.
His advocacy includes engaging with policymakers to highlight the importance of the dairy industry.
Kokoski’s farm has been recognized for its sustainability efforts, including the installation of a 150-kilowatt solar generating system in 2016.
Mapleline Farm’s herd is enrolled in the REAP program, boasting impressive milk production statistics and quality scores.

Summary:

John Kokoski, a member of the American Jersey Cattle Association (AJCA), has been named the 2024 Distinguished Service Award winner. Kokoski’s leadership has been characterized by honesty and creativity, prioritizing the needs of the Jersey community and the organization’s expansion. His pioneering work in on-farm milk processing, starting with the establishment of an on-site processing facility at Mapleline Farm in 2004, has set a new standard for small dairy producers. He has also argued for the nutritional advantages of Jersey milk, advancing AJCA’s educational goal and presenting the benefits of Jersey milk clearly to stakeholders. Kokoski’s leadership in sustainable farming, including solar panel installation and participation in the Agricultural Preservation Restriction Program, demonstrates his commitment to environmental preservation. His legacy of transformation from 1904 beginnings to modern dairy excellence is undeniable, and his achievements continue to inspire the next generation of Jersey breeders. His involvement with National All-Jersey Inc. (NAJ) has raised his leadership to the national level, with his honesty and dedication standing out. Kokoski’s influence touches many dairy and agricultural companies, going beyond his property. His 25-year membership in the New England Dairy Promotion Board emphasizes his commitment, and his membership in the Massachusetts Cooperative Milk Farmers Federation earns the confidence and respect of other farmers.

Categories : Breed Association News

Tags : a member of the American Jersey Cattle Association (AJCA), John Kokoski

Holstein Association USA Announces Leadership Transition: COO Lindsey Worden to Succeed CEO John Meyer

Thursday, June 20th, 2024

Discover the leadership transition at Holstein Association USA as COO Lindsey Worden prepares to succeed CEO John Meyer. How will this change shape the future?

Holstein Association USA (HAUSA) has announced a significant leadership transition. John M. Meyer, the current Chief Executive Officer (CEO), will be retiring on December 31st, leaving space for Lindsey Worden, the Chief Operating Officer (COO), to follow him as the next CEO beginning January 1, 2025. This change represents a turning point for the company, which Meyer has been guiding for the last 23 years. Having served with HAUSA for 17 years, Lindsey Worden will be the 10th Executive Secretary since its founding in 1885. The world’s biggest dairy breed organization is projected to see ongoing success from the flawless changeover.

John M. Meyer: A Legacy of Growth and Innovation at Holstein Association USA

Under John M. Meyer’s 23-year leadership, Holstein Association USA reached several benchmarks and saw significant expansion. Meyer committed himself to raising Holstein cow genetic potential and profitability. He instituted cutting-edge mating procedures and sophisticated genetic projects, including genomic testing. Meyer also added more goods and services to the Association, helping dairy companies worldwide. His efforts confirmed HAUSA’s ranking as the biggest dairy breed association worldwide, therefore guaranteeing a bright future for 25,000 members.

The conference in which CEO John M. Meyer revealed his retirement intentions was emotional. Meyer told HAUSA President Jonathan Lamb and Vice President John Burket his intention to retire by the year’s end, giving time for transition preparation.

Following Meyer’s speech, the emphasis shifted to the next generation of leaders. Following a protracted interview process, the HAUSA Board of Directors selected COO Lindsey Worden to take over beginning January 1, 2025. President Lamb valued the Board’s deliberate approach, guaranteeing a seamless transfer and ongoing success for HAUSA.

Celebrating Past Leadership and Embracing a Promising Future

HAUSA President Jonathan Lamb said in the statement made by the board of directors, “I want to congratulate John Meyer for his 23 years of committed service. His efforts have shaped the success of the Holstein Association USA. Lindsey Worden’s capacity to guide the company forward excites us equally. Her great background and dedication to our cause make her the perfect replacement.

Lindsey Worden, a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison who also works in the dairy business as the Council on Dairy Cattle Breeding Board Chair, National Pedigrained Livestock Council Director, and Councilor on the World Holstein Friesian Federation, said, “I am humbled to follow in John’s footsteps and have been grateful to work alongside him and witness many of the significant achievements our organization has enjoyed under his leadership.” Her upcoming promotion marks Respect and honoring of our organization’s rich legacy; I am privileged to be chosen as Holstein Association USA’s new CEO and am eager to negotiate the possibilities and challenges that will drive us into the future.

When John Meyer reflected on the smooth change, he said, “I’m happy about it. For the last 17 years, Lindsey and I have collaborated well as partners. Seeing Lindsey’s amazing development at the Association from undergraduate intern to CEO has been fun. Meyer stressed his faith in Worden’s leadership. He said, “Lindsey, along with HAUSA’s outstanding Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer Barbara Casna, and I will continue to work closely together, and with the HAUSA Board of Directors, to ensure the continuity of the transition along with the continuous success of HAUSA.” Meyer noted the teamwork, “Moreover, I’m also happy for the Holstein team, including staff, the Board of Directors, Association members, and the dairy industry at large.”

Having collaborated with Meyer for more than 16 years, Worden brings a lot of knowledge and expertise to her new position. Her tight cooperation with Casna, the company’s Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer with twenty-one years of experience, guarantees a degree of financial control vital for such a major change. This cooperation assures HAUSA’s stability and readiness for future expansion and creative output.

Meyer, Worden, and CFO Barbara Casna work closely to guarantee a seamless transfer, whose combined experience and skills ensure the HAUSA Board of Directors’ active participation, which helps reinforce this cooperative effort. Together, they want to preserve the continuity and prosperity of the most significant dairy breed association worldwide. Using every leader’s abilities helps the team ensure HAUSA stays strong both during and after the change. Meyer emphasizes the value of teamwork and notes that this group effort includes the “entire Holstein team, including staff, the Board of Directors, Association members, and the dairy industry at large.”

Under the direction of President Jonathan Lamb, the HAUSA Board of Directors is essential at this time of transition. Overseeing the whole change process has been much aided by the Board’s strategic vision and determination. Involving many stakeholders, their cooperative approach shows a dedication to openness and accuracy.

The Bottom Line

The transition in leadership from John M. Meyer to Lindsey Worden marks a pivotal moment for the Holstein Association USA (HAUSA) and its members. This change not only celebrates the remarkable legacy of Meyer’s 23 years of service but also heralds a future guided by Worden’s fresh perspective and extensive industry expertise. Under new leadership, HAUSA continues to position itself as a leader in the dairy industry, striving for enhanced genetics and improved profitability for its members. With Worden at the helm, the association looks forward to navigating upcoming opportunities and challenges while honoring its rich history.

Visit HAUSA’s official website to learn more about its programs and how they can benefit your dairy operation. You can also stay updated by following its social media platforms, Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

Key Takeaways:

HAUSA CEO John M. Meyer to retire on December 31st, succeeded by COO Lindsey Worden from January 1, 2025.
CEO retirement plans were shared with HAUSA President Jonathan Lamb and VP John Burket well in advance.
After a comprehensive interview, Lindsey Worden was selected as CEO, becoming the 10th Executive Secretary since 1885.
Lindsey Worden holds multiple positions within the dairy industry and is a University of Wisconsin-Madison graduate.
Meyer praises Worden’s growth and their 17-year partnership, welcoming the transition.
Meyer expresses gratitude to the HAUSA team and the whole dairy industry, ensuring a smooth transition alongside CFO Barbara Casna.
Holstein Association USA serves around 25,000 members, enhancing dairy genetics and profitability through various programs and services.

Summary:

Holstein Association USA (HAUSA) is set to change its leadership after John M. Meyer, who has been its CEO for 23 years, retires. The new CEO, Lindsey Worden, will take over on January 1, 2025. Meyer’s tenure has seen HAUSA grow significantly, focusing on increasing Holstein cow genetic potential and profitability. He introduced advanced mating procedures and genetic projects, including genomic testing, and expanded the Association’s offerings to support dairy companies worldwide. HAUSA’s ranking as the largest dairy breed association worldwide ensures a bright future for its 25,000 members. Worden, a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a Council on Dairy Cattle Breeding Board Chair, expressed her humbleness and eagerness to follow in Meyer’s footsteps.

Categories : Breed Association News

Tags : CEO, Council on Dairy Cattle Breeding, dairy breed association, genetic potential, Holstein Association USA, John M. Meyer, leadership transition, Lindsey Worden, National Pedigrained Livestock Council, Profitability, University of Wisconsin-Madison, World Holstein Friesian Federation

Holstein Canada Announces Gilles Côté as New President for 2024-2025

Wednesday, June 19th, 2024

Meet Holstein Canada’s new leaders for 2024-2025. How will President Gilles Côté and his team drive the future of the organization? Discover their strategic vision.

Holstein Canada is proud to introduce the new Board Executive for 2024 – 2025. Leading the way is Gilles Côté from Saint-Bruno, Quebec, as the new President. He is joined by Doug Peart from Hagersville, Ontario, who takes on the vice-presidency and the role of Chair of the Board. Rounding out the team is Karen Versloot from Keswick Ridge, New Brunswick, as the 3rd Member to the Executive. These appointments look to propel the organization’s initiatives and instill confidence in Holstein Canada’s future. With this executive in place, the Board is now working on navigating the challenges ahead.

Gilles Côté brings a wealth of experience and a solid background to his new role as President of Holstein Canada. Hailing from Saint-Bruno, Quebec, Gilles has been a dedicated member for many years. His deep understanding of Holstein breeding and genetics makes him a natural fit for this position. As a leader at Jeanri Holsteins, in Quebec, he has made notable achievements in herd improvement and dairy production efficiency. Recognized for his contributions to genetic enhancement, Gilles has helped many members improve their herd management practices. As Gilles steps into the presidency, his vision and commitment to excellence are expected to guide Holstein Canada toward achieving its strategic goals of preserving Holstein Canada’s prestigious reputation within the dairy community.

Joining Gilles in this leadership transition is Doug Peart from Hagersville, Ontario, as Vice President and Chair of the Board. Doug operates Peartome, and has extensive agriculture experience. His expertise and commitment are expected to help the Board achieve its long-term objectives, benefiting all 9,200 members.

Karen Versloot is joining as the 3rd Member of the Executive from Keswick Ridge, New Brunswick. Operating the “Combination”” farm, known” for excellence and innovation in dairy farming, Karen brings a wealth of experience. Her background and commitment to genetic improvement have advanced dairy farming techniques on her farm and the broader community. Her previous roles in Holstein Canada reflect her leadership and dedication to members’ success. Karen’s clinical genetic advancements and herd improvement will be vital as she steps into this new role, driving Holstein Canada’s objectives forward.

With their new executive team in place, Holstein Canada aims to expand their genetic improvement programs, offering members advanced tools such as enhanced genetic evaluations and personalized breeding recommendations to better evaluate and improve their herds. They also plan to leverage technology to streamline operations and enhance services, such as introducing a mobile app for easy access to member resources and services to serve our members better.

At the heart of our strategy is membership engagement. The Board is committed to opening new communication channels, such as regular town hall meetings and a dedicated member feedback portal, to ensure that every member’s voice is heard. This initiative is a testament to their belief in the strength of the community and the commitment to their 9,200 members.

Maintaining high governance standards to ensure integrity and transparency will also be a focus. With a dedicated leadership team and a clear plan, Holstein Canada is preparing to face the challenges currently facing the industry and preserve the long history of the Holstein Breed.

Let’s congratulate Gilles Côté, Doug Peart, and Karen Versloot.

Summary:

Holstein Canada has appointed Gilles Côté as the new Board Executive for 2024-2025. With extensive experience in Holstein breeding and genetics, Côté is expected to guide the organization towards preserving its prestigious reputation within the dairy community. He has made notable achievements in herd improvement and dairy production efficiency, and under his vice-presidency, Holstein Canada advanced in genetic evaluations and member services. Doug Peart, who operates Peartome, is joining Côté in this leadership transition, and Karen Versloot, known for excellence and innovation in dairy farming, brings a wealth of experience and commitment to genetic improvement. Holstein Canada is embarking on a journey of strategic initiatives, focusing on enhancing genetic programs, boosting member engagement, and improving operational efficiency. The focus will be on expanding genetic improvement programs, offering advanced tools, and leveraging technology to streamline operations and enhance services. Membership engagement is at the heart of the strategy, with the Board committed to opening new communication channels and maintaining high governance standards to ensure integrity and transparency.

Categories : Breed Association News

Tags : Board Executive, challenges, communication channels, Genetic Improvement, genetic programs, Gilles Côté, governance standards, Holstein breed, Holstein Canada, leadership transition, member engagement, membership, operational efficiency, Technology

Holstein Canada President Steps Down From Role

Friday, June 14th, 2024

The Holstein Canada Board of Directors announced that Nancy Beerwort (Cherry Crest Holsteins) from Martintown, ON has stepped away from her duties as President for the 2024-2025 year and from her seat with the Holstein Canada Board of Directors. (Read the statement from Nancy Beerwort)

Ms. Beerwort continues to be a member of the organization. Her contributions to Holstein Canada and the dairy industry are appreciated by her peers and colleagues. The Board has convened to discuss next steps after which they will follow Holstein Canada’s established governance guidelines and processes to select a permanent replacement.

We thank Nancy for her service and commitment.

About Holstein Canada
With 9,200 members, Holstein Canada is responsible for maintaining the Holstein Herdbook under the Federal Animal Pedigree Act of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC). The Association provides many services to its members to help them evaluate, select and improve their herds through genetic improvement programs.

Categories : Breed Association News

Holstein Canada President Nancy Beerwort Announces Immediate Resignation: Reflects on 10 Years of Service and Industry Challenges

Thursday, June 13th, 2024

Find out why Nancy Beerwort stepped down as Holstein Canada President after a decade. What obstacles did she encounter, and what does this mean for the future of the dairy industry?

Nancy Beerwort has stepped down from her roles as President and member of the Board of Directors at Holstein Canada. Beerwort, who has been a pivotal figure within the organization, announced her resignation effective immediately.

Effective immediately, I am resigning my position as President and member of the Board of Directors of Holstein Canada. When I ran for presidency, my hope was the Holstein Canada board would pull together after what I felt were a tumultuous couple of years. Unfortunately, I feel the environment is not conducive to where I believe the organization should go and how it can get there. The dairy industry is rapidly changing, and we are at a time where producers need industry support and ROI on the programs they choose to invest in. My hope is we can see this wonderful industry thrive long into the future. Thank you to the members for the last 10 years I have been on the Board for this organization and especially to the members in Eastern Ontario that have fully supported me on this journey.

Sincerely,

Nancy Beerwort

Nancy Beerwort a démissionné de ses fonctions de présidente et de membre du conseil d’administration de Holstein Canada. Mme Beerwort, qui a joué un rôle clé au sein de l’organisation, a annoncé sa démission avec effet immédiat.

En date d’aujourd’hui, je démissionne de mon poste de présidente et membre du conseil d’administration (CA)de Holstein Canada. Lorsque je me suis présentée à la présidence, mon souhait était que le CA de Holstein Canada se rallierait après avoir vécu ce que je considérais des années tumultueuses. Malheureusement, je constate que l’environnement n’est pas propice à la vision dont je pense que l’organisation devrait avoir et le chemin pour s’y rendre. L’industrie laitière évolue rapidement et nous sommes à un moment où les producteurs ont besoin du soutien de l’industrie et d’un retour sur l’investissement des programmes dans lesquels ils choisissent d’investir. Mon souhait est de voir cette merveilleuse industrie prospérer pour bien longtemps. Merci aux membres pour votre appui pendant les10 ans que je siège au conseil d’administration de l’association, avec un merci tout particulier aux membres de l’Est de l’Ontario qui m’ont pleinement soutenu dans mon cheminement.

Cordialement,
Nancy Beerwort.

Summary: Nancy Beerwort has resigned as President and Board of Directors of Holstein Canada, citing a lack of support and industry support. She expressed her hope that the board would unite after a challenging period, but felt the current environment was not conducive to her vision. The dairy industry is rapidly changing, and producers require industry support and ROI on their investments. Beerwort expressed gratitude to the members for the past decade, particularly those in Eastern Ontario, for their support and hoped that the industry will thrive in the future. She expressed her gratitude to the members for their support throughout her tenure.

Categories : Breed Association News

Tags : Board of Directors, Dairy Industry, Eastern Ontario, Holstein Canada, industry support, investment, Nancy Beerwort, President, programs, resignation, ROI

Six Registered Holstein Herds Honored with 2023 Herds of Excellence Distinction

Friday, June 7th, 2024

Six Registered Holstein Herds Honored with 2023 Herds of Excellence Distinction

The Kestell Family of Ever-Green-View Holsteins, LLC in Waldo, Wisconsin has received the Herds of Excellence award 14 times. Pictured are (back row) Tom, Chris, Jennifer and Gin Kestell; (front row) Cole and Will Kestell.

BRATTLEBORO, Vt., June 7, 2024 — Holstein Association USA’s 2023 Herds of Excellence recipients have bred and developed herds with superior production and type. This prestigious award, presented on an annual basis, celebrates exemplary Registered Holstein^® herds that have met rigorous qualifying criteria with their 2023 records.

“Congratulations to these remarkable Registered Holstein breeders for developing herds with outstanding production and type,” says Holstein Association USA CEO John Meyer. “These six herds are truly all-star performers and examples of what can be accomplished with our beloved Registered Holstein cow!”

The award is broken down into three divisions based on herd size, including the Large Herd Division (500+ cows), Medium Herd Division (100-499 cows), and Small Herd Division (10-99 cows).

This year’s honorees are:

Large Herd Size Division (500+ Cows)

Siemers Holstein Farms Inc. — The Siemers Family, Newton, Wisconsin
80.0% homebred; AACS — 84.7 points
ME Production Averages — 34,042M 1,543F 1,057P

Eight Year Honoree

Medium Herd Size Division (100-499 Cows)

Koester Dairy Inc. — The Koester Family, Dakota, Illinois
99.8% homebred; AACS — 85.2 points
ME Production Averages — 34,013M 1,519F 1,086M

Eight Year Honoree

Small Herd Size Division (10-99 Cows)

Kal-side Holsteins — The Oberholtzer Family, Hillsboro, Wisconsin
94.0% homebred; AACS — 85.8 points
ME Production Averages — 35,636M 1,477F 1,131 P

First Year Honoree

Doorco Holsteins—The Vandertie Family, Brussels, Wisconsin
100% homebred; AACS — 89.3 points
ME Production Averages — 37,252M 1,503F 1,160 P

Seven Year Honoree

Ever-Green-View Holsteins, LLC — The Kestell Family, Waldo, Wisconsin
98.9% homebred; AACS — 87.6 points
ME Production Averages — 37,653M 1,609F 1,170P

Fourteen Year Honoree

Lazy M Farm, LLC — Herman and Michael Maier Families, Stitzer, Wisconsin
78.3% homebred; AACS — 88.1 points
ME Production Averages — 35,515M 1,514F 1,119P

First Year Honoree

The awards will be presented during Holstein Association USA’s 138^th Annual Meeting in Salt Lake City, Utah. To register for convention or learn more, visit www.holsteinconvention.com.

Read more about the 2023 Herds of Excellence in the Spring 2024 issue of The Pulse. Select pages of The Pulse are available at www.hoslteinusa.com under the Latest News tab.

About the Award

The Herd of Excellence designation honors Registered Holstein breeders who have developed Holsteins herds excelling in both production and type. To be recognized with this accolade, herds must have classified within the last year and have an age-adjusted classification score (AACS) of 83 points or higher; have at least 70 percent of the herd homebred; and be enrolled in Holstein Association USA’s TriStar^SM production records program.

Additionally, qualifying herds must meet the following production criteria:

Large Herd Division: 15 percent above breed average for ME for milk, fat and protein
Medium Herd Division: 20 percent above breed average ME for milk, fat and protein
Small Herd Division: 25 percent above breed average ME for milk, fat and protein

Congratulations to the 2023 Herds of Excellence!

Categories : Breed Association News

Are Dairy Cattle Breed Associations Nearing Extinction?

Monday, May 6th, 2024

Explore the future of dairy cattle breed associations in our in-depth analysis. Are these vital organizations at risk? Dive in to find out more.

Dairy cattle breed associations have long played a crucial role in the global agriculture industry. They are pillars in the advancement, development, and registration of various dairy cattle breeds. Their primary mission? To maintain uncompromised breed standards, foster genetic improvement, and offer unwavering support to dairy farmers intent on optimizing herd productivity and enhancing milk quality. A noble cause, indeed.

Breed associations are the unsung heroes of the dairy world. They have shaped the industry, yet their place in the future is uncertain in the face of rapid advancements, shifting demands, and environmental challenges.

But as the winds of change blow, these traditional institutions face a daunting question – what does the future hold? With the rapid progress in agricultural technology, the shift in agricultural markets, not to mention the rising tide of environmental and ethical concerns, the once rock-solid future of dairy cattle breed associations is now a subject for debate.

This article aims to uncover the undeniable challenges that lurk in the shadows for these organizations today. At the same time, it offers a beacon of hope – focusing on opportunities ripe for the taking. Let’s delve into the world of dairy cattle breed associations, exploring their trials and triumphs, and making sense of their place in our shared future.

The Unseen Decline of Dairy Cattle Breed Associations

Let’s take a closer look at the financial aspect of dairy cattle breed associations which you might not be aware of. Unfortunately, there’s some alarming news. Dairy breed associations have recently been suffering from record losses in revenue. This is a significant dip that hasn’t been seen before, painting a worrisome picture about the sustainability of these organizations.

For decades, these associations played a fundamental role in promoting the dairy industry, offering support to farmers and contributing massively to navigating paths for genetic improvements. But lately, due to the tide of various factors, they are struggling to keep their heads above water.

It’s more than a matter of pennies and dimes; it’s about the continued existence of these associations that have long served as the pillars for boosting the dairy farming community. And at this rate, the decline might cause not just a big financial vacuum, but also a dampening of innovative efforts in sustainable dairying practices.

Current Challenges Facing Dairy Cattle Breed Associations

On the surface, it may seem like dairy cattle breed associations are obsolescent relics of the past. However, they face more than just a simple struggle for their reputation. Contemporary challenges are manifold and not easily resolved. They encompass economic, sociocultural, political, and environmental territories, all intertwined in a complex web.

The shifting dynamics in consumer demand, for instance, has impacted the very genetic selection goals designated for dairy animals. Today, people want more than just high-quality dairy products. They are increasingly concerned about the welfare of the animals producing those goods and the environmental impacts of dairy production. As a result, breeds that were once preferred for their high yield might no longer be the producers’ first choice.

Apart from consumer demands, emerging environmental issues like climate change and air quality degradation also pose a significant hurdle. With the global recognition of the dairy industry’s role in these problems, breed associations face mounting pressure to contribute to mitigation measures. Dairy Management Inc.’s collaborations with organizations like the Council on Dairy Cattle Breeding (CDCB) to promote natural genetic improvement and selective breeding for sustainability, for example, underscore this pressing need.

Then there’s the need to maintain genetic diversity within these breeds. Associations like the American Jersey Cattle Associations (AJCA) have a long-standing mission to improve and promote their specific breed. However, with the threat of loss of diversity that comes with stringent selective breeding, these associations have to carefully tread the path of improvement without risking the genetic wealth of their breed.

While these challenges may seem daunting, they present opportunities for breed associations to reimagine their role and value, with an emphatic focus on sustainability and adaptation. A resilient and responsive association could lead to stronger, healthier dairy cattle breeds, more efficient dairy operations, and a more sustainable industry overall.

On top of the said challenges, breed associations have to confront the torrent of technological advancements. With the rise of genomic testing, CRISPR and other advancements in biotechnology, traditional breeding methods are up against some stiff competition. Breed associations need to assimilate these technologies into their operations, making them essential tools in the modern dairy farmers’ toolkit.

Simultaneously, another emerging issue is data management. The escalating importance of big data in agriculture pushes breed associations to upgrade their record-keeping and data analysis systems. It’s not enough to keep the records; these associations need to make this data simple to access and practical for their members.

Regrettably, there’s a palpable ebb in the number of breeders opting for participation in type classification. Once seen as vital to selective breeding, type classification now seems to be viewed as less important as genomics gained momentum. Since their introduction in 2008, genomics have revolutionized the industry through rapid genetic advancements towards improving animal health, welfare and reproduction, components, and type.

This technological shift isn’t the only factor driving the decline. There’s also a sense within the community that type classification has, to some extent, lost its relevance. Traditional breeding programs prioritizing milk yield are now challenged by the changing landscape that emphasizes sustainability and efficiency. Genetic selection, through tools like CDCB’s Net Merit Index, which balances genetic gains across economically significant traits, is becoming the favoured method for ranking animals by many farmers.

The trend of waning involvement in type classification doesn’t signify the end of breed associations, but it does underscore the urgency for them to evolve with the changing times. As the dairy industry continues to progress, breed associations must adapt and find innovative ways to remain instrumental in guiding the future of dairy cattle genetics.

Another area of difficulty falls within the realm of economic pressures, intensified by shifting global dairy markets. As these markets become increasingly volatile and competitive, dairy farmers aspire to solutions that are flexible, responsive, and more importantly, immediate – something that traditional breed associations might struggle to provide. Furthermore, association fees and services can pinch, particularly when the farmers are on a shoestring budget and the specific advantages of membership aren’t readily discernible.

The current climate also sees breed associations grappling with environmental and ethical issues. Sustainable practices, for instance, have been under the magnifying glass, inviting growing scrutiny of animal breeding practices and their impact on sustainability and animal welfare. The onus of promoting ethically sound practices rests squarely on the breed associations.

Further compounding these challenges is a rather noteworthy leadership void within these breed associations themselves. Often, their executive boards are largely comprised of retired dairy farmers, which, while not necessarily problematic in itself, raises the issue of proper industry adaptation and progression. After decades of service, these commendable elected individuals may not have the most current perspectives or network connections necessary to navigate the industry’s rapidly changing landscape.

Moreover, it’s not uncommon to see executives who demonstrated considerable talent prematurely exiting the associations, lured away by other attractive opportunities within the industry. As a result, there’s a palpable lack of forward-thinking leadership within these bodies, threatening their very relevance and effectiveness in the dynamic milk production sector.

In order for dairy cattle breed associations to thrive, it’s critical that they revitalize their leadership, infusing their boards with fresh perspectives, contemporary insights, and the ability to respond adaptively to emerging industry trends and challenges.

Transitioning into the Future: Dairy Cattle Breed Associations’ Road to Adaptation

Well, the future may seem daunting for dairy cattle breed associations, but it’s not without opportunities. Changes in consumers’ demand for dairy products and the rise of sustainable practices can be a motivation for them to transform. Tapping into these trends and adapting their methods could certainly pave their way towards revitalizing their relevance.

Develop Progressive Leadership and Boards
Dairy cattle breed associations can attract top producers into boards and executive positions by presenting a modernized role and emphasizing its responsibilities. Emphasizing the impact of these producers can inspire involvement and shape the future of the association. Offering incentives such as networking opportunities, speaking positions, and financial compensation can also motivate producers. Additionally, providing input and ideas from industry leaders, making them feel valued and their experience important, can encourage participation in these crucial decision-making positions. By emphasizing the power of these producers, dairy cattle breed associations can attract and retain top producers, ultimately shaping the future of the industry.
Build the community:
Dairy cattle breed associations foster a sense of community among their members, attracting younger farmers and sustaining traditions. Initiatives like mentorship programs, digital platforms, networking events, and representation of younger voices in decision-making help build a robust community. As lifestyle preferences change and new generations emerge, the strength of these communities and their innovations will drive sustainable dairy farming for future generations.
Retain top talent:
Dairy cattle breed associations should focus on attracting and retaining talented individuals to ensure a strong future. This can be achieved by creating a dynamic, inclusive, and rewarding environment that values their contributions. Offering ongoing training programs, mentorship, and progression opportunities can nurture and retain top talent. Recognition and rewards, clear communication about performance, and fair compensation can motivate them. Continuous fine-tuning practices and addressing specific needs can help build a committed team.
Collaborations are Key:
The first step to revival may lie in strategic collaborations. Dairy Management Inc.’s recent alliance with the Council on Dairy Cattle Breeding (CDCB) to study genetic improvements and selective breeding for environmental sustainability shows promising avenues for exploration. More of such concerted efforts could fast-track their sustainability journey and help them resonate with the market dynamics.
Embracing Crossbreeding:
Another approach to enhance sustainability is crossbreeding. The creation of beef x dairy crossbred calves has shown positive results not just for genetic diversity but also as a sustainability mechanism for the dairy industry. By embracing these techniques, dairy cattle breed associations can offer more value to dairy farmers and prove their longevity in the industry.
Stay ahead of the trends in consumer demand
As awareness of mistreatment grows, sustainable farming practices become crucial. To survive, associations must develop strict animal welfare guidelines, adopt environmentally-friendly farming techniques, create superior breeds for varied climates, and promote ethically-produced dairy products. These steps ensure industry survival and success.

The Bottom Line

In conclusion, while dairy cattle breed associations may be experiencing a downward trend in traditional organizational structures and memberships, and with record losses they may be on the verge of extinction. Their survival hinges on their ability and agility to evolve and embrace innovation and develop executive leadership and communities. There’s still a crucial role for these associations to play, from advancing genetic research to bolstering community among farmers. The broader livestock industry continues to need the specialized knowledge and resources that breed organizations provide. Today’s challenges may be tough, but they may also be a catalyst for exciting transformations in how these associations function and thrive.

Summary: Dairy cattle breed associations play a crucial role in the global agriculture industry, promoting the advancement and registration of various dairy cattle breeds. Their primary mission is to maintain uncompromised breed standards, foster genetic improvement, and offer unwavering support to dairy farmers. However, their future is uncertain due to rapid advancements, shifting demands, and environmental challenges. Current challenges include economic, sociocultural, political, and environmental territories. Consumer demand has impacted genetic selection goals, and emerging environmental issues like climate change and air quality degradation pose significant hurdles. Breed associations face mounting pressure to contribute to mitigation measures, with collaborations with organizations like the Council on Dairy Cattle Breeding (CDCB) promoting natural genetic improvement and selective breeding for sustainability. Maintaining genetic diversity within dairy breeds is another pressing issue for breed associations. Traditional breeding methods face stiff competition, and breed associations need to assimilate these technologies into their operations. Data management is another emerging issue, with the increasing importance of big data in agriculture pushing breed associations to upgrade their record-keeping and data analysis systems. The trend of waning involvement in type classification does not mean the end of breed associations, but it underscores the urgency for them to evolve with the changing times.

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About the Author
Andrew Hunt (1064 Posts)Having grown up a rural dairy farm in southern Ontario, Andrew learned early in life the value of community and a hard day’s work. Leveraging that experience and work ethic, Andrew started his own Animal Genetics marketing company that launched some of the most engaging and innovative campaigns.

Categories : Breed Association News

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Archive for Breed Association News

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