The Holstein Journal is proud to present for the 75th consecutive year the winners in its annual All-Canadian Holstein contest. The 2016 competition proved to be very exciting with a number of close races and only five unanimous All-Canadians selected in the contest’s 22 classes.
The senior 2-year-olds proved to be the most hotly contested class. While the All-Canadian winner was clear-cut, the five other nominees in that class all finished within an eight point span and there was just one point eventually separating the Reserve and Honourable Mention. It was certainly fitting that after such a hard fought battle that the other senior 2-year-olds had enough points to receive an Honourable Mention designation. There was stiff competition as well for the coveted All-Canadian post in the 4-H senior calves, open junior yearlings and summer yearlings, and the intently watched 4-year-olds, where the votes were very close. Honouring the “best of the best” who have competed in showrings across the country throughout the entire year has always been the goal of the All-Canadian contest. The tightness of the votes cast by the All-Canadian Selection Committee reflects again how difficult this often can be as judges weigh the merits of each entry and their performance at shows from spring to fall.
Milksource Sid Desire, who was All-Canadian intermediate calf in 2015, is the only animal to repeat as All-Canadian in the open competition in 2016. Riverdown Atwood Jiggalea, who was All-Canadian in both the 4-H and open junior calf classes in 2015, came back as a junior yearling to be All-Canadian 4-H and Honourable Mention in the open competition in 2016. Nine other animals who achieved a Reserve or Honourable Mention designation in 2015 returned to take another prize in 2016.
The passion and commitment of Holstein exhibitors to compete at shows big and small each year is to be lauded. The hours spent raising and grooming animals may be endless, the miles travelled long, and the financial investment huge, but they do it every year for the sheer joy of showing. For the second year in a row MilkSource Genetics, the well-known Kaukauna, Wis., herd, is the leading exhibitor of All-Canadians. MilkSource had seven cows nominated from their showstring in 2016, two of whom they owned for part of the year. This group went on to finish the season with two All-Canadian, one Reserve and two Honourable Mention awards.
Handily taking the title of leading breeder of All-Canadians in 2016, and placing second for exhibitor, is Ferme Jacobs Inc., Cap-Sante, Que. They were previously leading breeder in 2013 and 2014. In this latest contest, the Jacobs prefix appeared on eight animals, six of whom were owned for all or part of the year by the Jacobs family, and they captured one All-Canadian, two Reserve and two Honourable Mention prizes. In addition, Ferme Jacobs won All-Canadian honours in the Breeder’s Herd class, the fourth consecutive year they have headed this coveted class.
Runner-up for breeder were Rob and Alice Bumstead of Loyalyn Holsteins, Owen Sound, Ont., who bred one All-Canadian and one Reserve, followed by Comestar Holstein, Victoriaville, Que., who bred one All-Canadian and one Honourable Mention. In the exhibitor race, Westcoast Holsteins, Chilliwack, B.C., took third place after showing two All-Canadians, one Reserve and two Honourable Mentions for all or part of the season. The partnership of Budjon Farms, Lomira, Wis., and Peter and Lyn Vail, Valatie, N.Y., rank fourth with two All-Canadians and one Honourable Mention exhibited for all or part of the year.
A tip of the hat should go to the mother and daughter duo, Bosdale Gold Luster and Quality Solomon Lust, who finished strong in the competition. Luster took Reserve All-Canadian 4-year-old honours, while her intermediate calf, Quality Solomon Lust, was All-Canadian in both the open and 4-H classes. This pair is owned by Quality Holsteins, Vaughan, Ont., Beckridge Holsteins, Keswick, Ont., Oscar and Eric Dupasquier, Guelph, Ont., and Agriber Societa Agricola SRL, Piacenza, Italy.
Braedale Goldwyn regained the title of leading sire of All-Canadians in the open competition in 2016 after a one year absence. One of the most highly acclaimed sires of show winners this breed has ever known, “Goldwyn” had 17 daughters nominated for All-Canadian in 2016, the most of any sire. These daughters went on to claim an impressive five All-Canadian and four Reserve awards easily giving this Semex bull the top sire designation for the ninth time out of the last ten years. Finishing in second place is Val-Bisson Doorman whose 15 nominated daughters earned three All-Canadian, one Reserve and four Honourable Mention prizes. Gillette Windbrook places third with his five nominated daughters securing one All-Canadian, two Reserve and one Honourable Mention awards. Pine-Tree Sid-ET, who was leading sire in 2015, slips to number four this time with just one All-Canadian title to be found among his four nominated daughters. Tying for fifth place are Lirr Drew Dempsey, who had one All-Canadian among his three nominees, and Maple-Downs-I G W Atwood, who had one Reserve and two Honourable Mention winners emerge from his five nominated daughters. In the 4-H classes, Walnutlawn Solomon had the most success of any bull siring one All-Canadian, two Reserves and one Honourable Mention.
The animals and groups nominated in the 22 All-Canadian Holstein classes were selected on December 1st by a Nominating Committee comprised of Yvon Chabot, Victoriaville, Que., Gerald Coughlin Jr., Peterborough, Ont., Joël Lepage, Amqui, Que., and Carl Phoenix, Sunderland, Ont. Advance page proofs of the nominations were then sent to 20 judges who served as the All-Canadian Selection Committee. By means of a ballot vote, these judges indicated their choice for first, second and third place in each class. No judge was permitted to vote in a class in which an animal he bred or owned was nominated. This will explain the variation in number of ballots cast in each class. A first place vote was worth 7 points, a second 3 points, and a third 1 point. The nominee with the highest point total is declared All-Canadian, second highest is Reserve, and 10 points or more is required for Honourable Mention.
Serving on the All-Canadian Selection Committee in 2016 were the four members of the Nominating Committee along with Jamie Black, Constable, N.Y.; Pierre Boulet, Montmagny, Que.; John Buckley, Lindsay, Ont.; Marc Comtois, Victoriaville, Que.; Pat Conroy, Angola, Ind.; Brian Craswell, Hunter River, P.E.I.; Michael Farlinger, Morrisburg, Ont.; Dominic Fortier, Saint-Christophe-d’Arthabaska, Que.; Michael Heath, Westminster, Md.; Thierry Jaton, Compton, Que.; Yan Jacobs, Cap-Sante, Que.; Carl Saucier, Champlain, Que.; Orville Schmidt, Leduc County, Alta.; Jeff Stephens, Troy, Ont.; Nathan Thomas, North Lewisburg, Ohio; and Blair Weeks, Pleasant Valley, P.E.I.
As the Holstein Journal marks the 75th anniversary of the All-Canadian contest, we say a heartfelt thank you to the Holstein exhibitors who have supported this contest over the years with their entries. Our thanks as well to the livestock photographers and their staffs who have worked diligently to ensure we receive pictures on time. And a big thank you to the Holstein field staff in Ontario and Quebec, and show organizers in other provinces, who make the Journal staff feel welcome whenever we cover shows in your area or provide us with results when we can not be there. The Holstein Journal could not continue this contest without all of you.
Congratulations to all of the 2016 All-Canadian contest winners!
For the voting results of the 2016 All-Canadian Holsteins, click here
