Being a dairy farmer means working long days that start before the sun rises and don’t end until well after the sun sets.  Dairy farming isn’t easy.

Being a dairy farmer means staying up all night waiting for the first calf heifer to calve, and then having to help her in order to save her and her calf’s lives.  Dairy farming isn’t easy.

Being a dairy farmer means knowing when a cow is sick, in heat or has mastitis.  Dairy farming isn’t easy.

Being a dairy farmer means being able to balance a ration, a checkbook and crop rotations.  Dairy farming isn’t easy.

Being a dairy farmer means being able to make a halter or gate latch or just about anything with baler twine.  Dairy farming isn’t easy.

Being a dairy farmer means watching your prized cow flair up with mastitis and almost die and there is nothing you can do about it.  Dairy farming isn’t easy.

Being a dairy farmer means having to get waist deep in the manure to clear a jammed stable cleaner.  Dairy farming isn’t easy.

Being a dairy farmer means risking losing everything you own in a fire or natural disaster.  Dairy farming isn’t easy.

Being a dairy farmer means no lavish parties or long vacations to fancy resorts.  Dairy farming isn’t easy.

But….

Being a dairy farmer is all worth it when you see the look in your child’s eyes the first time they see a calf being born.

Being a dairy farmer is all worth it when you get that very good two year old after you have spent many generations of corrective mating to get her.

Being a dairy farmer is all worth it when you see that 7 year old cow calve for the 5^th time, attending to her newborn calf.

Being a dairy farmer is all worth it when you hear your children tell you that they want to dedicate their lives to providing safe and nutritious dairy products to feed a growing world.

Being a dairy farmer is all worth it when you watch your children grow up on the farm and learn the values that you hold so close to your heart.

Get original “Bullvine” content sent straight to your email inbox for free.

I cannot think of a better way to kick off National Dairy Month, than doing what the dairy industry does best….supporting our community.  A week ago tragedy struck the Stiles and Burdette Families when Patricia Stiles and her husband Mike, awake to smoke, only to discover their house was on fire, and they need to get their two grandchildren out.  While Mike and the youngest grandchild Brinkley Burdette made it out relatively safe, Patricia and seven-year-old Reese Burdette, where not as fortunate and now find themselves with severe burns to their body and a long road ahead.  (Read more: Patricia Stiles –Dairy Farmer, Grandmother, Hero, Fighting for Her Life!)  Over the past week, there has been an amazing showing of support for these to great families, and since our article Why the Dairy Community is the Greatest in the World we have had many breeders offering their support and willing to make donations to help support these families at this time of need.

Over the next few days, we will be releasing three donated lots per day to help raise funds to cover the hospital expenses these families now face.  The auction will end on Friday June 13th at midnight.  100% of the proceeds will go to the bank account that has been set up for the families.

Lot A – 4 #1 Reginald embryos from JACOBS SID MIKA VG-87-2YR

Current Bid: $900/embryo (Bids in $50 increments)

Everyone remembers when Justin Burdette awarded BONACCUEIL MAYA GOLDWYN EX-95-2E-CAN the 2013 World Dairy Expo Holstein Grand Champion. (Read more:  World Dairy Expo 2013 Holstein Show Results and  World Dairy Expo 2013 – Memories to last a Lifetime) Well, here is a chance to buy into this great cow family and support the Burdette family in this time of need.  JACOBS SID MIKA is the very promising VG-87-2YR that was 3rd at the Quebec International Show last year and has all the makings of her legendary mother Maya.  With Reginald showing he can sire great ones as well, you know these embryos have the potential to be very special. (Read more: FERME JACOBS: SUCCESS IS ALL IN THE FAMILY! and Ferme Jacobs 2013: A Journey of Magic, Maya and Mastery!)

Lot B – 5 #1 Kingboy embryos from Ri-Val-Re Obsrver Salsa VG-86-2YR

Current Bid: $400/embryo (Bids in $50 increments)

From the heart of Ri-Val-Re comes these great embryos that will have a brother sampled through Select Sires by Relif P as well as sisters that are 2400 gTPI. These embryos will have a parent average TPI of over 2300 with the potential for a 2400+ gTPI calf. This is a great opportunity from an emerging cow family and support a great cause. (Read more: BREEDING RI-VAL-RE: Where Looking Good in the Stall Is Just As Important As Looking Good On Paper)

Lot C – 11 x 16 framed print of DALEMCEE-J COUNCILLER TAUNTRA

Current Bid: $640 (Bids in $20 increments)

The very talented artist Gary Sauder has donated an 11×16 (actual size of the picture) framed print of DALEMCEE-J COUNCILLER TAUNTRA EX-95.  Tauntra is the showing winning cow exhibited by Patricia and the Stiles family.  This painting was originally commissioned by Patricia and Mike.  Gary has the unique ability to truly capture these great cows in their truest form.  (Read more: GARY SAUDER: The Muse in His Studio) Don’t miss you chance to get this amazing painting and support Patricia at this time.

Lot D – 12 x 12 canvas print of ANNA ( Steel cow )

Current Bid: $500 (Bids in $20 increments)

Original Paintings by artist Valerie Miller can be found in art collections worldwide and are available exclusively through ( STEEL COW ). Valerie captures the personality of each of “the girls” in original acrylic paintings after going out into the field and studying and sketching them. “The girls” are all named after friends or family. This is your opportunity to take home Anna. Anna love’s country boys and pickup trucks, but she really is just a farm girl at heart. Here is your chance to support to great farm girls and take home an amazing canvas print by the very talented Valerie Miller. (Read more: Steel Cow’s Valerie Miller: Larger than Life with Her Cow Girls)

Lot E –  4 #1 Atlanta-P  embryos from Luck-E Talent Kiki *RC EX-93

Current Bid: $800/embryo (Bids in $50 increments)

From 8 generations fo VG or EX these Atlanta-P embryos are very special. Atlanta-P is +3.50Type +689M & +2048M. Altanta-P’s dam is Luck-E Advent Atlanta EX-94 96MS 5yr. When your this good it’s not luck it’s Luck-E.  (Read more: Luck-E Holsteins: The Harder they work, the Luck-E-r they get!)

Lot F – 16 x 24 vivid metal print by Farmgirl Photography

Current Bid: $500 (Bids in $20 increments)

Danae Bauer has a real talent for capturing those special moments. She combines that ability with her passion for dairy cattle and she has taken some amazing photographs. Danae is offer a 16 x 24 vivid metal print from any of her Farmgirl photographs. Vivid metal prints are show-stopping conversation pieces and add an artistic edge and contemporary elegance to the photographs This makes a very special gift for those dairy farmers that you know that spend just as much time talking to cows as much as they do people. (Read more: DANAE BAUER: Capturing the Passion)

Lot G – 17.5 x 14 Signed and Numbered Lithograph by Bonnie Mohr – Sweet Summer

Current Bid: $600 (Bids in $20 increments)

The art of Bonnie Mohr stimulates, engages, and inspires both the heart and the mind, from her rural, American pieces of country life to her poetic, peaceful images of inspiration. The essence of Bonnie’s art is that it reflects who she is, 100 percent. Every facet of her life is threaded into the canvas of her work, and after growing up and living on a dairy farm, she began painting her passion — cows. (Read more:  Bonnie Mohr – Science and Art Together Creates a Holstein Love Story) In her work Sweet Summer a perfect summer day at the farm unfolds with rolling hills in the background, the white barn, farm buildings, and silo; green trees border the beautiful pasture where a herd of Holstein cows graze and wander peacefully amidst the purple clover in the fields. A note from Bonnie: The rosy colors and sweet smell of clover dwell abundantly in most pastures across the upper Midwest, every summer. If you have ever approached a herd of cows out in the pasture – they will inch towards you out of complete curiosity. This painting is one of pure enjoyment and love for dairy cows and enchanting summers of rural America!  Don’t miss you chance to get this amazing painting and support Patricia at this time.

Lot H – 5 #1 Alexander embryos from Arethusa Shottle Domino EX-93

Current Bid: $400/embryo (Bids in $50 increments)

Not only does Domino come from a show winning pedigree with her dam Cherown SY Delilah EX-96 4E USA being named honorable mention grand champion at the 2001 Royal Winter Fair, but also her daughter, Arethusa Sanchez Dice EX-92(Pictured Above) was recently named Intermediate Champion at the New York International Spring Show demonstrating these she can also breed great ones.  Here is your chance to get in on one of the great show cow families in the breed today. (Read more:  Arethusa: A Winning Focus)

Lot I – 17.79” x 21.35” framed poster of Decrausaz Iron O’Kalibra

Current Bid: $370 (Bids in $20 increments)

Laurens Rutten is probably one of the most talented show ring livestock photographers in the world. He has taken some of the greatest show ring photographs in both Europe and North America. No photograph has been seen by a larger audience than Decrausaz Iron O’ Kalibra *RC EX-96-CH. O’Kalibra was voted the 2013 Most Influential Cow In Switzerland and The European Champion of 2013. She was Grand Champion Swiss Expo 2013 & 2012. O’Kalibra is simply one of the greatest show cows in the world today. (Read more: DECRAUSAZ IRON O’KALIBRA: Simply the Best) Here is your chance to get a framed print of this amazing cow and support a great cause.

Lot J –  3 #2 Declan IVF female embryos from Dubeau Dundee Hezbollah EX-92

Current Bid: $600/embryo (Bids in $50 increments)

Talk about a pedigree that has it all. If you are looking to invest in superior bloodlines this package has it. In HEZBOLLAH you have the great SNOW-N DENISES DELLIA EX-95-2E-USA GMD DOM 5* and COMESTAR LAURA BLACK VG-87-3YR-CAN 24* and in Declan you add MD-DELIGHT DURHAM ATLEE EX-92-4YR-USA DOM GMD 6*, BRAEDALE BALER TWINE VG-86-2YR-CAN 33* and SCIENTIFIC DEBUTANTE RAE EX-92-4YR-USA DOM GMD 3*. Declan’s EBV for type are outstanding at +3.59 PTAT, +3.08 UDC and +2.30 FLC, in Canada his just as impressive at +16 Conformation, +14 Mammary Systems, +12 Dairy Strength, and +12 Feet and Legs. Hezbollah is becoming a great brood cow. Of her first 8 classified daughters, 6 are VG including 2 at VG-87! We know of 3 more fresh that should be VG as well.  (Read more: The Judge’s Choice – Investment advice from Tim Abbott) What more could you ask for?

Lot K –  16 x 20 signed and ready to hang canvas print EMMA CALDWELL – “Holstein”

Current Bid: $300 (Bids in $20 increments)

Emma Caldwell’s paintings are depict dairy cattle, and they are a celebration of the dairy community. In her art she strives to capture the calm air and that tremendous physical strength that is absolutely necessary in an enduring cow, but also present her as feminine, dairy and stylish. Together generations of the dairy community have worked together to develop this hard working, strong healthy animals that we milk today. The dairy industry is working to help support our own once again. (Read more: Emma Caldwell’s Art Stirs Mind and Heart!) Emma is proud to be able to contribute to this great cause and be a part of this incredible community.   Don’t miss your opportunity to help celebrate the Holstein Cow and support Patricia and Reese.

Lot L –   21.35” x 17.79” framed poster of KHW Regiment Apple-Red

Current Bid: $225(Bids in $20 increments)

KHW Regiment Apple-Red has done it all.  She wins shows, she classifies high and produces loads of milk.  Her daughter can be seen at the top of the biggest red and white shows in the world, and her decedents dominate the Red & White Index lists.  At this past years World Dairy Expo, she showed off her trademark depth, angularity and balance but that was not enough for the living legend. Apple-Red was able to take things to a level that might never be able to be repeated ever again. Her clone, KHW Regiment Apple 3-Red-ETN who is the spitting image of a younger Apple-Red was the only cow that was able to beat her on this day. Yes you could say she was beaten by herself. And to add to the growing legend, her daughter MS Candy Apple-Red-ET was named Honorable Mention Grand Champion.  (Read more: KHW Regiment Apple-Red – Beauty, performance, and even more record accomplishments ) Here is your chance to remember this amazing accomplishment with this limited edition framed print.

Lot M –  Choice of Aftershock embryos from Quality Holsteins

Current Bid: $800/embryo (Bids in $50 increments)

Quality Holsteins has generously donated your choice of 4 Aftershock embryos from two amazing cows.  (Read more: Quality Holsteins – Well-Deserved Congratulations and Quality Cattle Look Good Every Day) First up are 2 After Shock embryos from the legendary QUALITY CARLTON PAM EX-97-6E 4*.  Pam was the first EX-97 bred and owned cow in Canada.  She was nominated All-Canadian in 2003 and has already produced 5 EX daughters and 9 VG and made over 230,000 lbs of lifetime production.  She really has done it all.  Also available are 4 Aftershock embryos from QUALITY GOLDFINZ EX-92-2E.  The fancy Goldwyn daughter from QUALITY B C FRANTISCO EX-96-3E 21*.   Goldfinz first two daughters have both scored VG in their first lactation.  Winning bidder can choose any 4 of these 6 embryos. This a great opportunity to purchase some of the highest quality embryos available in the world and support a great cause.

Lot N – 5 doses of Deer Hill Francis EX-91

Current Bid: $100/dose (Bids in $20 increments)

Talk about an extremely rare opportunity. Deer Hill Francis EX-91 semen is extremely limited supply and has never before and will never again be publicly available. Of course Francis is the Sweet Pepper Willy Sam (Desblay Rebel Willy x Sweet Pepper Jaye Sherry EX94 Max Score) from the legendary Sweet-Pepper Black Francesca 3E-94. Francesca’s has been the Grand Champion World Dairy Expo 2012, 2010 Grand Champion Royal Agricultural Winter Fair 2012 All-World 6 & 7 Year-Old Ayrshire 2012 Total Performance Winner World Dairy Expo 2012, 2011 Nasco and International & Type Production Award World Dairy Expo 2012, 2011. Francesca, wasn’t just a cow who had great show ring accomplishments, she was a cow who won the hearts and minds of breeders the world over. She was one of those rare cows that transcended her breed to be loved by all. (Read more: The Magic of Francesca)Here is your chance to bring the greatness of Francesca into your herd and support a great cause.

Lot O – 4 #1 Doorman embryos from VIEUXSAULE SEAVER ELSI VG-86-2YR

Current Bid: $700/embryo (Bids in $50 increments)

From the same family as the extremely popular Immunity+, HealthSmart, Genomax and Robot Ready, VIEUXSAULE FLAME.  VIEUXSAULE SEAVER ELSI VG-86-2YR is continuing the legacy of her dam VIEUXSAULE ALLEN DRAGONFLY EX-94-2E-CAN 16* (Read more: VIEUX SAULE ALLEN DRAGONFLY: 2013 Canadian Cow of the Year Nominee) and grand dam VIEUXSAULE OUTSIDE MARY SOLEX-95-3E-CAN 4*.  Elsi’s pedigree brings persistence and performance together. It is repeated on the sire stack side as well where Dragonfly’s sire stack is loaded with bulls that Canadian breeders hold in high regard. Here is your chance to get in on an emerging cow family and support a great cause.

Lot 0 –  One of a kind CUSTOM PAINTED MILK CANS from Debbie Cornman Studio

Current Bid: $720 (Bids in $20 increments)

Debbie Corman offers her unique artistry to one of a kind milk cans that are cherished by all. Deb is a self-taught Calligrapher and Artist and combines these two great talents to create unique items that are treasured by all. She has spent over 30 years developing her skills as an accomplished painter doing animal portraits, decorative painting, pen and ink, and watercolor and combines those talents to create amazing pieces of art from milk cans. Here is your opportunity to get custom painted milk can with your favorite cow; barn or whatever you want painted on it by Deb. Don’t miss this chance to get an amazing piece of memorabilia for your dairy operation.

Bidding ends at midnight on June 13th.

How to Bid

There are three simple ways to bid; you can enter your bid in the comments below, place your bid on the Facebook, or email helpingheroes@thebullvine.com, and we will keep all locations up to date with the latest bids.

Terms

The Bullvine will act as a dairy breeder’s version of eBay.  That means that once the sale is complete we will collect the funds from the successful bidder, notify the breeder who donated the lot of who and where to send the lot to.  Once the winning bidder has successfully received the items, we will release the funds.
The buyer will be responsible for all shipping expenses.

Please share this article to help raise awareness of this great opportunity to support the Stiles and Burdette families at this time.

This Mother’s Day while we are all sending loads of love to our mothers, wives, daughters and other amazing women in our lives, we here at the Bullvine thought we would take a look at some of the most amazing females in the Holstein breed that are also having the biggest impact in the past ten years.

AITKENBRAE STARBUCK ADA EX-94 2E DOM

There are few cow families that can rival the accomplishments of the Adas when it comes to show ring success and transmitting elite type. For generations, this family has dominated the North American show circuit and, as we near the big dance on the colored shavings, there is no  doubt that the next generation of Adas will be there vying for All-American titles.  Ada herself was a tremendous show cow having been  named Unanimous All-American Senior Three-Year-Old in 1989, but it is her brood cow status, specifically through the impact of her two Donnandale Skychief daughters, which makes her a true legend in Holstein history.

AITKENBRAE STARBUCK ADA EX-94 2E DOM

Shoremar S Alicia is the eldest of the famous Skychief daughters of Starbuck Ada. Alicia, nominated All-American five times in milking form, was the Supreme Champion of the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair in 2000. With more than a dozen excellent daughters from a variety of mating sires, it is obvious  that Alicia is the Ada family’s  next generation brood cow. That generation is already highlighted by her Startmore Rudolph daughter, Cityview R Alicia Excellent-92-CAN 23* or her Durham daughters BKB Abby Excellent-95 3E DOM and BKB Amanda Excellent-92 GMD DOM.

The Excellent-94 2E DOM Ms Kingstead Chief Adeen is a full sister to Alicia and has produced such names as Atwood, Atlee, Ariel and Autumn. Adeen is one of the most influential and one of the only cows in the breed with offspring over +2500 on genomics and All-American progeny. It was a flush to Maughlin Storm early in Adeen’s career that might just have been the most influential mating. It produced the Excellent-91 DOM Storm Allison, Very Good-88 DOM Storm Adeline, and Very Good-88 DOM Storm Amberlee dam of the great Durham Atlee. Since the time that she made an appearance at the International Holstein Show in 2005 Atlee has attracted worldwide interest, and Atlee’s numerous sons dominate the international type lists: Atwood, Amazing, Avalanche, Arden and Atlantic in the USA; Atticus, Attic and Aftershock in Canada, Delete in Spain and Heavenly Dreams in Italy.

Notable Progeny/Descendants:

• MAPLE-DOWNS-I G W ATWOOD EX-90
  HOCAN000008956379
  Goldwyn x MD-Delight Durham Atlee EX-92 GMD DOM
  #1 Proven Type Sire in the World (+4.66 PTAT)
• Heavenly Golden Dreams
  HOGBRM000000642262
  Goldwyn x MD-Delight Durham Atlee EX-92 GMD DOM
  One of the hottest type sires in Italy (+3.78 PTAT)
• Ms Atlees Sht Aftershock
  HOUSAM000065249839
  +3.12 PTAT
• Shoremar S Alicia EX-97 3E
  HOCANF000006434408
  Skychief x Ada
  2X All-American (Aged Cow 2003 & 5-Year-Old 2000) 3X All-Canadian (2-Year-Old, 4-Year-Old & 5-Year-Old) All World & People’s Choice Winner 2000 Member All-American Produce of Dam 2000 Grand & Supreme Champion RWF 2000
• MS Kingstead Chief Adeen EX-94 2E DOM HOUSAF000017302711 Skychief x Ada 2X Member All-American Produce 2X All-American Nominee ( Jr. 3-year-old & 4-Year-Old) Dam of 1 All-American-Amlaird Lee Alice Grand Dam of 2 All-American Grand Daughters-Ms Durham Atlee (Dam of Ariel, Aubry, Albany, Atwood, Aftershock) & KY Blue BW Debbie Great Grand Dam of 2X All-American Ms Atlees Roy Autumn Dam of 24 EX offspring
• MD-Delight Durham Atlee EX-92 GMD DOM
  HOUSAF000131704103
  Durham x Storm x MS Kingstead Chief Adeen EX-94 2E DOM
  All-American Sr. 3-Year-Old 2005
  Dam of Atwood, Amazing, Avalanche, Adren and Atlantic in the USA; Atticus, Attic and Aftershock in Canada, Delete in Spain and Heavenly Dreams in Italy.
• Amlaird Lee Alice EX-94 2E
  HOCANF7293258
  Lee x MS Kingstead Chief Adeen EX-94 2E DOM
  All-American Jr 2-Yr-Old 2003 1st Jr 2-Yr-Old World Dairy Expo 2003
• BVK Atwood Arianna VG-89-2YR
  HOUSAF140792830
  Atwood x MS Kingstead Chief Adeen EX-94 2E DOM
  ALL-CANADIAN & ALL-AMERICAN JR.2-YR 2012
• MS ATLEES GOLDWYN ARIEL EX-92
  HOUSAF63164327
  Goldwyn x MD-Delight Durham Atlee EX-92 GMD DOM
  Res. All-American Jr. 2-Yr-Old 2009
  Full sister to ATWOOD and sold as a package for $1.5M
• MS ATLEES ROY AUTUMN EX-90
  HOUSAF000063164290
  oy x MD-Delight Durham Atlee EX-92 GMD DOM
  2x All-American and Junior Champ, International Holstein Show 2007

DE-SU BW MARSHALL GEORGIA EX-90 GMD DOM

The daughters and granddaughters of De-Su BWM Marshall Georgia currently account for an incredible 25 of the 300 daughter proven bulls over 2000 TPI.  Georgia is by far the most influential cow family impacting the current active-sire lineup.  Of the 25, 12 of them are over +2.00 PTAT.  That is an incredible achievement that certainly makes Georgia one of the most influential brood cows of the modern era.

DE-SU BW MARSHALL GEORGIA EX-90 GMD DOM

The most notable of her sons is De-Su Oman Goli, who still ranks well on the Dutch proven sire list.  Among Georgia’s most influential daughters are two full sisters to Goli, De-Su Oman 5121 VG-86 and De-Su Oman 6125 GP-82, as well as Shottle daughter De-Su 6822 VG-85 (Dam of Gillespy).  A third full sister to Goli, Oman 6121, has become the face of De-Su, through her Planet son Observer and her Bolton grandson De-Su Gulf.  Observer was the much heralded genomic sire that delivered on his high genomic rankings to debut #1 on the TPI rankings last April and now ranks in the top 10 sires that are 99% reliable.

Notable Progeny/Descendants:

• De-Su Finley General-ET  TR TY
  HOUSAM000061681242
  AltaFinley x Georgia
  TPI +1714    PTAT +2.37    UDC +2.78  FLC +1.24
• De-Su Gulf-ET
  HOUSAM000064700367
  Bolton x Shottle x  De-Su Oman 6121-ET TL VG-86 GMD DOM
  TPI +2165    PTAT +2.81    UDC +3.35    FLC+1.79
• De-Su Gillespy-ET
  HOUSAM000063449626
  Bolton x De-Su 6822 VG-85
  TPI +2155    PTAT +2.88    UDC +2.31    FLC +2.52
• De-Su Watson
  HOUSAM000064700377
  Boliver x Shottle x De-Su Oman 6121-ET TL VG-86 GMD DOM _­
  TPI +2085    PTAT +2.14    UDC +1.72    FLC +1.37
• De-Su 7049-ET VG-88
  HOUSAF000062720607
  Shottle x  De-Su Oman 6121-ET TL VG-86
  Dam of proven sons De-Su 538 Hooray (+2148 TPI),  De-Su History (TPI +2110) and De-Su 541 Bartlett (+2069 TPI)
• De-Su 6997-ET EX-90
  HOUSAF000061682318
  Dam of De-Su 9843 (+2192 TPI) and De-Su Large 2075 (+2181 TPI)
• De-Su 7012-ET EX-92 DOM
  HOUSAF000062720570
  Shottle x De-Su Oman 6125-ET GP-82
  Dam of proven sons De-Su 527 Spur (+2110 TPI) and De-Su 530 Caviar (+2040 TPI) and genomic son De-Su Graze 11125 (+2307)
• De-Su Oman 6290 VG-86
  HOUSAF000061681611
  Oman x De-Su Bw Marshal Georgia-ET EX-90
  Dam of ALTAGOALMAN (Read more: 16 Sires Every Dairy Breeder Should Look At For Their Breeding Programs and Eight Proven Holstein Sires to Watch For or to Watch Out For)
• De-Su Paradise 2204
  HOUSA000071813689
  Paradise x Bookem x  De-Su Oman 6121-ET TL VG-86
  TPI +2565    PTAT +3.10    UDC +3.11   FLC +2.19
• De-Su Defender 3544
  HOUSA000072852486
  Defender x Large x Planet x De-Su Oman 6121-ET TL VG-86 TPI +2603    PTAT +3.63    UDC +3.75   FLC +2.89

GILLETTE BLITZ 2^ND WIND VG-88-3YR 43*

GILLETTE BLITZ 2^ND WIND is the third generation of high influence cows from the Braedale Gypsy Grand Family.  2^nd Wind is a cow that does it all – show ribbon winners, top producers and #1 index cows.  (Read more:  GILLETTE BLITZ 2ND WIND – 2012 Golden Dam Finalist and 2012 Golden Dam: The Results are In!)

GILLETTE BLITZ 2ND WIND VG-88-3YR 43*

GILLETTE BLITZ 2^ND WIND has set the bar so high as a mother of Class Extra sons that she is in a class all by herself.  As the dam of no less than five Class Extra sons, she has done what has never been done before.  Her Class Extra sons are Gillette Windbrook, Gillette Windhammer, Gillette Stanleycup, Gillette Wildthing, and Gillette Willrock.  These five sires were in the top 30 in the North American LPI list in 2011.

2nd Wind is also able to achieve success on the female side with 49 daughters over +2000 GLPI.  This six-time number one LPI cow has been able to pass the torch to her daughter Gillette Bolton 2nd Sleep and her granddaughter Gillette S Planet 2nd Snooze.

Notable Progeny/Descendants:

• GILLETTE WINDBROOK EX-97-CAN    EXTRA’10
  HOCANM7816429
  FBI x GILLETTE  BLITZ 2ND WIND VG-88-3YR-CAN 43*
  LPI +2687 Conf +17 2777 daughters are 83% GP+
• Gillette Wildthing EX-90-CAN    EXTRA’11
  HOCANM7816547 Marion x GILLETTE  BLITZ 2ND WIND VG-88-3YR-CAN 43*
  LPI +2323   Conf +7
• Gillette Willrock  EX-90-CAN    EXTRA’11
  HOCANM7816548
  Marion x GILLETTE  BLITZ 2ND WIND VG-88-3YR-CAN 43*
  LPI +2323   Conf +7
• Gillette Windhammer  EX-96-CAN    EXTRA’11
  HOCANM7816548 Bolton x GILLETTE  BLITZ 2ND WIND VG-88-3YR-CAN 43*
  LPI +2520   Conf +11
• GILLETTE STANLEYCUP EX-95-CAN    EXTRA’11
  HOCANM8932152 Bolton x GILLETTE  BLITZ 2ND WIND VG-88-3YR-CAN 43*
  LPI +2520   Conf +11
• GILLETTE BOLTON 2ND SLEEP VG-89-4YR-CAN 5*
  HOCANF8932144 Bolton x GILLETTE  BLITZ 2ND WIND VG-88-3YR-CAN 43*
  Sleep was #1 in August 2010 and her daughter Gillette S Planet 2nd Snooze(VG-86-2yr) was #2 GLPI in December 2011.
• GILLETTE ZENITH 2ND STAR EX-90-CAN      3*
  HOCANF7816472 Zenith x GILLETTE  BLITZ 2ND WIND VG-88-3YR-CAN 43*
  2^nd Wind’s highest classifying daughter and has 3 VG daughters herself.
• GILLETTE BOLTON 2ND MOTIVATION VG-89-4YR-CAN 1*
  HOCANF8932148
  Bolton x GILLETTE  BLITZ 2ND WIND VG-88-3YR-CAN 43*
• GILLETTE GVI SUPERSIRE DRIVE
  HOCANF11692154
  Supersire x Man-O-Man x BWM Leader x GILLETTE BLITZ 2ND WIND VG-88-3YR-CAN 43*
  gLPI +3339 Conf +10 Next generation of contract bull mothers from the 2^nd Wind family.
• Farnear Atwood Milli
  HOUSAF 70639229
  Atwood x Shottle x GILLETTE BLITZ 2ND WIND VG-88-3YR-CAN 43*
  gTPI +2058 / NM $ 396 / PTAT +4.28

HICKORYMEA BWOOD OSSIE P EX-91

When it comes to Polled, two  herds have supplied the key bloodlines that have impacted polled breeding world-wide today.  Both herds are from Pennsylvania. They are Burket-Falls and Hickorymea. Hickorymea owners Eddie Johnson and his sons Keel and Chip bred a polled Chairman son, named Hickorymea Lassiter, who became the foundation sire for Polled in their herd.  A granddaughter of Lassiter by Elton scored VG-89 and became the dam of Hickorymea Bwood Ossie P EX-91.  Sired by Bellwood Ossie P’s greatest impact came through her two sons Hickorymea Ottawa-P (by Hickorymea Tripod) and Hickorymea Oswald-P (by Coyne-Farms Prelude Bosco), two bulls that were the highest ranking polled sires available 8 years ago.  This family is still providing some of the most exciting polled sires in the world today.

HICKORYMEA BWOOD OSSIE P EX-91

A Man-O-Man  out of  a Shottle from an EX Bosco (Full sister to Oswald P), now owned by Regancrest, Hickorymea MOM Opine-P VG-87 is one of the most popular non-Lawn Boy pedigrees in the world.  Another exciting member of this family is Hickorymea Man Outfit-P at Lirr Farms in Wisconsin.  Outfit-P is the dam of the sire Lirr Mogul Outfit-P (2335 gTPI) as well as the high homozygous sire Lirr Option-PP (1946 gTPI). Outfit-P is from a VG-86 Goldwyn and a then a VG-88 Paradox to the EX Bosco daughter of Ossie.  A maternal sister to Outfit is Hickorymea Signif Ohio-PP, sired by Burket-Falls Significant-P, she is one of the highest homozygous females in the world.

Notable Progeny/Descendants:

• Hickorymea Oswald-P-ET  PO
  HOUSAM000129008769
  Was once a top 10 TPI proven sire.  An amazing accomplishment for a polled bull.
• Lirr Outline P-ET  PO TY
  HOUSAM000072026183
  Mogul x Man-O-Man x Goldwyn x Hickorymea Bosco Oval P-ET EX-90
  #7 gTPI Polled Sire in the world (+2249 gTPI)
• Pine-Tree Overtime P
  HOUSAM000071178789
  Numero Uno x Signif-P x Goldwyn x Paradox x Hickorymea Bosco Oval P-ET EX-90
  #13 polled gTPI sire in the world (+2186)
• Pine-Tree Ohio Style P
  HOUSA000071178738
  O-Man x Signif-P x Goldwyn x Paradox x Hickorymea Bosco Oval P-ET EX-90
  #14 polled gTPI sire in the world (+2184)
• Lirr Outcome P
  Mogul x Man-O-Man x Goldwyn x Paradox x Hickorymea Bosco Oval P-ET EX-90
  #18 gTPI polled sire in the world (+2166)
• Hickorymea Bosco Oval P-ET EX-90
  HOUSAF000129993610
  Grand dam of popular bull mother Hickorymea MOM Opine-P VG-87 and great grand dam of Hickorymea Man Outfit-P.
• Hickorymea Manoman Opine-P  VG-87
  Man-O-Man x Shottle x Hickorymea Bosco Oval P-ET EX-90
  Dam of high polled genomic sons Eastwood (by Epic +2307 gTPI), Linker (by Lithium +2287 gTPI) and Ocean PP (by Parker +2269 gTPI).
  Dam of high polled genomic daughters Prismagen Epic Oregon (by Epic +2406 gTPI), Regancrest Opines 7479 (by AltaOak +2375 gTPI) and Regancrest Opines 7475 (by AltaOak +2345 gTPI).
• Hickorymea Man Outfit-P VG-86
  HOUSAF000141062053
  Man-O-Man x Goldwyn x Paradox  Hickorymea Bosco Oval P-ET EX-90
  Dam of the sire Lirr Mogul Outfit-P (2335 gTPI) as well as the high homozygous sire Lirr Option-PP (1946 gTPI).
• Hickorymea Signif Ohio-P VG-85
  HOUSAF000140759222
  Signif-P x Goldwyn x Paradox x Hickorymea Bosco Oval P-ET EX-90
  Dam of the #13 gTPI Polled Sire in the World, Overtime P, and the #14 gTPI Ohio Style P.
• Hickorymea Goldwyn Ought-P VG-86
  HOUSAF000137995680
  Goldwyn x Paradox-RED x Hickorymea Bosco Oval P-ET EX-90
  Dam of high gTPI Sires Hickorymea Parker P (by Garrett +2034 gTPI) and Hickorymea Overturn P (by Man-O-Man +2013 gTPI) and daughters Hickorymea Man Outfit-P (by Man-O-Man +1981 gTPI), Hickorymea Signif Ohio-P VG-85 (by Significant +1909 gTPI) and Hickorymea Dolman Otter-P VG-85 (by Dolman +1687 gTPI).

KAMPS-HOLLOW ALTITUDE-ET RC CV TL EX-95 2E DOM

With high type and high index daughters and granddaughters showing up on top genomic lists, show results and sale catalogs, Altitude has certainly become one of the most influential cows of the modern era.  Probably best known for her daughter KHW Regiment Apple Red – EX-96 3E DOM the “Million Dollar Cow.”  Apple Red has also been able to prove herself as a brood cow.  Her shining moment in the spotlight had to be at World Dairy Expo 2013 where she set new benchmarks at the top of the ladder of show ring success.  While the crowd roared their approval of the final placings assigned by Judge Michael Heath, the record books took note that for the first time one special cow not only earned Reserve Grand Champion but also was flanked on each side by the Grand Champion, her clone, and, on the other side by her daughter, the Honorable Mention Grand Champion.  (Read more: KHW Regiment Apple-Red – Beauty, performance, and even more record accomplishments).

KAMPS-HOLLOW ALTITUDE-ET RC CV TL EX-95 2E DOM

Also, impressive was Apple-Red’s brother, Advent-Red who was Premier Sire of the Red and White Show.  Advent is the highly acclaimed Kite son of Altitude.  Without hesitation, Advent is one of the all-time greatest showring sires of the red breed whose daughters have accumulated various accolades at national and international shows worldwide.  Advent has taken home numerous premier sire banners at the most prestigious shows nationwide including the Royal Winter Fair National Red and White Show and the Grand International Red and White Show at World Dairy Expo. His stats speak to the magnitude of his impact with more than 400 Excellent daughters in the United States and Canada alone and 105 All-American Nominated daughters in just the past five years. Forty-one of the 105 received the prestigious title of All-American or Reserve All-American according to the Red and White Dairy Cattle Association. Other

Notable Progeny/Descendants:

• JOTAN
  HONLDM000393714184
  Jordan Red x Altitude TPI +1856    PTAT +2.06    UDC +2.31    FLC +2.86
• KHW ELM-PARK ACME-ET  RC TY
  HOUSAM000061720218
  TPI +1845    PTAT +2.68    UDC +2.91     FLC +1.36
• MR APPLES MCGUCCI-ET  RC TY
  HOUSAM000072353438
  McCutchen x KHW Regiment Apple-Red EX-96 3E DOM
  TPI +2277   PTAT +4.06    UDC +3.24    FLC +3.81
• MR APPLES ARMANI-ET  RC TY
  HOUSAM000068571374 Goldwyn x KHW Regiment Apple-Red EX-96 3E DOM
  TPI +2147    PTAT +3.37    UDC +3.07    FLC  +3.18
• MR APPLES AVATAR-ET  RC TY
  HOUSAM000068571318 Shottle x KHW Regiment Apple-Red EX-96 3E DOM
  TPI +1956   PTAT  +2.62    UDC +2.20   FLC +2.38
• KHW REGIMENT APPLE 3-RED-ETN EX-95-2E-USA    DOM   1*
  HOUSAF000135511521 Durham x Altitude
  Grand Champion World Dairy Expo 2013 RES. ALL-AMERICAN 4-YR 2013 ALL-AMERICAN R&W 4-YR 2013 INT.CHAMP MADISON R&W 2011 1ST JR.2-YR MADISON R&W 2011
• KHW REGIMENT ARIEL-RED VG-89-4YR-CAN  1*
  HOUSAF000135511512
  Regiment X Altitude 3RD 4-YR ROYAL R&W 2008
• KHW GOLDWYN AIKO-ET *RC EX-91 92-MS DOM
  HOUSAF000137658044
  Goldwyn x Altitude
  15 Sons in AI.
• MS CANDY APPLE-RED EX-94-2E-USA
  HOUSAF139005833
  Talent x KHW Regiment Apple-Red EX-96 3E DOM
  HM Grand Champion World Dairy Expo Red & White Show 2013
• MS APPLES ANNESA RC CV   VG-85
  HOUSAF000069822323
  Goldwyn x KHW Regiment Apple-Red EX-96 3E DOM
  TPI +2151    PTAT +3.49     UDC +3.77    FLC +3.22
• MS APPLES ANGEL-ET *RC EX-92
  HOUSAF000069561886

REGANCREST S CHASSITY  EX-92 GMD DOM

Like many truly great cows Chassity puts it all together.  Jeff Butler, a member of the Chassity Syndicate, describes her in winning terms,” She’s a big cow standing 63 inches, with a wide rump, hard top, a wide chest, and walks up hill. And of course she has a beautiful udder. “This comes naturally when you consider that Chassity is a sixth generation Excellent from the renowned Barbie family.  (Read more: REGANCREST S CHASSITY – 2012 Golden Dam Finalist)

REGANCREST S CHASSITY EX-92 GMD DOM

Chassity’s list of offspring reads like a healthy bank statement.  From Goldwyn, she produced Gold Chip and Goldwyn Cash. Cash went on to make Cashmoney, Cashcoin, Colt 45, Cash-O, and Casher!  With these offspring, Chassity is definitely in the money and, while she`s unforgettable for her exceptional 1.5 million dollar selling price at Intrigue in August 2009, her financial story didn`t stop there.  In the Destination Vegas Sale, in December of the same year, her daughter MS Chassity Goldwyn Cash was the world’s top-selling individual, being purchased for $205,000.   At the World Classic Sale in Madison a Planet daughter, MS Courtlane UR-S Candy VG85, sold to Regancrest.  Earlier in the summer a Domain granddaughter of Chassity, sold for a high price through the Skyline Holstein Sale in Germany.  She sold to Koepon. Chassity’s name continues to be a guaranteed bank machine at sales worldwide.

Chassity has 154 progeny, from 37 different sires, setting new records and earning breed leading numbers of their own, especially for type.  According to her current owners “the largest demand these days is driven by the progeny of Chassity’s Goldwyn daughter Cash and Chassity`s Snowman Daughters.”  Courtlane UR Chassity, the 8th generation EX was Chassity’s first EX daughter! She is the dam of Chester (by AltaIoata +2236 gTPI) and Cameron (by Jeeves +2214 gTPI). MS Chassity PLN Chaching VG86 2yrs is Chassity’s Planet daughter and the dam of MR Chaching Centric (by Numero Uno +2362 gTPI).  Her daughter MS Chassity Goldwyn Cash VG87 2yr gLPI +2816 has a record of 2-04 (305D) 15,491kg milk, 4.1F and 3.2P.  She has two Observer sons – Cashcoin +2358 gTPI and Cashmoney +2299 gTPI.

In cattle breeding, it takes progeny to continue making money and at Butlerview they report that “Chassity is a great embryo producer and so are her daughters”  (Read more: Exciting Times for Butlerview and BUTLERVIEW: The Goals are Simple. The Genetics are Exceptional)

Notable Progeny/Descendants:

• MR Chassity Cadillac
  HOUSAM000070476916
  Bookem x REGANCREST S CHASSITY  EX-92 GMD DOM gTPI +2218
  PTAT+3.36  UDC +2.98   FLC +2.19
• MR Chassity Moman Clarta
  HOUSAM000141008235
  Man-O-Man x REGANCREST S CHASSITY  EX-92 GMD DOM
  gTPI +2218   PTAT +2.81   UDC +2.11   FLC +2.22
• MR Chassity Gold Chip
  HOUSAM000140145553
  Goldwyn x REGANCREST S CHASSITY  EX-92 GMD DOM
  Very popular genomic sire now with an official daughter evaluation (gTPI +1996   PTAT +3.70   UDC +3.31   FLC +3.16)
• MR Chassity Colt 45-ET  RC PC
  HOUSAM000070476906
  Colt P x REGANCREST S CHASSITY  EX-92 GMD DOM
  Red factor and polled spurred Colt 45’s rise to one of the most popular sires in the world gTPI +2020   PTAT +2.99   UDC +2.88  FLC +2.80
• MS Chassitys Caroline VG-86
  HOUSAF000070477005
  Robust x REGANCREST S CHASSITY  EX-92 GMD DOM
  gTPI +2243   PTAT +2.54   UDC +2.05   FLC +2.30
• MS Chassity Goldwyn Cash VG-87 2yr
  HOUSAF000140175910
  Goldwyn x REGANCREST S CHASSITY  EX-92 GMD DOM
  Top selling individual of 2009 for $205,000 Dam of Cashcoin and Cashmoney.
• MS CHASSITY SNCHZ CARLY VG-89-4YR-CAN
  HOUSAF140538603
  Sanchez x REGANCREST S CHASSITY  EX-92 GMD DOM
  Res. Intermediate Champion Atlantic Spring Showcase 2013
• MS CHASSITY DOMAIN CHAYA VG-88-2YR-CAN
  HOUSAF141086211 Domain x REGANCREST S CHASSITY  EX-92 GMD DOM
  1ST 2-YR CALGARY SPRING 2013
• MS Chassity Obs Claire VG-87
  HOUSAF000141008075 Observer x REGANCREST S CHASSITY  EX-92 GMD DOM
  Dam of 30 progeny over 2000 gTPI.  Including the high new release genomic full brothers by McCutchen, Capital Gain (+2517) gTPI and High Octane (+2512). (Read more: The 16 Sires from the April 2014 Genetic Evaluations That Stand Out)

WESSWOOD-HC RUDY MISSY EX-92 3E GMD DOM

For more than 10 years Rudy Missy has been producing elite genetics and leading the pack in reliability and health traits.  Today, with names like Shauna, Supersire, Chart Topper, Mogul, Oak and Sid.  It  is hard to deny the impact of America’s favorite Rudolph daughter.  Backed by an Excellent-90 GMD DOM Elton and three more “Very Good” generations, Wesswood-HC Rudy Missy quickly became a worldwide star.  The family traits shine through in high production, superb protein pounds and simply being cattle that your average farmer likes.  Good strength, wide rear udders, mobile feet and legs.

WESSWOOD-HC RUDY MISSY EX-92 3E GMD DOM

Thirty-nine direct daughters of Rudy Missy have scored Very Good or Excellent over the years, and her brood cow status has become  undeniable.  All seven females from the flush to O-Man scored Very Good and can be credited with  developing the bloodlines for Shauna, Supersire, Chart Topper, Mogul and AltaOak.  Pine-Tree Missy Martha VG-86-2YR DOM is probably the most notable daughter of this flush and is the dam of Shottle Martha Sheen Very Good-86 DOM.  Ammon-Peachey Shauna Very Good-87 DOM is undoubtedly the best daughter to date from Martha Sheen, especially when you consider the large number of bulls she has put into A.I. Sired by Planet, Shauna exudes dairyness and strength similar to her Shottle dam.  Shauna ranked #4 gTPI female in the August 2009 release and was quickly contracted for sons by Robust, which resulted  in the high genomic sons Supersire and Headliner.  Shauna’s Freddie sons, Sargent and Shaw, as well as Snowman sons, Diamond and Platinum, also rank high. (Read more:  AMMON-PEACHEY SHAUNA – 2012 Golden Dam Finalist and Charting the Right Course at Seagull Bay Dairy)

Mountfield SSI Dcy Mogul debuted at No. 2 on Holstein Association USA’s Top 100 TPI Genomic Young Bulls list in December 2011.  Mogul and full brother Mixer are the Dorcy grandsons of Pine-Tree Missy Miranda, Very Good-86 DOM, the full sister to Martha, and daughter of Missy.  Miranda is also the dam of the former No. 1 GTPI daughter in the United States, De-Su 199 Chart Topper who was sired by De-Su Watson.

Notable Progeny/Descendants:

• Seagull-Bay Supersire
  HOUSAM000069981349
  Robust x Planet x Shottle x Pine-Tree Missy Martha-ET VG-86 x Wesswood-HC Rudy Missy-ET EX-92
  Extremely popular genomic sire of sons TPI +2420   PTAT +2.40   UDC +1.71   FLC +1.28
• Mountfield SSI Dcy Mogul HO84M0003006972816 Dorcy x Marsh x Pine-Tree Missy Miranda-ET VG-86 DOM x Wesswood-HC Rudy Missy-ET EX92 Extremely popular sire of sons (TPI +2394   PTAT +2.81   UDC +2.99   FLC +2.78)
• Pine-Tree Altaoak
  HOUSAM000069169951 Niagra x Leif x Shottle x O Man x Wesswood-HC Rudy Missy-ET EX-92
  Popular genomic sire (TPI +2333 PTAT +2.56    UDC +2.30   FLC +1.45)
• Ammon-Peachey Shauna  VG-87
  HOUSAF000066228178
  Planet x Shottle x Pine-Tree Missy Martha-ET VG-86 x Wesswood-HC Rudy Missy-ET EX-92
  One of the most contracted and popular bull mothers in the world Dam of 30 progeny over 2200 gTPI
• Seagull-Bay Shauna Saturn VG-85
  HOUSAF000069981537
  Man-O-Man x Ammon-Peachey Shauna  VG-87
  Dam of 28 progeny over 2200 gTPI
• Seagull-Bay Miss America VG-85
  HOUSAF000070640281
  Robust x Ammon-Peachey Shauna  VG-87
  Dam of 23 progeny over 2400 gTPI, including sons MR America Pageant (by Cashmoney +2563 gTPI), MR America Daft Punk (by Day +2501 gTPI) and MR America Classic (by Cashcoin +2465 gTPI).  As well as daughters MS America Dixie (by Day +2565 gTPI), Compass-Trt America Okay (by AltaOak +2529 gTPI) and Compass-Trt Amrica Jabra (by Jabir +2492 gTPI).
• Carters-Corner Shot Melody Excellent-90
  DOM HOUSAM000063033664
  Shottle x O Man x Wesswood-HC Rudy Missy-ET EX-92
  Dam of Brookview-E Moviestar Very Good-86 who is the dam of the popular Mogul son MR Moviestar Mardi Gras (+2470 gTPI).
• De-Su 199 Chart Topper VG-85
  HOUSAF000069490353
  Watson x O Man x Wesswood-HC Rudy Missy-ET EX-92
  1st Choice Numero Uno sold for $79,000 at World Classic Sale 2011
  Dam of high genomic sons De-Su 11236 Balisto (by Bookem +2446 gTPI) and De-Su Mg Davinci 11288 (by Mogul +2442 gTPI).
• Pine-Tree 2149Robst 4846-ET VG-85
  HOUSAM000069804610
  Robust x Zenith x Shottle x Pine-Tree Missy Martha-ET VG-86
  Dam of 30 progeny over +2400 gTPI. Including high genomic sons View-Home Monterey (by McCutchen +2578 gTPI), View-Home Day Missouri (by Day +2522 gTPI) and View-Home Ernhdt Tenn aka Powerball-P (by Earnhardt P +2476 gTPI).
• PINE-TREE FINLEY MINNIE EXCELLENT-91
  CAN HOUSAF000061733050
  AltaFinley x Wesswood-HC Rudy Missy-ET EX-92
  Dam of the top type bull sire by MR Sam, Pine-Tree Sid (+14 Conformation)

The Bullvine Bottom Line

From Polled, Red & White, Type and Genomics, these 7 cows and their descendants are having the biggest impact on the Holstein breed.  While there are certainly some bloodlines from the past, such as: Roxy; Dellia; and Laurie Sheik; that have had a huge impact; these seven are the bloodlines that are having the biggest influence in today’s modern dairy breeding era.

Get original “Bullvine” content sent straight to your email inbox for free.

The horse race known as “The Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports” delivers yet again! This time, the story of its improbable winner, California Chrome, provides inspiration for dairy breeders to believe that it’s possible to achieve lightning in a bottle.  The story has hit every news outlet, but there’s a message for dairy breeders too.

Photo by NBC News

In May 2008, at the Fasig-Tipton Horse Sale for 2 year olds in training, an ownership group from Northern California purchased an undersized chestnut-colored filly named Love the Chase for $30,000.  (Side note, this is the same Horse Auction Company that held the recent Day at the Derby Sale that averaged $37,000 US).  The new ownership group eager to assess their investment shipped her back across country and took her to the racetrack.

Love the Chase ran so poorly in her first three races that she was dropped into an $8,000 maiden claiming race, the lowest rung at Golden Gate Fields, a track outside of San Francisco.  When she won that race, the group met with her trainer Greg Gilchrist, and asked what should they do with her?  His response “”If you can find somebody who will give you $8,000 for her,” Gilchrist said, “I’d get rid of her right now.”

Steve and Carolyn Coburn; Denise and Perry Martin (Photo by Benoit Photo)

So the ownership group did that and two self-proclaimed “dumbasses” from the group, Steve Coburn, a press operator at a company that makes magnetic strips for credit cards and drivers’ licenses and Perry Martin, who owned a laboratory in Sacramento, Calif., that tests products such as air bags bought her for the sum of $8,000.  Coburn bought her only because his wife nixed the idea of buying a plane—too expensive for a middle-class couple from Topaz Lake, Nevada and the other, Martin, was testing his luck in racing for the first time.  The men had never met, but they were bound by their affection for the filly.With new trainer Monty Meier, they took the filly back to the track and matched her against $12,500 claimers.  However, they got the same result.  She finished last.  They dropped her back down against the $8,000 claimers and returned to the track.  She still finished dead last. Her future was in doubt.

Not to be dismayed by these poor results, the now registered “Dumb Ass Partners” shocked everyone when they announced that they planned to breed the undersized and underperforming mare.  Like the show heifer that is at the bottom of every class.

Now this is where the story gets interesting for dairy breeders.  Without any expertise, Martin began studying Love the Chase’s pedigree and discovered she was two generations removed from Mr. Prospector, a classic sire and successful sprinter in the 1970s, three generations removed from Northern Dancer, another top-line sire and winner of the 1964 Kentucky Derby, and although tracing the pedigree any further back would have struck most seasoned breeders as pointless, he found a connection to Swaps, winner of the 1955 Kentucky Derby.

After a failed attempt to breed Love The Chase to a top stallion, the owners paired their horse with Lucky Pulpit, a 10-year-old who had won three times in 22 starts.  They paid a modest stud fee of $2,000.  This time it took. Their breeding investment was now $10,000.

Almost a year later, Love The Chase gave birth to a 137-pound, chestnut-colored colt that had four white feet and a white blaze down his nose.  In racing, white is known as “chrome.”  So California Chrome was one of the names Coburn, Martin and their wives wrote on scrap paper and threw into a hat when they gathered one day at a restaurant. , Their waitress picked the winning name.

About two years later, California Chrome was ready to race, and Coburn and Martin wanted to run him in Southern California, where he would be matched against better competition.  However, they needed a trainer.  Art Sherman, the Dumb Ass Partners, learned, had been the exercise rider on none other than Swaps, the 1955 Kentucky Derby winner six generations removed from California Chrome.  Who better to care for their horse, they decided, than a trainer who at 18 rode a railway car with Swaps and slept in the same boxcar with the horse on a three-day trip from Los Angeles to Louisville.

California Chrome’s Jockey, Victor Espinoza , used to train Jack asses and his trainer, Art Sherman, is the oldest winner in history of the Kentucky Derby. (Photo by: Jamie Rhodes/USA Today Sports)

They told Sherman they wanted him to train “our Derby horse” and explained they had a typed-up plan to get their horse to the big race.  Sherman, who once moonlighted at the betting windows to help pay the bills, chuckled at their naiveté.  After all, he had won more than 3,000 times as a jockey and a trainer, yet had never raced on or trained a Kentucky Derby horse.

In December, California Chrome won the King Glorious Stakes, followed by another victory in the California Derby Cup.  Next, in the San Felipe Stakes, he faced open company, top-caliber horses from outside of California.  With the pressure ostensibly mounting as post time approached, Coburn jauntily handed out purple hats with the donkey insignia and invited fans into the paddock area as they saddled up their horse and lifted Espinoza, the one-time donkey-riding jockey, atop California Chrome.  The horse blazed to victory, after which Coburn passed out more purple hats and invited fans into the winner’s circle.

Photo by: UPI/John Sommers

Soon after, Martin and Coburn reported, they got an offer of $6 million for 51 percent control of California Chrome.  They were vague in public about the details, with Coburn saying only that the offer came from the Middle East.  Nevertheless, they were clear about their answer: “Hell no.”

Photo by: APphoto_Santa Anita Horse Racing

In early April, when racing fans wondered if these first timers would match their horse against other Kentucky Derby hopefuls in the Santa Anita Derby, the answer was “Hell yes.”  California Chrome romped to victory, giving him four consecutive victories by a combined 24 1/4 lengths, increased his earnings to $1,134,850 and stamped him as the favorite to win the Kentucky Derby.

This past week, while the blue-blood owners and their famous trainers stayed in $1,000-a-night rooms in downtown Louisville, Coburn, Martin and their wives  stayed at the Hampton Inn in Frankfurt, an hour long drive from Churchill Downs racetrack.  Coburn had announced to anyone who would listen that, on Saturday, they would collect $2 million and the red roses reserved for the Kentucky Derby winner.  That is exactly what they did.  It was redemption for  a jockey who used to train “jack asses” (donkeys) it was redemption, for a slow-running filly-turned-mare and redemption for a couple of self-proclaimed dumb asses.

California Chrome owners Steven Coburn, right, and Perry Martin hold the trophy after Victor Espinoza rode California Chrome to victory in the 140th running of the Kentucky Derby horse race at Churchill Downs Saturday, May 3, 2014, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

The Bullvine Bottom Line

Today one of the significant differences between the thoroughbred horse industry and dairy cattle breeding is the use of genomics.  Much of the breeding in the thoroughbred industry is still done by “gut feel” versus proven numbers. , That is why performance and track records for over 60 years have failed to improve.  Where would horse racing be with a tool like genomics? Still, the heartwarming story of California Chrome, gives hope to dairy breeders, who are in it for the love more than money.

Get original “Bullvine” content sent straight to your email inbox for free.

Have you ever clicked on a link that a Facebook friend posted, not sure when you did it what you were going to see but figured it was worth trying? Then,  20 minutes and several clicks later, you find yourself engrossed in someone’s blog, reading post after post because you’re learning, inspired, or intrigued. That is exactly what happened to me when I clicked on a link marked Why I Farm. And this is what I found:

In this era where you see and hear so much that is negative about farming and agribusiness, it was special to watch this video of Michelle Stewart from Sheridan IL talking about how farming is the  gift that she never saw coming. She tells  how she has been blessed and, because of that, she feels giving back to the community has never been more important.

After watching that video, I just had to see more.  So I watched the story of Loretta Lyons telling about  losing her husband at age 36 in 1976 and then being  faced with the  difficult choice  of selling the farm and going back to teaching or becoming a dairy farmer.  Here is her story about how she let God lead the way.

Thinking that there was no way I could be touched any further, I then came across the story of Sonny Beck.  Just like Sonny, one of my fondest  memories is driving the Farm-All tractor at a very young age. Listening to Sonny talk reminded me of my grandfather, and the values he instilled in his family.  Here was something I see in every farmer I have known.

The Bullvine Bottom Line

So the next time you find yourself questioning why you do what you do or even if you just need a quick pick me up after  a  bad-image-for-farming day in the media, take the time to check out “Why I Farm”.

Hard work, dedication passion, and faith….are just a few of the words that describe a farmer.  Join Beck’s Hybrids in honoring the farmer.  Watch more great videos here.

Please like and share to help spread the positive farming message!!!!

Get original “Bullvine” content sent straight to your email inbox for free.

With over 2 million visits to the Bullvine website so far, it has certainly been a busy year.  The following are the 13 most read articles of 2013:

13. Fortune Favors the Bold – Four A.I. Companies that are Taking On the World

In an industry where a few major players dominate the world market it can be very intimidating for new participants  to enter the marketplace.  But that is exactly what AI Total, DairyBullsOnline, Jetstream and Trans America Genetics are doing.  Read more – Fortune Favors the Bold – Four A.I. Companies that are Taking On the World

12. Top Sires North American Breeders Are Using

One question we are asked very often is “How much are genomic sires being used?”  To help answer that question the Bullvine looked at daughter registrations to see  what sires breeders are actually using.  The following is what we found:  Top Sires North American Breeders Are Using

11. No Cow Is Perfect – Not Even in Pictures

“If steroids are illegal for athletes, then shouldn’t Photoshop be illegal for models?” That is the question that inspired us to write our 11^th most read article of 2013.  Toplines that have had “hair” added, udder texture that has been enhanced and teat placement that has been corrected all seem to be more prevalent than ever.  Check out just what is going on in the world of dairy cattle photography and photos – No Cow Is Perfect – Not Even in Pictures

10. 16 Sires Every Dairy Breeder Should Look At For Their Breeding Programs

If you are like most breeders, between the time spent sorting through the many different lists from around the world and listening to the propaganda the A.I. companies put out promoting their sires, the hype is enough to make a breeder’s head spin.  In order to bring clarity to the confusion, the Bullvine filtered through the many lists, brought them into a common base and  developed the following four categories of sires that you should take a look  at for your specific breeding program.  Check out the 16 Sires Every Dairy Breeder Should Look at for Their Breeding Programs

9. 30 Sires that will produce Feed Efficient Cows

Commercial milk producers want to breed cows that have high feed conversion efficiency, that avoid culling and that take the least extra care or staff time.  The problem is where do you find a list of the bulls that will do all  that?  Well here at the Bullvine we developed that list for you.  Check out – 30 Sires that will produce Feed Efficient Cows

8. The Winners of the 2012 Breeder’s Choice Awards Are…

In the age of American Idol, Dancing with the Stars and countless other franchises where the fans decide the outcome, it’s about time for Dairy Breeders to join the decision-making fun.  That is why the Bullvine  created the Breeder’s Choice Awards.  The Breeder’s Choice Awards celebrates fan favorites in the show ring, index cows, sires and bovine celebrities.  It stands alone as the only major award where real people – not industry insiders – determine the winners.  With over 3000 dairy breeders casting almost 8000 votes in a one week period for their favorites in 21 different categories, the inaugural Breeder’s Choice Awards were certainly a big hit.  Find out  who won by reading The Winners of the 2012 Breeder’s Choice Awards Are…

7. August 2013 Holstein Sire Evaluation Highlights From Around the World

No one has the time to pour over all the different lists, from all the different countries….well no one but those of us here at The Bullvine.  Maybe that’s why unbiased genetic evaluation reviews are so extremely popular.  Check out August 2013 Holstein Sire Evaluation Highlights From Around the World, to see  what everyone is reading.

6. 12 Sires to Use in Order to Reduce Inbreeding

When you look at the sires of the top 100 genomic young sires lists, you notice a  variety of sires with 30 bulls siring the top 100 sires.  However, a pedigree analysis on only the paternal side reveals that 90 percent of the bulls either have Oman, Planet or Shottle represented as the sire or grandsire.  The remaining 10 bulls represent genetic diversity.  However, the list needs further refining because 3 of the 10 remaining bulls have Oman’s sire or Shottle’s sire in their pedigree.  That leaves seven bulls with unique sires among the Holstein breed’s elite.  To help guide breeders in dealing with this inbreeding issue, we decided to look for outcross sires either proven or genomic tested sires that would offer breeders the near maximum genetic gain while providing the needed diversity.  The following is what we found: 12 Sires to Use in Order to Reduce Inbreeding

5.  Some Cows Just Want to Dance…

On an average day we get about 100-120 different comments on our website, Facebook page and other social media sites about how dairy cattle showing is inhumane and unethical.  Now fortunately we do have filters and staff setup to handle this, but it still got me thinking about this issue.  Is dairy cattle showing cruel and unusual treatment, or is it that the general public doesn’t understand that some cows just want to dance?  Check out Some Cows Just Want to Dance… to find out.

4.  I’m Sorry, But I’ve Had Just About Enough Of…

I like to believe that I am someone who sees the best in people.  Even if someone might rub me the wrong way at first, I try my hardest to give that person the benefit of the doubt.  That being said, if I’m being completely honest, there is one person out there that I’m really at my wits’ end with.  I’d even go as far as to say this person sometimes has taken things too far.  Read our 4th most read article of 2013 I’m Sorry, But I’ve Had Just About Enough Of…, to find out just who that person is.

3. RF Goldwyn Hailey Unbeatable?

Throughout her reign, Hailey has faced some stiff competition and still came out on top.  From the likes of the living legend, Harvue Roy Frosty, to the fan favorite, Ebyholme Goldwyn Marcia, Hailey has faced the best.  Each time Hailey rose to the challenge and came out victorious.  Until this one time…  Read more in RF Goldwyn Hailey Unbeatable?

2. Your Barn Is On Fire!

What would you do if you were awakened in the middle of the night to thumping and banging on your doors and windows, only  to discover  that 30 years of your hard work was burning to the ground?  That is exactly what happened to two time Master Breeder Clarence Markus.  Read more in our 2^nd most read story of 2013 – Your Barn Is On Fire!

1.  Fantasy Exhibitor – World Dairy Expo 2013

Everyone has heard of or participated in Fantasy Football, Baseball or Hockey games.  Now the Bullvine is bringing that excitement to the dairy show ring.  The competition that took the show scene by storm is now complete.  With 5293 entries, the inaugural Fantasy Exhibitor© competition far surpassed our expectations.  – See more in Fantasy Exhibitor – World Dairy Expo 2013 – The Results

The Bullvine Bottom Line

A lot has changed since 2012, (Read more: The Top 10 of 2012 – The most read articles of 2012) in both the dairy industry as well as here at the Bullvine.  Looking ahead to 2014, I am sure things will continue to change.  It certainly has been a very busy year and these 13 articles were among the most talked about in the industry.  Thanks again for your continued readership and support.

Get original “Bullvine” content sent straight to your email inbox for free.

As we close the year, we invite you to look back with us at the highlights from articles published in 2013. With almost two years logged in, we at The Bullvine are more enthusiastic than ever about the dairy industry people we meet. It is a privilege to share their enthusiasm and insights with our readers. With more than 250 articles to choose from, choosing the best is like trying to choose a favorite from the lineup in the milking parlor. There is something special about each one.  The twelve articles that follow are the ones that we found the most timely, useful or relevant. Many of them struck an emotional chord as well in the areas of cows, people, cattle breeding and the dairy industry. These are the 12 that kept us clicking away day and night so that our readers can catch the enthusiasm.  We hope you enjoyed them!  We certainly did!

12. 30 Sires That Will Produce Feed Efficient Cows

You can’t come to the end of one year and the beginning of the next without making a list.  Dairy breeders love lists. One of the most popular was “30 sires that will produce feed efficient cows.”  With feed the biggest cost on farm, it stands to reason that even minor genetic gains in feed efficiency would resonate with dairy breeders. We couldn’t leave the list dealing with inbreeding out of our choices because with genomics there are rising concerns about inbreeding. So let’s make it a “Baker’s Dozen” and include the popular list “12 Sires to Reduce Inbreeding”.

11. Halter, Pen and Gavel.  That’s Just the Norm

While keeping Bullvine readers updated on the industry events, marketing and science of the dairy industry, one of the highlights for us is getting to know the people working in each of these areas. Whether it’s behind the scenes, in the show ring or in a laboratory there are many fine people dedicated to improving our industry. We treasure the opportunity to share dialogue with the likes of  Richard Caverly (Richard Caverly A Passion for Perfection) and Paul Ekstein (PAUL EKSTEIN – 2013 Recipient of the Prestigious McKown Master Breeder Award). It is one of the special perks of editing The Bullvine that our day to day experiences are touched people such as Norm Nabholz (HALTER, PEN and GAVEL. That’s Just the Norm)

10. Lies, Miss-Truths and False Publication

A true top 12 list from The Bullvine has to recognize that not everything or everyone we deal with in the dairy industry will come up smelling like roses. That’s why we have inaugurated “The Marketing Code of Conduct” and it was certainly the case when we reviewed concerns over accuracy of genomic indexes. “Lies, Miss-Truths and False Publications!”. The Bullvine doesn’t back away from the touchy subjects. These are but two examples of our desire to source, write and share facts that are honest, accurate and a reliable basis for breeder decision making.

9. Lessons from Andrea Crowe. What You Do Every Day Defines Your Life.

Sometimes sunshine and shadow come simultaneously into the human stories that weave their way into our hearts.  Andrea Crowe is one of those stories that both lift our hearts up and breaks them.  Here was a young woman who embodied the real meaning of dairy breeding passion. While her time here was far too short, her enthusiasm for dairying and focus on breeding the Canadian Kind set a shining example for all of us what can be achieved through day to day joyful dedication. (Lessons From Andrea Crowe: What You Do Every Day Defines Your Life!)

8. How Got Milk Became Got Lost

As much as it’s a lot more fun to share only the good news, sometimes at the Bullvine we are required to take the iconic image of milk the perfect food and provide a more realistic view of how the marketplace is evolving.  We have to listen to the end user. We can’t continue to let narrow focus override finding the consumer and serving them the milk products they want. Laying blame won’t stem the downward trend of the dairy industry.  At the end of the day, we are only sustainable if we have consumers who like — and consume — the product we produce. If we fail to meet their needs we might indeed find a reason to cry over spilled milk.  (MILK MARKETING: How “Got Milk?” BECAME “Got Lost” and Got Milk” is becoming “Got More”)

7. Australia: Is Down Under Going Under?

A lot of news is channelled through The Bullvine.  Sometimes as many as 12 articles and news items a day. At one point we picked up on news out of Australia and wrote “Is Down Under Going Under?”  You might say this focus was more provoking than provocative for Australian dairy breeders  Di and Dean Malcolm who took the time to provide their viewpoint on the situation. The bright side is that the resulting dialogue produced two articles “Gobsmacked in Australia” and “Forward in Five Gears”. The continuing correspondence between The Bullvine and the editor of Crazy Cow Magazine has been mutually enjoyable and a fine example of the international connections dairying opens up for us.

6. North Florida Holsteins. Aggressive, Progressive and Profitable

There are many different ways to find success in the dairy business and Don Bennink is clearly forging new paths at North Florida Holsteins. (NORTH FLORIDA HOLSTEINS. Aggressive, Progressive and Profitable!!)  North Florida Holsteins is the single largest dairy in Florida and is home to roughly 4800 cows and 4400 heifers.  Don is passionate about both the possibilities and the problems facing the dairy industry today. “We have tools available to fix the problem within our breed. The future is to be had by those that please the commercial producer and the consumer.”  Bennink`s views on cattle longevity are a wake-up call to all dairy producers.

5. Dairy Farm Moms Are Unstoppable

It’s not every day that the dairy industry makes national headlines or is featured on “Live with Kelly and Michael”. When the popular television show featured Mary Lou King “Dairy Farm Moms are Unstoppable” and it was positive for everyone. Mary Lou was cast into the national spotlight and like “The Farmer” Super Bowl commercial her story has done wonders to portray the dairy industry in a positive light. The past year saw many shining moments for agriculture (Farming with the Stars) and Mary Lou King is a shining example of what makes Dairy Farm Moms are Unstoppable.

4. This Bullvine Son is Unstoppable Too

Speaking of unstoppable, there just had to be a place in my 2013 Editor’s Choice listing for our “unstoppable” son, Andrew. Little did we know twenty-two months ago that the Bullvine would become such a driving force in our day to day lives. Husband Murray and I love agriculture and our careers and home have revolved around dairying.  When Andrew came up with the novel idea of an online magazine, we were excited to join in. The great ideas have kept on coming from contests, to controversy, including this year’s fabulously successful Fantasy Exhibitor Contests at World Dairy Expo and the Royal Winter Fair.

3. KHW Regiment Apple-Red:  Beauty, Performance and Record Accomplishments

No matter how you slice it, dairy history was made in Madison Wisconsin in October 2013. Side by side – three Apples — had their shining moment in the spotlight at World Dairy Expo and set new benchmarks at the top of the ladder of show ring success. (KHW Regiment Apple-Red – Beauty, performance, and even more record accomplishments) Never before was the red carpet so gloriously Red and dominated by a single family!  While the crowd roared their approval of the final placings assigned “Bing, Bang, Boom!” by Judge Michael Heath, the record books took note that for the first time ever one special cow not only earned Reserve Grand Champion but was flanked on each side by the Grand Champion, her clone, and, on the other side by her daughter, the Honorable Mention Grand Champion. Many people are putting the genes of this cherry red Apple into their herds and for good reason. The Apple family are an investor’s dream and – already proving that they are capable of bushels of success.

2. Cassy Krull – Success Without A Stopwatch

At the Bullvine, we are provided with a front row seat from some of the most special moments in the dairy industry.  Being at ringside when Cassy Krull won the Merle Howard Award easily rises to the top of those experiences!  We have shared the successes of many dairy industry icons and two things always stand out when we interview these award winners.  They work hard and they are humble. We were inundated with people who wanted to know more about Cassy Krull and her journey to the winner’s circle. She found it exciting too! “Winning the Merle Howard Award is by far the most humbling achievement I have received. To receive such an honorable award helps put all the hard work into perspective. I like to watch the presentation every year to see who they recognize. Little did I know I would ever be able to stand next to the other amazing recipients of the Merle Howard Award. I am truly honored and blessed to have been selected for this milestone achievement in my life.” A shining example for all to emulate. (Cassy Krull – Success Without a Stopwatch)

1. World dairy Expo Proposal! First Comes Cows Than Comes Vows!

And so we come to the Editor’s Choice that stands out in a year of outstanding experiences. When it comes to connecting with people – and especially in the dairy industry – it is always comes down to the love story! This was never truer than in October 2013 when the cameras flashed capturing Mark Hornbostel’s proposal to Bryn Quick in the timeless dairy setting of World Dairy Expo.  “First Come Cows.  Then Comes Vows!” rocked the romantics, not only of the dairy world, but from coast to coast.  For us, this story represents how dairy dreams can grow into personal fulfillment.  It wasn’t the first time that we spoke to dairy breeders who along with their spouses put dairy cattle first on their list.  For the Bullvine, it is completely natural that the #1 Editor’s Choice would be a heartfelt proposal based on lifelong dairy devotion.  We wish all the best to Mark and Bryn and all the dairy romantics who love dairying with all their hearts.

THE BULLVINE BOTTOM LINE

And so, as 2013 rolls to a close, we thank you our readers for giving us the opportunity to do what we love.  We are constantly inspired by your passion and commitment.   We are grateful to each one of you who took the time from your very busy lives to interview with us. Your insight on the widely ranging facets of our industry inspires everyone! We thank our readers too! It is thrilling to hear your responses that encourage us to constantly strive to push the envelope in the hope of making a difference in dairying. Every day it is our fervent wish that you will pick “the best story ever!”  off of The Bullvine.

Get original “Bullvine” content sent straight to your email inbox for free.

Every year the week after the Royal Winter Fair, it seems like everyone ends up with “The Royal Flu.”  Now doctors might try to explain it away as the result of being in and out of cold environments, or poor diet combined with lack of sleep, lots of drinking and poor air quality, but I think there is something else to it.  I think the Royal Flu is more likely the result of our bodies mourning the end of what was another amazing show season.

There is no question that for those passionate breeders who love to take cattle out to all the spring, summer and fall shows the grind that it puts on their bodies is insane.  And that does not even factor in the amount of work it takes back home at the farm to have these amazing cattle in show shape.  However, for those of us who appreciate and have been fortunate to attend most of these major shows this year, I want to say thanks to all the breeders and exhibitors who have made this year’s show season so exciting.

Spring show fever

Every year starts with the excitement and promise of what could be.  And while in the heifer and young cow classes this is true, this year we saw RF Goldwyn Hailey, last year’s Supreme Champion at World Dairy Expo and The Royal looking probably the best she has ever looked.  This was especially true at the NY Spring Carousel, the “Expo” of the spring shows.  Hailey looked absolutely amazing!  (Read more: RF Goldwyn Hailey Rides to the Top Spot at NY Spring Carousel).

RF Goldwyn Hailey
Swept grand champion honors at all 3 major spring shows and looked the best I have ever seen her at NY Spring Carousel.

It was also at NY Spring show that we started to see Charwill Attic Marcy start to step out of the shadow of R-E-W Happy Go Lucky and show her dominance in the Senior 2 year old class.  Every time I had the opportunity to see Marcy she looked better and better culminating in her dominating wins at both Expo and The Royal.  (Read more: Canadian National Holstein Show Results)  I certainly am excited at the prospect of the two great young cows calving again and going head to head to see just who has the potential to be the next great one.

Charwill Attic Marcy
Winner of both Expo and The Royal – Marcy dominated every show she went to in 2013

Then of course there is always the excitement that builds around which heifers will ring the bell.  And while early winners like Ontario Spring Show Junior Champion Winright Sid Elegance managed to contend all year long, others seemed to peak early and fall off the radar as the year went along.  (Read more: Ontario Spring Discovery – Nothing Slipped Past Judge “Crack” and Quebec Spring Holstein Show Results)

Things start to get hotter in the summer

It was in the summer that we started to see things really start to heat up.  At  the Quebec provincial championship we saw Roquet Jasmine Sanchez upset RF Goldwyn Hailey, though Hailey had been milking over a year at that point (Read more: Expo Provinciale Montmagny – Holstein Show 2013 and RF Goldwyn Hailey Unbeatable?).  It was also at that show that I saw two fairly fresh cows – Bonaccueil Maya Goldwyn and Belfast Goldwyn Lasenza.  Here were two cows that I pegged for success at that point and who would certainly make a lot of noise in the fall.

Expo Provincial Montmagny marked the first time in over a year that Hailey had been beat in any form (never in class). It was also where I first discovered that Maya would be a force this year.

Things were also starting to get interesting in Ontario as well.  Calbrett Goldwyn Layla had recently freshened and won grand at Ontario Summer Show and was followed closely behind by the very popular Valleyville Rae Lynn, who had won one of the greatest senior three-year-old classes I have ever seen in my life.  (Read more: Ontario Summer Show Holstein Results).  Layla would sell just a few days later for $125,000 to Comestar Holsteins and Ponderosa Holsteins at the Cormdale Summer Sale.  (Read more: Cormdale Summer Sale 2013 Results)

Valleyville Rae Lynn
Dominant early in the year, Rae Lynn is due to calve in time for World Dairy Expo next year!!!!

It was also at the Summer Show that we got our first glimpses of Futurecrest Aftershock Tahlia the very impressive Aftershock daughter from the All Canadian Salem Goldwyn Theresa EX-94, who would go on to win at the Autumn Opportunity Show (Read more: Autumn Opportunity 2013 Holstein Show) as well as become the 2^nd highest seller at the Sale of Stars.  (Read more: Sale of Stars Averages $19,344).

Futurecrest Aftershock Tahlia
Undefeated in 2013 this Aftershock daughter from the All Canadian Salem Goldwyn Theresa EX-94
sold for $150,000 in the Sale of Stars.

It was also late summer/early fall   that we saw another great senior three year old class, with Cowtown Durham Grasshopper upsetting the 2012 All-American and All-Canadian Butz-Butler Gold Barbara at Harrisburg (Read more:  2013 All American Black and White Holstein Show).

If three is one thing we where reminded again and again is that on any given day, even some of the greatest show cows in the world can be beet.

It was also at Harrisburg that Cameron Ridge Atwood Beauty earned her second  of what would be three top show Junior Champion awards for her new owners Chris & Jennifer Hill & Gene Iager, who purchased Beauty in that International Intrigue sale for $62,000.  Beauty would go on to be named Junior Champion at Expo.  (Read more: International Intrigue at Ferme Blondin Sale Results 2013).

Cameron Ridge Atwood Beauty
Was junior champion at three major shows, including Expo, and was purchased mid season for $62,000 at the International Intrigue Sale.

The stars shine bright in the fall

While the spring and summer shows are nice, what really matters are the fall shows.  More specifically Expo and The Royal.  This year we decided to add a little extra excitement to these two big shows with the introduction of our Fantasy Exhibitor Contests.  (Read more:  Fantasy Exhibitor – World Dairy Expo 2013 Edition – The Results!  and Royal Winter Fair Fantasy Exhibitor – The Results)  The response to this competition was amazing.  Expect some new exciting features for 2014.  While Fantasy Exhibitor was great, it could not compare to the shows themselves.  Having been to so many of the spring and fall shows, our expectations were certainly high coming into Expo and as usual the show did not disappoint.  From the outstanding success of the KHW Regiment Apple-Red Family to seeing the living legend Oold Mill E Snickerdoodle OCS, Expo put on a show like none other.  (Read more: KHW Regiment Apple-Red – Beauty, performance, and even more record accomplishments, History Made At the 2013 International Red & White Show and The 12 Greatest North American Colored Breed Show Cattle of All-Time)

KHW Regiment Apple-Red
In combination with her clone (Grand) and her daughter (HM Grand) Apple set a new record of achievement that will probably never be duplicated, by sweeping the top honors at the World Dairy Expo Red & White Show.

The memory that will certainly last a lifetime for me is when Judge Justin Burdette named Bonaccueil Maya Goldwyn as Grand Champion.  (Read more:  World Dairy Expo 2013 – Memories to last a Lifetime and World Dairy Expo 2013 Holstein Show Results) That wasn’t just because we had predicted that she would win (Read more: World Dairy Expo 2013 Holstein Show Preview – Everything You Need To Know To Get Ready For the Show).  Having known the Jacobs family for many years, and having always been amazed by their great cattle and extreme passion for the business, it was great to see them win such an honor.  (Read more: FERME JACOBS: SUCCESS IS ALL IN THE FAMILY!)

Bonaccueil Maya Goldwyn
After winning Grand Champion at WDE, Maya has pretty much become an overnight sensation. We here at the Bullvine would like to think that we where fans before all this happened.

The stars start to fall

MS Goldwyn Alana
After being 2nd at WDE, Alana went on to be Grand at the Quebec International Show and HM Grand at The Royal.

As we started to enter the home stretch, with only two major shows left, you could certainly start to feel the flu bug starting to set in.  Maybe it was the thousands of miles travelled and the hours of hard work, but the winds of change where blowing.  In what would be a foreshadowing of  the Royal, Judge Adam Little made MS Goldwyn Alana his Grand Champion followed by Robrook Goldwyn Cameron and Maya having to settle for HM Grand Champion honors (Read more:  Expo Internationale Holstein Québec Results).

Aingers Advent Bambi
In what was expected to be a two horse race (Rae Lynn and Barbara), Bambi surprised many by winning Intermediate Champion at both Quebec International Show and The Royal.

Also foreshadowing the Royal were the Intermediate Champion Aingers Advent Bambi, the impressive 3^rd calf senior 3 year old and HM Intermediate Champion Charwill Attic Marcy as well as the Junior Champion Fanico Reginald Marty and Reserve Junior Champion Comestar Larion Goldwyn.

Calbrett Goldwyn Layla
Layla has a way of surprising people. She did at Ontario Summer Show and then again at The Royal.
Guess it’s genetic, as her dam the great Lila Z was also great at surprising people.

With change being the major theme, Judge John Crowley certain kept the momentum going at The Royal.  While the Royal results were not that different than those of Quebec, there was certainly one major change, in that Maya did not only not win Grand, she was also defeated in her own class by Calbrett Goldwyn Layla.  That meant two major upsets this year (Rae Lynn at Summer Show, and Maya at the Royal) by this Goldwyn daughter of the great Lylehaven Lila Z, a cow who in her own right stirred much discussion when she sold for $1.15 million.  (Read more:  Lylehaven Lila Z: Was She Really Worth $1.15 Million?).

Cookview Goldwyn Monique
Maybe Monique should be named “The Brides Maid” as she was Reserve Grand Champion
at both World Dairy Expo and The Royal.

Also generating a lot of discussion at the Royal was the naming of Cookview Goldwyn Monique Reserve Grand Champion.  While she certainly did not start the show looking her best, she did come on strong and looked impressive by the time Grand Champion was named.  Her rear udder looked fuller and she moved with great ease. While some would not have even had her in their final parade, by the time it came to name Grand Champion, most at ringside felt that there was no doubt that it would be the two 4 year olds.  Monique earned Reserve and the class winner Robrook Goldwyn Cameron was named Grand Champion.

Robrook Goldwyn Cameron
Stepping out from Monique’s shaddow, Cameron certainly shown bright at The Royal wining Grand Champion honors.

Seeing Tom and Kelli Cull embrace after Cameron was named grand champion certainly epitomizes what is great about the show ring.  Tom and Kelli are great examples of passionate dairy enthusiasts, they show, board and sell great cattle.  They so love the show ring and their passion and dedication is 2^nd to none.  Their success is truly a result of having the show “bug” and it was wonderful for them to achieve this amazing honor.

Congratulations to Tom and Kelli Cull. Your passion and dedication to the show ring is second to none.

The Bottom Line

Yes, there remains the excitement of the All-Canadian and All-American Awards.  And don’t forget the Breeders Choice Awards which is the only major award where you the dairy enthusiast get to decide who was the best from the past year.  However, the actual shows for the 2013 season are over.

The memories are great and, of course, we will always have the pictures.  There is no question that we feel the letdown as we put away the show halters, boxes and whites for another year.  There is a part of me that once again is suffering from the “Royal Flu” at the end of another exciting show year.  Thanks to all the Breeders, Exhibitors and to you our readers for helping to make this year so exceptional. .  Of course spring shows are just around the corner.

Get original “Bullvine” content sent straight to your email inbox for free.

Rumors, slander and outright lies have been flying around our industry lately.  What large genetic operation has had “changes” in their make-up?  What A.I. company is about to hit the news?  It’s shocking the number of rumors that come across my desk hoping we will fuel the fires that they are afraid to face.  Everyone loves to hear gossip (especially about someone else), but few are willing to take a public stand.  That is why I commend those that do put their money where their mouth is.  There is no question that “The Spineless Will Be Forgotten.”

Since starting the Bullvine, we have been accused of many things and have had rumors about us run rampant through the dairy industry.  Sometimes I laugh. Sometimes I snap.  Sometimes I “rip someone a new one.”  (Read more: Genomics – Lies, Miss-Truths and False Publications! and The Weak Never Forgive) One thing is certain. , We have never been afraid to take a stand.  Of course that means that we have taken heat for some of our tactics.  But you know what? No one can accuse us of ducking for cover and being spineless.

If You Can’t Take the Heat Get Out of the Kitchen

Everyone wants to be everyone’s friend or, at least publically, appear that way.  However, when the chips are down and it’s time to be counted, where are they?  I find it disappointing that some of the individuals who have the most to say and proclaim their dairy industry wisdom to anyone listening on the sidelines run for the hills when it comes time to support what is right and perhaps take some heat for it.

“As an industry the only way we are going to move forward is by taking bold positions.”  Many want to become “legends” but are unwilling to put their butts on the line in order to do so.  The truth is   that boldness is the very trait that made great industry leaders like Peter Heffering.  (Read more: Hanover Hill Holsteins: Peter Heffering 1931-2012) The fact was that they were willing to take the risk and stand up for and act upon what they believed in.

When I first started the Bullvine, I said that within one year we would be the largest digital dairy magazine in the world.  The strange thing is that by choosing to take the harder road, that is exactly what happened.  I look at some other publications that started over 10 years ago and see that they have become stagnant.  Sure they party with the show guys and they kiss the right butts, but obviously that isn’t what it takes to be truly successful in today’s information age.  For us, we decided to talk about issues that others fear to address (Read more: Dairy Marketing Code of Conduct, Ethics and Drugs )  We risk trying new things that others won`t even attempt (Read more: Fantasy Exhibitor and Breeder’s Choice Awards).  By taking the hard road we have achieved exactly what others can only dream of.

The Higher they Rise the Harder the Fall

They say “The road to the top is easy, it’s the fall that will kill you.”  That thought probably scares the crap out of most people.  Our road to becoming the largest daily digital dairy readership has not been what you would call smooth, so I can only imagine what the fall could be like.  But you know what?  Bring it on!  “Attitude determines altitude!” That motto has been successful for us so far.  It will help us continue to be successful in the future.  We are not willing to sit back and rest on our laurels.  Instead we always push the envelope.  We will always look for new and different ways to bring you   insights into the dairy genetics world.

The Bullvine Bottom Line

There are always two choices. Two paths to take. One is easy. And the only reward is that it’s easy.  The other is hard.  You must know who you are and what you stand for.  You must know where you want to go and why you want to get there.  Great dairy industry leaders did this and that is why we remember them. When you have to make a choice and don’t make it, that is also a choice.  Be courageous because “The Spineless Will Be Forgotten.”

Get original “Bullvine” content sent straight to your email inbox for free.

While attending a local monthly dairy cow sale this week I was approached by a young dairyman who said to me You need to write (in the Bullvine) about our dairy cows getting too tall and too narrow. This dairyman in explaining his position, that today’s cows are too extreme in stature and width, shared with me that he sees all the cows going through this monthly sale as he helps receive, pen, number and milk the cows as they are received the morning of the sale or a day or two previous to the sale. As I drove home from the sale I pondered his question.

My first recollection of thinking about the width of cows goes back to my 4H training. My three dedicated 4H leaders were three very different people. One was an educator, one a very successful farmer-milk producer and one a prominent show judge who had judged national shows in a number of breeds. The educator did not care about what a cow looked like, but did care about preparing me for life. The milk producer wanted his cows to be good converts of his high quality feed into large volumes of 4% fat milk. And the show judge wanted Holstein cows to be taller but was satisfied with the stature of the cows in the other dairy breeds. Each leader helped me in different ways and I think back now to the trend, that started half a century ago, to taller and taller Holsteins. That trend may not have had much science associated with it.

As I drove on Tuesday, my mind fast forwarded to my early days in managing Holstein Canada’s Type Classification program. (Read more: Murray Hunt: Perspective from Both Sides of the Fence) There was a requirement that a cow had to be 56 inches tall to be eligible for Excellent. By the way she also had to have calved at least three times and have an Excellent mammary system. Annually the classifiers and breeder advisory board meet and the first meeting I attended of that group discussed why Excellent cows needed to be 56 inches (140 cm) tall.  The discussion came around to a well known show cow that was excellent in every way but she only stood 55 inches at the hip. You can well imagine the points put forward. “Holsteins need to be taller so their udders clear the ground more so you can get a milking machine under her properly”. All the way to ”if she’s good enough then stature should not matter”. In the end those saying Holstein cows needed to be taller won out.

Over the past forty years I have watched the Holstein breed as heifers and cows increased in stature to the point where first lactation cows in the show ring need to be over 62 inches in stature to place at the top of the class. But with that added 8 to 10 inches in stature comes calves that are larger at birth, animals that are narrower between their front legs and first lactation cows that appear to have less width to their rump and birth channel.  Oh, yes today’s first lactation cows are capable of producing much more milk out of much wider and more tightly attached udders. The question is has the pendulum swung too far to the side of Holsteins being too tall and lacking width of body and width of rump?

Judge Michael Heath (Right) and associate David Dyment (Left) at the 2012 World Dairy Expo

The matter of width and stature in Holsteins was on my mind, last year, as I watched Michael Heath judge the Holsteins at World Dairy Expo (Read more: World Dairy Expo 2012 Holstein Show – A Battle for the Ages) and Callum McKinven judge the Holsteins at the Royal. Both judges (Read more: The 2012 Royal Winter Fair Holstein Show – One of the greatest stories ever told), in my opinion, placed less emphasis on stature than judges in the past have done. Both emphasised the cows that were closest to the ideal cow. Finding the tallest animals and placing them first was not their guiding force. Interesting to me is the fact that both Michael and Callum also breed and judge Jerseys that are a foot shorter in height than Holsteins but the milking machines easily attach and milk Jerseys. Which may beg the question “if Holsteins were the same size as Jerseys would that be okay?”.

Judge Callum McKinven and associate Bruce Mode discuss a tough placing at the 2012 Royal Winter Fair

This brought my mind to thinking about Don Bennink’s (Read more: North Florida Holsteins: Aggressive, Progressive and Profitable) comment that show Jerseys can go to shows and go home to frees stall barns and do just fine yet today’s show Holsteins cannot. Is Don right? Do we need to get off the tall Holsteins bandwagon and have cows that have body mass and an ability to function in large group housing?

The Bullvine Bottom Line

The conformation scorecard for dairy cows placed 70% of the points on udders and feet and legs. With less than approximately 12-15% of the emphasis on body size why do we need mature Holstein cows that are over 60 inches at the hips? Too tall or too narrow, why don’t we let form follow function and let the cow that returns the most lifetime profit be our ideal?

Get original “Bullvine” content sent straight to your email inbox for free.

As I was watching the Morsan 300 Sale this week (Full results here), a recurring question kept bouncing around in my head, “Where did all the money go?”

Eastside Lewisdale Gold Missy – Grand Champion WDE and Royal ’11

What I mean is that here you have a family that pretty much funded the high-end dairy genetics marketplace since the turn of the century.  For at least the last 10 years, you would not run a sale without making sure that Morris Thalen was coming.  Morris would buy at pretty much all levels and all types of cattle.  Morsan invested in top pedigree cattle, index cattle and even unique special offer animals such as variant red and polled.  He was everyone’s dream buyer.  On top of that Morris is a great person to deal with:  very pleasant, modest and appreciative of everyone in the industry.  Therefore, that is why watching the Morsan 300 Sale raised my concerns.  Here is a family that has invested heavily and was presenting many animals with outstanding pedigrees.  Nevertheless, most of them were selling for under $4,000 and the sale averaged just over $6,023.  This is but a fraction of what the sale results would have been in the past.  Not for a minute am I suggesting any error on the part of Morsan Farms.  I actually am very impressed with the work they have done over the years (Read more:  Morsan Farms – Money Well Spent).  They have had a World Dairy Expo Grand and Supreme Champion, as well as a Red & White Champion.  They have also managed to breed high index into these cow families.  Great work by a great family.

What I do think has happened is that the industry has changed, Furthermore, Morsan themselves are great examples of this very change.  Before Morsan was a household name for winning shows and buying top cattle, they were a well-run commercial operation.  In 1998 they milked 200 commercial grade cows and today they have grown to milk 1600 to 1800 cows (80% purebred).

You see it was not the genetics market that Morris started out in.  As said previously, he actually started out in the commercial market and grew into the high-end genetics market.  I think that is something many people forget but it is key to what has happened to the industry as a whole over the past 14 years.  You see, while we watched all this money flying around at the high-end genetics sales, it was actually the evolving commercial market that was funding it.

Commercial Producers – The backbone of the high end genetics marketplace

This same phenomenon is happening in barns all around the world every day.  Commercial producers have been looking to accelerate the improvement of the cattle they milk and using high-end bulls was not doing it quickly enough.  So, with a strong US dollar and high milk price, even commercial producers were out buying better cattle.  Sure they were not buying your $100,000 show cow, but they were buying your $3,000+ fresh heifer with a nice pedigree.  In turn the breeder of that heifer was then buying your $20,000 to $30,000 dollar nice pedigree potential EX cow from some of your higher end seed stock producers. Seed stock producers would, in turn, buy your $100,000 big time show winner or high index animal.  And hence you have what I like to call the “Dairy Genetics Circle of Life.”

The problem is that this lucrative model fell apart and now the circle of life is on life support.  This isn’t because the high-end genetics market is not as good as it once was.  Genetic advancement is faster and the prices for very top animals are actually better than ever.  Genomics has brought a completely new level of breeder confidence, and bull sale prices have gone through the roof (Read more: How Much Can You Trust Genomic Young Sires?)

The problem comes at the other end of the equation.  Milk prices around the world (except in supply-managed countries like Canada) have plummeted and so has the US dollar.  This has caused the commercial market for fresh heifers to all but dry up.  Hence the rivers of cash that used to flow into the system are gone.  Commercial producer actions have caused two major changed in the marketplace.  First, years of buying these better quality cattle has greatly accelerated the genetics in their herds.  Secondly, they have become better herd managers, particularly for longevity.  No longer are their cows seen as a 1-2 year investment.  They are looking to get multiple lactations out of these animals and, as a result, this has decreased the demand for replacement animals.

The Bullvine Bottom Line

With the funding model broken, we now find those breeders that dealt in the high-end genetics marketplace having to find new business models.  Some are getting out of the high-end genetics marketplace altogether saying “It was a great ride while it lasted.”  Others are finding new markets and services aiming at commercial producers or to supply AI studs with recipients for their new genetic programs.  Then there are those who are left in limbo.  They love working with these high end cattle and want to keep pushing the envelope on genetic advancement but, more and more.  they are finding it hard to fund this passion.  They are not sure what to do now that the money is gone.

To these seed stock producers I say look for new ways to fund your model.  Is it through bull sales since female sales are a lot less than they used to be?  (Read more: Investing in Dairy Cattle Genetics – Think Outside the Box, Stop the Sale! Genomics, Chocolate and the Future of the Dairy Breeding Industry and How Genomics is Killing the Dairy Cattle Breeding Industry) Or is it through developing a product (bloodline) that you can sell directly to the commercial producer?  Any way you look at it commercial producer dollars are what fund the high-end genetics marketplace.  When the river runs dry always look at the source.  For the high end genetics marketplace the source is the commercial producer.  As the commercial producer goes so goes the rest of the industry.  Are you ready to go with the flow?

Not sure how much to spend on that great 2 year old?
Want to make sure you are investing your money wisely?
Download our Dairy Cow Investment Calculator.