The story of RAELAND LEDUC WILHELMINA’s Excellent Adventure began in Ontario where she was bred and owned by Rae and Concetta Stadder of Raeland Holsteins. They enthusiastically believed in improving genetics and made the sire choices that laid the groundwork that would come to fruition for Wilhelmina more than 2000 miles to the west at RockyMountain Holsteins of Alberta.
RAELAND LEDUC WILHELMINA EX-92-2E-CAN 5*
RES. ALL-CANADIAN JR.3-YR 2004
GRAND CALGARY SPRING 2005
In true Cinderella story fashion, the family behind Wilhelmina started at the commercial level. Her dam was RAELAND R MARKER WINNIE VG 87 2*, followed by VG85 and a VG85 2*. With each succeeding generation the family got better due to breeding for conformation. Her entire Sire Stack is at least Superior Type: Leduc x Red Marker x Lincoln x Unique x Ned.
Beautiful Wilhelmina, as a yearling heifer, attracted attention and soon she was off to the west to become a great show cow.
Goldwyn-ing Ways
If Wilhelmina is the Cinderella of this fairy tale, then Goldwyn is Prince Charming. To date there are nine Goldwyn daughters with seven in lactation classifying EX94, VG89, VG88 (2 yr), 2 VG86 (2yr) and 2 GP (2yr). It’s not too surprising that Wilhelmina would have show ring successes in 2011-2012 seeing that she carries frame and capacity and Goldwyn added the udder and refinement.
ROCKYMOUNTAIN GOLD WINTER EX-94-CAN
NOM. ALL-CANADIAN SR.3-YR 2011
HM. ALL-QUEBEC SR.3-YR 2011
Wilhelmina’s Significant Udder
Right from the start Wilhelmina’s type placed her in the top 1% of first lactation cows. By the time she was in her fourth lactation, Wilhelmina was in the top 0.1%! Here’s how she did it:
1st Lactation (106 days in milk) VG85 Mammary System VG85
2nd Lactation (152 days in milk) VG89 max Mammary System EX90
3rd Lactation (19 days in milk) EX92 max Mammary System EX90
4th lactation 2E
While type is what has distinguished Wilhelmina, her production ability should not be ignored. She grew into a great production cow as well. Her two Superior Lactation records stand out. Her three year old record (305D) was 13,135 kgs with 4.7% Fat and 3.2% Protein. Then at four years of age she produced (305D) 15,746 kgs with 4.7% Fat and 3.2% Protein. In four lactations she produced 5,975 pounds of butterfat. Wilhelmina’s production records, especially for butterfat, put her at the top for Red Carriers and cows nominated for “Cow of the Year”.
Wilhelmina Sends the Family to Make History at the Royal 2012 Ball
Years of observation and experience, would lead any judicious cattle fan to conclude that one cow cannot produce a winning Breeder’s Herd all on her own. Especially at a show of the quality of The Royal. At least, that’s what you would have said until November 2012. The RockyMountain Breeder’s herd that was 5th at the Royal Winter Fair 2012 and was nominated for All-Canadian was made up of 3 milking Goldwyn daughters of Wilhelmina. This was the first time in the history of the Royal and All-Canadian contest that 3 full sisters made up a Breeder’s Herd.
Wilhelmina’s three Goldwyn daughters RockyMountain breeders herd at the 2012 RAWF
Wilhelmina`s Daughters are True to Type
As a brood cow Wilhelmina really shines. Her sixteen daughters, none over 6 years of age, score 63% Very Good or better and 50% VG 86 or better. No wonder she is a Five Star Brood Cow. There are 8 more that were born in 2011 and 2012 sired by Fever, Goldwyn, Atwood, Braxton and Dempsey. Her daughter popularity has seen 24 of her daughters owned in 21 herds.
ROCKYMOUNTAIN GOLDWYN WINNIE VG-88-2YR-CAN
HM. ALL-WEST JR.1-YR 2011
3RD JR.2-YR ROYAL 2012
Some are already making their presence felt.
- Rocky Mountain Gold Winter Ex94 was nominated All-Canadian Senior 3 Year Old 2011.
- Rocky Mountain Gold Wishes VG89 2yr was Intermediate Champion at Quebec Spring Show 2012.
- Rocky Mountain Goldwyn Winnie VG88 2yr was 3rd Junior 2 Year Old and Best Udder in Class at the 2012 Royal and was nominated for All-Canadian.
Internationally, another Goldwyn daughter of Wilhelmina was Junior Champion at the Northern Expo and Champion Calf at the Lancashire Calf Show in 2012 in the UK.
ROCKYMOUNTAIN GOLD WISHES VG-89-2YR-CAN
HM. ALL-QUEBEC JR.2-YR 2011
2ND JR.2-YR QC INTERNATIONAL 2011
Happily Ever After
From relative obscurity to international recognition, Wilhelmina has garnered attention as a winning example of a show matriarch. Her consistent transmitting qualities are the magic wand that will guarantee that Wilhelmina`s influence is felt in breeding programs both near and far. Many look forward to happy-ever-after results from 2012 Canadian Cow of the Year Nominee, Raeland Leduc Wilhelmina EX 92 2E.
Make Your Vote Count
Over the next few days we will be profiling the nominees and encourage you to get your vote in before the deadline. There are 4 ways of voting— Voting options for Holstein Canada members include mail in ballot; faxing your ballot; emailing your vote to cowoftheyear@holstein.ca; or voting online through your Holstein Canada account. Also share this on Facebook to make sure your fellow breeders get out and vote.
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