Coming off what might have been one of the greatest World Dairy Expo’s of All-Time (Read –World Dairy Expo 2012 Holstein Show – A Battle For The Ages), there seems to be great debate about how some cows stack up in the All-Time rankings.  To help determine how we would rank the greatest North American Holstein show cows of all time, we looked at their head to head match ups as well as overall accomplishments and dominance in their era and developed the following list:

#8. VANDYK-K INTEGRITY PARADISE EX-96-2E-USA DOM 3*

VANDYK-K INTEGRITY PARADISE EX-96-2E-USA DOM 3* – Photo by Kathy Debruin

BREEDER: VANDYK-K HOLSTEINS, LYNDEN, WA, USA

OWNER: ROSEDALE GENETICS, OXFORD WI, USA

• ALL-AMERICAN MATURE COW, 4-YR, JR. 3-YR
• RES. ALL-CANADIAN 4-YR 2000
• GRAND MADISON 2002, 2000
• 1ST MATURE COW MADISON 2002
• 1ST 4-YR MADISON 2000

#7. QUALITY B C FRANTISCO EX-96-3E-CAN 18*

QUALITY B C FRANTISCO EX-96-3E-CAN 18* – Photo by Patty Jones

BREEDER/OWNER: QUALITY HOLSTEINS, VAUGHAN, ON, CAN

• ALL-CANADIAN MATURE COW, 5-YR, 4-YR, SR.3-YR, MILKING 1-YR
• HM. ALL-CANADIAN MATURE COW, SR.2-YR
• GRAND ROYAL 2005, 2004
• INT.CHAMP ROYAL 2002
• HM.GRAND ROYAL 2002

Reasons: Both Paradise (Madison) and Frantisco (Royal) were only able to win twice in their home country at a time when the border was closed. But Frantisco does win the battle when it comes to total All-American or All-Canadian awards so she wins this close battle.

#6. MERKLEY STARBUCK WHITNEY EX-CAN EX-96-5YR-USA 3*

MERKLEY STARBUCK WHITNEY EX-CAN EX-96-5YR-USA 3*

BREEDER: DAVID MERKLEY, COURTENAY, BC, CAN

EXHIBITED BY: FRASER FAMILY/ELMVUE HOLSTEINS, USA

OWNER: CHEROWN HOLSTEINS, PARIS, ON, CAN & TOKACHI LIVESTOCK MANAGEMENT, OBIHIRO-SHI, HOKKAIDO, JAPAN

• ALL-CANADIAN MATURE COW, 5-YR, 4-YR
• ALL-AMERICAN 5-YR, 4-YR, JR.3-YR
• GRAND ROYAL 1994, 1992
• GRAND MADISON 1993
• RES.GRAND ROYAL 1993

Reasons: Since Frantisco never having won at Madison, the edge goes to Whitney for winning on both sides of the border.

#5. HARVUE ROY FROSTY EX-97-2E-USA

HARVUE ROY FROSTY EX-97-2E-USA

BREEDER: HARVUE HOLSTEINS, BERRYVILLE, VA, USA

OWNER: SCOTT W. ARMBRUST, GREEN BAY, WI USA & DUCKETT HOLSTEINS, RUDOLPH, WI

• ALL-AMERICAN MATURE COW, 5-YR
• ALL-CANADIAN 5-YR 2009
• GRAND MADISON 2010, 2009
• RES.GRAND ROYAL 2009
• INT.CHAMP MADISON 2007

Reasons: Very close battle between Frosty and Whitney, both cows where Supreme at Madison twice, but the nod goes to Frosty for for doing it against stiffer competition (see Rose below).

#4. THRULANE JAMES ROSE EX-97-2E-CAN 2*

THRULANE JAMES ROSE EX-97-2E-CAN 2* – Photo by Vicki Fletcher

BREEDER: THRULANE HOLSTEINS ELMIRA, ON, CAN

OWNER: PIERRE BOULET, MONTMAGNY, PQ, CAN

• ALL-CANADIAN MATURE COW 2009, 2008
• ALL-AMERICAN MATURE COW 2009, 2008
• GRAND ROYAL 2009, 2008, 2006
• GRAND MADISON 2008
• GRAND QC INTERNATIONAL 2008

Reasons: Head to head these cows split with Frosty winning Madison and Rose winning the Royal, but Rose gets the edge for being able to win on both sides of the border.

#3. ACME STAR LILY EX-2E-CAN EX-94-4YR-USA 8*

ACME STAR LILY EX-2E-CAN EX-94-4YR-USA 8* – Photo by Patty Jones

BREEDER: ACME HOLSTEINS, CARSTAIRS, AB, CAN

OWNER: CONTINENTAL HOLSTEINS, LEDUC, AB, CAN, ALTA GENETICS INC, ROCKY VIEW COUNTY, AB, CAN & EVERETT SIMANTON, PONOKA, AB, CAN

• ALL-CANADIAN 5-YR, 4-YR, JR.2-YR
• ALL-AMERICAN 5-YR, 4-YR
• GRAND ROYAL 1999, 1998, 1997
• GRAND MADISON 1998

Reasons: Close battle, with both cows having 4 Grand Championships at the Royal or Madison. The edge goes to Lily with the 1 more All-Canadian nod.

#2. RAINYRIDGE TONY BEAUTY EX-5E-CAN 9*

RAINYRIDGE TONY BEAUTY EX-5E-CAN 9* – Photo by Patty Jones

BREEDER: RONALD BOERCHERS LAURIER, MB, CAN

OWNER: RAY BROWN VISTA, MB, CAN, WEDGWOOD HOLSTEINS, COBBLE HILL, BC, CAN & STANHOPE DAIRY FARM LTD, VICTORIA, BC, CAN

• ALL-CANADIAN MATURE COW 1999, 1995, 1993, 1992
• ALL-AMERICAN MATURE COW 1999, 1995, 1992
• GRAND ROYAL 1993
• GRAND MADISON 1999
• RES.GRAND ROYAL 1999,1995

Reasons: Very close battle even though they split their head to head battle, Beauty was 8 times All-Canadian or All-American where Lily was only 4 times.

#1. BROOKVIEW TONY CHARITY EX-CAN EX-97-5YR-USA DOM 13*

BROOKVIEW TONY CHARITY EX-CAN EX-97-5YR-USA DOM 13* – Photo by Maggie Murphy

BREEDER: JOHN D. & KARL E. HAVENS FREMONT, OH, USA

OWNER: ROMANDALE FARMS LTD TORONTO, ON & HANOVER HILL HOLSTEINS PORT PERRY, ON

• ALL-CANADIAN 1987, 1985, 1984, 1983, 1982
• ALL-AMERICAN 1987, 1985, 1984, 1982
• GRAND ROYAL 1987, 1985, 1984, 1983
• GRAND MADISON 1987, 1985, 1984, 1983

Reasons: No comparison. Charity was never defeated in her class and 8 times was Grand at Madison or the Royal. She was incredible perfection!

The Bullvine Bottom Line

While I am sure you can debate which cows were actually better than others, the only way to fairly compare them is to look at how they did head to head in their prime.  If that was not possible as the cows are from different eras then you have to then look at total accomplishments.  The one thing for sure is that Brookview Tony Charity’s accomplishments are by far the greatest of all time and may never be equaled again.

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