2010 Bruce Grey Holstein Show
August 31, 2010
Walkerton, Ontario
111 Head Shown
Judge: John Buckley, Ontario

Junior Champion: Blayjoy Pundit Patrice, 1st Winter Yearling, Charlie McCannell
Reserve Junior Champion: Winright Jasper Terrific, 1st Summer Yearling, Mitchell Kieffer & Belmoral Farms Ltd.
HM Junior Champion: Boreview FC Electra, 1st Junior Yearling, Beslea Farms Ltd., Brian O’Neill, Shelley Barfoot-O’Neill & Shea O’Neill

Grand Champion: Laidlawn Goldwyn Connie, 1st 4 Year Old, Hodglynn Holsteins & Dr. George Wood
Reserve Grand Champion: Wridale Gibson Paige, 1st Senior 3 Year Old, Harold & Lois Wright & Fred & Marian Hopkins
HM Grand Champion: Dougal Lea Peg Darling, 1st Mature Cow, Unique Holsteins, ON

Premier Breeder: Harold & Louis Wright
Premier Exhibitor: Unique Holsteins

Annual Event Offers Low-Cost Solutions to Enhance Farm Profitability, Viability

Harrisburg – Dairy farm families and management teams can learn about low-cost solutions to enhance businesses and improve profitability at the two 2010 Pennsylvania Dairy Profitability Forums, Nov. 16 and 17. Themed “Healthy Families, Healthy Farms and Healthy Businesses,” the annual event is hosted by the Center for Dairy Excellence and the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture.

The forum on Tuesday, Nov. 16 will be in the PA Preferred Banquet Hall in the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex and Expo Center in Harrisburg. Wednesday, Nov. 17, the event will be held at the Clarks Mills United Methodist Church, located along Pa Route 358, two miles west of Interstate 79, Exit 130. Both forums will run from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.

“Pennsylvania’s dairy farms are the foundation of the agriculture industry, and serving as the foundation of those farms are the families who work together each day to manage their dairy farm business,” said John Frey, executive director of the Center for Dairy Excellence. “We are pleased this year to have speakers at our profit forum who will address the health of the family, farm and business.”

Mike McGrann, executive director of the S. Dale High Center for Family Business at Elizabethtown College, will lead a discussion at both forums on “healthy farms and healthy families” focusing on critical principals for long-term success of your family business.

During both forums, Dr. Wayne Weiland, regional manager of Standard Dairy Consulting, will help dairy farm families steer their business through difficult economic times. Weiland has a personal interest in the relationship between high production, health and animal well-being and helps dairy farm families reach production and profit goals.

Three young dairy producers, members of the AgBiz Masters Program, will participate in a panel discussion to share how they applied the program’s information to identify best management practices to improve their dairy operations. The panel discussion will be held during each profit forum luncheon.

Breakout sessions will focus on improving internal herd growth through optimal calf and heifer care, understanding cost of production and business budgeting, developing a marketing plan, and improving milk quality. Participants can choose to attend two of the four breakout sessions at both forums.

There is no charge to participate in the Dairy Profitability Forum, however, pre-registration is required. To receive a registration brochure, call the Center for Dairy Excellence at 717-346-0849.

(Source: News Channel 9 WSYR)

An 11-year-old boy from Earlville, NY was selected as the winner in a statewide essay competition. Lyn Farrow's prize was a calf, named Lana. Lana was born last March.

"She was pretty small," Lyn said of his new calf. "We took her home in the back of my sister's Subaru."

Lyn says he didn’t expect the State Guernsey Association to select his essay. "I'm like, it's a 4H thing, so why not," he said. "It doesn't take too long I might as well do it and I won it!"

Lana now lives on a farm owned by Lyn's grandfather. "Someday, I want to go to college and learn about farming and agriculture and study to be a good farmer," he said.

Every morning and night, Lyn takes care of his new calf. He grew up in a farming family, and while it might not be the common youth experience, he wouldn't want it any other way. "Well, it's a lot more fun that video games - I can tell you that. I can't stand how kids play video games. It's boring. I'd much rather be outdoors," he says.

While Lana is the name the calf was given at birth, Lyn has picked his own nickname for the calf. "I sometimes call her peaches. She looks like a peach, you know, so I call her peaches."

Lyn, the young aspiring farmer, says he plans to have his adopted daughter for many years to come. "I'll probably have her until she dies," he said.

A caveat of Lyn's win was that he had to promise to show her at the Chenango County Fair and the State Fair for the next two years. Lyn says he plans to keep showing her for several years after that.

The Sale Order and Updates for the Kingsmill Fall Classic are online.  Click here to see the sale order, or here to see the updates.

“. . . The Court will certify the class and two subclasses proposed by the dairy farmer plaintiffs with respect to all of the plaintiffs’ claims except for the breach of contract claim against DFA by its dairy farmer members and the motion, in that respect, is DENIED. . . “

This long-anticipated announcement in the Southeastern Milk AntiTrust Litigation was filed Sept 7, 2010 in a Memorandum Opinion and Order issued by Judge J. Ronnie Greer and Magistrate Judge Dennis H. Inman.   This court case is being heard in the Greeneville Division, Eastern District of Tennessee, United States District Court.

In the documents, the class is described as “All dairy farmers, whether individuals or entities, who produced Grade A milk within Orders 5 or 7 and sold Grade A milk directly or through an agent to defendants or Co-conspirators in Orders 5 and/or 7 during any time from January 1, 2001 to the present.  The following persons are excluded from the class:  a.) Defendants and b) Defendants’ co-conspirators”.

The subclasses certified, which marketed in the orders and time frames listed above, are twofold:  
“a.) Independent Dairy Farmer and Independent Cooperative Member Subclass – all independent dairy farmers and independent cooperative members (whether individuals or entities) . . . .Southeast dairy farmers who were not members of DFA at the time of their Grade A milk sales,   and
b.)  DFA Member Dairy Farmer Subclass – All DFA members  . . . Southeast dairy farmers who were members of DFA at the time of their Grade A milk sales.”

The order further states:  “Plaintiffs allege that the proposed class has more than 4,500 members in the southeast, about 1,500 of whom are in the independent dairy farmer and independent cooperative member subclass and approximately 3,000 of whom are in the proposed DFA member dairy farmer subclass.”

Defendants listed in the court documents are Dean Foods Company, National Dairy Holdings, L.P., Dairy Farmers of America, Inc., Dairy Marketing Services, LLC, Southern Marketing Agency, Inc, Mid-Am Capital, LLC, James Baird, Gary Hanman, and Gerald Bos.  

It is expected that this case will proceed to trial in late spring of 2011.

At Ferme Jacobs, the focus remains on breeding and developing the most correct conformation. The classifier visited the Quebec herd recently and left evidence of their success!

New scores of a few of the notable cows in the herd:
Valleyville Lheros Jenn EX-94 1*
Jacobs Thunder Vogue EX-91
Jacobs Terrason Aster EX-2E – dam of Jacobs Jasper Abella VG-87 1st calf
Jacobs Champion Bello EX-2E
Jacobs Dundee Iris EX
Jacobs Goldwyn Emory VG-89 2nd lactation
Bonnacueil Maya Goldwyn VG-89 2nd lactation
Jacobs Dundee Voltage VG-89 2nd lactation
Jacobs Jasper Boucle VG-88
Jacobs Jasper Janou VG-87
Ms Elmvue Durham Kara VG-87 1st calf

Visit their website for photos, more scores and more news from this active herd!

Holstein World's Randy Blodgett will be at the Kingsmill Fall Classic on Thursday, September 9th sending in real-time pricing reports.  The sale will feature over 150 head from Kingsmill and Liddleholme Holsteins, all available for viewing on the online sale catalog by clicking here.

Sale time starts promptly at 10:30am in Intercourse, PA.  Check out all the action tomorrow on the AllBreeds Blog!

Quinte (Canada) Open Show
Friday September 3, 2010
Judge: Dan McFadden
101 Head

Junior Champion:  Crovalley Gold Ambassador (Braedale Goldwyn), 1st Senior Yearling, Crovalley Holsteins
Reserve Junior Champion:  Kingsway Goldwyn Abba Dabba (Braedale Goldwyn), 1st Intermediate Calf, Kingsway & J D Mell
HM Junior Champion: Crovally Goldwyn Rhapsody (Braedale GOldwyn), 1st Senior Calf, Crovalley Holsteins & Ryan Crowley

Grand Champion, Best Udder & Best Bred & Owned: Kingsway Dundee Drumstick (Regancrest Dundee), 1st Sr. 3-year-old, Kingsway & Trentward Farms
Reserve Grand Champion: Kingsway M Goldwyn Petra (Braedale Goldwyn), 1st 4-year-old, Kingsway Farms
HM Grand Champion: Morsan Goldwyn Lilac (Braedale Goldwyn), 2nd 4-year-old, Donnanview Farms & Ferme Gillette

Premier Breeder: Crovalley Holsteins
Premier Exhibitor: Crovalley Holsteins

A new collaboration has been announced today (7 September) at the Dairy Event that will improve the genetics available to breeders of Jersey cattle.

JISEX International will cease its Jersey cattle semen sales and will enter into collaboration with UK Jerseys and Cogent Breeding for sales and progeny testing, as of January 2011.
The collaboration builds on an existing bipartite agreement between UK Jerseys and Cogent which has been in operation since the summer.

However, by adding JISEX – the leading company specializing in Jersey genetics – to the equation, the relationship is further strengthened with invaluable breed expertise and international knowledge.

The complete package concentrates resources into one formidable force which promises to focus attention on the type of bulls the British Jersey breeder requires; to increase opportunities for UK breeders to use their top cows as bull mothers; and to explore export opportunities for British-bred Jerseys.

Both organizations already collaborating have welcomed the participation of Derrick Frigot, the founder of JISEX and renowned Jersey specialist who has been instrumental in shaping the UK Jersey breed of today.

“Derrick has well over 40 years’ experience in the industry and will bring invaluable expertise to the collaboration,” said Roger Trewhella of UK Jerseys. “His role in streamlining genetic selection across the three organizations will be pivotal and his involvement will bring a broad range of benefits to the Jersey industry as a whole.”

Hugh Pocock from Cogent added: “Derrick’s vast knowledge of Jersey genetics will inform the selection of bloodlines for progeny testing, and his far-reaching knowledge of the world-wide industry will see genetics sourced from every corner of the globe, including the UK.”

Mr Frigot, who is also Vice-President of the World Jersey Cattle Bureau, has highlighted further opportunities for the tripartite collaboration.

“I see this as an opportunity to lift the profile of the UK Jersey breed which is as good as any I have seen in the world and I look forward to helping select the next generation of bloodlines from the widest possible pool, including Denmark and North America, as well as the UK,” he said. “These will be sampled through the enlarged Cogent Jersey Visions Young Sire progeny testing program which I believe will deliver the cross-section of genetics required by British and international markets.

“By working with the pioneers of semen sexing technology, I also look forward to seeing a far greater selection of sexed semen available to Jersey breeders.”

Jersey semen from the collaboration can be sourced through the team of Cogent breeding specialists, which includes Derrick Frigot as Jersey Specialist.

It was a busy week for Regancrest! Following a successful showing at the Midwest Fall National Show at the MN State Fair, they had a visit from the classifier. The final tallies would be 19 new VG 2-year-olds and 6 new Excellents. Check out the full results below and then head on over to www.regancrest.com to see more from Regancrest.

19 New VG 2 Yr Olds	Score	Age	Pedigree	Notes
Regancrest Mac Calista-ET	VG-87 87MS	2 yr 11	Mac x Cinderella EX92
Regancrest Mac Irlanda-ET	VG-85 87MS	2 yr 11	Mac x Goldwyn Iresha EX
Regancrest Mac Breanda-ET	VG-87 87MS	2 yr 11	Mac x Shottle Barbara EX92
BKB Toystory Adeline-ET	VG-86 85MS	2yr 5	Toystory x Alicia EX97
Windy-Knoll View Pasion-ET	VG-86 87MS	2 yr 6	Fortune x Pledge EX95
Regancrest-PJ Jos Tabora-ET	VG-86 87MS	2 yr 8	Jose x Boliver Tabby EX
Regancrest Mac Bresha-ET	VG-86 88MS	2yr 8	Mac x Shottle x Barbie EX92
Regancrest Mac Breshay-ET	VG-85 86MS	2yr 8	Mac x Shottle x Barbie EX92
Henkes-Brook Mac Bridget-ET	VG-85 86MS	2 yr 11	Mac x EX Outside x Durham Bliss VG
Regancrest Damion Mel	VG-85 86MS	2 yr 6	Damion x  VG Outside x VG BWMarshall
Regancrest-BH Dimple-ET	VG-86 86MS	2 yr 6	Baxter x Z-Delight EX93
MS Regancrest MS Alra-ET	VG-85 85MS	2yr 5	Pronto x Arlene x Atlee EX 92
A-L-H Daisy Dusk-ET	VG-86 87MS	2 yr 3	Laurin x Durham Daisy EX92
Regancrest Mac Cally-ET	VG-85 88MS	2 yr 5	Mac x Marion x Oman Cookie  VG89
Dannys Pronto Ady-ET	VG-86 85MS	2 yr	Pronto x Durham Amy EX95	1st Sr Yrlng in Milk Midwest Fall Natl 2010
Dannys Durham Jahlen-ET	VG-85 85MS	2 yr	Durham x Milan  Jill EX94	3rd Sr Yrling in Milk Midwest Fall Natl 2010
Regancrest Mac Calissa-ET	VG-85	2 yr 11	Mac x Cinderella EX92
Regancrest Mac Destiny-ET	VG-87 87MS	2 yr 6	Mac x Jed Deborah EX95
Regancrest BXTR Copper-ET	VG85 87MS	2yr 6	Baxter x Goldwyn x Cinderella EX92
6 New EX Cows	Score	Age	Pedigree	Notes
Regancrest Barbara-ET	EX-92 92MS	4 yr 9	Shottle xBarbie EX92
Regancrest Lissa-ET	EX-90 91MS	4 yr 9	Elegant x Stormatic Lyn x Barbie
Regancrest G Brizelda-ET	EX-90 91MS	4 yr 8	Goldwyn x Barbie EX92
Regan-Olmar Tatianna-ET	EX-91 92MS	3 yr 9	Advent x Skychief Salena  VG89	1st  Sr 3 Yr Old- Midwest Fall Natl & Int. Champ 2010
Regancrest-BH Taz-ET	EX-90	3 yr 9	Kite x Durahm x Encore Taz	All IA Sr 3 Yr Old 2010
Butz-Hill Dundee Rival-ET	EX-92 95MS	4 yr 3	Dundee x Roy EX92	Res Sr & Res Gr Champ & BU  Midwest Fall Natl 2010
Other Highlights	Score	Age	Pedigree	Notes
Ravenbrook Dundee Anna-ET	EX-93 93MS	5  yr 1	Dundee x Storm EX	2nd 5 Yr Old- Midwest Fall National 2010
Windsor-Manor Z-Delight-ET	EX-93 92MS	6 yr	Durham x Rudolph Zip EX95
Regancrest M Brightstar-ET	VG-88 90MS	2 yr 11	Mac x Barbie EX92	6th Sr 2 Yr Old- Midwest Fall National 2010
Regancrest MB Breauna-ET	VG-88 88MS	2 yr 9	Mr Burns x Shottle Breya VG88	#3 Type Cow of Breed
Regan-ALH TS Bobiann-ET	VG-85 85MS	3 yr 6	Toystory x Mr Sam VG88
Square-Acres A Rosel-RED-ET	VG-85 86MS	5 yr 3	Shottle x Barbie EX92
RegancrestDL- Rinada-ET	VG-87 90MS	3 yr 5	Lou x Durham Regenia EX92
Regancrest Lavish-ET	VG-87 88MS	3 yr 11	Elegant x Stormatic Lyn VG x Barbie EX92

Entry forms and rules are now available online for the 2010 All-American Holstein, Junior All-American Holstein, and All-American Jersey Contests.  Click here to download an entry form and good luck as we approach the home stretch of the 2010 show season!

First Award to Go to 2010 Premier National Junior Show Grand Champion Holstein

Harrisburg – All-American Dairy Show youth exhibitors will benefit from a newly formed foundation designed to help support educational and training opportunities, said Agriculture Secretary Russell C. Redding today.

“Our dairy youth are the future leaders of Pennsylvania’s top agricultural industry,” said Redding. “Thanks to the initiative of several forward-thinking people, the All-American Dairy Foundation will provide another incentive for these young people to stay actively engaged in the dairy business.”

Two years ago, Chip Savage of Knoxville, Md., donated a Holstein March calf, Savage-Leigh Z Linsee-ET, that sold in the Eastern Elite Holstein Sale during the 2008 All-American Dairy Show to provide $18,500 as the seed money to start the foundation.

Out of Savage-Leigh Bellwood Linda and sired by Ocean-View Zenith-TW-ET, the calf was first bought for $10,000 by a syndicate that donated the calf back for resale. Donating $2,000 shares to the syndicate were Dieter Krieg, Darwin G. Braund, New Direction Holsteins, Jason and Donna Myers, and the Centre County Syndicate consisting of Centre County Dairy Vets, Fred Strouse, Mike Weimer, Rita Kennedy and Jay Houser. Tyler Peachey of McAlevys Fort, Pa., bought the calf a second time for $8,500.

Spearheaded by chairman Bob Heilman of Richmond, Va., the foundation was recently awarded charitable organization status as a 501c (3) non-profit group through the Internal Revenue Service.

The Pennsylvania Dairy and Allied Industries Association will submit grant applications to the foundation board of trustee members Michael Birch of White Hall, Md., Rita Kennedy of Butler, Pa., and Jay Houser of Spring Mills, Pa., and Heilman. The trustees will then determine how the money should be used to support educational and training opportunities and awards for youth who participate in the All-American Dairy Show.

The first $500 grant is to secure the $1,000 United States savings bond won by the Grand Champion Holstein of the Premier National Junior Show. A presentation will be made during the show on Monday, Sept. 20, when the champion in chosen.

“This is a phenomenal accomplishment reached by dedicated volunteers who believe the All-American provides a rewarding leadership development experience for young people in the dairy business,” Redding said.

New Hampshire State Show
Aug. 11 - Lancaster, NH
Judge - Steve Carson, Newbury, VT
Total shown - 90

Junior Champion: Gamblin Frantabulous Cedar (Quality Frantabulous), 1st summer yearling, Stephanie Morris, Haverhill, NH
Res. Junior Champion: Elm Island Gabe Seaswirl; (Coldsprings Gabe-ET), 2nd summer yearling, Kirsten Beaudry, Walpole, NH
Intermediate Champion: Cowtown Lheros Gianna (Comestar Lheros), 1st Sr. 2-year-old, Putnam Farm, Piermont, NH
Res. Intermediate Champion: Morrill A Tacobell-Red (KHW Kite Advent-Red), 1st Jr. 3-year-old, Ryan Morrill, Penacook, NH
Senior & Grand Champion: Morrill SR Scarlett-Red (STBVQ Rubens), 1st 125,000-lb. cow, Morrill Farm Dairy
Res. Senior & Res. Grand Champion: Morrill A Cathy 2285 (KHW Kite Advent-Red), 1st 4-year-old, Morrill Farn Dairy
Premier Breeder & Exhibitor: Morrill Farm Dairy   
Junior Premier Breeder & Exhibitor: Dan Putnam, Piermont, NH

Dairy producers can now predict the future of commercial heifers

NEW YORK — Sept. 7, 2010 — CLARIFIDETM, a new genomic test for comprehensive evaluation of dairy females, is now available from Pfizer Animal Genetics, a business unit of Pfizer Animal Health.

CLARIFIDE is a 3,000-marker (3K) DNA panel that was developed through collaboration between USDA-ARS and Illumina. CLARIFIDE delivers Genomic Predicted Transmitting Ability (GPTA) values for 30 production, health and type traits, and nine composite indexes. These predictions provide insights into animals’ future genetic potential early in an animal’s life.

“CLARIFIDE provides a cost-effective way for commercial dairy producers to take advantage of the many benefits of genomic testing,” says Nigel Evans, vice president of Pfizer Animal Genetics. “Genomics has been available in the dairy industry for the past few years, but has only been practical for a small number of elite animals. CLARIFIDE now puts genomic testing into the hands of commercial dairymen.”

With CLARIFIDE, commercial dairy producers can optimize selection, mating and management of Holstein, Jersey and Brown Swiss females. Dairy producers can identify the females — along with their daughters — that will be the genetic future of their herds.

Pfizer Animal Genetics has implemented CLARIFIDE in partnership with several commercial dairies from across the United States to demonstrate the value of the new tool in real-world situations. In addition, Pfizer Animal Genetics worked with the USDA Animal Improvement Programs Laboratory (AIPL) to transform the results of genetic evaluations into knowledge via customer tools and expertise to enhance on-farm application and decision-making. All of this, coupled with the fact that CLARIFIDE provides exceptional reliability in predicting genetic potential when compared with traditional Predicted Transmitting Abilities (PTA), make it a powerful tool for dairy producers.

“CLARIFIDE gives commercial producers access to genetic information that would normally require years if not decades of production records,” Evans says. “Putting this in context, a cow could not generate enough progeny and production records over her entire lifetime to achieve the levels of reliability available from CLARIFIDE.”  

To maximize the benefits of CLARIFIDE™, Mike Layfield, group director, U.S. Dairy Business, Pfizer Animal Health, suggests that producers start by evaluating replacement heifers prior to breeding.  

“The true value of CLARIFIDE can be captured by evaluating animals at a young age that will have a lifetime of influence on a herd,” Layfield says. “Decisions then can be made regarding mating, enhanced reproductive technologies and voluntary culling. CLARIFIDE also provides information that can be useful for veterinarians and producers to better predict inbreeding depression and manage inbreeding, which has become a growing challenge in the dairy genetic pool.”

Layfield adds that the introduction of CLARIFIDE is the latest example of Pfizer Animal Health’s commitment to the dairy veterinarians and producers via a full line of dairy management solutions.

“We are dedicated to providing the tools, technology, technical service and management programs that support the whole animal and enterprise,” he says. “From disease prevention and treatment, to reproductive and performance enhancement, as well as genetic optimization, we are always looking for new and innovative ways to support and enhance our customers’ businesses.”

2010 Kentucky State Fair Junior Shows

Ayrshire:
Junior Champion: Ly Woodary Lous Nomination, Taylor Graves, Peryville, KY
Res. Jr. Champion: Brianwoods Maddison, Dylan Tindle, Georgetown, KY
 
Sr. & Grand Champion: Cedarvale Lawyer Darhma, Katie Gibson, Eminence, KY
Res. Sr. & Res. Grand Champion: Melody-Lane Reno Secret, Taylor Graves, Perryville, KY
 
Brown Swiss:
Junior Champion: Bridges Surge Wilma, Kelsey Trowbridge, Horse Cave, KY
Res. Jr. Champion: Waldeck Saturn Vanilla, Ariel Waldeck, Upton, KY
 
Sr. & Grand Champion: TopAcres JP Wendy-ET, New View Swiss, Scottsville, KY
Res. Sr. & Res. Grand Champion: Ky-Blue Turmoil Jellybean, Katie Gibson, Eminence, KY
 
Guernsey:
Junior Champion: Berryman Farm Special Violet, Katlyn Rene Vencil, Nicholasville, KY
Res. Jr. Champion: Berryman Farm Special Ciacada, Katlyn Rene Vencil, Nicholasville, KY
 
Sr. & Grand Champion: Round Pond Deluxes Maydel, Paul Oliver, Scottsville, KY
Res. Sr. & Res. Grand Champion: Round Pond MM Lize, Paul Oliver, Scottsville, KY
 
Holstein:
Junior Champion: KA-GEO Knckt Rose-Red-ET, Gabby Gabriel, Stanford, KY
Res. Jr. Champion, Cameron Ridge RI Lora-ET, Billy Cameron III, Mt. Vernon, KY
 
Sr. & Grand Champion: Logsdons Durham Cher, Katie Gibson, Eminence, KY
Res. Sr. & Res. Grand Champion: Ms Ky-Blue Marble-ET, Katie Gibson, Eminence KY
 
Jersey:
Junior Champion: Ty-Ly-View First Edition-ET, Tanner May, Shelbyville, KY
Res. Jr. Champion: KCJF JackKnife Kinetic, Brittany Core, Salvisa, KY
 
Sr. & Grand Champion: Gillers Georgina, Katie Gibson, Eminence, KY
Res. Sr. & Res. Grand Champion: KCJF Responses Royal, Brittany Core, Salvisa, KY
 
Supreme Heifer:
KA-GEO Knckt Rose Red-ET, Gabby Gabriel, Stanford, KY
 
Supreme Cow:
Logsdon Durham Cher, Katie Gibson, Eminence, KY