The passing of a legend
The Ehrhardt family of Baldwin, MD, sadly announces that Ehrhardt Astro Jody-ET (EX-94) was put to sleep earlier this month. Jody would have been 17 years old in September. She had an amazing list of accomplishments, including five lactations over 30,000M and lifetime totals of 327,000M and 15,330F. Kevin Ehrhardt reports that Jody was still milking 35 lbs. on their test day in June…and that was on a lactation of 3,054 days. Jody has 25 daughters to date, with two more pregnancies coming in September by Outside. Those two are her last offspring to be born. Of the 25 on the ground, nine are EX (3 at 93, 3 at 91 and 3 at 90) and 10 are VG.
Jody spent a month at New Bolton’’s Veterinary Hospital as a 5-year-old, suffering from a heart murmur. The staff sent her home and recommended that the family dry her off and let her rest for the remainder of the lactation. They didn”t think she”d milk any more that year. It turns out, that was 1996…the year Jody completed a record of over 40,000M, was Res. Grand Champion in the Junior Show at Harrisburg and 1st 5-year-old in the Junior Show at Madison. She went on to become Junior All-American that year as well.
Jody is buried on the farm right next to the farm sign, and incidentally, is the cow that’’s painted on their farm sign.
You don”t often run across cows like this - that have such a strong will to survive, succeed in the showring and at home, and fuel a passion for Registered Holsteins in four young men at Ehrhardt Farms. She’’s known on a one-name basis by many across the state and country, and she can most likely be connected to part of the success that Ehrhardt Farms continues to have today. You can read more about Jody, her offspring and the entire Ehrhardt family by visiting their website at www.ehrhardtfarms.net.