Pull-Out for Senior Champion of the Mid-East Fall National Holstein Show

Senior Champions and Intermediate Champions competing for the top honors of the Mid-East Fall National Holstein Show.

Pull-out for Junior Champion of the Mid-East Fall National Holstein Show

Pull-Out for Senior Champion of the National Guernsey Show

Judge Perry Phend takes a final look before naming his Grand Champion of the National Guernsey Show.

Summer Yearling Class of the All American Jersey Show

Junior Champions of the All American Jersey Show

Junior Champion: RJF Iatola Bliss, 1st Winter Yearling, RJ Farms, Ontario, Canada

Reserve Junior Champion: SSF Governor Iris, 1st Fall Calf, Silver Spring Farm, Syracuse, NY

Premier Breeder & Exhibitor: Ratliff Jersey, Garnett, KS

Reserve Breeder & Exhibitor: Keightley & Core Jerseys, Salvisa, KY

Photos from Monday’s All American Jersey Show!

Top of the class starts from the right side of each photo.

Fall Yearlings in Milk

1st: Ratliff Res Krazy-ET (Rapid Bay Ressurection-ET), Ron & Christy Ratliff, Garnett, KS

2nd: Meadow Ridge All Star Allie (EK All Star), Roger Riebe & Family, Cumberland, WI

3rd: SennSational Aries Mattie (Senns Big Time Aries), SennSational Jerseys, Newberry, SC

4th: WF Tiger Savvy (Tallys Renn Tiger), Waverly Farm, Clear Brook, VA

5th: Ratliff Renn Kookie-ET (Hollylane Renaissance), Ron & Christy Ratliff, Garnett, KS

Junior Two-Year-Olds

1st: Reich-Dale Starlite Vinesse (Reich-Dale Starlite), Skyler Reichard, Chambersburg, PA

2nd: Ressurections Monet of Edgebrook (Rapid Bay Ressurection), Mike & Brenda Dilly and Bradley Arthur, Montour, IA

3rd: Family Hill Sultan Foxy (SHF Centurion Sultan), Ryan, Freynie & Aaron Lancaster, Ferndale, WA

4th: RRF Homer Esma (RRF Jade Homer), Stanfield Jerseys, Ft. Loramie, OH

5th: WF Iatola Mercedes (SC Gold Dust Paramount Iatola), Waverly Farms, Clear Brook, VA

Senior Two-Year-Olds

1st: Gillers Georgina (Shamrock Giller), KY Bluegrass Genetics, Eminence, KY

2nd: Billings Remake Bounty (Rock Ella Remake), Billings Farm, Woodstock, VT

3rd: Arethusa Primetime DeJaVu-ET (Gil-Bar Sparkler Primetime), Ron & Christy Ratliff, Garnett, KS

4th: Huronia BRB Bree 37R (Rapid Bay Ressurection), Robert Jarrell, Ontario, Canada

5th: South Mountain Jasmines Jack Pot-ET (Sooner Centurion-ET), Ron & Christy Ratliff, Nature Ridge & Nelson Farm, Garnett, KS

6th: KCJF Response Royal (Hollylane R Response), Keightley & Core Jerseys, Salvisa, KY

7th: Eclipses Hope (Bridon First Eclipse-ET), Whites Jersey Farm, New Castle, IN

Junior Three-Year-Olds

1st: Family Hill Amedeo Jocelyn (Piedmont Grove Amedeo), Ryan & Freynie Lancaster, Ferndale, WA

2nd: RRF Emerson Della (Bridon Remake Emerson-ET), Dennis, Nancy, Rex & Thomas Reinholt, Rochester, IN

3rd: Fredestel Laser P Nelly Bly (Willoa Laser), Nic, Jeni & Ben Sauder, Tremont, IL

4th: FCF Prize Ella (Bovi Lact First Prize-ET), Aces-Hi Syndicate, Dalhart, TX

5th: Kimbles Flora (WF/NN Sambo Kimble), Austin Thomas, Middlebury, IN

6th: Jades Jewel of Paradise (Giprat Belles Jade-ET), Lisa Demmer, Ellendale, MN

Pull-Out for Intermediate Champion

Senior Three-Year-Olds

1st: Ratliff Price Alicia (Ratliff Jade Price), Ron & Christy Ratliff, Garnett, KS

2nd: FH CD Jude Jazz (Curtsey Duncan Jude-ET), Craig & Austin Thomas, Brandi Stevens & Emily Day, Plymouth, IN

3rd: KCJF Regency Racene (Renaissance Kims Regency), Keightley & Core Jerseys, Salvisa, KY

4th: WF Counciller Ananicole-ET (Glenholme Counciller), Waverly Farm & Edgebrook Farm, Clear Brook, VA

Five-Year-Olds

1st: Miss Jemi Brown Sugar (Elliotts Renaissance), Waverly Farm, Clear Brook, VA

2nd: Ratliff Juno Madison-ET (Valleystream J15 Juno), Ron & Christy Ratliff, Garnett, KS

Aged Cows

1st: KCJF Regency Treasure (Renaissance Kims Regency), Keightley & Core Jerseys, Salvisa, KY

2nd: Hermitage Counciller Sheba (Glenholme Counciller), Waverly Farm, Clear Brook, VA

3rd: Rockin J Counciller Jane (Glenholme Counciller), Keightley & Core Jerseys, Salvisa, KY

4th : Elmsmead Furor Jezibelle (Piedmont Nadine Furor), UHT Canaan Jerseys, Tillamook, OR

Senior Champion Pull-Out

Senior & Grand Champion: Ratliff Price Alicia, Ron & Christy Ratliff, Garnett, KS

Reserve Senior & Grand Champion: KCJF Regency Treasure, Keightley-Core Jerseys, Salvisa, KY

Southeastern National Brown Swiss Junior Show

Judge: Steve Hendress, Wolcott, IN

Junior Champion: Shen Val Trendy Carol, 1st Fall Calf, Amanda Thompson, Wellsville, PA

Reserve Junior Champion: Jo B Don Lavender, 1st Winter Calf, Nick Jessie, Edmonton, KY

Grand Champion: Knob View Junction Gibbles, 1st Four-Year-Old, Matthew Kepler, Woodsboro, MD

Reserve Grand Champion: Stookeyholm Jetway Darling, 1st Aged Cow, Andy Keener, Milford, IN

National Guernsey Junior Show

Judge: Bill Langel, McFarland, WI

Junior Champion: Hershys Spider Chloe Sweetie, 1st Winter Yearling, Ashlee Dietz, Southington, OH

Reserve Junior Champion: Prairie Cream Magicman Alyah-ET, 2nd Winter Yearling, Kimberly & Kevin Lakey, Trempealeau, WI

Grand Champion: Stockwell Farms Reward Hailey, 1st Senior Three-Year-Old, Tyler, Paige & Justin Chupp, Inola, OK

Reserve Grand Champion: Mil Will Tiller Malibu, 1st Four-Year-Old, Kim Wilson, Neosho, MO

Winter National Milking Shorthorn Junior Show

Judge: Jeff Price, Jonesboro, IN

Junior Champion: Parch Grove TT Lauren EXP, 1st Junior Yearling, Danielle Hoddleston, Rogersville, MO

Reserve Junior Champion: Halpins Rachel, 1st Senior Calf, Andrew Rice, Kempton, IL

Grand Champion: Mapleton VLY AC Zeta, 1st Senior Three-Year-Old, Jimmy Hensley, Cushing, OK

Reserve Grand Champion: MPS Moonshine Still 175, 1st Fall Yearling in Milk, Bradley Byers, Milo, IA

National Ayrshire Junior Show

Judge: Ron Moser, Geneva, IN

Junior Champion: Daltondale Tuxedo Rosa, 1st Fall Yearling, McKenzie Stanford, Cushing, OK

Reserve Junior Champion: Hide Away Pandi Deliah, 1st Summer Yearling, Macy Jo & Jacqueline Mudd, Berne, IN

Intermediate & Reserve Grand Champion: Muellers BBBK Calista, 1st Junior Two-Year-Old, Hunter Hall, Cushing, OK

Reserve Intermediate: Royale Divide Harm Greatness, 1st Junior Three-Year-Old, McKenzie Stanford, Cushing, OK

Senior & Grand Champion: Ski Pal Spiritual Myrtle, 1st Five Year-Old, Robin Koss, Epworth, IA

Reserve Senior Champion: Rumar BBBK Foxy Queen, 1st Aged Cow, Hunter Hall, Cushing, OK

Grand National Holstein Junior Show

Judge: Chris Lahmers, Marysville, OH

Junior Champion: Stookeyholm Tootsie Pop, 1st Spring Yearling, Mallarie Stookey, Milford, IN

Reserve Junior Champion: Isenberg R Jordan Morgan, 1st Winter Yearling, Kelsey Trowbridge, Horse Cave, KY

Intermediate Champion: Victory View S Storm Fay, 1st Junior Three-Year-Old, Katie Gibson, Eminence, KY

Reserve Intermediate Champion: Krull Dundee Ellory-ET, 1st Senior Two-Year-Old, Cassy Krull, Lake Mills, WI

Senior & Grand Champion: Logsdon Durham Cher, 1st Five-Year-Old, Katie Gibson, Eminence, KY

Reserve Senior & Grand Champion: Kennvale Davis Holly, 1st Aged Cow, Matt & Hailey Mitchell, LaFollette, TN

The All American Jersey Junior Show

Judge: Eric Lyon, Toledo, IA

Junior Champion: Rolling River Minister Pinto, 1st Winter Yearling, Ashley Schroeder, Castle Rock, MN

Reserve Junior Champion: Hillacres Tora Tilly, 1st Fall Calf, Jordan Stookey, Milford, IN

Grand Champion: Legion Polly, 1st Four-Year-Old, Nic Sauder, Tremont, IL

Reserve Grand Champion: Brook Hollow Jades Glow, 1st Senior Three-Year-Old, Joel Bourne, Ansonia, OH

The National Jersey Jug Futurity

Judge: Lynn Lee, Smyrna, TN

Associate Judge: Eddie Kirchdoerfer, Cape Girardeau, MO

Winner – KCJF Sambo Molly (Lester Sambo), Brittany Core, Salvisa, KY

2nd – UHT Canaan Legion Sunshine (BW Legion), Bush River Jerseya, Goff Dairy & Skiparilla, Newberry, SC

3rd – Ratliff Kaptain Miami – ET (Avonlea Renaissance Kaptain-ET), Christy Ratliff, Garnett, KS

4th – DeMents Socrates Pearl (Piedmont Prize Socrates), DeMents Jerseys & River Valley Farm, Kenney, IL

5th – Connection Eli (Giprat Belles Connection-ET), Ben Sauder, Tremont, IL

6th – UHT Canaan Morgan Brooke (Wilsonview Khan Morgan-ET), UHT Enterprises & Canaan Jerseys, Tillamook, OR

The All American Jersey Sale

Live animals: 59 head grossed $275,350, for an average of $4,666.95
Embryos: 11 lots grossed $20,825, average $1,893.18
Choices: 4 lots grossed $16,825, average $4,206.25

Top female: Sunset Canyon Jevon Lvg Maid-ET, purchased for $12,000 by Cedarcrest Farms, Faunsdale, Ala., consigned by Eric Silva, Beaver, Ore.

Top bull: Family Hill Circus Tradition-ET, purchased by syndicate and Select Sires Inc., $10,700, consigned by Ryan Lancaster, Ferndale, Wash.

Project Academy: 91 breeders and companies respond to the BW Academy-ET Fundraising Challenge with $93,200

Full House for the All American Jersey Sale! A wine & cheese social was provided for all those in attendance.

Select Sires unveils the one-of-a-kind painting depicting the top vote getters in the Fine Art of Breeding Contest held earlier in the year with US Jersey. The painting was auctioned off with the proceeds going to the Mauice Core Fund.

Leslie Maurice and Herby Lutz of Select Sires show off the beatiful painting to the crowd.

More Sights….

Grand National Junior Show Junior Champions

Intermediate Champions of the Grand National Junior Show

Grand Champions of the Grand National Junior Show

Grand Champions of the All American Jersey Junior Show

More sights & scenes….

Accelerated Genetics Hosted Young Producer Fall Conference & Held Elections for Young Producer Committee

Three positions were filled on the Accelerated Genetics Young Producer Committee by Daniel & Patricia Solum, Spring Grove, Minn.; Jerry Gimler & Kelly, Watertown, Wis.; and Brian Koch, Waunakee, Wis. This year Brian Castleberg, Mondovi, Wis.; David & Kelly Oberreich, Plymouth, Wis.; and Blair & Kathy Sawall, Clintonville, Wis. retired from the Young Producer Committee. Other Young Producer Committee members include: Tim Bowers, Marion, Wis.; Tom & Katie Grady, Oregon, Wis.; Jamie & Amy Larson, Evansville, Wis.; Joe & Donna Parrell, Cross Plains, Wis.; and Jeff & Tammy Styczynski, Pulaski, Wisc.

The Young Producer Committee selects, organizes, and coordinates the yearly activities of the Accelerated Genetics Young Producer Program. Individuals and couples throughout Wisconsin, southeastern Minnesota, northeastern Iowa, and northern Illinois make up the committee. This dynamic group encourages producer involvement plans annual events and provides leadership to facilitate a prosperous program.

The committee elections took place during the annual Young Producer Fall Conference held this year in Wausau, Wis. November 1-2, 2008 at The Plaza Hotel & Suites. During the conference producers attended a variety of sessions including ‘Consumer Relations’ by Liz Doornink of Jon-Dee Farm, Inc.; ‘Cooperative Spirit News’ by Janet Keller, Vice President of Advertising, Communications and Public Relations for Accelerated Genetics; ‘Genomics 101’ by Dr. Mike Cowan, Vice President of Research for Accelerated Genetics and General Manager of Genetic Visions, Inc.; ‘ Herd Health & Producer Discussion’ by David Brown, DVM, Staff Veterinarian for Accelerated Genetics; ‘ Commodity Challenges’ by Kevin Wagner, Hedge Specialist for First Capitol Ag; and ‘What’s Available from the Wisconsin Farm Center’ by Frank Friar, Economic Specialist: Beginning and Transitioning Farmer Program for Wisconsin Farm Center.

In addition to the educational sessions, producers had the opportunity to network with one another, listen to a humorous and musical comedian ‘Glen Everhart’, and participate in the annual costume contest. This year’s costume contest winners were 1st Jeff & Tammy Styczynski, Pulaski, Wis. – ‘Woodstock Hippies’, 2nd Jerry Gimler & Kelly, Watertown, Wis. – ‘Rodeo Clown & Rodeo Queen’, 3rd Gerry Wesener, Shawano, Wis. ‘Devil’, 4th Donna Parrell, Cross Plains, Wis. – ‘Maid’, 5th Tom & Katie Grady, Oregon, Wis. – ‘Jack Sparrow & His Pirate Wife’, and 6th Tammy Piotraschke, Powers, Mi. – ‘School Lunch Lady’.

Upcoming Young Producer events include the Winter Get-Away – January 31-February 1, 2009 at the Kalahari Resort & Waterpark in Wisconsin Dells, Wis.; Leadership Conference – March 28-29, 2009 at the Wintergreen Resort & Conference Center in Wisconsin Dells, Wis.; and the Summer Meltdown – June 13, 2009 touring the Hoard’s Dairyman Farm, Hoard’s Museum and National Dairy Shrine Museum.

The Accelerated Genetics Young Producer Program is open to young producers (owners and herdspeople) between the ages of 18 and 45, individuals and couples–some events are for the entire family. Anyone interested in becoming involved in the program is encouraged to contact Accelerated Genetics at 1-800-451-9275, email kstanek@accelgen.com or check out our website at www.accelgen.com.

Accelerated Genetics is a global provider of bovine genetics and research, reproductive services, and solution-based animal health products. With the belief that ‘Innovation Breeds Excellence®’, the Accelerated Genetics vision is to be the forerunner in developing innovative technologies and exceptional services that will aid customers in achieving their ultimate herd goals.
~Submitted by Kari Stanek

Update from The Centennial Celebration of the Animal Improvement Programs Laboratory (AIPL) – Oct. 28, 2008 – Baltimore, MD
By David Selner

The Animal Improvement Program Laboratory (AIPL) recently celebrated their 100th anniversary of helping United States dairy producers. At the general session of this event, scientists presented the research data that describes how genomic information can be utilized to increase the accuracy and the reliability of current genetic evaluations. Genomic research by the USDA laboratory has been ongoing for many years, but was only made possible by the cooperation of the major National Association of Animal Breeders members and Semex, who are Cooperative Dairy DNA Repository (CDDR) Contributors.

Questions have been raised as to who has access to this research data and over what time period. At this meeting, USDA scientists explained the specifics behind this research project. In the early 1980s breeding companies were approached to provide straws of semen from popular sires and all young sire progeny test sires. All of the major companies did provide this DNA material to create the DNA library at no cost to USDA. Genomic research continued through the 1980s and 1990s but no substantial marketable products were developed during this time frame. In the last few years the development of more sophisticated equipment and techniques to examine DNA in greater detail has allowed more progress. Suddenly the research became more focused on increasing genetic merit predictions with gene level data.

To avoid getting risky experimental data out in the public domain, and yet to help determine if this experimental data was truly useful a limited amount of information was shared with industry experts from the original CDDR collaborators. To formalize this process, an agreement was developed to further fund more research at USDA by the original collaborators. More DNA material and funding was provided by CDDR members and USDA granted exclusive access (one of USDA’s technology transfer mechanisms) to receive male genetic predictions during a five-year research period. USDA scientists justified this action by explaining all of the time, money and DNA material that had been provided over the last 20 years with no expectations from the original collaborators. In addition this research is still ongoing and will take several more years to complete. Even today with the January public release of genomic enhanced genetic evaluations, more research is being done to refine techniques and provide greater accuracy and reliability.

Segments of the industry, not CDDR contributors, have asked for clarification on this agreement. USDA’s simple answer was to cover the initial investment of the cooperators, to allow further investigation without misleading the whole breeding industry and to allow a reasonable transition phase into a different method of evaluating dairy genetics. No intent to slight certain segments of the industry or put them at a disadvantage was ever implied.

All genomic data completed in this first phase of research on currently marketable sires will be provided to the public in January 2009. Additional research is ongoing and will take time. The final timeline is to release all of the research genomic data on all sires in the DNA library in the spring of 2014. The genomic evaluations on females tested in approved laboratories and submitted to USDA will be made public in January 2009 by the respective breed associations as part of their normal products and services.

The concerns of some people about secrecy and exclusivity appear to be overly sensitive to their real importance. It appears to be a function of timing of the experimental data, its limited release to gain invaluable data to confirm research results and the fact that the research is still ongoing. No intent was made to keep people uninformed. Rest assured that by 2014, everyone will have access to hopefully the most accurate system of genetic evaluation in the world.

This year’s International Holstein Show was quite the event for Pierre Boulet and Katie Coates, as their cow, Thrulane James Rose, was not only named Grand Champion, but Supreme Champion as well. We asked Pierre a few questions about what the experience was like and how it is to work with a cow like Rose. Unfortunately we ran out of room to run the story in the November issue of Holstein World. So sit back now and enjoy reading our question & answer session with the Expo champions!

HW: Congratulations on a fantastic World Dairy Expo! You must still be so excited! World Dairy Expo, however, wasn’t your first Premier Exhibitor banner of the year, it was your fourth at a major show. What kind of work goes into earning those banners? Have you won all year with the same showstring at each show?

Boulet: Our show string is one that has been built on over time. We are very fond of investing in young cows with a lot of potential and with lots of work and a bit of time, they develop into great cows that are the base of the string. There’s obviously all the work that goes into those cows year round, and we have a great team working with them who are very keen and devoted. It’s rare that we have the same string from spring time to the fall, or even from year to year since they are all cows that we like to compete with, but at the same time are cows that we flush on a regular basis. So they’re cows that we will flush until the time is right to put them back in calf. It works out really well because it seems to create a nice rotation where we can always have some great cows in the string.

HW: Rose looked unbelievable at Expo! I heard that she was once going to be a cull cow. Is that true? How did she end up being saved?Boulet: We couldn’t say how that story started, but we definately didn’t pay the beef price for her. We were out buying cows one day and were at a cattle dealer’s barn asking prices cow by cow. Rose was maybe the 10th or 12th cow in the row, and as soon as she was priced, I said I’d take her. I absolutely loved her udder and dairy character and decided that I had to have her. Katie was wondering why I hadn’t negotiated the price, but with the potential that I saw in her, I didn’t want to take any chances.

HW: How long does it take you to get to Expo? How many people are involved – from working at the show and also working at home while you’re gone?

Boulet: The trip took around 30 hours, which includes the time to get through the border. It also includes the truck stopping four times to feed and water, and they milk the cows on the truck at one of these stops (they’re milked as we load them to leave). We sent 16 head and had six people working, as well as ourselves. At the farm, we have to make sure that there are always reliable people in the office, in the barn and we make sure one of our salesmen is close to greet buyers who come while we are gone.

HW: You and Katie have been together just a few short years, yet it seems like you’ve had the same passion for the showring forever! Do you have the same goals? Like the same cows? Do you each have a favorite cow?

Boulet: It’s definately been a very few short years since we’ve been together, but we do have our two children (Charles 2 1/2, Madison, 9 months) with the third due at the end of Febuary. I also have two older daughters, Carole-Anne 11 and Sarah-Maude, 8. It is such a pleasure for us to be able to raise our children, share the same passion and work together. It’s extremely easy for us to work together since we have the same visions and goals as far as the cows go, as well as the company and how we would like to develop it. We both love ‘the business’ and so all the time and effort that goes into it is easy for us. Our tastes in cows may very a little, but at the end if the day there’s nothing like a cow with lots of dairy character, good legs and a great udder!

For more information on Ferme Pierre Boulet, please visit their website at www.fermepierreboulet.com.