Last week, producers from several states converged on the nation’s capital to express concern and provide real information to congress about the plight of the American dairy farmer. One of the speakers was Gordie Cook, not only a dairy farmer, but a member of the National Holstein Association Board. Following is a complete copy of the speech he presented.
(compliments of Holstein USA)

________________________________________________

Testimony of Gordon M. Cook, Jr.
Dairy Producer from Hadley, Massachusetts,
And Member of Board of Directors
Holstein Association USA, Inc.

Submitted to the House Committee on Agriculture
Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry

For a hearing to discuss
“The Economic Conditions Facing the Dairy Industry”

July 28, 2009

House Agriculture Committee Room
1300 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, D.C.

Thank you Chairman Peterson, Chairman Scott, Ranking Member Lucas, and Ranking Member Neugebauer for inviting me to testify. I am a dairy farmer from Hadley, Massachusetts who milks 65 cows, and I am here representing the 30,000 members of the Holstein Association USA, Inc., a non-profit dairy organization that is headquartered in Brattleboro, Vermont. I am here to talk about our Dairy Price Stabilization Program which we believe will be able to stabilize the peaks and valleys of milk prices.

The crisis facing America’s dairy farmers is well documented. You are aware that basically every dairyman in the country is losing money on every pound of milk they sell.

What has led us to this crisis? The landscape of the dairy industry has changed significantly since our current milk pricing system was established. Sometimes there is a disconnect between the producer and processor which generally is not beneficial to the dairy farmer.

For example, for one gallon of milk that the consumer pays $2.99 at the grocery store, the dairy farmer who produced that milk gets just 91 cents. The bulk of the $2.08 – the difference between what the consumer pays and the farmer receives – goes to the dairy processor, and retailer.

We have seen changes in the quantities of dairy ingredients and products being imported to the United States from other countries. In general, as dairy imports increase, the price paid to U.S. dairy farmers decreases.

A third change is the development of sexed semen and the effect it is having, and will have, on the amount of milk produced in the United States. This year we expect 63,000 extra heifers to enter the national dairy herd, and in 2010, that number is expected to increase to 161,000.

Historically, the U.S. milk pricing system has encouraged dairymen to produce all the milk they can, which has led to instability in prices paid to farmers. In the last four years, we have seen the U.S. All Milk Price average fluctuate between $20.50 and $11.50.

Milk is perishable, unlike other agriculture commodities such as corn, soybeans, and others that can be stored for days, or months until the market reaches an acceptable level. It is time for our industry to change its mindset and start producing milk for the market, instead of hoping we can market all the milk we produce.

The basic objectives of the Holstein Association’s Dairy Price Stabilization Program are:

” To prevent severely depressed producer milk prices that result in low and negative returns over feed costs to dairy producers.
” To reduce the volatility of milk prices to dairy producers and thereby reduce the price risk to dairy producers, dairy processors, and consumers of milk and dairy products.
” To complement, and not replace, other existing dairy programs such as the federal dairy price support program and the Milk Income Loss Contract Program. In fact, our program may reduce the federal government cost of both of these two programs.

Here is an overview of the program, and further details have been submitted to the Committee in writing. Let me stress, this Program will not require the Farm Bill to be opened.

The Dairy Price Stabilization Program removes the incentive to produce milk beyond the levels our market demands. It rewards producers who stay in line with market needs.

The U.S. Secretary of Agriculture would administer the program with an advisory Board. The Board will forecast the 12-month domestic and export market demands for fluid milk and manufactured dairy products.

With consideration of the current level of milk production, a determination will be made to the needed change in milk production to fulfill the market needs for each quarter of the next 12 months and return a profitable price to dairymen. This is referred to as the “allowable milk marketings”.

Dairy producers who maintain their milk marketings by quarter within the allowable milk marketings will not have to pay market access fees.

Dairy producers who expand their operation and exceed their allowable milk marketings will be accessed a market access fee per hundredweight on total milk marketings. Initially, we would expect the fee to be between $2.00 to $3.00 per hundredweight on all milk marketed as determined by the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture and the Board.

The fees collected from producers paying the market access fee would be distributed as a bonus to the dairy producers who stayed within their allowable milk marketings.

Producers will receive their base by filing their history of milk production and monthly marketings to their area USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) office. The FSA office will notify the producer’s milk plant or dairy cooperative to deduct the market access fee, if the producer exceeded their allowable milk marketings.

The cost of the program to taxpayers is nothing. We would expect an assessment of less than two cents per hundredweight to producers on all milk marketings to cover administrative costs of the program.

We are certain that there will need to be some sort of short term fix, such as a temporary 6-12 month raise in price support or some other quick remedy. However, the dairy industry can not keep coming back to Washington for continued bailouts. The Dairy Price Stabilization Program provides a long-term solution.

In closing, the Holstein Association’s membership of 30,000 dairy producers of all sizes from coast to coast appreciate the study you are doing on the U.S. dairy crisis. Something needs to be done now to stop the volatile producer milk price roller coaster ride our nation’s dairy farmers continue to experience.

The Dairy Price Stabilization Program was developed for dairy producers by dairy producers and is a long-term solution to the problem of milk price volatility. This Program will be beneficial to dairy farmers, milk cooperatives, processors, and consumers.

Thank you very much.

On Friday afternoon as the Dunn family was coming home from a local fair in Pennsylvania, the truck and trailer crashed leaving Jim Dunn seriously injured and killing Bobby, the second oldest son. For those of you who know Jim & Tammy Dunn, their four sons are the pride and joy of their lives. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers. We will be sharing funeral arrangements later as hear them.

It was a marvelous day and a marvelous sale! The International Intrigue showcased a world-class lineup at a world-class facility and at the end of the day, 92 lots unofficially averaged $49,408.68 for a gross of $4,545,599.00.

High seller at $1,500,000 was Lot #3 – Regancrest S Chassity-ET (VG-88), the high, high index Shottle daughter of Regancrest Cinderella-ET (EX-92). Her next dam is EX-92 Regancrest-PR Barbie-ET, the cow behind so many of the top PTAT cows on the current run. Consigned by David Dyment and Ernest Kueffner, Chassity sold as a package with 14 females and 10 males to a syndicate consisting of Jeff Butler, Frank & Diane Borba, Marlin Bontrager and Gerald Todd.

It’s all smiles when you’re involved with a million dollar-plus cow! In front left to right, Marlin & Mitchell Bontrager, syndicate members; Frank Borba, syndicate member; Greg McLean on the halter of Regancrest S Chassity-ET; David Dyment and Ernest Kueffner, consignors. In the box in back are Roger Turner, pedigree man; Ed Fellers, sale manager; Chris Hill (obscured), auctioneer; Dallas Burton, sale manager and Jeff Butler, sale manager.

Second high seller on the day at $340,000 was Lot #4 – Savage-Leigh Lavisha-ET (VG-88), the Toystory daughter of Savage-Leigh Licorice-ET (EX-92 GMD DOM). Her new owner is Ludwig Farms of Fithian, IL. Lavisha sold along with three #1 Atwood embryos and was consigned by Howard-View Holsteins and White Gold Dairy of Flemingsburg, KY.

Front L to R: Chad Sprague, Gary Ludwig and David Ludwig, buyers; Greg McLean on the halter of Savage-Leigh Lavisha-ET; Angela & Jamie, Madison & Morgan Howard, consignors; Anny & Douwe Akkerman, consignors. In the box are Ed Fellers, sale manager; Chris Hill, auctioneer; Dallas Burton and Jeff Butler, sale managers.

The gorgeous red cow, KY-Blue Rubens Marla-Red (EX-92) sold for $295,000 to Jeff Butler of Springfield, IL, good for third high. She was Lot #6 in the catalog and was fresh again in June. The All-American R&W Senior 3-Year-Old in 2007, Marla was also HM All-American 4-Year-Old in 2008 and was consigned by Richard Green of Middletown, DE.

Front L to R: Robert Yeoman, sales staff; Richard Green, consignor; Lisa Gibson, breeder; Greg McLean on the halter of Marla; Jeff Gibson, breeder. In the box: Roger Turner, pedigrees; Chris Hill, auctioneer; Ray LeBlanc, sales staff; Jeff Butler and Dallas Burton, sale managers.

Regancrest TS Benshae-ET (VG-87), the Toystory daughter of Barbie, sold for $196,000 to Ferme Blondin and Ferme Mystique of Quebec. Consigned by Butz, Rauen & Simon, Benshae sold as a package along with two Mac females.

Front L to R: Simon Lalande of Ferme Blondin and Francois Paiement of Ferme Mystique, buyers; Benshae; Tom Simon, Tim Rauen, Mark Simon, Mark Butz and Bill Rauen, consignors. In the box are Roger Turner, pedigrees and Jeff Butler, sale manager.

One of the most eyeballed cows at the sale – Dubeau Dundee Hezbollah (VG-89-2YR-CAN) – sold for $130,000 and found a new home with some people that know a thing or two about the show ring – Budjon Farms and Peter Vail. She will be right in the running in the Senior 2-Year-Old class this fall and she was consigned by Jeff Butler of Springfield, IL.

Front L to R: Peter Vail, buyer; Hezbollah with Tom and Kelli Cull, buyers. In the box: Roger Turner, pedigrees; Chris Hill, auctioneer and Jeff Butler, sale manager.

Managed by Burton & Fellers and Jeff Butler and hosted by MilkSource Genetics, the sale matched all of the excitement and was a first-class event for the Holstein industry.

Lot 1 – Regancrest Mac Bikasa-ET – $75,000

Lot 1A – First Choice Jeeves from Bikasa – $21,000

Lot 1B – Two bull package from Bikasa – $120,000

Lot 2 – First Choice Shottle from Ms Atlees Roy Autumn – $41,500

Lot 3 – Regancrest S Chassity-ET & offspring – $1,500,000

Lot 4 – Savage-Leigh Lavisha-ET – $340,000

Lot 5 – Savage-Leigh Gold Levina-ET – $44,000

Lot 5A – First Choice Million from Savage-Leigh Licorice-ET – $69,000

Lot 6 – KY-Blue Ruben Marla-Red – $295,000

Lot 7 – Regancrest TS Benshae-ET – $196,000

Lot 7A – First Choice Goldwyn from Benshae – $24,200

Lot 8A – First Choice Jeeves female from Ms Atlees Goldwyn Ariel – $93,000

Lot 8B – First Choice Jeeves male from Ms Atlees Goldwyn Ariel – $60,000

Lot 9 – First Choice Planet or Million from Misty Springs Shottle Silk – $75,000

Lot 10 – First Choice Goldwyn or Alexander from Wabash-Way Emilyann – $88,500

Lot 11 – Regancrest S Cashmere-ET – $65,000

Lot 12 – Comestar Lautellie Goldwyn – $22,000

Lot 13 – Melvale Lheros Justine – $40,000

Lot 14 – Dubeau Dundee Hezbollah – $130,000

Lot 15 – First Choice Goldwyn from Quality-Ridge Stormi Hazel – $34,000

Lot 16 – Ms Blondin Dundee Bree-ET – $4,400

Lot 17 – Blondin Shottle Lili – $15,200

Lot 18 – First Choice Goldwyn or MAS from Brookvilla Jasper AKA – $25,000

Lot 19 – First Choice Sanchez from Valleyville Lheros Jenn – $17,700

Lot 20 – Stantons Rivalry Wendi – $40,000

Lot 21 – Kingsmill Ashlyns Ananti-ET – $18,100

Lot 22 – Kingsmill Ashlyns Ashina-ET – $18,200

Lot 23 – Kingsmill Ashlyns Austin-ET – $11,500

Lot 24 – 6/09 Sanchez from Tri-Day Ashlyn – $13,700

Lot 25 – Nealayne J-Lou Taylor – $11,000

Lot 26 – Ms Posibility Potential-ET – $15,200

Lot 27 – Ms Planet Potent – $8,000

Lot 28 – BVK Shottle Anna-ET – $39,000

Lot 29 – First Choice Sanchez from Ms Kingstead Chief Adeen – $18,000

Lot 30 – Ms Crescentmead Aloha-ET – $39,000

Lot 31 – First Choice Goldwyn from Elleeta Skybuck Lucy – $16,500

Lot 32 – First Choice Man-O-Man from Regancrest TS Benissa – $55,000

Lot 33 – B-A-M Babs-ET – $18,000

Lot 34 – First Choice Mac from Regancrest Brasilia-ET – $40,000

Lot 35 – First Choice Million or Man-O-Man from Regancrest G Brocade-ET – $37,000

Lot 36 – First Choice Man-O-Man from Regancrest Barbette-ET – $32,500

Lot 37 – Calbrett Onward Brit – $9,900

Lot 38 – Co-Vale Stormatic Jay-ET – $24,000

Lot 39 – Lindenright Goldwyn Adore – $49,000

Lot 40 – Milksource Shttl Atheena-ET – $25,000

Lot 41 – Morsan Damion Jessie – $6,100

Lot 42 – Mapel Wood Bolton Barbie – $26,000

Lot 43 – Durchan Shtl Darryl-ET – $10,000

Lot 44 – Durchan DC109 Gold Dior-ET – $13,500

Lot 45 – BKB Toystory Adeline-ET – $15,500

Lot 46 – BKB Stormatic Andie-ET – $12,500

Lot 47 – Lookout Dundee Vero – $19,200

Lot 48 – Me-Do-Crest Durham Iris-TW – $8,700

Lot 49 – MD-Maple-Dell Roy Ilana-ET – $10,600

Lot 49A – Butz-Hill Durham Ilese-ET – $7,000

Lot 49B – Butz-Hill Durham Illysha-ET – $4,300

Lot 50 – First Choice Mac or Atwood from Idee Lustre-ET – $17,700

Lot 51 – Whittier-Farms SS Miss Abby – $11,700

Lot 52 – Butz-Butler DD Autumn-ET – $$5,500

Lot 53 – First Choice Million from Whittier-Farms Autumn-ET – $$9,000

Lot 54 – First Choice Atlas from Budjon-JK Linjet Eileen-ET – $11,600

Lot 55 – Arnolait Doman Carion – $21,000

Lot 57 – Beldavid Goldwyn Reese – $15,500

Lot 58 – Starbrite Goldwyn Leanne – $7,600

Lot 59 – Budjon-Vale Gold Dazzle-ET – $22,700

Lot 60 – First Choice Million from Ralma Goldwyn Carly-ET – $21,500

Lot 61 – First Choice Million from Wabash-Way Evett-ET – $19,000

Lot 62 – First Choice Lightning from Ms Kingstead Chief Adeen – $9,500

Lot 63 – BVK Roy Adelia-ET – $13,000

Lot 64 – BVK Talent Amanda-ET – $5,200

Lot 65 – Ms BVK Dundee So Devine – $4,200

Lot 66 – Kingsmill Durham Astute-ET – $6,700

Lot 68 – Kingsmill Durham Delight-ET – $8,500

Lot 69 – Butz-Butler Shottle Dynamit – $5,100

Lot 70 – First Choice Reality-Red from Cherrie-Kreek Beulah-Red – $7,900

Lot 71 – Scientific-I Red Delicious – $10,000

Lot 72 – First Choice Shaquille from Rainyridge Talent Barbara – $24,500

Lot 73 – TJ-Pollema Advnt Sheena-Red – $6,200

Lot 74 – First Choice Man-O-Man from Gold-N-Oaks Marbella-ET – $32,700

Lot 75 – First Choice Goldwyn or Michael or Jeeves or Reality-Red or Atwood or Million from Sandy-Valley Shottl Oreo-ET – $14,500

Lot 76 – Duckett Aspen Daisy – $9,800

Lot 77 – Butz-Hill-JB Goldwyn 1285 – $3,700

Lot 78 – Ludwing DG Shottle Padma – $6,500

Lot 79 – BKB Shottle Amaretto-ET – $12,500

Lot 80 – BKB Goldwyn Astro-ET – $15,700

Lot 81 – Quality-Ridge Champ Hope – $40,000

Lot 82 – First Choice Sanchez or MAS from Long-Haven Gold Rochelle-ET – $33,000

Lot 83 – Royalty Spirte Olivia – $10,000

Lot 84 – Branderlea Contender Jasmine – $10,500

Lot 85 – Hautpre Florie Jasper – $5,500

Lot 86 – MD-Maple-Lawn Pennie-ET – $4,000

The tent is full and the sale has rocketed out of the gate!

Sale host Jim Ostrom welcomed the crowd to the sale accompanied by sale manager Ed Fellers.

A massive crowd on hand to participate!

Lot #82 was the first sold – the first choice female of 9/10 calves by Sanchez or MAS out of Long-Haven Gold Rochelle-ET (VG-88 @ 2-03). Rochelle was the All-American Spring Yearling last year, calved in great and was just named Reserve Grand Champion as a Junior Two-Year-Old at last week’s Wisconsin Championship Show. Consigned by Gerald Todd & Gerald Todd, Jr., the choice brought $33,000.

Lot 28 – BVK Shottle Anna – 2/09 Shottle daughter of Ms Kingstead Chief Adeen (2E-94) brought $39,000.

Lot 30 – Miss Crescentmead Aloha-ET – 11/08 Shottle daughter of Amlaird Lee Alice (2E-94) brought $39,000

Lot 63 – BVK Roy Adella – 12/08 Roy daughter of Ms Kingstead Chief Adeen-ET (2E-94) sold for $13,000

Lot 25 – Nealayne J-Lou Taylor (VG-87) – 1st Jr 2-Year-Old at NY Spring Show and Midwest National Spring Show this year sold for $11,000.

One of the headliners – Lot 4 – Savage-Leigh Lavisha-ET (VG-88 @ 2-03) – Toystory daughter of Savage-Leigh Licorice-ET (EX-92 GMD DOM). Tons of interest in this cow, she along with three #1 Atwood embryos. Consigned by Howard-View Dairy & White Gold Dairy of Flemingsburg, KY, she was purchased by Ludwig Farms of Fithan, IL for $340,000.

Lot 5A – First choice of two 6/09 Million females from Savage-Leigh Licorice-ET (2E-92) brought $69,000

Lot 5 – Savage-Leigh Gold Levina-ET – 12/08 Goldwyn out of Licorice sold for $44,000

Lot 45 – BKB Toystory Adeline-ET – 4/08 Toystory out of 3E-97 Shoremar S Alicia-ET sold for $15,500 to Regancrest.

Lot 46 – BKB Stormatic Andie-ET (VG-89) – Stormatic daughter of Shoremar S Alicia-ET sold for $12,500

The crowd was quiet as Lot #3 – Regancrest S Chassity-ET (VG-88) circled the ring. A beautiful cow in dry form, Chassity carries a CTPI of +2294 and she is a Shottle daughter of Regancrest Cinderella (EX-92). She sold along with 14 female pregnancies and 10 male pregnancies. She was purchased by a syndicate for $1,500,000. Syndicate members include Jeff Butler, Frank & Diane Borba, Marlin Bontrager and Gerald Todd.

Lot 11 – Regancrest S Cashmere-ET – 12/08 Shottle from Regancrest Cinderella (EX-92) – $65,000

Lot 1B – Two bull package sired by Alexander, Sanchez or Jeeves from Regancrest Mac Bikasa-ET – sold to syndicate for $120,000

Lot 1A – First Choice Jeeves female from Regancrest Mac Bikasa-ET – $21,000

Lot 1 – Regancrest Mac Bikasa-ET herself – 10/07 Mac daughter of Regancrest-PR Barbie-ET (EX-92) – $75,000

Lot 12 – Comestar Lautelle Goldwyn – 6/08 Goldwyn daughter of Comestar Lautamie Titanic (VG-89-2YR-CAN) – $22,000

Lot 8A – First Choice Jeeves female from Ms Atlees Goldwyn Ariel-ET – $93,000

Lot 8B – First Choice Jeeves male from Ms Atlees Goldwyn Ariel-ET – sold to syndicate for $60,000

Lot 2 – First Choice Shottle from Ms Atlees Roy Autumn-ET (VG-89) – $41,500

Lot 7 – Regancrest TS Benshae-ET (VG-87) – Toystory from Barbie – $196,000

Lot 7A/7B – Choice of two Goldwyn females out of Toystory Benshae – $ 24,200

Lot 32 – First Choice Man-O-Man female from Regancrest TS Benissa-ET (VG-87) – $55,000

Lot 34 – First Choice Mac female from Regancrest Brasilia-ET (VG-88) – $40,000

Lot 33 – B-A-M Babs-ET – 3/09 Planet from Regancrest Brasilia-ET (VG-8) – $18,000

Lot 35 – First Choice Million or Man-O-Man female from Regancrest G Brocade-ET (VG-87) – $37,000

Lot 36 – First Choice Man-O-Man female from Regancrest Barbette-ET (VG-87-2YR-CAN) – $32,500

Lot 37 – Calbrett Onward Brit – 4/09 Onward daughter of Regancrest Barbette-ET (VG-87-2YR-CAN) – $9,900

Lot 6 – KY-Blue Ruben Marla-Red (EX-92) – All-American R&W Senior 3-Year-Old in 2007 – $295,000 to Jeff Butler.

Lot 6A – First Choice Sanchez 9/09 female from Marla – $18,200

Lot 14 – Dubeau Dundee Hezbollah (VG-89-2YR-CAN) – fancy, fancy Dundee two-year-old sold for $130,000 to Budjon Farms and Peter Vail.

Lot 38 – Co-Vale Stormatic Jay-ET – show winning Stormatic Summer Yearling – sold for $24,000 to Richard Green

Lot 10 – First Choice Goldwyn or Alexander from Wabash-Way Emilyann-ET (VG-88), the #1 CTPI cow in the breed – $88,500 to Ludwig Farms of Fithian, IL

Lot 61 – First Choice Million female from Wabash-Way Evett-ET (VG-86-2YR-CAN), the #2 GLPI Cow in Canada – $19,000

Lot 9 – First Choice Planet or Million from Misty Springs Shottle Silk (VG-88-2YR-CAN), the #1 LPI cow in Canada – $75,000 to Velthuis Farms of Ontario

Lot 13 – Melvale Lheros Justine (VG-88-3YR-CAN), show winning Lheros daughter – $40,000 to MilkSource Genetics

Lot 39 – Lindenright Goldwyn Adore (VG-89-3YR-CAN), show winning Goldwyn daughter from six VG & EX dams – $49,000

Watch for more pictures and more sale report to come later!

It’s a bright sunny, breezy day in Kaukauna, Wisconsin and a massive crowd is rolling into Milksource Genetics to take part in the International Intrigue Sale. The talk of the industry for the past number of months, the sale features a big, big, big-time lineup both of high index and high type individuals.

The big tent housing the sale cattle – the sale ring tent is the taller one behind.

Stunning circular sale ring built up high enough for everyone in the crowd to see the cattle.

The folks at Milksource thought of everything! The moms and dads in the crowd will appreciate this special sand play area for the kids!

Top-notch Wisconsin hospitality – tables inside and out with plenty of access to food and refreshments!

Lot 6 – Here’s Marla! KY-Blue Ruben Marla-Red (EX-92) was fresh in June and sells open and ready to flush. You’ll remember her as the Intermediate Champion of the Grand International R&W Show in 2007!

Lot 7 – Regancrest TS Benshae-ET (VG-87 @ 2yrs) – beautiful uddered Toystory daughter of Regancrest-PR Barbie-ET (EX-92). She sells as a package with 2 Mac females and has huge interest from AI.

Lot 39 – Lindenright Goldwyn Adore (VG-89-3YR-CAN) – a Goldwyn with a beautiful udder, Adore has started the year out right in the show ring in Eastern Canada. She was named 1st Jr 3-Year-Old and Reserve Intermediate Champion at the Atlantic Spring Show and is a potential 7th generation VG or EX.

Lot 41 – Morsan Damion Jessie (VG-87-2YR-CAN) – another Canadian show winner, Jessie was 1st Senior 2-Year-Old at the Calgary Spring Show and sports that fancy Damion udder.

Lot 49 – MD-Maple-Dell Roy Ilana-ET – fresh in March and due next March to Atwood, Ilana is a full sister MD-Maple-Dell Roy Image (EX-95), the Res. All American Junior 3-Year-Old in 2006.

Lot 55 – Arnolait Dolman Carion – Reserve All-American Fall Calf in 2008, she is due in December to Sanchez

Lot 1 – Regancrest Mac Bikasa-ET – the big 10/07 Mac daughter of EX-92 Regancrest Barbie-ET, Bikasa is due in January with a Goldwyn bull.

Lot 21 – She’s an Ashlyn! Kingsmill Ashlyns Ananti-ET – the 1/09 Shottle daughter of the legendary 2E-96 GMD DOM Tri-Day Ashlyn.

Lot 30 – Ms Crescentmead Aloha-ET – 11/08 Shottle daughter of 2E-94 Amlaird Lee Alice-ET, the All-American Junior 2-Year-Old in 2003.

 

Katie and Perry Phend walk some heifers and take some time out to chat with Mark Butz.

Plenty in interested crowd members moving through the sale cattle.

Stay tuned – the sale starts soon!

It’s a big weekend in Wisconsin for Holstein sales and now the attention turns to the International Intrigue at Milksource Genetics in Kaukauna, WI. The Milksource group has erected an impressive setting to display the sale cattle and to host the large crowd that is expected for the sale. Co-managed by Burton & Feller and Jeff Butler, the lineup is world class!

The catalog can be viewed online at: http://www.holsteinworld.com/catalogs09/IntIntrigue/

Lot #14 being paraded for some very interested onlookers. Dubeau Dundee Hezbollah (VG-89-2YR-CAN) is a very eye-catching young cow that will show as a Senior 2-Year-Old this year. Winner at numerous shows as a Intermediate Yearling and Intermediate Calf, she is consigned by Jeff Butler of Chebanse, IL.

The beautiful lineup of younger heifers had people studying their catalogs on the evening before the sale.

A large number of people gathered to enjoy the summer evening, cattle viewing and hospitality.

The facility that houses the Milksource Genetics herd.

The tie stall section of the barn shows off many in the milking string.

Watch later today for coverage of the International Intrigue Sale – scheduled to begin at 2:00pm central time!

The Reflections of Rosedale sale took place on Friday, July 31st – a picture perfect summer day in Wisconsin. A huge crowd gathered in Oxford to be part of the sale and to enjoy the hospitality! At the end of the day, 68 female lots and choices unofficially averaged $5,854.

The beautiful and inventive circular sale ring featured a fountain in the middle and four cow statues painted with the markings of the Rosedale matriarchs: Blackrose, Redrose, Paradise and Ideal.

Here is Paradise decked out with her Expo Supreme Champion trappings!

Lunch was provided before the sale as well as other refreshments. People came early and stayed all day to appreciate the sale cattle as well as the Rosedale herd.

Mark Rueth and Nicky Reape welcome everyone to the sale with sale manager Rick Bovre, auctioneer John Copithorne and pedigree man Norman Nabholz looking on.

Several items were auctioned off at the start of the sale to benefit the Klussendorf Scholarship fund.

High seller on the day and the focus of much attention was Lot 1A – Rosedale Golden Girl-ET – a 3/1/09 *RC Goldwyn daughter of Lavender Ruby Redrose-Red (3E-96). Redrose was the Supreme Champion at World Dairy Expo in 2005 and again was Grand Champion of the Grand International Red & White Show in 2007. Golden Girl was purchased by Don Rottinghaus of Stilwell, KS for $33,000.

Second high on the day was Lot #3 – Rosedale Dream Big-ET – a 3/14/09 *RC Shottle daughter out of Rosedale Black Ruby-ET. Black Ruby is an EX-94 *RC Allegro daughter out of Redrose. A potential 7th generation EX, Dream Big sold for $31,000 to Jordan & Whitney Ebert of Algoma, WI.

High seller – $33,000 – Rosedale Golden Girl

2nd high seller – Rosedale Dream Big-ET – $31,000

3rd high seller at $26,000 was Lot #1 – the first choice of three 6/09 Sanchez females from 3E-96 Redrose. This lot was the selection of Jonathon and Alicia Lamb of Oakfield, NY.

The hardworking Rosedale crew did a marvelous job of presenting the cattle and keeping the sale running smoothly!