When you live in Northern New York everything is South from that location. On a recent trip to Virginia, Holstein World’s Frank Putman had the pleasure of stops at Gloryland, Chip Savage’s and Tom Priest’s breeding establishments.

Views of Chip Savage’s new

facilities………..

Some of the show ring stars enjoy large packs including Savage-Leigh Leona-ET (ET-92) and Savage-Leigh Lavish-ET (EX-92)

Chip and Isha Savage

Special heifers…..that include Goldwyn x Licorice daughters.

Back at Cindee and Wayne’s farm, two youngsters that that are under their care for Denise Riddle are daughters of her VG-86 *RC September Storm x EX-91 Champion x VG-88 Aron x Bellwood Linda.

A Gold Lazer daughter

Her red Shaquille daughter

On Battlefield Rd in Grottoes, Virginia is Gloryland. Here is a sampling of the animals that will have a price tag on them for the tag sale planned for the National Holstein Convention week………………………..

Gloryland Latte-Rae *RC (EX-92)

Advent x Lana Rae (2E-94 DOM)

Gloryland -LA Loretta-ET (Goldwyn x EX-92 Lori Rae)

Gloryland -LB Leasha Rae-ET (Goldwyn x VG-88 Lakota Rae)

Gloryland Glamour Rae-ET (Goldwyn x 2E-94 DOM Lana Rae)

Tom Priest’s farm is located very close to Interstate 81 and the Greencastle, PA exit. Big framed cattle are in evidence here.

Bolivar x Bellwood Linda family

Jeeves x Art Acres Shottle Kay

a recently fresh Goldwyn x Ocean View Lindy Sheen family

When you combine endless enthusiasm, great work ethic, hospitality and abundant cow knowledge, you are talking Savage-Leigh. Even though Cindee was cleaning, baking and preparing for the the Holidays, she still found time for cow conversation and viewing the stock. Here are a few shots of my visit to the Knoxville, Maryland, farm.

The problem in the Savage-Leigh farm office is finding places to display the continuing additions of awards. The “hand me down” case in the background came into Cindee’s possession when Chip relocated. Problem solved!

Andi Grace Welch is never too far from the barn when it’s chore time.

More proof that another generation of the Savage family has that “cow bug”

Keeping the pack in tip top shape is never ending for Gatlin Levi Welch

Cindee said I brought the snow. I said it followed me! Cindee and Ryan gather for a Christmas greeting.

Wayne, Andi, Kelli, Gatlin, Ryan and Cindee

Virginia Holstein Breeders met for their annual meeting and one of the important topics of the day was the National Holstein Convention that they will host in June 2011. Here are a few scenes from the Junior meeting. No matter the state the energy and enthusiasm is always infectious in junior meetings.

(below)

Virginia import Lynnette Inman of Mar-Bil Farm and Lois Skeen, the National Convention Publicity Chair and former Southeast News editor.

SEMEX-HOLSTEIN AUSTRALIA ON-FARM COMPETITION 2010
SOUTH EASTERN RESULTS
By Dianna Malcolm

Two maternal sisters owned by different operations emerged from 1262 entries as state champions in the South Eastern Australian Semex Holstein Australia On-Farm Competition recently.

High Green Goldwyn Noni and High Green Bolton Noni won the two and three-year-old champions respectively in what judge Jenny Grey described as an exceptional display of young cows during the presentation luncheon at the Witchmount Winery at Melton.

They come from the same family as the reigning Intermediate Champion from International Dairy Week (IDW), Page House Shottle Noni, who was bought by Roger and Helen Perrett for $33,000.

Adding weight to the titles is that just over 2800 animals competed throughout the country, giving the South Eastern state close to 50 percent of the total numbers. The biggest sub-branch surpassed 300 head.

Both Nonis are bred by Richard Ellis, of Leongatha, but ultimately trace back to the Fernyhurst Nonis of Max, Elaine and David Spring in Queensland.

Goldwyn Noni is owned by Brad and Leesa Windridge, from Windy Ridge Holsteins, at Leitchville in northern Victoria. The young couple milk 280 head without staff and this year was only the second time they had entered.

“We were definitely surprised,” Brad said. “This will be hard to back up to.” They bought Noni at IDW this year for $7000 as a joined heifer. She has since calved in with a bull calf, she is milking 36 litres a day, waiting for the classifier and she will now probably show at IDW.

“It’s very good for us to be involved in this competition and we’d never have considered showing her without the competition,” Brad said.

High Green Bolton Noni is owned by another couple, which underscored the soul of the competition. Steve manages a 1000-cow herd and keeps his six show cows at his Broadwater property away from the farm and he milks them before and after work on a midget milker to feed calves.

The family enjoys developing their registered cattle together and the win meant more to them than most of the audience would have realised.

“I’ve always dreamed of standing up here in front of breeders that you’ve grown up with admiring their cattle,” Steve said. “And it’s even better to beat them – in a nice way of course, because you know you’re doing something right.” Steve Joyce.

“Today was therapy – it makes it all the work worth it and makes up for the losses we all have at some time.”

Crossley dairy producers Chris and Mary Gleeson took their kudos from not one, but two state championships from their 250-cow herd.

“It’s a pleasing result, because to get to the top of our sub-branch which had more than 300 entries and make the final and then go in front of another judge and to win is exciting. Because at this level any one of five cows on screen could be as good – it’s just so competitive and by the law of averages you do need a little bit of luck.”

Elm Banks Durham Berry (x Durham x Starbuck) won the five-year-old title and she was one of four Elm Banks animals that classified EX just days before the presentation, taking their tally to 39 EX on-farm (seven with third calvers).

Melville Park Storm Queen-ET EX93 won the mature class and with more than 10,000 litres up in 225 days she is paying her way.

Robin and Lois White, of Finley, won the four-year-old class with Luccombe Lheros Fairy. The EX90-scored third calved four-year-old finished second at sub-branch level. She was milking more than 50 litres a day and her owners took the news she had leapfrogged her competition at state level in their stride.
“It’s a wonderful competition,” Robin said. “And, to be honest, the animals that finish first and second and present to the next judge it is a bit of a lottery, because there are so many variables. Fairy really did look very good on the day Jenny visited, but we didn’t have high hopes.”

Judge Jenny Grey, from Kiama, in New South Wales was officiating in her first Victorian judging role. She had be the overjudge in Queensland and judged sub-branch competitions in New South Wales, in addition to New Zealand.

She only had one piece of advice for her Victorian colleagues.

“They should keep doing what they’re doing, because what they’re doing is very, very good,” she said. “In particular I thought the udders were very, very good. The attachments on the young cattle and the ligaments were exceptional. The older cows were also very impressive with the youthfulness of their udders.”

TWO YEAR OLD – 1st: High Green Goldwyn Noni, B and L Windridge (Windy Ridge Holsteins, Leithville). – 2nd: Glenorleigh Alladin Paulie L, W and J Thompson and James Breen (Glenorleigh Holsteins, Mt Gambier).

THREE YEAR OLD – 1st: High Green Bolton Noni-ET, R Joyce and Beclah Park Holsteins (Broadwater) – 2nd: Gowerville Hope Marlene, N Goodfellow (Gowerville Holsteins Kyabram).

FOUR YEAR OLD – 1st: Luccombe Lheros Fairy, R and L White (Luccombe Holsteins, Finley) – 2nd: Cooltah Freeman Alice, H, V and J Gardiner, Avonlea Holsteins, Freeway)

FIVE YEAR OLD – 1st: Elm Banks Durham Berry, C and M Gleeson (Elm Banks Holsteins, Crossley) – 2nd: Creswick Spirte Betty 2nd, G and M Male, Creswick Holsteins, Caldermeade.

MATURE – 1st: Melville Park Storm Queen-ET, C and M Gleeson (Elm Banks Holsteins, Crossley) – 2nd: Jubulani Stormatic Wanda 2-ET, P and A Edmonds, Jabulani Holsteins, Glencoe).

One of the first things I do when I begin writing a blog is to select what category it falls under – Youth, The Sale Ring, The Show String, etc. I had a difficult time finding the proper category for today’s blog post as it is…well…my last one.

In June of 2005 I had a lot of change happening in my life. I had just graduated from the University of Minnesota and was planning a wedding for June 4th. One week later I moved to Iowa and one week after that I started my first job out of college, Internet Services Associate for Holstein World. It’s hard to believe that was over five years ago…thank you so much for being a part of my time here!

HolsteinWorld.com has changed dramatically in that time and some of that was a result of my co-workers and I, but much of it was driven by you – our visitors and customers! Our site is on track to surpass over 2,100,000 visitors by the end of the year. Our homepage is viewed each day by an average of 6,100 visitors and the All Breeds Blog averages an impressive 3,500 visits every day. Your interest in what we do drives us to try new things, better our reporting, and do it all in a very genuine and professional way.

Through the Web we have been able to expand the way we are able to connect with each other. With greater ease and in a quicker way, we can celebrate the winners from Expo through online show coverage and even watch as the champions are named on our Holstein World YouTube Channel. Thank you for being a part of it all and helping us to grow and see what Holstein World’s role can be in connecting with you online.

Today marks the end of my career at Holstein World. But I promise that does not mean I am in any way leaving the Holstein world. I’ve grown up in this business and had the privilege of working in it. In my new role as Communications Director at Associated Milk Producers Inc. based in New Ulm, Minn., I will continue to work in the dairy industry and may even get the chance to continue working with some of you.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you. In everything I have done I hope you have seen that I care deeply for this industry. I love cows and the people who care for them. Breeding, showing and marketing dairy cattle genetics is a specialized business and it takes a very special person who can do it, and do it well.

Until the next time we meet again, I wish you all the very best in everything you do. May you and your family enjoy a very Merry Christmas and have a very happy, healthy and prosperous New Year!

Sarah

SEMEX-HOLSTEIN AUSTRALIA ON-FARM COMPETITION 2010
RESULTS
~Dianna Malcolm

South Australia is a haven for outstanding Holsteins and this year’s state judge for the Semex-Holstein Australia On-Farm Competition proved to be no exception.

This year’s judge Bill Thompson (who has exhibited Grand Champion Holstein at the Adelaide Royal Show for the last two years with different animals) placed 139 animals from 21 breeders.

The national spectacle, which is in its 10th year, has a number of unique points of difference. The most obvious is that all the cows were judged for their conformation on-farm in their working cobber.

Bill moved between individual farms, covering more than 600km in his biggest day’s judging as he worked to place cows, in first the Central and Fleurieu sub-branches, before going on to name his state champions.

A proactive group of people who bring the South Australian event to life have also given it wings and it is now considered to be a highlight of the year for exhibitors. More than 70 people attended the finals evening and all commented on the exposure they enjoy because of the extra work Semex representative Vaughn Johnston put in with the video work.

A new face on the championship podium this year was Andrew and Angela Koch, of Glenunga Holsteins. The couple milk 180 cows (including 150 Holsteins and 30 Jerseys under the Ashtaney Jerseys prefix).

“This is our first championship, but then again we’ve been a bit on and off with entering in the past, because we’ve been so busy,” Andrew said. “But we’ve improved our act a bit and since Vaughn (Johnston, Semex) started videoing it because all the competition has subsequently had a lot more exposure and there is more interest and value in it for us,” he said.

Their championship four-year-old entry, Glenunga Jordan Glenna is a VG85 Roylane Jordan daughter from a VG88 Comestar Outside, who traces her roots back to a Rockwood Park foundation cow (fourth dam) – Rockwood Park Quality Glenna EX2E. The family finds its original roots at the Deloraine Stud in New Zealand.

Quality Glenna is a former Reserve Champion Cow at the Adelaide Royal and the Mt Pleasant Autumn Fair and she has developed into a valuable brood cow for the Koch family. Jordan Glenna who was milking 40 litres a day at the time of the competition has had two daughters and she is back in calf for the spring shows next year. Her maternal sister finished second in the five-year-old class at branch level in this year’s competition.

Glenna had a rough start to the show season, finishing last in her four-year-old class at the Adelaide Royal Show.

“We were a bit shocked, to be honest,” Andrew said. “But we went home and she did all sorts of developing and two weeks later she won Grand Champion, Supreme Champion and Best Udder at the Fleurieu Spring Show, at Murray Bridge.”

Dean and Beverley Thorpe, of Balara Holsteins at Meningie, won the competitive two-year-old class with Balara Advent Dancer-Red. Dancer’s dam was a Red and White Talent daughter which died before she was classified. Dean said Dancer is an aggressive young cow who was in the first run every milking in their 185-cow herd. She was giving 30 litres at the time of the competition, and given her success they are toying with breaking her to halter in time for next year’s Royal Adelaide Show. The event remains an important date on their marketing calendar.

“It is certainly good. We’ve made it into our major state social event as well. There were nearly 70 people there on the presentation night and everyone had a fantastic time.”

The three-year-old winner, Paravale Rubens Rose-ET VG85, gave Jack Bramley, of Paravale Holsteins at Yankalilla, one of his final high points as an active breeder in the industry. She also proved that every cow has a story.

Jack recently dispersed his milking herd for an average that was a sniff over $2600 with a top price of $25,000. Rubens Rose, who traces her roots back to the famous US matriarch Stookey Elm Park Blackrose herself, now belongs to Dean and Beverley’s Balara Holsteins and she cost them $4900. Jack, who thought Rubens Rose was one of the bargains of his sale, is no stranger to lucky buys.

He secured her dam, Pooley Bridge Milestone Redrose, for $1000 as a six-year-old after seeing her waiting in the yard to go to the choppers and recognising her as the cow that had cost Anthony Steiner $15,000 at International Dairy Week. She had failed to get in calf that year, given Jack the chance to buy her.

“We flushed Milestone Redrose to Rubens and she had three black daughters for us and I’ve still got embryos,” Jack said. “Rubens Rose’s full sister had a Red and White calf though, so Rubens Rose would have to be a red carrier and there is no doubt that her udder is her most outstanding feature.”

Milestone Redrose is a 6 Star Brood Cow and she has 16 daughters (eight VG) and the Red and White gene is coming through in many of her daughters. Her win essentially gave Balara the majority of state champions.

“The Red and Whites are a bit of a novelty,” Dean said. Everybody wants one and I will try and breed some reds out of her. She’s a good young cow with a beautiful rear udder.”

Jack said the competition was fabulous.

“We feel no differently about this competition. It’s great and the hardest thing is finding judges to do it.”

The five-year-old champion Misty Brae Alan Della-ET came out of Gino and Amanda Pacitti’s stable. The couple, who farm with the help of their sons, Ashley and Andrew, are always a force. The VG85 Canyon-Breeze Allen daughter is backed by EX91 x VG88 x Tarinka Park Mascot Deanne EX4E. Della, who calved in August, was Reserve Champion at the Fleurieu Spring Feature Show and a class winner at the Adelaide Royal.

“Della’s dam has been a foundation cow in our herd and Allen Della’s two ET sisters are both classified high VG,” Gino said.

He said the competition was a welcome part of their business.

“It gives us a fantastic medium to promote our animals without the show environment. I would thoroughly recommend it to anyone who wants to see how their cattle fit with their peers because it’s about honest, all-round animals.”

The mature cow class winner belonged to Eden Valley producers Steve and Verica Seeliger. Their VG88 homebred entry, Esjay Dividend Treva, won the aged cow class at the Adelaide Royal and she was pulled out in the championship line-up.

SOUTH AUSTRALIA STATE OVER JUDGING

State Over Judging: SOUTH AUSTRALIA
Judge: BILL THOMPSON, Glenorleigh Holsteins, Mt Gambier, South Australia

TWO YEAR OLD – 1st: Balara Advent Dancer-Red, L Thorpe Pty Ltd (Balara Holsteins, Meningie) – 2nd: Billabong Bolton Pippa, K and G Afford and Son (Billabong Holsteins, Murray Bridge).

THREE YEAR OLD – 1st: Paravale Rubens Rose-ET, J Bramley (Paravale Holsteins, Yankalilla) – 2nd: Jervois Logon Shannon, C and F Mason (Jervois Holsteins, Jervois).

FOUR YEAR OLD – 1st: Glenunga Jordan Glenna, A and A Koch (Glenunga Proprietors, Moculta) – 2nd: Billabong Informer Marion, K and G Afford and Son (Billabong Holsteins, Murray Bridge).

FIVE YEAR OLD – 1st: Misty Brae Alan Della-ET, G and A Pacitti (Misty Brae Holsteins, Myponga) – 2nd: Tauwitchere Shaker Laurel, K and G Afford and Son (Billabong Holsteins, Murray Bridge).

MATURE – 1st: Esjay Dividend Treva, S and V Seeliger (Esjay Holsteins, Eden Valley) – 2nd: Joyley Luckystrike Della-ET, G and A Pacitti (Misty Brae Holsteins, Myponga).

Stay tuned for more results of this exciting series of competitions Down Under!

The barns are continuing to go up in Chebanse, Illinois, as fellow Holstein breeder and sale manager Jeff Butler puts the finishing touches on the new Butlerview.

Stay tuned for more!

Deadline Nearing for Dairy Leaders for Tomorrow Campaign
An update from Judy & Charles Iager, Honorary Campaign Chairpersons

The Holstein Foundation, established in 1989, is dedicated to providing prospective dairy industry leaders the education, self-confidence, and network to succeed in the business long term. Their cornerstone program, Young Dairy Leaders Institute (YDLI), has graduated hundreds and thousands have been touched through other Foundation programs. By continuing to teach and train this young, promising group, we can utilize their talents as they take on leadership roles in the industry, benefiting generations to come.

Over the last two decades, numerous changes in the industry have prompted the Foundation to develop a renewed mission – to promote and support programs that develop leadership for the dairy industry. Bottom line, the Holstein Foundation wants to develop more dairy leaders for tomorrow. Recognizing that times are tough in the dairy industry, we realize the need for leadership has never been greater. Using its expertise to address the need, the Holstein Foundation recently established an endowment dedicated to dairy leadership training.

We care about the future of the dairy industry, and have supported the Holstein Foundation over the years. After seeing the YDLI Class 6 program first hand in Albuquerque, we made the decision to support the Holstein Foundation’s Dairy Leaders for Tomorrow Campaign. By joining us in support of this campaign, your donation will be invested in the people who will continue to make this industry so great.

Also joining in this commitment is Holstein Association USA, who has pledged a dollar-for-dollar match, up to $1 million, for monies received for the campaign by December 31, 2010. With this match, your gift will further impact our leadership programs and amplify your investment.

To take full advantage of their pledge, and express your commitment to the future of the dairy industry, we invite you, your farm, or business, to join us in supporting the Dairy Leaders for Tomorrow Campaign. Every donation helps strengthen our programs, and we offer our sincere thanks to all those who have already generously given. Charles and I are proud that our outstanding Holstein Foundation board of trustees has already raised close to $350,000 and has 100% participation from the board.

Gifts of any amount will help, and are greatly appreciated. To give online, for more information about the campaign, or to see a list of current donors, visit www.holsteinfoundation.org. Gifts may also be sent to:
Holstein Foundation, P.O. Box 816, Brattleboro, Vermont 05302-0816.

In the holiday spirit of giving, this is your invitation to join us by investing in the future. And remember, a gift received by December 31 doubles your investment.

This report is just in from the Destination Vegas Elite Holstein Sale. The sale was held last night, Friday, Dec. 3rd, at the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas, NV. Here’s a quick recap of the highlights – we’ll be sharing more details as they are received. The sale was enjoyed by a crowd of about 70 Holstein enthusiasts from around the US and Canada – there were a total of 27 different buyers from the US, Europe and Canada.

High seller at $205,000 was Lot 1 – MS Chassity Goldwyn Cash-ET. She is a 9/09 Goldwyn daughter of Regancrest S Chassity-ET (EX-90) and currently ranks 10th in the breed on the GTPI list and is the #1 Goldwyn daughter! She was consigned by Butz-Hill and Farnear Holsteins, IA, and was purchased by Morsan Farms, Alberta.

A total of 39 lots averaged $27,251 and the sale grossed a high rolling $1,062,800. Congratulations to all the consignors and the sale management team of Butler Fellers on an amazing sale in Vegas!

The Springhill Spectacular Sale is now complete and averaged $2835 on 230 head! Congratulations to the Lang family on a great day!

Cattle being inspected in freestall barn

Cars, cars and more cars! Due to weather and limited parking…trucks and trailers were parked at another farm a mile away and people were shuttled to the farm.

Tents, heaters, lights and holly! Sale goers tried to keep warm, but the great cattle and hospitality made the day more enjoyable.

Sale tent next to the milking parlor…and a straw bale baricade!

L – Daryl Duncan, Warsaw, Ohio…R – Chris Lahmers, Marysville, Ohio

Chris Lang

Perry Phend making sure they all got to the ring.

Red stampede!

Sale crowd

Jason Robinson and Mike Fowler

Snow was definitely the theme of the day!

Following are some high prices of the sale:

Lot 55 – $10,000 Springhill-OH CS Iron J-ET Born 6/10 GTPI +2123
Super x Springhill-OH FBI Iron J (VG-86)

Lot 56 – $9700 Springhill-OH Bowser Ice-ET Born 8/10
Bowser x Springhill-OH FBI Iron J (VG-86) x Springhill-OH Iron Jeopardy (EX-92) x 9 more VG and EX dams

Lot 197 – $7250 Springhill-OH Dest Anna-Red GTPI +2050
Born 5/10
Destry x Springhill-OH Advent Apryl *RC
Next 7 of 8 dams VG or EX including Wapa Bootmaker Mandy (3E-96 GMD-DOM)

Lot 75 – $7000 Springhill-OH Wander-Red-ET
Lawn Boy x Springhill-OH SS Whitley-ET *RC x Springhill-OH Jolt Whitney (EX-93 2E GMD-DOM)

Lot 49 – $8500 Springhill-OH Jennifer-ET GTPI +2046
Freddie x Spring-Star Ramos Jigsaw-ET (VG-85)

Lot 50 – $11,500 Springhill-OH Man-O-Man Jem GTPI +2062
Man-O-Man x Spring-Star Ramos Jigsaw (VG-85) x Spring-Star Shottle Jazzie (VG-86)

Lot 48 – $19,000 Springhill-OH FD Joyous GTPI +2199
Freddie x Spring-Star Ramos Jigsaw-ET (VG-85)

Lot 229 – $6000 Springhill-OH Durham Mirage (EX-90)
Durham x Springhill-OH Derry Meg (EX-90)
Bred to Dool-Leigh Goldwyn Clark

Lot 46 – $7200 Springhill-OH PS Jewel-ET *CV GTPI +2095
Shottle x Ocean-View Durham Jewel
Sold as bred heifer due to Green-Meadow Dynamic

Lot 40 – $8000 Spring-Star KP Journal (EX-91)
Potter x Ocean-View Durham Jewel (EX-91 2E GMD DOM)

Lot 1 – $35,000 Springhill-OH Mac Clouds-ET (VG-87)
Mac x Springhill-OH Cloudburst-Tw (EX-90 DOM) by O-Man

Choice of Lots 2 or 3 – $23,000
Sired by Bosside PS Prentice – born 1/10 or 2/10
Lot 2 from Springhill-OH Mac Clouds
Lot 3 from Springhill-OH Cloudburst

Lot 29 – $7500
Springhill-OH Storm Hula-ET (EX-91)
Storm x Springhill-OH Jolt Holly-ET (EX-90)