Matt and Natalie Sneller of Conant Acres, Canton, Maine were especially blessed this Christmas with the arrival of their son, Gerrit Michael, who was born on Christmas Day at 5:15 am. He weighed 6 pounds, 15 ounces. The proud grandparents are Steve and Debbie Keene of Conant Acres and Darwin and Kathy Sneller of Starward Farms, Sebewaing, Michigan.

Greta & Tera Koebel welcomed a large group of Jersey enthusiasts as we kicked off the last leg of the Holiday Harvest event with the Tri-Koebel Jersey dispersal.

Lot A-$4,600 Tri-Koebel Glamorous, a December ’11 Maestro daughter of Gadget Jade of Edgebrook EX-93

Lot 16-$3,500 Tri-Koebel Minister Matrix. She sold due in March to Grand Prix and is a Minister daughter of Tri-Koebel Jurisdiction Madalyn VG-88.

Lot 13- $3,800 Tri-Koebel Miss Michigan, a full aged fall calf for the 2012 show season!

Lot 15- $1,400 Tri-Koebel Madagascar, a fancy June heifer from Jursidiction Madalyn.

High SellerLot 7- $17,000 Tri-Koebel Comerica Makayla, recently fresh and no stranger to the show ring, nominated All-American Fall Yearling 2011 and was 5th at Central National Jersey Show . She sold enetered in the 2013 Jersey Jug Futurity.

Lot 6-$5,700 Tri-Koebel Maserati, a Grand Prix daughter of Tri-Koebel Duaiseoir Mango EX-91. She is due in August to Verbatim Response and is entered in the 2014 World Dairy Expo Futurity.

Lot 4- $1,700 Tri-Koebel Duaiseoir Mango EX-91 H.M. Senior Champion Great Lakes Spring Jersey Show 2010, Shamrock Duasieoir-ET x JVB Red Hot Aerohurts Maybelle EX-94.

Lot 29- $3,600 Tri-Koebel Lady Luck, a June ’11 WF Amadeo Shyster x Tri-Koebel Comerica Lucky VG-87

Lot 27-$1,900 Partee at Budjon Liberty-ET EX-91 Supreme Champion of the 2010 Michigan Dairy Expo.

Lot 28-$1,600 Tri-Koebel Comerica Lucky VG-87, Comerica x Partee at Budjon Liberty-ET EX-91

Lot 31- $1,600 Class E Action Mary, All-Michigan Fall Yearling 2011

Lot 3- $1,500 Tri-Koebel Goal Magnificent EX-90, bred 12/13/11 to Grand Prix, a Cozz Mar TJ Goal daughter of Tri-Kobel Council Maggy-ET EX-92.

Lot 1- $1,400 Tri-Koebel Council Maggy-ET EX-92, Counciller x JVB Red Hot Aerohurts Maybelle EX-94.

Lot 2- $1,900 Tri-Koebel Shyster Mardi Gras, full aged fall calf from Council Maggy EX-92.

Lot 25- $2,900 Tri-Koebel Minister Fame VG-87, fresh in September, Jr. Champion Great Lakes Spring Show 2011, Minister x Elysian Meadows Fate 6th-ET EX-91

Lot 26-$3,100 Tri-Koebel Im Famous, Sept ’11 Griffens Governor x Minister Fame.

Lot 24- $5,700 Tri-Koebel Very Fancy-ET, sold JUST fresh, an Arethusa Sambo Verify daughter of Elysian Meadows Fate 6th-ET EX-91.

Lot 17-$3,700 Tri-Koebel Sultan Tinkerbell EX-91

Lot 30-$1,550 Tri-Koebel Minister Giraffe

Lot 30A-$1,300 Full age December calf by Tequila from Minister Giraffe

Lot 8- $1,900 Tri-Koebel Duaisr Marble-ET EX-91, Intermediate Champion MI State Jersey Show 2009

Lot 9- $3,500 Tri-Koebel Sultan Maybe, June ’11 Sultan x Duaisr Marble.

Lot Lot- $1,100 Tri-Koebel Iatola Marshmallow VG-87

Lot 11- $1,300 Tri-Koebel Verifty Mercedes, Arethusa Sambo Verifty x Marshmallow sold bred 12/4/11 to sexed Valentino

Lot 12- $1,400 Tri-Koebel Iatola Michigan VG-88

Lot 19- $1,600 Tri-Koebel Militia Purple EX-90, son contracted to Alta Genetics

Lot 20- $2,000 Tri-Koebel Legion Rockette VG-86 sold due in March to Schultz Rescue Headline

Lot 21- $1,800 Tri-Koebel Militia Pink VG-83, a Sunset Canyon RP Militia x Tri-Koebel Golden Pinky VG-87 x Montana B Pimento EX-92

Lot 22- $1,750 Tri-Koebel Jacinto Prettie VG-86 bred Nov 8, 2011 to Tri-Koebel Iatola Proper-ET

Lot 23- $1,100 Tri-Koebel Pristine, a November ’10 Bridon Excitation x Tri-Koebel Jacinto Prettie VG-86

Topping the sale Holiday Harvest Sale Jersey Edition featuring the Tri-Koebel Jersey Dispersal was Tri-Koebel Comerica Makayla selling for $17,000 to Buster Goff, NM.

In the photo are sales staff members and sellers Michael Heath, Keith Topp, Louie Cozzitorito, Jason Lamoreaux, Auctioneer, Megan Bush, Kelsey Crull, Megan Bush at the halter of Tri-Koebel Comerica Makayla, Roger Turner, Pedigrees and the Koebel Family Jennie, Tera, Terry, and Greta.

The Holiday Harvest Sale took place at the MSU Pavilion in East Lansing, MI on Thursday, December 22nd and a nice crowd gathered to take in one last sale in 2011!

Lot 1-$30,000 fancy December ’10 Goldwyn x Grand Champion International Red & White Show 2011- KHW Regiment Apple Red-ET EX-95 sold open and ready to flush.

Lot 8 $16,000 Redcarpet AB OS Brookfield (GTPI +2353), a 10/11 Osmond out of Westvale-Vu Mill Bridget-ET (VG-86 2yr), a Million daughter of Regancrest G Brandis (VG-85), then into the Barbies.

Lot 7 $16,000 Brandt-View Iota Iola-ET (GTPI +2335), a 6/11 AltaIota that sold with embryo and AI contracts out of Brandt-View Bolton Beebe (VG-85 GTPI +2071).

Lot 4 $14,000 Co-Vista Observer Diana-ET, a 1/11 Observer (GTPI +2024) out of Scientific Deluxe Rae-ET (VG-87 GTPI +1968), the Shottle daughter of Scientific Debutante Rae (EX-92)

Lot 2- $10,100 Starmark Ad Roses-Red-ET VG-88, Advent from Rosedale-L SS Rose Red-ET, the VG-88 September Storm daughter of world famous Lavender Ruby Redrose-ET EX-96 3E.

Lot 20- $8,000 March ’11 Aftershock x Amlaird Lee Alice EX-94

Lot 5- $6,500 June ’11 Contender x Winterfield Trendi-Red-ET EX-91 x Wilson-Dale Tal Trendedy-ET EX-92. Trendedy is a maternal sister to RAWF class winner and Res. Intermediate Champion, Pineland Goldwyn Tidbit VG-89 CAN.

Lot 34 – $4,500 Southern-Hills Paul Cloud (GTPI +2227), a 8/11 Jeeves Paul out of Southern-Hills Bolt Cleo-ET (VG-87)

Lot 75- $3,900 choice of two Goldwyn springers x Cityview Gibson Alcena-ET EX-91 from the Alicia family.

Lot 36- $3,000 Aug ’09 Mac x Budjon-JK Linjet Eileen EX-96

Lot 52- $3,700 Feb ’11 Aftershock x Budjon-JK Gold Edmire-ET EX-90 then Budjon-JK Durham Embrace EX-95

Lot 21- $3,200 Enfuego Shottle Aaliyah-ET, Shottle x Cityveiw Gibson Alcena-ET EX-91

Lot 25- $5,000 Enfuego Mac Aphrodisiac-ET, undefeated spring yearling in Michigan in the 2011 show season, sold this spring to Braxton.

Lot 19- $4,500 March ’11 Atwood x Libertyraes Sasha-ET (Sept. Storm) x Gloryland Liberty Rae EX-95

Lot 10- $5,100 November ’10 Maple-Downs-I G W Atlantic-ET x Lylehaven Damion Lulu-ET EX-92, maternal sister to Lila-Z!

Lot 17-$3,500 Heaths Got Potential, a full aged summer yearling for 2012 by Sanchez from Beaver Flats Possible-ET VG-88

Topping the sale was Lot # 1 – Ms Apple Alanna-ET RC, a December 2010 Goldwyn from EX-95 EEEEE All-American Apple.

In the photo are sales staff members Ken Hall, Steve Berland, Max Dunseth, Amy Olt at the halter of Ms Apple Alanna RC, Daniel Brandt. In the box, Jason Lamoreaux, Auctioneer, and Roger Turner, Pedigrees. Alanna was purchased by Bosside Holsteins, Colby, WI.

The Holiday Harvest Futures Sale reaped impressive prices tonight in East Lansing, MI. The sale averaged $6,450 on 22 lots for a gross of $148,150.

High seller for the night was Lot T at $13,500. First choice Numero Uno’s or MAS from Neu-Way Bolton Allie-ET VG-87 GTPI +2161 and +100F. Next dam is Golden-Oaks Oman Allie-ET VG-85 and then former #1 CTPI cow of the breed, Neu-Way Patron Allie-ET VG-87 GMD DOM. She was sold to Oakfield Corners Dairy of Oakfield, NY.

Second high seller for the night was Lot F $12,000. Buyer gets first choice of three females, two Bookem daughters from Coyne-Farms Million Edith-ET GTPI +2071, Ro-Co Bkm 6616 97F-ET GTPI +2318 and Ro-Co BK Juliette-TW-ET GTPI +2227, or a Robust daughter of UFM Dubs Sherae-ET GTPI+2129, Comyn-PBCD RB 296 105F= ET GTPI +2350 +817 NM$.

Lot D- $11,000 first choice Alchemy, Showdown or MAS from MS Eskdale Doozy-Red-ET VG-88. Doozy is backed by Dyks Advent Lucy-Red-ET EX-91 who is a maternal sister to Dyks Kite Linda-Red EX-94 All-American R&W 4-year-old 2008.

Lot E- $10,500 first choice Numero Uno from Brandt-View Jose Hallie VG-86 GTPI +2094 then Brandt-View Shottle Fern-ET VG-86.

Lot H- $10,000 first choice from one pregnancy and six transfers by Super Large from a complet outcross pedigree from Fourdiamondsb Ramos Ruth-ET VG-85 GTPI+2209 then Star-Bar Adam Adisa-ET EX-90.

The Holiday Harvest Sale and Holiday Harvest Jersey Edition takes place in East Lansing, MI tomorrow, December 22nd, at the Michigan State Pavilion. Here’s a quick peek at some of the offerings in tomorrow’s sale!

Lot 1 – Ms Apples Alanna-ET, a 12/10 Goldwyn straight out of 2E-95 KHW Regiment Apple-Red-ET, the Grand Champion of the Grand International R&W Show this year. Alanna has a +1924 GTPI and is +3.31T – she sells open and ready to flush.

Lot 52 – Milksource Aftsk Edeline-ET, a 2/11 Aftershock out of Budjon-JK Gold Edmire-ET (EX-90), then 2E-95 Durham Embrace, 2E-95 Encore Electra and 3E-96 Elegance.

Lot 16 – Russellway Snowman Rikki-ET, a 4/11 Snowman (+1935 GTPI) out of Astrahoe R Gibson Renee-ET (2E-93), a 13th generation EX from the Royal Rosas.

Lot 5 – Winterfield SC Treny-Red-ET, a 6/11 Contender out of Winterfield Trendi-Red-ET (EX-91), an 11th generation EX cow from the Wilsondale ‘T’ family.

We can’t forget the Jerseys! The Tri-Koebel Jersey Dispersal will happen after the Holiday Harvest Sale and features 30 head from the Michigan herd.
Here is Lot 13 – a 9/11 Rapid Bay Request out of Tri-Koebel Iatola Michigan (VG-88), then Tri-Koebel Furor Madison (VG-88), then JVB Red Hot Aerohurts Maybelle (EX-94).

Lot 7 – Tri-Koebel Comerica Makayla – senior 2-year-old Comerica fresh December 1, 2011 out of an EX-91 Duaiseoir, then EX-94 Maybelle and EX-90 BB Mae

Lot 20 – Tri-Koebel Legion Rockette VG-86, a BW Legion daughter due in March to Headline. Her 2nd dam is EX-92 Montana B Pimento, then two more EX dams.

The sales are managed by CanAm Sales Management and you can view the online sale catalog at www.bovinebid.com.

Elmvue’s website will soon have a new look and some new innovations. A recent visit to gather plans offered a chance to grab a few photos.

Elmvue is all decked out for Christmas and wishing you the best of the Holidays. From left Brett; his daughter, Whitney; Debbie and Randy.

Views of the office and multiple awards that have returned from the show rings to the Elmvue show strings. (above & below)

For more on this Johnstown, NY, herd please visit their current website at http://www.holsteinworld.com/elmvue/.

All over New York, the local clubs that combine to make a strong state association held their annual meetings in the fall to assess the accomplishments of the year and make plans for the next year. Seventy-five members attended this year’s St. Lawrence County Club Meeting to enjoy the company of fellow purebred breeders and hear special guest, Barclay Phoenix of Uxbridge, Ontario, speak about his background in the industry and offer advice on merchandising.

Guest speaker Barclay Phoenix not only merchandises his own cattle, but successfully owns and operates Hanoverhill Sales & Marketing. For more on both his cattle and his sales enterprises, visit http://www.holsteinworld.com/phoenixholsteins/.

Jim Putman of Roput Farms (far left) and Frank Putman of Holstein World (far right) receive 50 and 35 year (respectively) membership awards from Jim Young, St. Lawrence County Holstein Club Vice President

St. Lawrence County Holstein Club awards scholarships each year and has awarded $8,500 in the six years of the program. From left: Morgan Chambers, recipient; Laurie Bush, presenter and Kristen King, recipient.

The Breeders Holiday Classic Sale took place on Thursday, December 15th in West Union, IA and averaged $9,685 on 94 full lots! The lineup had something for every section of the market and was managed by Butler-Fellers Auctions, Inc.

High seller at $160,000 was Lot #1 – Larcrest Comical-ET (GTPI +2546), a 3/11 Robust out of Larcrest Comet-ET (GP-84 GTPI +2226) who is the Planet daughter of Cosmopolitan. Comet is the breed’s #13 heifer on the 12/11 run. Consigned by Larcrest Holsteins of Albert Lea, MN, Comical was purchased by Elite Dairy Genomics LLC of Downers Grove, IL.

Other high sellers:
Lot 2 – $40,000 – First Choice Female of Mogul, Numero Uno or mutally agreeable sire out of Larcrest Comet, dam of Lot 1 above, who is the #10 Protein cow in the breed and on the top 30 list for GTPI, Milk and Net Merit.
Buyer: Jeff Butler & Elite Dairy Genomics LLC, Springfield, IL

Lot 14 – $40,000 – First Choice of eight Alchemy females due August & September, 2012 and next flush to Mogul out of Regan-ALH Planet Deloria-ET (VG-86 87-MS GTPI +2287) from the Raven family
Buyer: Jeff Butler & Elite Dairy Genomics LLC, Springfield, IL

Lot 8 – $38,000 – Farnear Showoff Mickey-ET (GTPI +2402), a 9/11 Shamrock out of Farnear Dancing Mickey-ET (GTPI +2254), a just fresh Million daughter that traces back to the Honeycrest Blkstar Kathryn family.
Buyer: Elite Dairy Genomics, Downers Grove, IL

Lot 4 – $20,500 – Morsan Miss Burberry, a 7/11 Braxton out of the 2011 Supreme Champion at World Dairy Expo and the Royal Winter Fair, Eastside Lewisdale Gold Missy (EX-95-CAN)
Buyer: Morsan Farms Ltd, Ponoka, AB

Lot 5 – $21,200 – Ms Apples Azalea-ET (GTPI +1964), a 12/10 Shottle out of EX-95 KHW Regiment Kite Apple-Red, the Grand Champion at the 2011 Grand International Red & White Show.
Buyer: Siemers Holsteins, Newton, WI

Lot 6 – $24,500 – First Choice Numero Uno due in June & August, 2012 out of Ms Atlees Shottle Aubry-ET (VG-88 GTPI +2058), next dam EX-92 Atlee
Buyer: Jeff Butler & Frank & Diane Borba, Springfield, IL

Lot 18 – $31,000 – Syryczuk Domain Evelyn-ET (GTPI +2379), a 4/11 Domain that sold with contracts out of Dandali Planet Evie (GP-83 VG-MS GTPI +2141), then back to the Henkeseen Mark Marci family.
Buyer: Larry Lexvold, Goodhue, MN

Lot 31 – $17,000 – Wabash-Way Eves Easy Pea-ET (GTPI +2340), a 4/11 Niagra out of Wabash-Way Gldwn Eve-ET (GTPI +2101), the Goldwyn daughter of Wabash-Way Emilyann-ET (VG-88 DOM), the former #1 CTPI & GTPI cow of the breed.
Buyer: R-E-W Farms, Lebanon, CT

Lot 10 – $30,500 – First Choice Highway or MAS out of Fly-Higher Observ Mica (GTPI +2515), an Observer daughter of Fly-Higher Bolton Misha-ET (VG-88), then Hendel Shottle Mica 2144-ET (VG-88).
Buyer: Bryhill Farm, Ormstown, QC

Lot 17 – $20,000 – First Choice Female by Gold Chip, Mogul or MAS from Evans-H Miracle Print-ET (GTPI +2490), the breed’s #3 Protein female and the #37 GTPI female in the breed on the 12/11 run.
Buyer: TAG, QC

Lot 34 – $23,000 – Farnear Heaven Heath-ET (GTPI +2237), a 6/11 Snowman out of Screaming-Vis-R Heaven-ET (EX-91 GTPI +1968), a Ramos daughter that completes nine generations of VG & EX cows from the Glendell Haiti family.
Buyer: Dr. David Atwell, Mt Horeb, WI

Lot 13 – $22,500 – First Choice Female from Mutually Agreeable Sire out of Morningview Super Roxy *RC (GTPI +2242), a Super daughter X Pronto X Goldwyn X seven more EX dams from the Roxys.
Buyer: Tom Simon, Farley, IA

Lot 12 – $21,500 – First Choice Mogul or MAS out of B&Z Planet 7808-ET (GTPI +2422), the $87,000 sale topper of the 2011 Regancrest Summer Sale who is from B&Z Oman 5797 (EX-90).
Buyer: TAG, QC

Lot 11 – $25,500 – First Choice Female by Highway or MAS out of Comyn-PBCD-I Shelby Observer (GTPI +2422), then Sandy-Valley Sho Sonador-ET (VG-88 DOM) back to the Ricecrest Southwind Kaye family.
Buyer: TAG, QC

Lot 15 – $25,000 – First Choice Female by Numero Uno or MAS out of OConnors Super Baby (GTPI +2375), the Super daughter out of Gen-I-Beq Shottle Bombi (VG-87-CAN), then the Gypsy Grand family.
Buyer: Bryhill Farm, Ormstown, QC

Lot 16 – $23,000 – First Choice Epic Female due 9/2012 out of Regancrest DGR Brysha-ET (GTPI +2421), the Gold Digger daughter of Regancrest Mac Breshan-ET (VG-86) and back to the Barbies.
Buyer: Bryhill Farm, Ormstown, QC

2011 SEMEX-JERSEY AUSTRALIA GREAT SOUTHERN CHALLENGE SHOWS WHAT IS POSSIBLE
By Dianna Malcolm

This year’s Semex-Jersey Australia Great Southern Challenge had the perfect example of what is possible. The Great Southern Champions (for age) were unveiled at the annual luncheon at Witchmount Estate Winery at Melton, Victoria in early December.

The day was the culmination of an event, designed to find the best Jersey exponents on-farm without preparation (which limits the farmers’ workload, levels the playing field and finds common ground between commercial producers and breeders who regularly show). It involved an army of volunteers through the preliminary rounds and roughly 1400 cows from Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia and southern New South Wales.

A well-known name in Holsteins, Lindsay Marshall (Main Beach, Queensland) re-appraised the regional finalists to find the Great Southern champions.

The winning four-year-old had one of the special stories of the day. Meldan Country Pharos was bought at the Patch family’s commercial dispersal by Brendan and Melissa Scott, who milk 168 cows at Binginwarri, in South Gippsland.

Her breeders knew her background, her sire stack was catalogued (BW Country x Astound x Sooner x a Top Brass son), but she was not registered. Brendan and Melissa subsequently put Meldan Country Pharos through the Genetic Recovery programme.

She was then judged in the early rounds by Jugiong Jerseys’ Pat Nicholson, who couldn’t get the cow out of his head.

He subsequently bought her. Now, she is heading to International Dairy Week (IDW) in January.

Patrick, who also accepted Reserve Champion in the two-year-old class (for the highest pointed PI heifer in their 510-cow herd), said his family was excited to have Pharos to join what described as one of their strongest IDW teams to date.

Brendan Scott said it was a difficult decision to make, letting their highest protein cow (and second highest milk) go to her new home, but he was looking forward to seeing her in the ring. He said she was on-track when she left their farm to complete a 7500-8000-litre lactation, after peaking at 34 litres (3.8% protein).

He was up front that he had paid $4100 when he bought her. He was not so keen to share Pharos’ selling price, joking that some things were better left unsaid. “I’ll let you think about what that might have been,” the delighted dairyman told the audience when he accepted his award.
He commented that they knew she was special, which is why they had named her “Pharos” – after one of the seven wonders of the ancient world.

Semex’s General Manager Jim Conroy said the story epitomised what the competition stands for – to showcase cows that might otherwise be unappreciated by anyone other than the people who milked them every day.

“To have a cow with no papers be recovered into the system, and then for her to win and be sold on to one of the country’s premier studs is one of the high points for me this year,” Jim said.

Supreme winner
The other name to steal the show came from the Broadlin stud of Lynton and Lisa Broad, from Lockington. The couple owned this year’s Champion three-year-old and the Supreme Champion Cow of the competition – Broadlin Constance 2565.

Constance 2565 is classified VG88 Max-2YRS and their highest producing two-year-old last season with 6947 litres, 3.9% 268kg protein, 4.5% 314kg fat in 305 days.

She finished third in the senior two-year-old at last year’s IDW and she is re-entered this year as a senior three-year-old.

“She is a special cow,” Lynton said. “She’s got a few more brains than the others.” He said winning the top honour from the competition was almost the same as winning at IDW.

“I’ve won at IDW and now I’ve won here and the emotions are pretty much the same,” Lynton said. “It’s world-wide recognition for your animals and that’s not easy to do.”

The news came hot on the heels of Jim announcing that a Broadlin-bred young sire, Broadlin Hatman, had just been named No.3 young genomic sire in US.

Three-year-old class a stand-out
Judge Lindsay Marshall said the three-year-old class was one of the most pleasing he had judged in On-Farm competitions.

“My Champion was so long, lean and dairy,” he said. “She had a ‘five-finger’ rib, she was very functional and she had a presence and style about her. From the moment I saw her in the yard, I knew it would take something really special to beat her.

“This class had so many exceptional individuals you would like to take home. My fourth placegetter was fantastic and the fifth finisher (Riverside Country Lollypop, Corey and Karin Couch) was milking 43 litres on her second calf. You just had to admire her will to milk.”

Mature cow exciting
Another cow to capture Lindsay’s imagination was the winning mature entry, Willow Dell Fancy 512 EX92, owned by Ross, Robyn, Carl, Andrew and Ian Griffiths, of Eloora Pastoral Company, at Deniliquin.

The family milk 500 cows (200 Jersey, 400 Holsteins) on 3800 acres (which includes cropping). They bought Willow Dell Fancy 512 over three years ago in a line of animals from the highly decorated Waters family.

Fancy’s 2010 completed lactation was 10,519 litres, 3.8% 401kg protein, 5.0%, 535kg fat in 305 days. The seven-year-old has had four calves and the family has three heifers from her sired by, Comerica (yearling), Governor (March 2011-born) and Tequila (August 2011-born). She was second four-year-old at IDW 2009 and 1st five-year-old (and Honorable Mention Champion in 2010). She has re-calved for the third successive year and is once again IDW bound.

“It’s great to win in another judging format,” Ian said. “To do well in the show ring and in your working clothes is great. It is a bit of a pleasure to get a cow that we think hugely of be appreciated by others.”

Lindsay put the class in perspective. “I’ve judged Victorian and NSW State Finals in the Holsteins, and this is the best class I’ve ever had the pleasure of coming across in the on-farm competition,” he said. “All Jersey breeders should be congratulated for where you’re taking this wonderful cow. You’ve improved rumps, legs, udders and milk flow and they are now very, very competitive and wonderful producers for the commercial world.”

He said his Champion excelled in her functional traits. “She had a wonderful set to her leg. Her udder was so high and so wide and she had beautiful teat placement,” he said. “She was a very, very easy winner and she had an advantage in her length of neck, and that she was more correct in her shoulder than the cow in second.”

The two-year-old Champion, Jubilee Park Ida, came from the Armistead family, at Bungador, 30km south west of Colac. Kevin and Faye Armistead, together with their son, Glen, milk 160 cows. Ida is sired by Action and she is the family’s first Great Southern Champion.

“To win Champion was very surprising,” Glen said. “In saying that, I thought she’d do well by what the judge said about her. But it’s a big competition and there are a lot of cows involved, so you never know.”

Glen said she came from one of their strong maternal lines and their plans for her were simple.

“We’ll keep enjoying her, keep showing her in this format and keep trying for a heifer calf,” he said, adding that the On-Farm contest suited them.

“This competition is a great way of showing off your cattle and letting you know how you are going compared to everyone else. I rear all our calves and I put a lot of work into them. It’s very rewarding to get acknowledged.”

Semex says value of competition clear
And, as Jim Conroy wrote the final cheque that underpins this logistical giant, he said the On-Farm concept would continue to be a major force on Australia’s dairying calendar.

“It’s now massive. It’s grown in size and recognition beyond anything I ever imagined when we started it, and I would go so far to say that it rivals – in terms of value and recognition for breeders – International Dairy Week [IDW] or the Royal Show events. And I’m not criticising those events, it’s just that it’s up there when it comes to promotion, recognition and value-adding of livestock. That is what this competition is about.

“It is a significant commitment for us, but I’m not thinking that it’s costing too much – you can’t put a figure on what it does for this industry.”

RESULTS
Great Southern Over-Judging: Great Southern Challenge

TWO-YEAR-OLD – 1st: Jubilee Park Ida (K and F and G Armistead, Jubilee Park Jerseys, Bungador) – 2nd: Jugiong Leonie 5996 (Nicholson family, Jugiong Jerseys, Girgarre) – 3rd: Wallacedale Tbone Melys (C and M and L and M Wallace, Wallacedale Jerseys, Poowong North) – 4th: Wallacedale Actions Belle 3 (C and M and L and M Wallace, Wallacedale Jerseys, Poowong North).

THREE-YEAR-OLD – 1st: Broadlin Constance 2565 (L and L Broad, Broadlin Jerseys, Lockington) – 2nd: Camo Ruth 2 (D and R Hallyburton, Camo Jerseys, Cobden) – 3rd: Kaarmona Parade Marie 67 (M Perrett, Mytee Jerseys, Kongwak) – 4th: Miami Country Eileen 4070 (Philmar Dairying Company, Miami Jerseys, Tocumwal).

FOUR-YEAR-OLD – 1st: Meldan Country Pharos (B and M Scott, Meldan Jerseys, Binginwarri) – 2nd: Merseybank Eltons Claire (G and A Heazlewood, Merseybank Jerseys, Latrobe) – 3rd: Mikandan Action 989 (T and B Edwards, Mikandan Jerseys, Thowgla Valley) – 4th: Pasadena Joker Olive (J Falls, Pasadena Jerseys, Finley).

MATURE COW – 1st: Willow Dell Fancy 512 (Eloora Pastoral Company, Aroona Jerseys, Deniliquin) – 2nd: Jugiong Molly 5482 (Nicholson family, Jugiong Jerseys, Girgarre) – 3rd: Wallacedale Jace Melaine 4 (C and M and L and M Wallace, Wallacedale Jerseys, Poowong North – 4th: Rockvale Jill 4604 (D and W Parker, Rockyvale Jerseys, Beeac.

SUPREME CHAMPION – Broadlin Constance 2565 (L and L Broad, Broadlin Jerseys, Lockington).
MOST SUCCESSFUL JERSEY CLUB – Northern Jersey Breeders Club

NATIONAL CHAMPIONS WILL BE NAMED IN 2012

Jerseys are the first breed to move towards crowning national champions (for age) in what will be called the Great National Challenge.

The announcement was made by Jersey Australia’s President Trevor Saunders, during the annual gathering where the Champions from this year’s Semex-Jersey Australia Great Southern Challenge were announced at the Witchmount Winery, at Melton, Victoria.

Historically, all the regions across the country conduct their own competitions. To this point, the logistics of co-coordinating and judging a national final have made the move a challenge. A challenge Jersey Australia has been eager to solve.

While some details are still to be finalised, Trevor confirmed the national judging will be conducted using video footage and a panel of three judges. Semex’s Jim Conroy said if the concept works, it will be extended to include the Holsteins.

Jim went on to tell the audience that the world is watching Australia’s competition with a keen interest.

“I was stopped when I got to the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair in Toronto [Canada] recently to chat about the competition, because they were watching it unfold on the internet,” Jim said.

“There’s no question we’re being watched closely by many countries, and that our international friends are envious that we’ve made it work.”

Brendan Scott’s (second from left) winning entry in the Semex-Jersey Australia Great Southern Challenge has since been sold to Jugiong Jerseys and entered for International Dairy Week. Brendan is pictured with (from left) Stu Mackie and Jim Conroy (Semex) and Jersey Australia’s president, Trevor Saunders.

Great Southern judge Lindsay Marshall enjoys the moment with owner of the Great Southern Challenge’s Supreme Champion, Lynton Broad.

Kenny Mueller of Elginvue Farms, Arlington, MN recently traveled to Mexico for the National Show in Queretaro during the first weekend in December. Kenny and business partner Todd Searles have a strong relationship with the Mexican Holstein breeders because of their interest in Minnesota cattle. The junior champion and reserve intermediate champion were both bred in Minnesota, while the Grand Champion cow was bred in Manitoba, she was then sold to a Minnesota partnership who then sent her on her way to Mexico after finishing eigth at World Dairy Expo this fall. The photos below give us a glimpse of the hospitality, camaraderie and passion for Holsteins among the Mexican breeders and exhibitors!

Mexican National Holstein Show
Dec. 2-3, 2011
Queretaro, MX
Judge: Michael Heath, Westminister, MD

Junior Champion: Terra-Mcree Lrn Classic-ET (Den-K Marshall LL Laurin), 1st place fall yearling, Santa Maria la Cotrea
Reserve Junior Champion: Glennholme Amazing Cora (Mr Atlees Amazing-ET), 1st place summer yearling, J. De Jesus Garcia

Intermediate & Reserve Grand Champion: A Cache-Acres Homerun Peggy (Cache-Acres Homerun-ET), 1st place Sr. 3-year-old, Jose Ramon Barbon
Reserve Intermediate & H.M. Grand Champion: Star-City Durham Cally (Regancrest Elton Durham), 2nd place Sr. 3-year-old, Gualberto Casas
H.M. Intermediate Champion: Kingsmill-DCF Alexandrai-ET (Ladino Park Talent-Imp-ET), 1st place Jr. 3-year-old, Santa Maria la Cotera

Senior & Grand Champion: Benner Dundee Korey-ET (Regancrest Dundee), 1st place 5-year-old, Santa Maria la Cotera
Reserve Senior Champion: Santa Maria La Cotera Encore Natea-ET (Marcrest Encore), 1st place 4-year-old, Santa Maria la Cotera & David Garcia
H.M. Senior Champion: Miss Durham Maia-ET (Regancrest Elton Durham), 1st place Aged Cow, Manuel Garcia

Rancho La Haciendita is the exhibit of well known Eduardo Garcia.

Shown on the far right is Miss Durham Maia EX-94 who was Lot 1 in the Magic of Maui sale earlier this fall. She went on to be named H.M. Senior Champion for her new owner, Manuel Garcia.

Mr. Yeoman

Not only is Queretaro one of the best Holstein shows in Mexico, it is a full fledged fair complete with rides, treats and shopping!

Fair security

Esteban Posada is on the halter of the winning fall yearling and Jr. Champion, Terra-McCree Lrn Classic-ET (Den-K Marshall LL Laurin), Michael Heath, judge.

Barclay Phoenix (right) with the winning summer yearling and Reserve Junior Champion, Glennholme Amazing Cora (Mr. Atlees Amazing), exhibited by J. De Jesus Garcia

A long way from home… Jean-Phillipe Charest aka “JP”

Star-City Durham Cally was the 2nd place Sr. 3-year-old, Reserve Intermediate, and H.M. Grand Champion. She recently topped Eduardo Garcia’s sale at $8,400 and was exhibited by Gualberto Casas. She is lead here by Todd Searles.

Line up for Intermediate Champion

Res. Intermediate Champion, Star-City Durham Cally, Intermediate Champion, Cache-Acres Homerun Peggy, exhibited by Jose Ramon Barbon with Esteban Posada at the halter.

The winners! Grand, Reserve and H.M. champion (R to L)

It’s a family affair!

The hospitality is second to none at the banquet that takes place between the show and sale. One of the heifers sold through the sale was used as a fund raiser for a new childrens hospital.

Now a tour into the country side…

Due to the abnormally cold tempuratures, this oat crop is suffering from a 22º frost.

First stop, La Haciendita, Eduardo Garcia’s ranch

Out side of the milking parlor

This building is considered a historical land mark because it is over 150 years old, however it’s still being put to good use as feed storage…

More Mexican hospitality takes us to Pepe Garcia’s “party house” for a Sunday afternoon celebration after the show.

Pepe, the host, and Deb, Eduardo Garcia’s wife

Time to leave the party and check out the barn…

850 cows are milked in this double ten parlor

Thanks to Kenny for these great photos, and congrats to the breeders and exhibitors of the Mexican National Holstein Show!