At the recently concluded National Guernsey Convention, numerous awards were presented for outstanding performance within the Guernsey breed.
High TPE Lactation Average for Milk and Protein:
Trotacre Farm: 19 records, 23,925M 4.3% 1,017F 3.3% 784P on 3x milking
The high Total Performance Evaluation Lactation average for Milk and Protein is awarded to Trotacre Farm of Edon Valley, Pennsylvania. A family partnership of Jim, David and Bob Trotter and families, it is an all-breed dairy that consists of Guernsey and Holstein cattle that are all housed together. The high milk and protein award is based on 19 Guernsey records at 23,925 Milk, 4.3% test, 1,017 Fat, 3.3% and 784 pounds of protein.
Trotacre Farm is a 155 free stall set up with a double 12 parallel parlor. The cattle are milked 3 times a day and fed a TMR. When the weather permits, the herd is out on pasture a few hours a day. Calves are raised in hutches and then grouped as they get older. Responsibilities on the farm are divided by Bob and Dave with Bob handling all crop production and manure and facility management. Dave handles the nutrition, milking and work assignments. Bob's sons, Tom and Travis have stepped up, helping more with Dave's added responsibilities of the AGA, along with all the family members, including Dave's daughters. Jim oversees and consults as needed when he is not making selections for the Blue Halter sale and managing the Pennsylvania GBA.
Cows that have contributed to their success include Windsong Spade Hope EX-91, the dam of Trotacre Indian AP Hallie-ET VG-85 and Trotacre Indian Altanic Honey-ET VG-89, HM All-American & HM Jr. AA Jr. 2-yr-old, and Windsong Glacier Marybeth, the 2009 Jr. All-American three-year-old, both cows bred and purchased from the Darlings in Vermont. Trotacre Fayette Loretta EX-92 and her daughter, Mercury Loretta EX-91, have played key roles in the success of the herd. Fayette Loretta, a Gold Star Dam, is the dam of Lord, Lorry and Loral, all bulls that went to AI. Cows currently playing key parts in their success, are Coulee Crest AP Lorilee, the third generation 40,000M cow and Lindenhoff Tiller Joni, 91-points with over 159,000 lifetime with several ET's on the ground.
Along with high herds, the Trotters have five cows in the top 100 of the Component Queen list, rank first in the national for average CPI on their herd and have the world record leader and a member of the top ten living lifetime producers with Trotacre Tiller Brenna, VG-85.
High TPE Lactation Average for Fat:
Coulee Crest LLC: 65 records, 20,620M 5.1% 1,033F 3.3% 686P on 3x milking
Coulee Crest LLC is the high herd for butterfat with 65 records at 20,620M 5.1% 1,033F 3.3% 686P on three-times a day milking. The farm consists of 85 Guernsey cows and 140 heifers pus an additional 150 Holsteins. The cows are housed in both a free-stall ad compost barn with outside exercise lots available when weather permits. The herd is milked in a swing-10 New Zealand style parlor.
Don took over the farm in 1958 from his parents, married Dorothy in 1967 and they began to convert the 40 grade Guernseys to all registered through dispersals and Genetic Recovery. Son Kurt joined the farm after graduation from University of Wisconsin-River Falls with a degree in dairy science. In 1998 they expanded the herd and Scot joined the partnership in 2008 when the compost barn was built and the herd expanded again. Prior to that he had worked full time off the farm and completing a computer science degree from University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. Currently, Scott handles the financial records, employee schedules and crops. Kurt manages the herd's genetics and production advancement. Don helps with field work and whatever else needs done. The farm also employs two full time and three additional part time employees.
Many outstanding cow families have the Coulee Crest prefix in their pedigree. The most current and fore runner is the Coulee Crest Nick Lorilyn at EX-91, a national class-leader and daughters following suit. Her VG-89 American Pie daughter recently competed the third generation producing over 40,000M and her full sister is an All-American. Another well-known Coulee Crest animal that has contributed to their success is Skipper Jewel, the 90-point, 100,000 pound dam of over 10 Very Good and Excellent daughters. The VG-87 class leader Coulee Crest Visa Celeste-ET has numerous daughters in the herd scored Very Good, are component queens and high producers. Coulee Crest Spider Trista-ET is another show stopper and providing some excitement as the 2012 Intermediate Champion at the Wisconsin State Show, Excellent 90 and with over 27,000M at 3-08.
Coulee Crest has 12 animals among the top 100 Component Queen list as well as ranking second in the commercial herd category. They also rank number 13 on the high CPI herd list in the nation and consistently have cows ranked on the high-CPI herd and numerous All-Americans to their credit.
Commercial Herd Award:
Hoard's Dairyman Farm, 147 records, 25,593ECM
The Commercial Herd Award recognizes the top herd in the nation for Energy Corrected Milk. The herd must complete over 50 lactations during the year. Hoard's Dairyman Farm completed 147 records in 2013 for an average of 21,619M 4.6% 995F 3.4% 737P for an energy corrected total of 25,593M.
Hoard's Dairyman Farm is owned by the Knox Family and the dairy herd manager is Jason Yurs, the 2008 recipient of the National Outstanding Young Guernsey Farmer award. For many years, Hoard's Dairyman Farm has been a huge asset to the Guernsey breed through their promotion of the breed and exposure that the Guernseys receive through various tours, seminars and other events hosted by the farm. Also a huge plus is the exposure the breed receives through the Hoard's Dairyman magazine in homes throughout the world.
Currently the farm is home to approximately 250 milking Guernseys. One of the factors Jason credits to the steady increase in production is calving heifers at a young age. The average age at first calving in the herd is 23.2 months, with many of the heifers calving at 1-08 and 1-09. They also aggressively utilize young sires. Currently 60% of the milking herd is bred to young sires.
Additional awards that Hoard's has garnered over this year are 28 Component Queens in the top 100 list, three living lifetime cows in the top 10 production lists and overall number 2 in the breed for milk and protein production, number 4 for butterfat and in the top 30 herds for CPI.
Liebers Trophy, Valley Set Award, Arnold Knight Award (Living Lifetime Awards):
Walnut Ridge Magic Cher: 341,400M 5.2% 17,695F 3.4% 11,656P
Three awards are given annually to the cow with the highest lifetime milk, fat and protein production. The Leibers Trophy is given in honor of Mr. & Mrs. Otto Leibers of Nebraska and goes to the cow with the highest lifetime milk production. The Valley Set Award was established in 1986 by Ron Wenger ad Family to recognize the highest lifetime fat production. The Anrold Knight Trophy was established in 1992, by the Wisconsin Guenrsey Breeders Association to honor the cow with the highest lifetime protein production.
In order to be eligible for these awards the cow must have been DHI tested at least once during 2013. This year's recipient is a six-time award winner for these three awards with 341,400M 5.2% 17695F 3.4% 11,656P. Excellent at 92 points is Walnut Ridge Magic Cher, a Nells Glow Admiral Magic daughter, owned by Walnut Ridge Farm of Middletown, Maryland. This class leader has an 86-point daughter with records to 20,890M 1,401F 783P and a son, Walnut Ridge Kringle Classic that is currently being sampled through Idle Neer Sires.
Walnut Ridge Farm ranks fifth for Fat production in the nation with 30 cows 17,547M 5.57% 978F 3.4% 594P. They also have four cows on the top 100 Component Queen list and Cher's herdmate, Walnut Ridge Omar Bailee, VG-86, is in the top 10 living lifetime produces as well at 232,440M 11,980F 8,156P.
New England Trophy (Highest 305 day milk record for the year):
Trotacre Tiller Brenna, 7-08 305D 3X 38,940M 3.5% 1,373F 3.0% 1,165P
The New England Trophy is awarded to the cow completing the highest 305 day actual record for milk. This year's winner is Trotacre Tiller Brenna who made 38,940M 3.5% 1,373F 3.0% 1,165P at 7-08 in 305 days on three-time a day milking. She peaked at 202 pounds with five additional tests at 130 pounds of milk or better. This record is a class leading record for milk and protein at 305D. She completed an overall 365D world record for milk at 47,340M*3.4% 1,633F 3.1% 1,446P*. She is an 85-point daughter of Trotacre Loral Tiller-ET and backed by an 86-point dam. The next two dams are scored Excellent at 91 points. Her grandam was a Gold Star Dam sired by Magic with over 115,000M lifetime. She is owned and bred by the Trotters of Trotacre Farms, Enon Valley, Pennsylvania. Brenna has recently been flushed to Jonathon.
Tarbell Trophy (Highest 305 day fat record for year) & California Protein Award (high protein record):
Dairyman Iceman Rosebowl, 5-05 305D 3X 32,810M 5.5% 1,811F 3.6% 1,197P
The Tarbell Trophy recognizes the highest 305 day fat record, while the California Protein Award recognizes the highest protein 305 day record. The Tarbell Trophy was established in 1948 in memory of Gage Tarbell, the founder of Tarbell Guernsey Farm, Smithville Flats, New York. The California Protein Award is sponsored by the California Guernsey Cattle Club. This year, one cow has garnered both awards for the owner, Hoard's Dairyman Farm in Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin. Dairyman Iceman Rosebowl, the number one Component Queen in the breed has a completed 305 day 3X record of 32,810M 5.5% 1,811F 3.6% 1,197P at 5-05. She completed a 365 day record of 36,660M 5.5% 2,009F*3.7% 1,345P*. A multiple class leader in protein, this Excellent Dairyman Banger Iceman daughter has over 120,000M lifetime. She calved for the fifth time this past October and is projected over 25,000M 1,114F and 904P at 6-08. Her Legend son is headed to Genex this fall. Rosebowl's dam is sired by Jens Gold Fort Hudson and has records to 27,800M 1,355F and 1,022P. The Very Good grandam has over 100,000M lifetime.
Nyala-Bedford Trophy (Highest 305 day First lactation ECM record)
Idlemont Yogibear Ryanne, 2-10 305D 30,870M 5.0% 1,529F 3.4% 1,036P 37,354ECM
The Nyala-Bedord Tropy is presented in memory of F. T. Bedford, founder of Nyala Farm in Green Farm, Connecticut. It is now awarded to the cow completing the highest energy corrected record in her first lactation. This year's winner is Idlemont Yogibear Ryanne, owned by Emily Hellendrung, of Ridgemont, Wisconsin, and bred by Jensen, Sywassink and Brubaker of Comstock, Wisconsin. Scored 84-point, this Yogibear daughter has 2-10 305D 30,870M 5.0% 1,529F 3.4% 1,036P with an energy corrected milk record of 37,354. This is class leading record for milk, fat and protein. She completed a final lactation and class leading 365D record of 2X 36,270M*4.9% 1,788F*3.4% 1,244P*. She is out of an 88-point Oak Royalty daughter with records to 21,460M 938F 749P. The next dam is the 91-point Ripley Farms G Coni Rose-ET, an All-American nominee with 23,720M. She is a daughter of the Excellent Conny G, developed by the Ripleys of New York, with over 123,780M.
The American Guernsey Association is dedicated to the advancement and promotion of the Guernsey dairy cows. The American Guernsey Youth Association boasts membership of over 700 young people nationwide.
For more information and photos, contact Lewis R. Jones, executive secretary of the American Guernsey Association at 1224 Alton Darby Creek Road, Suite G, Columbus, Ohio 43228, 614.339.5391, ljones@usguernsey.com or visit the website at www.usguernsey.com.
7.16.2014