STAR-SUMMIT HOLSTEINS

Timothy BakerByron Center, Michigan

Tim Baker

4-Year Honoree

Seven U.S. Registered Holstein

breeders have earned the distinction

of being named 2012 Herds of

Excellence. To be recognized with this

honor, herds must meet the rigorous

criteria, outlined below. The award

was created to pay tribute to breeders

who have bred and raised cattle that are

consistently performing at the highest

levels for them. Read on for profiles of

these outstanding Registered Holstein

operations.

Herds receiving the award must:

• Be 25 percent above breed average

Mature Equivalent (ME) for milk, fat

and protein;

• Have classified within the last year and

have an actual average classification

score of 83 points or higher;

• Have at least 70 percent of the herd

homebred;

• Be enrolled in the Association’s TriStar

production records program.

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92.6% HomebredAverage Classification Score: 88.1

ME Averages: 32,018M 1,238F 1,006P

Tim Baker has worked with Registered Holsteins his entire life, getting his official start in 1980 with a Registered Holstein calf as a 4-H project, a gift from his father. He worked through high school, purchasing animals as he could to build his own herd, and took over management of his family’s farm in 1997. Today, he is milking 75 cows twice a day. The farm is on Holstein COMPLETE, classifies every seven months, and uses RFID tags for official identification. Since Tim has taken over the farm, they have received Progressive Breeders RegistrySM honors seven times, have been a six-time Progressive Genetics HerdSM, and he was recognized for his achievements as Holstein Association USA’s 2010 Distinguished Young Holstein Breeder.

Two of Tim’s favorite cow families trace back to animals he purchased when he was getting started. LWS Patty Segis was his choice from the L.W. Smith dispersal in February 1989, a daughter of Greenledge Segis Chief Ned. She lived to the ripe age of 15, having produced 265,000 pounds of milk, classifying EX-91 5E, and earning Gold Medal Dam and Dam of Merit recognition. She had two Excellent daughters, who went on to have Excellent offspring of their own, establishing a prominent place in the Star-Summit herd, with many animals in the herd today tracing to this family. Another favorite, Star-Summit B S Bootsie, sired by To-Mar Blackstar-ET, was an EX-94 GMD DOM, which Tim purchased half-interest in from his father in 1992. She produced six Excellent daughters and made over 200,000 pounds of lifetime milk.

Baker’s breeding program is built around deep cow families and solid cattle that produce large volumes of milk. He enjoys studying each cow and making individual matings, with a goal of continually increasing milk production while maintaining or improving type. When picking sires, Tim looks for bulls that transmit body capacity, great udders, correct feet and legs and are backed by strong pedigrees. Some bulls currently being worked into his breeding program include Crackholm Fever-ET, Gillette Windbrook-ETS, Golden-Oaks St Alexander-ET, Ms Atlees Sht Aftershock-ET, St-Jacob Destry Heztry-ET, along with older favorites such as Erbacres Damion and Regancrest Dundee-ET.

Tim and his wife Jennifer have three children, Gerrit, Jack, and Elise, who are starting to become active with dairy youth activities.

2-Year Honoree

EvER-GREEN-vIEw FARMS

Thomas J. KestellWaldo, Wisconsin

Top row: Jennifer Benzschawel, Tom and Gin Kestell, Julie Kestell Bottom row: Chris and Joel Kestell

76.1% HomebredAverage Classification Score: 84.1

ME Averages: 35,553M 1,371F 1,067P

Tom Kestell has been in the Registered Holstein business for over 50 years, dairying on his own since he graduated from college. Today, he maintains a herd of 85 to 100 milking cows, with 50 to 60 dry donors which are flushed to produce embryos for the export market. The milking herd is housed in a tiestall barn with comfort stalls, and they have been milking three times per day for over 20 years. Dry cows and heifers are housed in freestall barns with waterbeds. Tom feels strongly, “if you take care of the land it will take care of your cows and you.” He says, “We believe in the basics: set up a good program with feeding, breeding and cow comfort as a priority. Also, be willing to make changes as situations change.”

Kestell strives to breed cows that produce milk from sound udders with high components. He has a bias toward high milk bulls, without losing sight of type. Sires being used in the herd include a mix of genomic and proven bulls including De-Su Observer-ET, Ensenada Taboo Planet-ET, Flevo Genetics Snowman-ET, Jenny-Lou Mrshal Toystory-ET, Mountfield SSI Dcy Mogul-ET and Mr Chassity Gold Chip-ET.

The cow that has been most influential in Kestell’s herd is one many will recognize - Ever-Green-View Elsie-ET EX-92 GMD DOM, a cow family Tom has been working with for almost 30 years. Prominent members in recent years include international TPI sensation Snowman, and milk production champion Ever-Green-View My 1326-ET. One of his current favorites is an Elsie granddaughter, Ever-Green-View Elegance, by O Man. Classified EX-92, she made a 305-day record of over 52,000 pounds of milk with 2,300 pounds of fat and 1,600 pounds of protein. Elegance completes five generations of homebred, 50,000 pound, Gold Medal Dams, classified Excellent with Excellent mammary systems! The future for this family is bright, with two Elegance daughters Tom is particularly proud of; Etal-ET, by Toystory, classified VG-87 EX-MS with over 40,000 pounds of milk as a two year old, and Elby-ET, sired by Colby, also scored VG-87, who made over 38,000 pounds of milk in her first lactation.

Kestell’s progressive attitude and breeding program have led to Ever-Green-View being recognized as a Progressive Genetics Herd for 20 years, and earning Progressive Breeders Registry honors for 12 years. The herd is on Holstein COMPLETE, classifies regularly, and uses official Holstein ear tags for identification. In closing, Tom says, “We hope we can have an impact around the world with our genetics, and that future generations can build and improve upon what we have started.” Tom and his wife, Gin, look forward to their sons, Joel and Chris, and their families, continuing in the business that they have both enjoyed and prospered in.

5-Year Honoree

HILROSE HOLSTEINS

Joseph BrantmeierSherwood, Wisconsin

Joe, Chris, Jeff, Bonnie, Andy and Ashley Brantmeier

87.5% HomebredAverage Classification Score: 86.1

ME Averages: 34,043M 1,254F 976P

Hilrose Holsteins is managed by Joe Brantmeier, with his sons, Andy and Jeff. They milk 110 cows in their tiestall barn twice a day. The herd participates in Holstein COMPLETE, using Holstein tags with EASY IDTM for registration. They have received Progressive Breeders Registry honors for 22 years, and Hilrose is one of two herds that has been named a Herd of Excellence five years running.

The Brantmeiers enjoy breeding cows with good type that live long, productive lives. This emphasis on longevity is apparent, as they have bred over 30 cows producing more than 200,000 pounds of lifetime milk. When selecting service sires, strong emphasis is placed on type, especially udder composite, with high components. They are incorporating some genomic young bulls into their breeding program, but spread their risk by not using any one bull too heavily. Recent service sires include Comestar Lauthority-ET, KHW Elm-Park Acme-ET, Mountfield SSI Dcy Mogul-ET, Mr Chassity Gold Chip-ET, and Siemers Toys Hero 9701-ET. In the near future, they have plans to start using some sons of Sandy-Valley Bolton-ET.

Joe feels the number of cows they have allows them to be diverse and work with cow families in different ways, capitalizing on an animal’s strengths while improving her weaknesses. They made their first venture into some in vitro work this year with Hilrose Rubens Patsy EX-92 2E GMD, and have some calves by Fustead Goldwyn Guthrie-ET that they are extremely pleased with. Patsy was the Reserve All-American Fall Yearling in 2005 and has already proven she can pass on those show-winning genetics her family is known for. Her daughter, Hilrose Baltimor Penny-ET was recently the second place Fall Yearling at the 2012 Midwest Spring National Holstein Show. Another young cow they are excited about is Wilstar Alexander Deanna, recently fresh with her first calf. Deanna is a red carrier daughter of Golden-Oaks St Alexander-ET with a +2066 GTPI, who they have recently flushed to Sandy-Valley Colt P-Red-TW.

The Brantmeiers strive for a diversified operation; their Registered Holsteins and the marketing opportunities they have provided, through both live cattle and embryos, as well as some cash crops they grow, provide a more stable income for their farming enterprise and allow it to support multiple families. Joe enjoys day to day life on the farm and especially the opportunity it gives him to work alongside his family. Along with Andy and Jeff, Joe and Chris have a daughter, Sara.

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3-Year Honoree

MAINSTREAM HOLSTEINS

Randy W. KortusLynden, Washington

Jana, Melissa, Randy and Mike Kortus

97.8% HomebredAverage Classification Score: 83.4

ME Averages: 34,225M 1,471F 1,034P

Growing up on a commercial dairy farm, the first Registered calf on Randy Kortus’ home farm was his first project heifer, and he started making breeding decisions for the farm as a young teenager. Today he and his family milk 81 cows, with 46 of them being Registered Holsteins. They milk twice daily in a 30-stall flatbarn parlor. The cattle are housed in freestalls, with a bedded pack for transition and older cows. The herd is enrolled in Holstein COMPLETE, and typically classify three times annually.

Kortus has always bred for high TPI cattle, never losing focus on milk, and Mainstream has been honored as a Progressive Genetics Herd for 21 years. Bulls currently being used as sires include Ensenada Taboo Planet-ET and several sons, Fustead Goldwyn Guthrie-ET, E-Longview CM-ET, VA-Early-Dawn Sudan CRI-ET, Mountfield SSI Dcy Mogul-ET, and Mr Chassity Gold Chip-ET. He has always believed in using high quality genetics and says, “semen is one of the cheapest investments you make on the farm.”

Randy is especially excited by a few homebred cows they are working with. Mainstream OR Candace EX-93 is sired by Deslacs Offroad-ET, with a +1879 GTPI, and several state fat and milk records. As a three-year-old, she produced 49,680 pounds of milk with 4.7 percent fat. From one of Mainstream’s best cow families, Candice has five sons in AI, and is working on another impressive record this lactation. They also have three daughters of Miss Shttl Maggie Tee-ET VG-88, who made a three-year-old record over 52,000 pounds of milk with 4.8 percent fat. Two by Planet, scored VG-85 and VG-86, and one by Socrates, scored VG-87 EX-MS (all three are owned with Ron Starkenburg).

At Mainstream, they employ a few strategies which help them develop productive, long-lasting cows. As calves, they strive to develop heifers’ rumens, and grow them to be the cows they want to work with. Kortus also feels the Holstein breed has so much lactation persistency bred into them, they typically delay breeding cows back. “We like to leave cows open for as many days as the pounds of milk they peak at,” said Randy. “Holstein cows are exceptional producers, and we like to let them do that.” This results in higher conception rates for the herd.

Randy is quick to credit his hardworking family for the farm’s successes, stating they have the same passion for detail he does. He and wife Jana have four children: Melissa, Mike, Mark and Matt.

5-Year Honoree

B-LONG HOLSTEINS

Bruce & Brenda LongNew London, Wisconsin

Bruce, Bret and Brenda Long with B-Long Sassy, a 10th generation homebred cow from nine generations of

Very Good cows, with over 30,000 pounds of milk.

98.2% HomebredAverage Classification Score: 83.7

ME Averages: 34,312M 1,204F 992P

At B-Long Holsteins, the Long family milks 55 Registered Holsteins twice a day. Bruce and Brenda officially started B-Long Holsteins in June 1990, but their Registered Holstein experience dates back long before that. Many of their cows go back to two of Bruce’s 4-H projects he acquired at 14 years old, along with some that trace back to Brenda’s family’s farm. The Longs rely on the “4 C’s” as their keys to success: “cows” (good Registered Holsteins), “comfort,” “consumption” (high quality feed), and “consistency” are all fundamentals that allow them to achieve high levels of production with strong type, year after year. Bruce and Brenda were recognized as the 2006 Holstein USA Distinguished Young Breeders, have been named a Progressive Genetics Herd for 16 years, and this is their fifth year in a row as a Herd of Excellence.

Cows that are built to last are the goal of the Long’s breeding program. They strive for animals possessing great overall capacity, with desirable udders, sound feet and legs, high milk production and pounds of components. Service sires recently used include Crackholm Fever-ET, Fustead Goldwyn Guthrie-ET, Gen-Mark Stmatic Sanchez, Gillette Windbrook-ETS, and Lirr Drew Dempsey.

Developing cows with a profitable combination of production and type, and passing those qualities to future generations of cattle is the goal of many breeders, and B-Long is no exception. One notable brood cow in their herd is B-Long BW Grapefruit, a VG-86 GMD DOM who produced over 39,000 pounds of milk, with 1,481 pounds of fat and 1,254 pounds of protein after calving in at 1-11. They have three Grapefruit descendants in the herd today that are exceptional performers. B-Long Tootsy Pop-ET, classified EX-91, was the fifth place Four-Year-Old at the 2011 Midwest Spring National Holstein Show, made a three-year-old record of 45,250 pounds of milk, with 1,718 pounds of fat and 1,466 pounds of protein, and carries a CTPI of +1853. B-Long Brown Sugar-ET, EX-92 2E, produced 35,000 pounds of milk and over 1,600 pounds of fat as a five year old, and B-Long Cream, EX-90 2E, produced over 34,000 pounds of milk and 1,500 pounds of fat as a four year old.

Bruce and Brenda have three sons; Bryant, Brandon and Bret. Bret attended the University of Wisconsin Farm and Industry Short Course, receiving his Dairy Farm Management Certificate, and is now working home on the farm. Bryant and Brandon are in college pursuing degrees outside of agriculture, but both help on the farm when they are home.

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2-Year Honoree

vER HAGE HOLSTEINS

Tim & Sandy ver HageAllegan, Michigan

Julie, Kristi, Sandy and Tim Ver Hage

96.2% HomebredAverage Classification Score: 83.3

ME Averages: 32,215M 1,222F 965P

Ver Hage Holsteins is owned and operated by Tim and Sandy Ver Hage, where they milk 70 Holstein cows twice a day in a 10-stall flat barn parlor. They have been breeding Registered Holsteins for 30 years, and took over the farm owned by Tim’s parents in 1984. The Ver Hage herd is enrolled in Holstein COMPLETE and classifies regularly. They are a seven-year Progressive Breeders Registry honoree, and have been named a Progressive Genetics Herd for 15 years. Tim and Sandy have two daughters, Julie, 21, and Kristi, 19.

When breeding cows, Tim uses a balanced approach, mating cows individually to try and improve on the qualities they need the most, while protecting their strengths. He says, “We believe that genetics is the number one thing you need to generate high milk production and long-lasting cows, followed closely by cow comfort and good forages.” When they first started breeding AI, he says To-Mar Blackstar-ET had a large influence on their herd. Today they are using a mix of proven and genomic bulls, and also working to incorporate some polled and red genetics into the herd. Some bulls currently found in his tank include De-Su Mayfield 893-ET, Fustead Goldwyn Guthrie-ET, Kellercrest Super Layne-ET, Mountfield SSI Dcy Mogul-ET, Ralma Gold Crown-ET, Regancrest Braxton-ET and Tiger-Lily Ladd P-Red-ET. Today, almost 75 percent of their herd traces back to one brood cow, SFL Bootpeg W Bethany-ET EX-91 GMD DOM, who they purchased as a two-year-old. As a five-year-old, in 365 days, she produced 48,660 pounds of milk with 2,571 pounds of fat and 1,661 pounds of protein. Bethany, sired by To-Mar Wister-ET, has 88 registered offspring, with 88 percent that are classified scoring Good Plus or better. On the farm now, the Ver Hages are especially excited about Sandy-Valley Sept Shania-ET VG-88 DOM, and her offspring. Her son by Super, Ver-Hages TT Showdown-ET is one of the highest red carrier genomic young bulls available today. They also have several nice polled daughters of Aggravation Lawn Boy P-Red, including one from Shania, and three from Comestar Sachel Lou-ET VG-87, who they hope to breed from to further propagate the polled gene in their herd. In closing, Tim says, “We try to do the best we can in all aspects of our business, from the quality of our milk to the quality of our genetics. We want the product we sell to be that which our consumer is satisfied with and wants to return again.”

2-Year Honoree

DOORCO FARMS

Daniel vandertieBrussels, Wisconsin

Karlee, Bridget, Austin, Julie and Dan Vandertie

100% HomebredAverage Classification Score: 87.3

ME Averages: 32,413M 1,202F 952P

Doorco Farms has been home to Registered Holsteins since the mid-1940’s, when Dan Vandertie’s parents, Wilferd and Emily, started the operation. Dan and his wife Julie were married in 1987 and took over the operation at that time. Today, the couple has three children who are all very involved in every aspect of the farm; Karlee, 21, is currently attending college and helps when she is home; Bridget, 17, and Austin, 12, help on a daily basis with everything from feeding and milking to fieldwork. The family milks 40 cows twice a day in their tiestall barn. Doorco has been recognized as a Progressive Breeders Registry Herd for 37 years and a Progressive Genetics Herd for seven years. They are a Holstein COMPLETE herd.

Dan employs a simple breeding strategy on the farm, with a goal of making large cows with strong front ends, that possess great udders and a will to milk. They use a combination of genomic and daughter proven bulls on the farm, with genomic information being “one more tool” Vandertie uses to select sires for the next generation of cattle. Some bulls he has used recently include Charlesdale Superstition-ET, Ked Outside Jeeves-ET, Ladys-Manor Pl Shamrock-ET, Mountfield SSI Dcy Mogul-ET and Wabash-Way Explode-ET.

Over 80 percent of the herd can be traced back to one cow – Doorco Duster Albany EX-90 GMD DOM. Many individuals from this family have scored Excellent and made great production records. She had three daughters herself; an EX-92 3E GMD DOM STBVQ Rubens-ET with over 200,000 pounds of lifetime milk; an EX-92 2E GMD DOM Regancrest Elton Dante-ET daughter with a five-year-old record over 42,800 pounds of milk; and an EX-92 daughter of Altagen-I Merchant-ET with a best record at 4-04 of 40,360 pounds of milk. The family is continuing on as an integral part of the Doorco herd with Doorco Toystory Natalie-ET EX-91 as one of the recent shining stars; she has exciting daughters by Macomber O-Man Bogart and Super, just to name a few.

The Vanderties feel that teamwork has been critical to the success of their operation, with all family members involved, along with having a strong relationship with their veterinarian and nutritionist. They enjoy being a small family farm, and the camaraderie with other Registered breeders in their area.

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