A five-year-old Alberta dairy cow has beat out thousands of other cattle to be named supreme champion at World Dairy Expo, one of the world’s most prestigious dairy shows.
Eastside Lewisdale Gold Missy EX95, or Missy for short, won senior champion in her class in Madison, Wisconsin, earlier this month before going on to win grand champion Holstein and then supreme champion of the more than 2,000 elite dairy cows at the show.
“It’s a massive win,” said Andy Parry, marketing manager for Morsan Farms of Ponoka, Alta.
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“It’s an accomplishment everyone dreams about.”
Missy made headlines two years ago when she was sold to a syndicate for $1.2 million. She is owned by Morsan Farms, Mark Butz of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Van Ruinene Dairy of Lacombe, Alta., and George Uebelhardt and Gert Andreasen of Ponoka.
Missy was born in Prince Edward Island and bought by the Morsan farm in 2008.
Parry said the judges in Wisconsin named her the winner for her looks, confirmation and longevity.
“Essentially she’s very, very good in all traits,” said Parry.
“She’s as close to perfect as you can get.”
The publicity around the win has already translated into sales and new business for the farm with dairy farms around the world looking for Missy’s genetics.
The owners will be looking for a repeat at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair in Toronto in November, when Missy will be shown again.
Parry said the Royal in Toronto and the World Expo in Wisconsin are the most prestigious dairy shows globally, attracting thousands of people from around the world to see the top dairy cattle.
It takes a team of six people, a liner and a support truck to haul the show cattle to Toronto.
“It’s a huge logistical operation,” Parry said of the three-week trip.
The owners will begin an embryo flushing program when Missy returns to the farm, but until then all efforts will be concentrated on keeping her in show shape in hopes of another win in Toronto.
