Calgary Stampede Dairy Classic | A 12-year-old Holstein still going strong
Competing against the bloom of youth was no problem for the 12-year-old cow that was named grand champion at the annual Calgary Stampede Dairy Classic show March 23.
CRF Lheros Rudolph Pete Joel has never been flushed and has produced eight natural calves throughout its career. Most were bulls that were sold to Hutterite colonies and local farmers looking for natural breeding, said owner Logan Chalack of Wendon Holsteins near Innisfail, Alta., who works with his father, Don.
“She is a great cow and has great feet and legs and her mammary system is high end,” Chalack said after the show.
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The family-run operation selects bulls that pass on longevity as well as soundness to their daughters.
It milks 50 cows, but the main business is selling purebred seed stock.
Twelve-year-old cows that have had eight calves don’t always look as good as this year’s champion, said judge Clay Phoenix of Sunderland, Ont., who farms with his family and has judged international dairy shows of all breeds.
“This cow is pretty useful,” he said.
“For a cow to have a well attached mammary system like this after she had eight calves is unique, but I am not going to say cows don’t last that long. It is the management system.”
Longevity is a key quality, and artificial insemination studs are focusing more on health and long lived females through genomics, he added.
- Junior champion was Continental Brax Macy of Rocky Mountain Holsteins of Cochrane, Alta., and Continental Holsteins of Leduc, Alta.
- Reserve was Skycrest Alexander Raisin from Skycrest Holsteins of Athabasca, Alta.
- The grand champion red Holstein, Rietben Sterling Miley, was from Reitveld Dairies Ltd., of Fort Saskatchewan, Alta.
- Overall grand champion was CRF Lheros Rudolph Pete Joel from Wendon Holsteins.
- Reserve was Robella Reg Macy from Lampada Holstein of Carlyle, Sask. It was also named best bred and owned.
- Premier breeder and exhibitor was Skycrest Holsteins.
