DECEMBER 2017 • COUNTRY LIFE IN BC
27 Six-digit cattle attract deep-pocketed ownership teams
BC among exhibitors at dairy expo
by DAVID SCHMIDT MADISON, WI – With top
show cows routinely selling for $100,000 or more, it’s becoming increasingly common for them to have multiple owners, thereby spreading the risk (and reward) of ownership. That is the case with
Meadow Green Absolute Fanny-Red, a six-year-old red and white Holstein named the grand champion of the 2017 Red & White show at the World Dairy Expo, in Madison, WI, October 6. Bred by Meadow Green
Farms in Duncan, the Excellent cow is now based at T-Triple T- I Farms in Ohio but still retains a BC connection through Tom DeGroot of T & L Cattle in Rosedale, who owns her alongside T-Triple T-I with Washington dairyman Mike Berry.
While DeGroot was able to claim a share of one of the top awards, he was not the only BC breeder/exhibitor to participate in what is unquestionably the world’s premier dairy show. Leading the BC contingent was Westcoast Holsteins of Chilliwack, which brought full strings into both the red-and- white and black–and-white Holstein shows. They left with three class winners, including the honorable mention intermediate red-and-white champion, Oakfield A Shampagne. World Dairy Expo is much
Gurraj, Jasmit, Jasbir, Sameen with Harkirat, Rajwinder and Kamaljit Sanghera make customer service and production at Don-O-Ray Vegetables in Kelowna a family affair. MYRNA STARK LEADER PHOTO
Jeff Kooyman of Westcoast Holsteins in Chilliwack leads one of his heifers in the large spring yearling heifer class at the World Dairy Expo Red & White Show in Madison, WI in early October. DAVID SCHMIDT PHOTO
more than just a cattle show. It also includes a huge trade show with over 300 exhibitors, including almost half a dozen exhibitors from BC. It also provides a venue for the purchase and sale of top cattle genetics. Shampagne is a perfect example. Although shown by Westcoast Holsteins, she had been entered by a consortium of Vermont-based breeders. However, earlier in the week of World Dairy Expo, Westcoast purchased the two- year-old from her previous owners.
Also participating in the Holstein shows as either exhibitors or co-owners of exhibited cattle were Stanhope/Wedgwood of Cobble Hill, Elmbridge Farms of Chilliwack and Springbend Farms of Chilliwack. As well, Bradner Farms and
Golden Gate Dairy of Abbotsford each had entries in the Brown Swiss show earlier in the week. For those in the elite dairy genetics business, the World Dairy Expo is an event they cannot afford to miss.
“We did not expect to do
that well at this year’s show but we still had to be there,” said Jeff Kooyman of Westcoast Holsteins.
“We expect to do better
next year,” he said, expressing the optimism that is a hallmark of farmers everywhere.
Agriculture is our way of life too
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The directors and staff of the Investment Agriculture Foundation would like to wish you and your families all the best for the upcoming holiday season.
Wishing all involved in British Columbia’s agri-food industry a healthy and prosperous 2018.
Wishing all involved in British Columbia’s agri-food industry a healthy and prosperous 2015.
CONTACT US OR VISIT OUR WEBSITE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT AVAILABLE FUNDING TO HELP TURN YOUR IDEAS INTO SOLUTIONS!
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Graham Bolton FCC Senior Relationship Manager
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