At Terra Linda Holsteins Breeding and Management Combine for Success

From the June Holstein World Exclusive 

By Joel Hastings

Aggressive use of top genetics builds a herd high in production, conformation and marketability

            The Terra Linda prefix caught the industry’s eye when a high genomic calf topped Dave Rama’s Fun in the West Sale in February.  With aggressive use of top genomics in this herd of 1450 cows and 2100 heifers, along with some strategic purchases, high genomic animals with strong pedigrees and top production have resulted for Mike Santos, Jr., his brother, Craig, and their dad, Mike, Sr. located near Tulare, California.  Mike Jr. works with the cows and Craig runs the 1200-acre cropping operation, growing all their own forages.

             “Our philosophy has always been to concentrate on proven cow families and pedigrees, putting the numbers in our favor.  It’s a fast-moving industry, so to stay in the game, we try to cast a wide net from our genetic pool,” Mike explains.

Golden Journeys

From the June Guernsey Breeders' Journal

By Doug Granitz, CEO

Over the past sixty days, I have had the privilege to meet many members personally and on the phone, as well as participate in various association events.  During this time, through your generous personal input as well as survey responses, it became clear to me that although articulated in various forms, we share a passion and a consensus around a vision for the Guernsey.  I would synthesize the feedback into a Vision statement as follows:

Hoard's Dairyman Farm

A world where consumers across the globe love and experience high quality, superior tasting, and nutritionally rich authentic Guernsey branded dairy products.

There is no doubt--We are passionate and care about the future of the Guernsey breed.  We love the breed, the story, the milk and the community; and we want to share our story to the world.

In addition, to a vision, we share a common purpose.  The great thing about a common purpose is that the purpose has been chartered as reflected in the organization of the American Guernsey Association.

New York hosts National Guernsey Convention

From the May Guernsey Breeders' Journal

New York Guernsey Breeders have scheduled an array of tours and activities that virtually everyone will find something to pique their interest! Two tours to choose from are offered prior to the official convention start on Tuesday.

Guernsey Pre-Convention Tours

Tour A - Ripleys –Ripley Farms is a seven-generation family farm established in 1892 by Roland Ripley’s great-great-grandfather. The first Guernsey arrived on the farm in 1945. Ripley Farms has been home to many great Guernseys since that day.

                Ripley Farms currently employs, and supports, three generations of Ripleys with the day-to-day operations being overseen by Tom and Dan Ripley. Tom’s sons, Seth and Kyle, work on the farm full-time and Dan’s son Daniel works part-time while in high school with plans to return to the farm after college. Roland is still very active on the farm from April through November. All of the wives are vital to the operation as well working both on the farm and in the processing plant. Family is very important to the Ripleys and you can frequently find Roland and Patty, all five children and up to four generations at Guernsey shows throughout the year.

Ohio Brown Swiss Host National Convention

Reprinted with permission from the May 2017 Brown Swiss Bulletin

The Ohio Brown Swiss Breeders have planned a fun-filled National Convention for those coming to Ohio. From farm tours to shopping, sports to shows and a premier line-up of cattle for the sale. There is something for every Brown Swiss enthusiast to enjoy!

Pro Football Hall of Fame

The convention activities kick off at the world-renown football site with tours, dinner and even a special playoff event planned for the Juniors on the football field itself! Enjoy the day at the Pro Football Hall of Fame as a registered Convention attendee or just the afternoon and evening of scheduled activities.

The Pro Football Hall of Fame provides opportunities for football fans to learn more about the history of the game on an Insider's Tour or view rare artifacts preserved in the Hall’s archives during an VIP "Behind-the-Scenes" Tour.

Quality Care, At Home & Away

Reprinted with permission from Summer 2017 Milking Shorthorn Journal

By: Katie Henson

What do the names Tahoe, Snickerdoodle, Poppy, Fire Maid and Fireball have in common? They all have been under the expert care of Dale and Deanna Bendig of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, and each garnered a Champion banner (or two) at National Shows.

Dale and Deanna own and operate Spungold Holsteins where they milk 65 cows in a flat parlor. The farm sits on 80 acres and houses every breed except Jerseys. The Bendigs board several elite animals for breeders across the country in their 60-stall free-stall barn along with a loose housing pack that holds 15 cows. “We do things with more hand labor,” said Dale about their older facilities.

The barn has only one box stall that is used for cows in heat so that they always have competition for food and are never alone. Currently, the barn has no cows scored below 82 points, with 10 being scored Excellent and 40 Very Good.

The Best of Triple-T & Heath Sale - 2nd Edition

After multiple days of rain the sun came out to shine brightly for the 2nd edition of the Triple-T & Heath Sale held this year in Marysville, Ohio, today (May 6). The sale averaged $6,913 on 96 head with cattle sold to 18 states and three Canadian providences.

Topping the sale was Liddleholme Drman Airial-ET *RC*TL*TD a June 2016 Doorman out of the 92-point MS Apples Aileen-ET. Aileen is a sister to multiple EX-94 All-Amercian honored sisters. The next dam is the EX-96 KHW Regiment Apple-Red-ET! Consigned by Anthony Liddle of Argyle, NY she was purchased for $30,000 by the partnership of Will Iager, OK, Kathy Stiles Iager, MD, Triple-T Holsteins, OH and Mitch Hocket of NC.

Spring Color Selections at the Northern

The Spring Color Selections at the Northern was held May 1 in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. As reported by Seth Johnson, the Guernseys average $3,314 on the 14 head sold. The high-selling Guernsey was lot 78, Knapps HP GG Pies Tessa. She is a December calf sired by Indian Acres Pie and out of the EX-93 All-American Knapps Ace Tamera, dam of the EX-95 multiple All-American and high-producing Knapps Regis Tambourine. Sold by Dan Basse & Hillpoint Partners, she was struck off at $7500 to Land of Living Farm, Mechanicsburg, Ohio. Contending bidder was Four Hills Farm in Vermont. The sale was managed by Modern Associates with Cowbuyer.com providing the live, online bidding. Watch for more as the information becomes available on the balance of the sale.