For the third year in a row, Ferme Estermann in Dundee has been named the top dairy herd in Canada by Lactanet Canada. Lactanet is a farmer-run organization and the premier source of information and innovative solutions for dairy farmers across Canada. In a virtual event on Feb. 9, Lactanet unveiled its prestigious list of Canada’s Top 25 dairy herds, according to the Herd Management Score/Herd Performance Index.
“We’re very happy and very proud; we work hard every day to make our business profitable and efficient,” says Regula Estermann, an owner of the first-place farm. “The criteria for this award coincide with the standard we like to keep at our farm.” The Herd Performance Index is based on six criteria: milk value, age at first calving, herd efficiency, longevity, udder health and calving intervals. A score is given to each of these criteria according to the herd’s performance against 7,000 others across Canada.
Started in 1997 as a small family operation by Regula’s parents, who immigrated from Switzerland, Ferme Estermann is now a second-generation farm run by Regula and her brother, Martin. Twenty-four years since it began, they now have a herd of 200 cows, and while still a family operation, they do have a small team of employees to make sure the farm is kept to their high standards. The Estermanns credit the wonderful community here in the Valley for helping them thrive. “We’re very proud to be part of the Valley community, it’s a great place to live and farm. The community support for farmers here is awesome, we really appreciate it,” says Regula.
Not only was Estermann’s farm awarded first place, but 11 more Quebec farms also appeared on the list, with five occupying spaces in the top 10. “We are proud to recognize the remarkable work of dairy farmers in terms of herd management,” says Lactanet’s chair, Barbara Paquet. “It was important for us to underline their exceptional dedication, especially this year with all the challenges brought by the pandemic.”
