The Ferme 236 Inc. in Saint-Louis-de-Gonzague, which goes by the prefix Lactomont, was awarded its second Master Breeder shield on January 17 following an online reveal by Holstein Canada.
Hosted by classifiers Alex Laliberté and Willemke Binnendijk, the live broadcast added 19 recipients to the exclusive list of Master Breeders across the country.
The title is the most prestigious award available to Canadian Holstein breeders. It recognizes herds with the best ratios for breeding cows with high production and outstanding conformation, as well as high proficiency in reproduction, health, and longevity.
Brothers Benoit and Ghislain Montpetit took over the family farm last year from their parents, Jane Nieuwenhof and Daniel Montpetit, becoming the sixth generation to work the dairy farm since its establishment in 1920.
The family was not present for the live broadcast; however, the hosts spoke on behalf of the brothers, who described the moment as bittersweet as their parents narrowly missed out on receiving the honour. Binnendijk called the honour “a testament to the years of hard work their parents put into building the foundation that made this achievement possible.”
Binnendijk then explained that Lactomont’s approach to breeding continues to emphasize investing in strong genetics and genomics to establish a solid base. “They focus on advancing quickly by focusing on the herd’s best animals,” she added.
The family received their first Master Breeder title in 2003. (SR)