Holstein Canada is keeping up with the times. It has made changes to its national recognition programs for dairy cows including the introduction of new “Canadian Champions,” which will be determined by new production award metrics. The Superior Production and Canadian Champion Awards remain, but they will be determined by updated measurement criteria. The changes are the result of several years of development by Holstein Canada and reflect evolving systems within the industry.
Holstein Canada has a membership of more than 9,200 and is responsible for maintaining the breed’s Herdbook under the Federal Animal Pedigree Act of Agriculture and AgriFood Canada. The organization provides services and programs to help its members manage and improve their herds.
Cows are given Superior Lactation recognition awards by being in the top three per cent of any of six performance categories. Updated benchmarks across six measures have been applied, and production achievement is evaluated by lactation and incorporates both lifetime efficiency and 305-day production. The six categories include kilograms of milk per day of life; kg of fat plus protein per day of life; kg of milk in 305 days; kg of fat plus protein in 305 days; combined BCA in fat plus protein; and deviations in fat plus protein.
The benchmarks will be updated annually to remain current with performance standards, and they can be found on the website, www.holstein.ca. Additional award programs including Master Breeder, Star Brood Cow, Lifetime Production, and Classification will change in 2027.
The updated list of bovine achievers is also available on the website, as are previous production winners.
Dundee champions
Following the new production awards system, 22 animals have achieved Canadian Champion status. As in previous years, these champions will keep their titles until their records are broken.
Regional producers were well-represented as Dundee area dairy herds continue to excel.
Nieuwenhof & Associe Inc.’s Lareleve Rapid 909 GP-80 was awarded in the Lactation 2 category, as was Lareleve Duke 670 EX-90 in Lactation 4; the farm’s Facebook page says, “‘The Duke’ never stops to amaze us. Every time we think she’ll never be able to do better than her previous record, she just gets it done!” The herd’s recognition continued with Lareleve Kingboy 733 EX-91 winning in the Lactation 5 category, and Lareleve Spring 610 EX-91 and Lareleve Halogen 555 VG-87 being lauded for Lactation-6 achievement. The farm is in Saint-Agnes-de-Dundee.
Ferme Estermann Inc. of Dundee proper was also recognized in the Lactation 3 category for the cow Rainholme Milktime.