In the end all one can hope is to make a difference. As a company serving dairy producers, we do our best to deliver a competitive product. The majority of resulting progeny from our bulls quietly contribute to the bottom line on individual farms, but the emergence of elite daughters also provides a measuring stick on how well we have done. And in that respect, the 2004 premier shows in Canada having taken place over the last few weeks tell the tale: contributions from Alta sires far exceed the expected.

Silverridge Leduc Noleta – 1st Sr. 2-yr-old RWF
Owned by R & F Livestock & Weavercroft Int.

For the third consecutive year Lystel Leduc claimed the Premier Sire banner at the Quebec International Holstein Show, a prelude of what would come at the Royal. And when the results for the past 6 years are considered at this prestigious show, the results are even more shocking: Alta sires have claimed the Premier Sire banner 5 of the last 6 years! In a country dominated by a large Cooperative AI monopoly, that this could be achieved by competitors collectively let alone by one is astounding.

At the Royal Winter Fair too Leduc and his sire Jed have played prominent roles, with Leduc claiming the Premier Sire banner the last two years and Jed the banner in 2002. At the 2004 Royal Leduc outdistanced his competitors by quite a margin once again. In the Junior section, Leduc daughters claimed 9 top-10 prizes including a class winner in the Senior Yearling class to post another strong performance among the heifers. In the Milking section, Leduc fielded a 1st prize in the Sr. 2-yr-olds (Silverridge Leduc Noleta) and 3rds in the Jr. 2 (High point Dark Rose), Jr. 3 (Raeland Leduc Wilhelmina) and Sr. 3-yr-old classes (Irwindale Leduc Macy). There cannot be any debate about Leduc’s contributions to the big-time shows.

Still the show produced numerous other Alta-inspired results:

Comestar Edgemont Modelisa Bos
2nd Milking Yearling
Owned by Comestar Holsteins

Particularly noteworthy is the 2nd place Milking Yearling – a Boss daughter from a Leduc daughter backed by a former All-Canadian: Comestar Model Lady. This beautiful uddered heifer shows all the promise in the world and is sure to be a contender for future years.

Meanwhile, the Fall sales promotion which partnered with Kubota Canada Ltd, wrapped up during Royal week and was a huge success. The winning ballot drawn by Holstein Canada President John Blair carried the name Dykstra Farms, of Havelock New Brunswick, a customer of Alta District Sales Manager Jeff Walker. As luck would have it the Dykstra family were all still in attendance at the Royal and enthusiastically received the news.

With another show season completed, it’s clear numerous Alta sired progeny will compete for All-Canadian awards. In the end, it’s about contributing and Alta sires have and continue to get the job done.

Dystra Family, Havelock NB wins
the RTV 900G-K from Kubota!