In the fall of 2001, on the heels of a wildly successful debut of Leduc’s second crop calves in the show ring, Alta organized a picture contest to allow show enthusiasts from around the world to vote for their favorite daughter of AltaLEDUC (Lystel Leduc). The winner of that contest in January 2002 was Badiola Megate II, a young promising show heifer from Spain, who for North Americans, not having seen her, was a surprise winner against the formidable competition from the US and Canada.

Badiola Megate II – VG-88
“Leduc’s Leading Lady winner – Jan 2004

Badiola Megate I – VG-89
Leduc x Formation x Astre
Grand Champion Spanish National 2004

Fast forward to September 2004, Gijon, in the Asturian province of Spain. After winning the three year old class and named Best Udder in class, Badiola Megate I, an ET litter-mate to Megate II, is named Intermediate Champion and then Grand Champion of the Spanish National show. In doing so, Megate I became AltaLEDUC’s first Grand Champion daughter at a National level.

Now it’s September 2005 and yet another Megate enters the fray. The winning 4-yr-old at this year’s event in Gijon is none other than Badiola Megate IV. In what was must be dubbed as a most “golden” cross, the trio of AltaLEDUC daughters from an AltaFORMATION dam are further backed by an AltaASTRE, thus combining three generations of Alta breeding for the owner and breeder of the Megate phenomenon, Ganadería Diplomada Badiola S.L. This success demonstrates the legacy of success that Alta sires are leaving around the world. Alta extends its sincere congratulations to this well-known Spanish breeding establishment on their success with Alta sires and thank them for the trust they have bestowed, spanning generations of breeding.

Badiola Megate IV
1st 4-yr-old Spanish National 2005

Bos Nodi Merchant Dana
Reserve Jr. Champion
Spanish National Show 2005

As a side note to the Megate story at the Spanish National show, another highlight includes the naming of Bos Nodi Merchant Dana as Reserve Junior Champion for her owners Nodi SC, from the northern province of Galicia. Dana, sired by AltaMERCHANT (Altagen-I Merchant) also combines several generations of Alta breeding, hailing from a dam sired by the Alta icon, AltaMARTY (Ricecrest Marty).