Holstein Association USA Honors 2022 Herds of Excellence

The information below has been supplied by dairy marketers and other industry organizations. It has not been edited, verified or endorsed by Hoard’s Dairyman.

Annually, Holstein Association USA recognizes breeders who have developed herds with incredible production and type with the Herds of Excellence award. Ten outstanding Registered Holstein^® herds have achieved this honor with their 2022 records. The award is a testament to the hard work, attention to detail, and consistency these dairy farm families put into caring for their cows.

“We’re thrilled to recognize these excellent Registered Holstein cows and their breeders,” Holstein Association USA CEO John Meyer says. “These herds are shining examples of how Registered Holstein cows can excel in both production and type.”

The award is broken down into three divisions based on herd size, including the Large Herd Division (500+ cows), Medium Herd Division (100-499 cows), and Small Herd Division (10-99 cows).

This year’s honorees are:

Large Herd Size Division (500+ Cows)

Bomaz Inc. — The Zwald Family, Hammond, Wis.

94.6% homebred; Age Adjusted Classification Score (AACS) — 85.3 points

ME Production Averages — 32,546M 1,323F 1,055P

Five Year Honoree

Siemers Holstein Farms Inc. — The Siemers Family, Newton, Wis.

79.8% homebred; AACS — 84.3 points

ME Production Averages — 35,673M 1,553F 1,101P

Seven Year Honoree

Medium Herd Size Division (100-499 Cows)

Koepke Farms Inc. — The Koepke Family, Oconomowoc, Wis.

100% homebred; AACS — 85.0 points

ME Production Averages — 35,245M 1,406F 1,070P

Six Year Honoree

Koester Dairy Inc. — The Koester Family, Dakota, Ill.

99.5% homebred; AACS — 85.3 points

ME Production Averages — 35,283M 1,518F 1,114P

Seven Year Honoree

Hilrose Dairy, LLC.— The Brantmeier Family, Sherwood, Wis.

100% homebred; AACS — 88.8 points

ME Production Averages — 36,735M 1,410F 1,081P

Eleven Year Honoree

Pollack-Vu Dairy LLC— The Pollack Family, Ripon, Wis.

99.4% homebred; AACS — 85.3 points

ME Production Averages — 34,589M 1,406F 1,094P

One Year Honoree

Small Herd Size Division (10-99 Cows)

B-Long Holsteins — Bruce, Brenda & Bret Long, New London, Wis.

100% homebred; AACS — 88.4 points

ME Production Averages — 36,168M 1,452F 1,166P

Twelve Year Honoree

Doorco Holsteins—The Vandertie Family, Brussels, Wis.

100% homebred; AACS — 88.7 points

ME Production Averages — 36,491M 1,425F 1,117P

Six Year Honoree

Ever-Green-View Holsteins, LLC — The Kestell Family, Waldo, Wis.

97.8% homebred; AACS — 88.3 points

ME Production Averages — 40,822M 1,705F 1,288P

Thirteen Year Honoree

Show-Mar Holsteins — The Brantner Family, Evans City, Pa.

100% homebred; AACS — 89.5 points

ME Production Averages — 38,394M 1,562F 1,181P

Three Year Honoree

The awards will be presented during Holstein Association USA’s 137th Annual Meeting in Lexington, Kentucky. To register for convention or learn more, visit www.2023nationalholsteinconvention.com.

Read more about the 2022 Herds of Excellence in the Spring 2023 issue of The Pulse. Select pages of The Pulse are available at www.holsteinusa.com under the Latest News tab.

About the Award

The Herd of Excellence designation honors Registered Holstein breeders who have developed Holsteins herds excelling in both production and type. To be recognized with this accolade, herds must have classified within the last year and have an age-adjusted classification score of 83 points or higher; have at least 70 percent of the herd homebred; and be enrolled in Holstein Association USA’s TriStar+ production records program.

Additionally, qualifying herds must meet the following production criteria:

Large Herd Division: 15 percent above breed average for ME for milk, fat and protein

Medium Herd Division: 20 percent above breed average ME for milk, fat and protein

Small Herd Division: 25 percent above breed average ME for milk, fat and protein

Congratulations to the 2022 Herds of Excellence!