July 31 2013 02:02 PM

Balance of production and type earn recognitions.

The American Guernsey Association presented awards at their National Guernsey Convention Awards breakfast. Hoard's Dairyman Farm Manager, Jason Yurs attended the convention in Oklahoma as the farm garnered several honors.


The 2012 National Guernsey Queen Kami Schuler from Wisconsin holds the
Nyala-Bedford Trophy as Jason Yurs displays the Commercial Herd plaque.

The High TPE Lactation Average for Protein and High TPE Lactation Average for Fat were both won by Hoard's. The 140 Guernsey records averaged 22,624 M 4.7% 1,067 F 3.4% 770 P. On a cheese yield basis, that equates to 2,610 pounds of cheese per cow.

The Commercial Herd Award is presented to the highest energy corrected milk (ECM) lactation average among all herds with at least 50 records completed in 2012, while the Nyala-Bedford Trophy is awarded to the herd with the highest ECM lactation average for cows in first lactation only. Our Fort Atkinson farm took home both awards.

While our Guernsey herd is well known for its high production, it also earned acclaim for type and production. The Double Gold Star Breeder recognition is given to herds that produce at least 115 percent of the national average for milk, fat or protein; have an appraisal average for cows that completed records in 2012 that exceeds the national average; are 70 percent homebred, and have more than 20 percent young sire daughters in the group that finished records last year. The Hoard's Dairyman Farm was one of six herds present at the banquet to receive the Double Gold Star Breeder Award.

Earlier, additional production recognitions were given. The Component Queens are cows that excel in fat and protein production. The Hoard's Dairyman herd owned 41 of the top 100 cows, which is up from the 30 cows they had listed in 2011.

For Cow Performance Index (CPI), the herd ranks 18th in the country with a CPI of 61 on 218 cows.

When type and high production go hand in hand, longevity is the result. The 2012 Living Lifetime list honors cows that have high milk and component production. The farm was honored to have three cows on this prestigious list as well.

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