Alberta Holstein Association Spring 2021 Newsletter

ALBERTA

HOLSTEIN ASSOCIATION

APRIL 2021

OCTOBER

2020 Alberta Breeder of the Year- Van Benthem Dairy

photo @Ella Wright

UPCOMING SHOWS & EVENTS 2020 MASTER BREEDER ANNOUNCEMENT 2020 ALBERTA BREEDER OF THE YEAR 2020 PRESDIENTS CLUB COW FIELD SERVICES UPDATE

BOARD OF DIRECTORS EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

DIRECTORS

DIRECTORS

NATIONAL DIRECTOR- WILLEM VANDERLINDE

CHAD CREST (CRHC)

CLARENCE SLINGERLAND (GAHC)

PRESIDENT- ANDREW WILDEBOER

FRED HOFSTRA (NAHC)

TIM HUMMEL (GAHC)

LEE SIMANTON (CAHC)

RANDY SLOMP (GAHC)

Phone/Fax: 403-782-1516 Email: luckyhill97@gmail.com

Phone: 403-782-9615 Fax: 403-782-9617 Email: chubanna@hotmail.com

VICE PRESIDENT- TIM HUMMEL

Cell: 403-331-8599 Email: tnbhummel@gmail.com

PAST PRESIDENT- WILLEM VANDERLINDE

Phone/Fax: 403-782-1516 Email: luckyhill97@gmail.com

Phone: 780-689-9576 Email: crest.chad@gmail.com Phone: 780-220-3733 Email: cowman@xplornet.com Phone/Fax: 403-704-6692 Email: lisalee.s@hotmail.com

Phone: 403-394-8351 Email: slingclar@gmail.com

Phone: 403-331-8599 Email: tnbhummel@gmail.com Phone: 403-308-5238 Email: randyslomp@msn.com

ROLF VAN BENTHEM (SAHC)

Phone: 403-896-1313 Email: rolfbenthem@hotmail.com

SECRETARY/TREASURER- BENITA HUMMEL

Phone: 403-335-5916 Fax: 403-732-5183 Email: info@albertaholstein.ca

SOCIAL MEDIA REP- AMANDA HEHLI

Cell: 403-704-5455 Email: amandahehli@hotmail.ca

OFFICE MAILING ADDRESS: BOX 988, PICTURE BUTTE, AB T0K 1V0

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

GAHC SHOW May 29- Exhibition Park- Lethbridge ALBERTA DAIRY CONGRESS June 3-5- Agrim Centre- Rimbey NAHC SHOW July 8th- Enerplus Multi-Use Building- Hay Lakes ALBERTA YOUTH DAIRY SHOW July 20-22- Agrim Centre- Rimbey WCC August 24-28- Keystone Centre- MB

ALBERTA HOLSTEIN ASSOCIATION Newsletter Apr 2021

1

EXECUTIVE UPDATES PRESIDENT REPORT Andrew Wildeboer

Good day! I hope all of you are well & have stayed healthy during these last number of months. It has been a long Spring season that continues to bring us summer-like warmth in the sunshine & winter-like chill in the shade.

The business of seed planting will be well under way within a few short weeks. I’m already looking forward to seeing new crops emerge.

Best of luck as you prepare to head into the fields to prepare the land for this year’s harvest. I hope to see you all very soon, out & about, enjoying various warm-weather activities.

All the best, Andrew

We’re hopeful for industry-wide events to resume in the near future, in some capacity. I know many of us are chomping at the bit, to get to shows & sales. The Rimbey Ag Centre is hoping to host the Alberta Dairy Congress in June, including a show & sale. I’m anticipating a great turn-out!

As it currently sits, Classifiers are scheduled to be in Alberta 2 weeks later then originally planned – due to travel restrictions.

Congratulations to Skycrest Holsteins on hosting the Selections of Skycrest & Guest Consigners Online Sale – It was a great success!

Thank you for promoting & showcasing our western cattle.

NATIONAL DIRECTOR REPORT Willem Vanderlinde

The more things change, the more they stay the same. Covid continues to impact Holstein Canada field services and classification with the restrictions impacting farm visits in certain regions. The AGM, which was rescheduled to July will happen but in a different way. The HC board released the convention committee from its mandate due to the many risks and unknowns with organizing the event. HC will be organizing and planning a hybrid- type convention, the Master Breeder gala will be in a new format with details yet to come.

The first HC webinar was held in March and focused on the use of genomic tools for on-farm genetic improvement. For those interested, the link to hear is on website. The next webinar will be in May and the focus will be on functional classification. Watch our various social media channels for more details on upcoming events.

Regionalization of services continues to be implemented in the West. The main objectives are to: 1. Improve the experience of clients at each visit, 2. Develop new services that will adapt to present and future needs, 3. Improve work/life balance of employees, 4. Improve the efficiency of HC field services.

By early April, the HC team will start using the new application to classify and evaluate your animals. Producers will have access to brand new interactive reports.

HC recently took part in the Western Canadian Dairy Seminar virtually. The participation was excellent!

I wish everyone a safe and productive spring!

Willem

ALBERTA HOLSTEIN ASSOCIATION Newsletter Apr 2021

2

FIELD SERVICES REPORT Rolf Van Benthem

The Holstein Canada Classification/Field Service team went through

The Alberta Holstein Board also had a meeting with Holstein Canada

a training week (April 12-16) to work on and get used to their new

CEO Vincent Landry and Holstein Canada Classification Manager Brad

devices and software program for Classification and Animal Assess-

Eggink earlier this year. It was mentioned that there is a big opportu-

ments. This program was originally going to be called Holstein Plus +,

nity in Western Canada to get more farms to register their calves/cows,

however the name now has been changed to Connexxion. Through

and to classify their cows. Currently 67% of farms do registration, and

Connexxion, the idea of the program is to be able to better serve

48% do classification in Alberta. Some of the benefits of registration

members with an all-in-one service visit. While classifying, the clas-

are: Traceability and age verification, faster genetic progress, and being

sifiers will be able to order replacement tags if the animal they are

able to manage inbreeding levels. Benefits of classifying your animal:

scoring is missing a tag, eventually they will be able to complete

culling tool that identifies problem cows, gives insight into possible

registrations or transfers if they have been missed. This system is still

management changes, consultation with an objective/unbiased expert

very new and will have a few bugs to get ironed out, but we have all

who sees thousands of farms across Canada, and a mating and selec-

started using it on farm this week!

tion tool.

Classification in Alberta has been pushed back from May 10/2021 to

Would you be interested in calf/cow registrations or would you like to

May 24/2021 in light of the recent travel restrictions in Ontario. There

classify your cows? If you have any questions please contact:

should be an email blast going out to producers to let them know of this change, as well to inform herds that were planning to attend the

Morgan Sangster

Alberta Dairy Congress, to make a point of contacting the Classifica-

msangster@holstein.ca

tion team to schedule them for the first week they are in Alberta. They

Cell: 519-865-4367

are still coming!

Rolf van Benthem We are working on trying to get everybody set up with DAIRYTRACE,

rolfbenthem@hotmail.com

and encourage any producer that has questions or would like help to

403-896-1313

either contact the customer service line, or the Field Rep for on farm help getting things set up. In addition to DAIRYTRACE, we are also promoting the new single white button tags for animals not destined

for dairy. They are meant to replace the use of the yellow RFID buttons that will eventually be phased out of use for the dairy industry in 2023. These tags are available to order through Holstein Canada.

ALBERTA HOLSTEIN ASSOCIATION Newsletter Apr 2021

3

JUDGING AND SHOW REPORT Clarence Slingerland

Congratulations to the Crest family at SKYCREST HOLSTEINSon a great sale April 22-23! They averaged $3395 on the 41 lots & a $640/embryo average on 19 embryos.

ALBERTA HOLSTEIN ASSOCIATION Newsletter Apr 2021

4

The Alberta Dairy Congress is tentatively set to run June 3-5th in Rimbey this year. Hope to see everyone out for the sale, Judging School and the shows! New this year is a Jersey show to be held on friday evening.

June 3-5, 2021 Co-operators Agrim Centre Rimbey, Alberta

June 3

5:00 pm

Junior Show: PeeWee Show Included

June 4

9:30 am

AB Holstein Evaluation Seminar

12 Noon

Herd Builder Luncheon

1:30 pm,

Herd Builder Sale 35 Heifers and Young Milking Cows

June 5

5:00 pm

Jersey Show

9:00 am4:00 pm

Holstein Show

6:00 pm

Awards Banquet

For more information on the Alberta Dairy Congress Show & Sale: John Mulcair | 587-989- 6766| To book sale cattle: Dale Bienert | 780-940-6729

ALBERTA HOLSTEIN ASSOCIATION Newsletter Apr 2021

5

Media Release HOLSTEIN CANADA, 20 CORPORATE PLACE, BRANTFORD, ONTARIO CANADA N3T 5R4 PHONE | 519-756-8300 | 1-855-756-8300 FAX | 519-756-5878 WEB | WWW.HOLSTEIN.CA

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 25, 2021 Contact: Steven Spriensma, Strategic Communications Coordinator sspriensma@holstein.ca

Announcing the 91st Master Breeder Shield Winners Brantford, Ont. – The announcement of the Master Breeder recipients has become an annual tradition at Holstein Canada. This tradition is now in its 91st year, and we are pleased to announce the 2020 Master Breeders.

Seven winning herds hail from Ontario; seven from Quebec; two from P.E.I.; and Alberta, B.C., Manitoba, and Nova Scotia all had one. Two of the herds achieved an incredible fourth Shield: ALTONA LEA and RONBETH. Congratulations to the Master Breeders who joined the ranks of the most elite breeders across Canada!

Prefix ALTONA LEA BIRKENTREE

Name Frank Barkey & Family Birkentree Holsteins

BOULET

Ferme Boulet Inc.

CLAYHAVEN DONFIELD DREWHOLME DUALANE DUHIBOU

Melvin G. Martin Donfield Farms Ltd. Drewholme Holsteins Kloepfer Holdings Ltd. Ferme Duhibou Inc.

FLECHEDOR KUIPERSCREST LAVENDER LELLAVAN MACPES MIRELLA RAYPEL

Annie Lecours & Luc Boisvert Kuiperscrest Holsteins Lavender Farms Ltd. Lellavan Farms Ferme Macpes Ferme Mirella Inc. Ferme Raymond Pelletier & Fils Inc. Ferme Robel Ronbeth Holsteins Ferme Royolait Inc. Thornspyc Dairy - Van de Brake Family Frizzell’s Valleyville Farm Inc.

ROBEL RONBETH ROYOLAIT THORNSPYC VALLEYVILLE

Shield #

Location Blackstock, Ontario Hunter River, Prince Edward Island Saint-François-de-la-Rivière-duSud, Quebec Wallenstein, Ontario Brandon, Manitoba Gowanstown, Ontario Ingersoll, Ontario Saint-Lambert-de-Lauzon, Quebec Princeville, Quebec Bloomfield, Ontario Abbotsford, British Columbia Maitland, Nova Scotia Saint-Narcisse, Quebec St-Bernardin, Ontario Saint-Simon-de-Bagot, Quebec Jonquière, Quebec Hastings, Ontario Ange-Gardien, Quebec Lacombe, Alberta

4 2

CONGRATULATIONS THORNSPYC DAIRY

3 1 3 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 2 1 4 1 1

Hunter River, Prince Edward Island Contact information for the winning producers is available on the Holstein Canada website.

2

Since its beginning in 1929, the Master Breeder program -Cont’d – has become the most coveted Holstein Canada award. Including this year’s winners, more than 1100 Master Breeder shields have been handed out since 1930 (for the year 1929). For the first time ever, Holstein Canada revealed the winners live to the entire Holstein community in an online event. This livestream was seen by more than 1200 viewers from all over the world.

We recognize these breeders for having mastered the art of breeding balanced cattle – high production and outstanding conformation with great reproduction, health and longevity. We will be celebrating this year’s recipients at the National Holstein Convention Master Breeder Gala in Ottawa, Ontario on Saturday, July 10, 2021. We will also be honouring the 2019 Master Breeders at a special Gala Thursday, July 8, 2021. #### ALBERTA HOLSTEIN ASSOCIATION Newsletter Apr 2021

6

AWARDS REPORT Lee Simanton

BREEDER OF THE YEAR- Southern Alberta Holstein Club- VAN BENTHEM DAIRY

2020 Alberta Breeder of the Year- Van Benthem Dairy (Southern Alberta Holstein Club) Van Benthem Dairy Ltd is owned and operated by Rolf & Mary and Evert & Jannette van Benthem. Rolf & Mary have 4 kids, Lars (9), Noah (7), Finn (4), and Toby (1). In 2000 Evert & Jannette made the move to Canada with their boys Rolf, Merein and Jos. At that time they gave Rolf and Merein full control of all the breeding decisions. Rolf & Mary joined the farm in 2009, and Merein & Kelsey started their own dairy farm in 2012. Jos and Tessa live in Calgary.

The most influential cow families at our farm are: Namdew Rudolph Anna VG-85 9*: this cow transmits longevity at our farm. Anna was born at our farm, her dam came out of the Namdew herd that we bought when we started in 2000. Anna has 6 daughters over 60,000kg of milk, including Benthemmer Goldwyn Emilie VG-87 who has reached 118,000kg of milk.

Altappel Formation Rockyma VG-87 6*: Rockyma was purchased by the boys with money they got from their Oma when they made the move to Canada. Rockyma transmits lots of milk and longevity. Her daughter Benthemmer Inquirer Canama was our first homebred excellent cow. Another daughter, Benthemmer Blitz Roma VG-87, produced 136,000kg of milk in 7 Lactations. Rockyma has 4 daughters that became star brood cows themselves.

Suncountry Haiti Lheros EX-92-2E 3*: Haiti was purchased as a heifer at the Calgary Classic Sale. She became the first cow to score 92 points at our farm. She transmits great conformation and production. We are milking some great granddaughters out of her.

Benthemmer Denzel Melba VG-85 2*: A homebred cow that transmits great conformation and production. Her daughter Benthemmer Loverman Malika in her 4th lactation scored EX-92-2E this year, and also has 2 Superior Production awards. Her daughter Benthemmer Edify Maeko scored VG-85 as a 2yr old this year.

Benthemmer Goldwyn Camila EX-90-3E 2*: Camila comes out of the Rockyma family but is making a name as a Star Brood cow herself. She was our first cow scoring 2 generations of homebred excellent. She has daughters that excel in production and type that have the potential of making it 3 generations of homebred excellents.

This year we are really excited about the achievements of our homebred cows. We had 9 new Starbrood cows with our prefix. We also had 2 VG 2yr olds, and 6 EX or ME this year. On the production side we are pleased that we had 17 Superior Production Awards and 1 Super 3 award. We also had 18 Longtime production awards.

Benthemmer Loverman Malika EX-92 2E was Reserve Champion of the SAHC Barn Cow Competition for 2020.

She got 1st in her class as well. Benthemmer Fix Remedy VG-88 got 3rd place in her class. All our kids participated in the Youth Class and our son Lars won with Benthemmer Galahad Halyn.

Our Rolling Herd Average on 122 cows is: 11,755kg milk, 484kg 4.1% Fat, 384kg 3.3% Protein. Our BCA is: 263291-269=823. Our current herd classification record is 9EX, 41VG, and 62GP cows.

Suncountry Haiti Lheros EX-92-2E 3*

ALBERTA HOLSTEIN ASSOCIATION Newsletter ALBERTA HOLSTEIN ASSOCIATION 2020 Annual ReportApr 2021 15

7

BREEDER OF THE YEAR- Southern Alberta Holstein Club- VAN BENTHEM DAIRY

We are proud to be named the Outstanding Young Farmers for Alberta for 2020. The National Event for this has been delayed due to Covid, though we will represent Alberta for 2021 in December. We are very proud of this achievement since you compete against all fields of agriculture in Alberta.

This has lead to interviews in several newspapers and magazines, such as: The Western Producer, Milk Producer, Western Dairy Farmer, and Alberta Farmer Express.

The most valuable services of Holstein Canada are classification and calf registration. We believe in longevity and that the classification system is the best tool to be able to achieve this. We would like to thank the Southern Alberta Holstein Club for the nomination for the Alberta Breeder of the Year.

Rolf has been a director of the SAHC for 6 years and currently sits as President, he is also a member of the Alberta Hosltein Association board. Mary is the current Vice President of the local playschool group as well as Registrar for our Minor Hockey Association. We had a shortened hockey season in which Rolf coached our sons on their U7 team and Mary managed it. We also run the local Spruce View Soccer Program every spring.

An interesting fact about our farm is that we do our own Herd Health as well as our own ET work on the farm. This way we have been able to make improvements and quick genetic progress in our herd. This year we were excited to have 2 cows pictured. Benthemmer Chelios Haven EX-91 and Benthemmer Loverman Malika EX-92-2E. We are very happy with the pictures and some are featured in the Alberta Holstein Calendar.

Suncountry Haiti Lheros EX-92-2E 3* ALBERTA HOLSTEIN ASSOCIATION Newsletter Apr 2021 ALBERTA HOLSTEIN ASSOCIATION 2020 Annual Report

8 16

2020 Alberta Breeder of the Year- Club Winners

Country Roads Holstein Club

Northern Alberta Holstein Club

Enterprises Lavoie

Roselane Holsteins

Central Alberta Holstein Club Aspenridge Farms

PROVINCIAL WINNER

Green Acres Holstein Club

Southern Alberta Holstein Club

Nifera Holsteins

Van Benthem Dairy

ALBERTA HOLSTEIN ASSOCIATION Newsletter Apr 2021

9

2020 Presidents Club Cow- Club Winners

Country Roads Holstein Club Skycrest Blitz Nock Out EX-92-4E 4*

Northern Alberta Holstein Club New Mars McCutche Lana EX-92

7 Lactations 101647kg @ 3.9F 3.0P BCA 246 253 226

3 Lactations 62073 kgs BCA 349-446-400

Skycrest Holsteins

New Mars Dairy

Central Alberta Holstein Club Thornspyc Planet May EX-90-3E 6 lactations- 4 Superior Lactations 86980kgs 4.5%F 3.3%P BCA 350-438-366 Thornspyc Dairy

PROVINCIAL WINNER Southern Alberta Holstein Club Rockymountain Super Teatro- EX-94-5E Currently in her 7th lactation Lifetime production of 108,607 kgs 1 Superior Lactation Grand Champion of the 2020 SAHC Barn Cow Competition Innislake Dairy

Green Acres Holstein Club Viewplain Caruzo 937 EX-90-3E 8 Lactations 104581 kgs 3 Superior Lactations Plainview Colony

ALBERTA HOLSTEIN ASSOCIATION Newsletter Apr 2021

10

ADVERTISING & MARKETING REPORT Tim Hummel

A new directory will be in the works to come out early in 2022, just in time for the National Holstein Convention in Saskatchewan as long as Covid allows! Advertising rates as well as contact information updates will be going out this summer as we prepare the new directory. We hope to have the booth out at the Alberta Dairy Congress in Rimbey June 3-5!

YOUTH REPORT Randy Slomp

After a year in which COVID upset the best laid plans, youth activities were not immune from this reality. Many local shows along with the provincial 4-H dairy show and WCC were cancelled. Despite this, innovative ideas were used to used to keep the youth involved in their local clubs. And who knows, perhaps time has allowed for more hands on learning on family farms since many other activities have been cancelled and people have been staying closer to home.

In the past year, the branch had the privilege of handing out the full $2000 Alberta Holstein Scholarship to Sylvia Slinglerland of Diamond City, Alberta. If there are any youth interested in applying for this award, details can be found on the Alberta Holstein website.

Congratulations to Sylvia Slingerland on receiving the 2020 Alberta Holstein Scholarship!

Sylvia is part of the Diamond Park Dairy team and is in her 2nd year of the Agriculture Biotechnology program at the University of Lethbridge. Although we were unable to present her with her award at the AGM, board member and Youth Committee Chairperson, Randy Slomp was able to stop in and congratulate Sylvia on her achievement.

True Type model cows were once again handed out by the branch to local 4-H clubs to be awarded as they see fit.

As for this coming year, the provincial dairy show is tentatively set for July 20-22 in Rimbey. Government regulations will once again have a bearing on whether this show will be allowed to happen.

The same goes for WCC which will be Aug 24-28th in Manitoba, the organizing committee is meeting in early June to discuss whether or not the show will go on or if changes need to be made, so stay tuned for more details!

Despite the COVID challenges, we hope and pray that in the near future our youth can interact with each other normally once again and have fun learning together.

“Looking into the future, upon completing my degree in Agriculture Biotechnology, I want to apply to Vet school. It has always been a dream of mine to be able to provide excellent care to large animals that are sick or in need. It pulls at my heart, when I look at a sick animal on our farm or any farm that I am visiting, and not be able to help it.”

ALBERTA HOLSTEIN ASSOCIATION Newsletter Apr 2021

11

ALBERTA HOLSTEIN ASSOCIATION Newsletter Apr 2021

12

Complete Herd Management Solutions 1-800-549-4373

lactanet.ca

ANDRIES STEEGSTRA

Office: 403-782-3171 Cell: 403-391-6260 asteegstra@royallepage.ca www.centralalbertafarms.com 5820A Highway 2A, Lacombe, AB, T4L 2G5

westgen.com

thearcservices.com

403.550.2424

BREEDING BULLS AVAILABLE 780-689-9576 780-675-4643

ALBERTA HOLSTEIN ASSOCIATION Newsletter Apr 2021

13

YOUR DAIRY EQUIPMENT SPECIALISTS LACOMBE: 403-786-9999 NISKU: 780-955-3737 LETHBRIDGE: 403-327-1414 EMAIL agraidairymart@gmail.com

PLACE YOUR AD HERE FOR

$50 per issue OR $200 per year

ALBERTA HOLSTEIN ASSOCIATION Newsletter Apr 2021

14

CO N G R AT U L AT I O N S T O T H E

2020 Master Breeders ALTONA LEA Ontario

DUHIBOU Quebec

RAYPEL Quebec

BIRKENTREE Prince Edward Island

FLECHEDOR Quebec

ROBEL Quebec

BOULET Quebec

KUIPERSCREST Ontario

RONBETH Ontario

CLAYHAVEN Ontario

LAVENDER British Columbia

ROYOLAIT Quebec

DONFIELD Manitoba

LELLAVAN Nova Scotia

THORNSPYC Alberta

DREWHOLME Ontario

MACPES Quebec

VALLEYVILLE Prince Edward Island

DUALANE Ontario

MIRELLA Ontario March/April 2021 |

info Holstein

15

“Our mission is working to provide opportunities for members to enhance profitibility and competetiveness through genetic improvement programs delivered effectively and efficiently.”

www.albertaholstein.ca

follow us on facebook- alberta holstein association