Romandale Farm, Unionville, ON
won Premier Breeder awards at the Royal Winter Fair in 1961-67 and the Premier Exhibitor banner in 1960-63 and 1969-70. For a decade, it claimed the record for the number of All-Canadian bred and owned by exhibitor. Romandale Farms was the home of show ring winners, potent brood cows and sires of vast influence.
During the 1960s and 1970s the Romandale herd, owned by Stephen and George Roman, was a commanding force in Holstein affairs. Stephen B. Roman emigrated to Canada from Slovakia with his older brother, George, in June 1937. In 1953, he took control of a penny mining stock at Elliot Lake, Ontario and built it into one of the largest mining empires in the world. The mine operated from the mid-1950s until its closure in 1992. Stephen Roman was a daring, dynamic and tough-as-nails corporate titan who made a major contribution to the Canadian economy. The renown taskmaster sat atop a $10 billion company that owned the country’s largest uranium mine along with oil and gas interests, cement operations, a paper mill and trust firm. A religious man, he built an enormous golddomed cathedral for the Slovak Catholic
Romandale Jasper-Red
Stephen Roman community at Markham, Ontario which was blessed by Pope John Paul II in 1984. Romandale, located at Unionville just north of Toronto, included an 1100-acre farm where the Holstein herd was developed. For over a decade, Romandale exhibited North America’s leading show herd. Romandale
Romandale made a major contribution to Red and White genetics. Romandale-bred cattle that influenced the Red and White breed included C Romandale Dividend Performer *RC, C Romandale Shalimar Magnet *RC, C Romandale JasperRed, Romandale Count Crystan *RC, Romandale Royal-Red, and Romandale Reflection Marquis through his Red Factor sons: Agro-Acres Marquis Ned *RC and Life-O-Riley Marquis King *RC. The Romandale cattle were promoted enthusiastically and merchandised with consummate skill. Stephen B. Roman died at age 66 on March 27, 1988.
Romandale Dividend Performer *RC
In 1976, the first USDA proofs on Red & White bulls began to appear. Romandale Jasper-Red, a son of Romandale Shalimar Magnet, was identified as a solid improver of milk production and type conformation. Rostraver Farms Mister-Red, a son of Romandale Dividend Performer, became the first Red & White sire with a proof of over +1000 lbs. milk. Romandale Shalimar Magnet sired Misty-Maples Arlinda Magnet *RC, who became one of the top bulls for increased milk production of the entire Holstein breed. Romandale produced show ring winners but also bred bulls that made a very significant contribution to high milk production.
Romandale Shalimar Magnet *RC
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