CONVENTION FARM TOUR Merchandising Question and Answer with Phillip Topp | Topp-View PC | Botkins, Ohio

Phillip and Carrie Topp welcome Ohio Holstein Convention visitors as part of the self-guided farm tours on March 8th, 2024.

FARM ADDRESS: 9477 Botkins /road, Botkins, OH 45306.

Find their Tip-Off at Topps III Sale ad on pages 30 & 31!

Q. Tell us about your operation.

My wife, Carrie and I went on our own in 2017 on our very small five-acre farm. We have three children, Aubree, Aiden and Aliana who are all involved with the farm.

At Topp-View PC we rent 50 acres of hay ground, I buy most of the grain and the barn has 33 free stalls, a couple of box stalls and all of the heifers are on a bedded pack.

I bought the farm right out of high school in 1999. We always kept heifers there when I was in with my brothers, Eric and Keith. When I went on my own, we had to redo the parlor and convert 45 free stalls into 33 free stalls with three oversized box stalls. Our free stalls are very large.

I was raised with Holsteins and we had some good Brown Swiss, but today we have all breeds. I really don’t care what color they are, as long as they are good, functional, strong cows with good udders and good feet & legs. As I worked sales, I would buy a heifer here and there that had a good pedigree, or one that I thought I could make a great one from.

Off the farm I have a fabricating business with a couple of my high school friends. We have two full time guys who work with us and I am also part owner of a butcher shop called Butcher Bobs in LaGrange, Indiana.

Q. You have consigned to several sales, how do you determine which animals you are going to consign?

I try to keep enough embryos to put in my own cattle but they can get outdated, so I will sell them to promote my genetics. As far as youngstock and cows, I try to sell them when I feel they are the most valuable which anymore is that 4-8 month range for show calves. I try to sell heifers that have good pedigrees without holes and that have strength of chest, open ribbed with good feet & legs, that can go on and do well in the show ring for other people. I try to sell my best and develop the rest for my kids to show. I consigned a couple to the Spring Social at Chupps Farm sale in late February that I think are two of my best calves right now.

Q. What do you do to prep a consignment for a sale?

In the spring, my heifers tend to have a little more condition but I think that’s a good thing. If they do get sold and have to adjust to a new place, if they take a step back they have some condition to carry them through that transition period. I don’t get crazy with any big changes to their diet. I also try to keep my heifers in good condition and well bedded all year round. You have hosted tag sales and have been a part of state sales, the following questions pertain to hosting a sale:

Sale manager?

For our tag sale I like to try to do all myself. I will tag about 25 or 30, keeping it small where I can manage it all. I try to get videos or photos online and keeping the sale small, also keeps it manageable. It gets cost prohibitive to have a bunch of people come in and do the prep work, so with the help of our family, we try to do it ourselves.

Sale Catalog?

For our tag sale we do this ourselves. I will have twenty calves and 5-8 fresh cows, they seem to sell well in the spring.

Animal Selection & Pricing?

These heifers can change from day to day, the ones that look the best before the sale and don’t have a hole in their pedigree are the ones we use. I try to price them a little cheaper than what they are worth so that if someone wants to re-sell them, there is still a little left for them to make some money as well.

Support After the Sale?

If those buyers need some help with sire selection, I am happy to help them.

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