As trade shows go, World Dairy Expo in Madison Wisconsin has everything one could imagine for the dairy producer. The event gets larger with each passing year and the crowds grow by the thousands. And while World Dairy Expo has evolved dramatically since it first began, it is important to remember that it was the cows that started it all.

Throughout the week as one stood watching the various cattle shows along the ringside, the Western Canadian presence in the ring was quite noticeable. We certainly can’t mention all the notables from Expo, but it was nice to see Lily Bank Felicity from the Parks in MB place 7th in the Fall calf class of the Ayrshire show. There was Jersey success for Westcoast, taking the Jr. Champion honours. Bradner Farms won the milking yearling class in the Brown Swiss show with Bradner Jongleur Pastime and had another home-bred animal place 4th in the 5 year old class. In the Red & White show there was a Westcoast-bred heifer who competed well for Lucky Hill, Meihaven, Robella and Chubanna. Westcoast won the Spring Yearling class while Rietben Dairies stood second with a home-bred animal in the same class. Westcoast had second and third Senior 2 year olds. Wendon and Southrise had a JR-3-YR-OLD compete well. Westcoast had a SR-3-YR-OLD place 3rd and another place 5th. A Westliberty bred 4 year old grabbed a top 10 finish for Robella.

In the 2015 Holstein show, we saw many animals with Western Canadian prefixes like Goldenset, Tuytel, Morsan, Silvermaple, Robella, Wedgwood, Springbend compete for new owners. Notable and worthy of special mention is Wendon Windbrook Mercy who won the JR-2-YR-OLD class. And then there was Lovhill Goldwyn Katrysha EX-96 who last year was the winning 5 year old at Expo. This year she was draped with the Grand Champion and later the Supreme Champion banners after winning the Mature Cow class. It is an incredible accomplishment to breed such a cow – the best cow at the biggest show and Western Canadian breeders have now done it two years in a row!

Michael Lovich, who bred Katrysha and owned her until she had calved out as a two-year-old is justifiably proud of the accomplishment. “I’m only in my early 30’s. Some people spend their entire careers working toward that dream and only a few can accomplish it. I feel very fortunate”, he offered humbly. Katrysha was sold through the National Convention Sale as a 2 year old when it was held in Brandon in 2012. Michael credits Dale Bienert who bred her nearest 3 dams for convincing him to consign her to the sale.

When asked to describe what it must feel like to have bred such a cow of significance, Michael explained “it’s hard to describe, it was something I’d never felt before. It definitely feels more special to have bred her even though we no longer own her”. That said, Michael does own a VG-86-2YR Sid sister who’s ready to calve for the second time and he also has a
VG-87-2YR Windbrook daughter from Katrysha, so lots of potential marketing to be done thanks to her – perhaps a consignment in the Convention sale in AB next spring with an eye to making lightning strike twice!

As sires go, Goldwyn had another terrific day at Expo, siring multiple class winners and of course the Supreme cow. Still, he had to give way for the first time in nearly a decade to another Semex sire for the Premier Sire honours. Despite that it had been expected he would eventually pass the crown to one of his sons, pleasing that it would go to Pine-Tree Sid, noted for siring black, silky, stylish, fantastic uddered females. He sired 3 class winners and numerous top 5 placings. Also notable was the impressive day put in by Windbrook, siring the class-winning Junior Two Year Old, Mercy, but also for siring the top 3 Summer Yearling heifers and then the second Spring Yearling as well and the 4th place Senior Two Year Old.
WestGen offers its sincere congratulations to all Western Canadian breeders and exhibitors of animals who competed at World Dairy Expo. On behalf of your fellow breeders and from the staff at WestGen, the company you own, you have made us all very proud!

Left: Bradner Jongleur Pastime VG-87-2YR-CAN
1st Milking Yearling, International Brown Swiss Show
Bred & Exhibited by: Bradner Farms, BC

Right: Lovhill Goldwyn Katrysha EX-96-USA

Grand Champion Holstein & Expo Supreme Champion
Bred by: Lovhill, AB & Exhibited by: Milk Source, WI