Showing remains one of the best, most exciting and value-added promotion tools Holstein breeders possess. While the time and financial commitment to show are high, the rewards and memories of having an animal place at the top of her class, win a grand champion ribbon or be declared All-Canadian are priceless. In this issue the Holstein Journal is proud to introduce the latest group of outstanding recipients of an All-Canadian award as we announce the results of the 2012 All-Canadian Holstein contest.
There was great consensus among the All-Canadian Selection Committee as they cast their ballots this year with 11 of the 21 All-Canadian winners, plus four Reserve All-Canadians, chosen by unanimous vote. There were a few close races, however. Two of the tightest occurred in the 4-H senior calves and 4-H summer yearlings. In the senior yearlings, two Kingsway bred heifers battled it out for the All-Canadian crown in another interesting contest. In the intermediate yearlings, four different heifers drew first place votes from the judges.
Robrook Goldwyn Cameron and Lafontaine Aftershock Arrie are the only All-Canadians from 2011 to achieve that honour again in 2012. Five other individuals who took prizes in the 2011 competition returned to claim another prize this time. Quality Holsteins, Vaughan, Ont., added another All-Canadian win to their already breed leading total of All-Canadian victories in the Breeder’s Herd class. Since 1988, Quality has earned a record setting 22 nominations and eight All-Canadian wins in the Breeder’s Herd class, along with seven Reserve and three Honourable Mention prizes. All three members of this year’s Quality Breeder’s Herd come from their noted Fran family and two are daughters of the famed Quality B C Frantisco (Ex-96-3E-18*) who was herself All-Canadian five times. Two daughters and one granddaughter of Kingsway Dundee Abra Codabra (VG-87), 2007 All-Canadian summer yearling and 4-H summer yearling, can also be found among the top 2012 finishers – Kingsway Goldwyn Artichoke, All-Canadian senior yearling; Kingsway Lauthority All In, Reserve All-Canadian 4-H intermediate calf; and Kingsway Sanchez Armadillo, Honourable Mention All-Canadian intermediate yearling. This family, which traces to the 2006 Reserve All-Canadian senior 3-year-old Kingsway Terrason Allie (Ex-95-2E-2*), has won many awards in the All-Canadian contest in recent years.
Easily claiming the distinction of leading exhibitor of All-Canadians in 2012 is Gen-Com Holstein Ltd., Notre-Dame-du-Bon-Conseil, Que. This is the third straight year that Mario Comtois and his team at Gen-Com have been the top exhibitor. Their great success at the shows this past year once again carried over into the All-Canadian competition. Gen-Com showed eight nominated animals for all or part of the season in 2012 and came away capturing two All-Canadian, three Reserve and two Honourable Mention awards. Placing second in the exhibitor race is Ferme Jean-Paul Petitclerc & Fils Inc., St-Basile, Que. Of the five nominated animals they showed for all or part of the year, they achieved one All-Canadian and two Reserve prizes on those entries. Third place goes to Westcoast Holsteins, Chilliwack, B.C., who owned one All-Canadian, one Honourable Mention and one other nominee in the contest. Hearty congratulations also go out to Jeff Butler of Butlerview Holsteins, Chebanse, Ill., who was a partner in four milking females who swept All-Canadian awards.
It was an extremely close battle for leading breeder of All-Canadians again. Nudging ahead to take the designation for 2012 is the Kingsway prefix of Kingsway Farms, Hastings, Ont., which can be found on one All-Canadian, one Reserve, one Honourable Mention and one other nominated animal in the open classes. Following closely behind in second place is the Petitclerc prefix of Ferme Jean-Paul Petitclerc & Fils which appears on one
All-Canadian, one Reserve and two other nominated animals. This duo is followed by the Co-Vale prefix of Bradley Cates, Preble, N.Y., which can be seen on one All-Canadian and two other nominated animals, and then the RF prefix of R & F Livestock Inc., Warman, Sask., which is carried by one All-Canadian and one other nominated animal.
For the sixth straight year the leading sire of All-Canadians is the great Braedale Goldwyn. A bull who has truly left his mark in the breed, his 38 nominated daughters in 2012 won an amazing eight All-Canadian, seven Reserve and six Honourable Mention prizes. The point total on this Semex Alliance owned bull was more than six times that of his nearest competitor. “Goldwyn” daughters earned nominations in all but two junior female and one 4-H class this past year. Over the course of his career, “Goldwyn” has now sired a total of 57 offspring who have won 42 All-Canadian and 36 Reserve awards.
Runner-up in the sire category is Gen-Mark Stmatic Sanchez. His eight nominated daughters in the open classes walked away with three Reserve and two Honourable Mention awards. Third place belongs to Golden-Oaks St Alexander-ET whose five nominated daughters took one All-Canadian and one Reserve prize, while finishing in fourth is Crackholm Fever whose three nominated daughters achieved one All-Canadian and one Reserve award. These bulls, in turn, are followed by the maternal brothers Maple-Downs-I G W Atwood, who had four nominated daughters, and Ms Atlees Sht Aftershock-ET, who had two nominated daughters. Both bulls each had daughters chalk up one All-Canadian and one Honourable Mention prize.
The nominees in the 2012 All-Canadian contest were chosen in December by a Nominating Committee comprised of John Buckley, Lindsay, Ont., Gerald Coughlin Jr., Peterborough, Ont., David Crack Jr., Richmond, Que., and Bloyce Thompson, Frenchfort, P.E.I. Advance page proofs of the nominations were then mailed to 22 judges who served as the All-Canadian Selection Committee. Serving on this Selection Committee were the four members of the Nominating Committee, along with Pierre Boulet, Montmagny, Que.; Brian Carscadden, Guelph, Ont.; Don Chalack, Innisfail, Alta.; Brian Craswell, Hunter River, P.E.I.; Mike Deaver, Edgerton, Wis.; Donald Dubois, Princeville, Que.; David Dyment, Dundas, Ont.; Michael Heath, Westminster, Md.; Markus Hehli, Rimbey, Alta.; Thierry Jaton, Compton, Que.; Adam Liddle, Argyle, N.Y.; Callum McKinven, Canton-de-Hatley, Que.; Bruce Mode, Vankleek Hill, Ont.; Carl Phoenix, Sunderland, Ont.; Mark Rueth, Oxford, Wis.; Jeff Stephens, Troy, Ont.; Garry Vanderpost, Uxbridge, Ont.; and Ridley Wikkerink, Cobble Hill, B.C.
By means of a ballot vote, these judges indicated their choice for first, second and third place in each class. No judge was permitted to vote in a class in which an animal he bred or owned was nominated. This will explain the variation in number of ballots cast in each class. A first place vote was worth 7 points, a second 3 points, and a third 1 point. The nominee with the highest point total is declared All-Canadian, second highest is Reserve, and 10 points or more is required for Honourable Mention.
The Holstein Journal established the All-Canadian contest in 1942 to recognize the very best animals and groups who competed at shows in Canada. 2012 marked the 71st consecutive year of this highly regarded Holstein competition. Sincere thanks to all who contributed to the success of this latest contest. Congratulations to all of the winners!
For the full results of the 2012 All-Canadian Holsteins, click here.
*Results and write up courtesy of the Holstein Journal