UPDATE: During an autopsy performed on Joy following her death, veterinarians were able to determine an exact cause of death. Joy suffered from pericarditis, which is an inflammation and swelling of the pericardium, which is the thin sac-like encasement surrounding the heart.
In the fluid of the pericardium, doctors discovered a small grass seed that had somehow made its way there, causing the infection and inflammation.
September 1, 2015: Losing a good one is one thing that purebred dairy cattle breeders dread and fear. Losing a good one in the public venue of a high-profile show intensifies those feelings. Today, at the Minnesota State Fair, the team of Siemers Holsteins was dealt that hand.
Just hours before she would have graced the showring for the Red & White show, Joy dropped in the pack, with a mouthful of hay, and died from what was determined by the show veterinarian to have been an aneurysm or heart attack.
“It’s hard to loose a good animal, who looks like that,” lamented Sherry Siemers-Peterman. “But when you add Joy’s pedigree…that makes it even harder. She was the full package.” Sherry noted that despite the turmoil of the morning, Joy’s Hvezda sister, a fall calf, was named Reserve Junior Champion to her herdmate Siemers Defnt Great-Red.
“Joy was one of those cows that everyone loved to work with,” continued Sherry. “She was an easy cow to get ready for a show. She knew the program, and she wanted to win. She lead so beautifully in the ring, she just floated. Even I wanted to lead her in the ring someday in her career. She was ready to compete today. She will be greatly missed by our entire family, and all our employees.”
Joy was scored EX92-94MS, and was out of an EX92 Redman, followed by an EX-2E-16* Rudolph and an EX-5* Inspiration. Joy was named the Intermediate and Grand Champion at the All-Wisconsin Red & White Championship Show in July, and then came back two days later to be named Intermediate & Honorable Mention Grand Champion, as well as Best Bred & Owned of the Wisconsin Holstein Championship show.
