Master Breeder 2016 Profile: Lochdale Holsteins - Cowsmo

Master Breeder 2016 Profile: Lochdale Holsteins

In April, Holstein Canada will honor the recipients of the Master Breeder Award for 2016. One herd being honored is Lochdale Holsteins of Alexandria, ON, home to David, Ann Marie & Andrew MacMillan. Read more about them, as they are receiving their first Master Breeder Shield in April.Read more Cowsmo Master Breeder profiles on Cowsmo!

Lochdale Holsteins
The MacMillan family of Lochdale Holsteins

Lochdale Holsteins in Alexandria, ON is home to David, Ann Marie & Andrew MacMillan, who will be receiving their first Master Breeder Shield in April at the Canadian National Holstein Convention.

At Lochdale, they are currently milking 56 head, with a total of 120 on the farm. The milk cows are housed in a tie-stall barn with bedding pack for the heifers and dry cows. The herd currently boasts classification totals of 17 Excellents, 34 Very Goods and 12 Good Plus with a production average of 12,021kg milk with a 4.3% fat and 3.3% protein and a BCA of 265-310-263.

The MacMillan’s crop about 320 acres to provide feed for the herd, growing alfalfa, corn, soybeans and wheat. The herd is fed a TMR consisting of about 70% balage and 30% corn silage, mixed with high moisture corn and a protein supplement. Purchased feeds include the protein supplement, minerals, calf feed and dry hay.

They are the fifth and sixth generations to be on their farm, as David and Ann Marie acquired the farm from David’s father in 1987.

Over the years, they have made many changes to the farm, with the most important renovation probably occurring in 2014, adding 26 stalls and five box-stalls to the existing barn. In addition, at this time all the existing tie-stalls were increased in size. In 2002, they built a dry cow and heifer barn, allowing them to grow larger heifers and give dry cows exercise during the winter.

Lochdale Windbrook Rena EX92-93MS
Lochdale Windbrook Rena EX92-93MS

Achieving a Master Breeder Shield was more of a dream for the MacMillans, as opposed to being a goal when they first started farming and breeding registered Holsteins. They note that in the early years, survival and improvement was their utmost goal. Quickly, though, as they began to see improvement in both conformation and production, achieving a Master Breeder Shield became a major goal.

One cow family that contributed greatly to the points for this shield is that of Cherry Crest Meadow VG87-9*. Meadow was purchased as a heifer the Cherry Crest Dispersal in 1998, bred to Comestar Lee. That pregnancy resulted in a heifer calf, Cherry Crest Clover EX92-4E-11*. Both these cows were flushed extensively, resulting in five Excellent, 17 Very Good and 9 Good Plus daughters between the two of them. Both Meadow and Clover passed the ability to breed type and production on to their offspring. Nearly 80% of the herd currently traces back to these two cows.

Another influential family is that of Marvans Tab Stacy EX-2E-9*. Stacy was purchased at the Eastern Ontario Calf Sale in 1992, and was carrying Marvans Raider Lacey EX-6E. Stacy was the first-ever Excellent cow in their barn, and was the first cow that they flushed. She produced three Excellent, nine Very Good and four Good Plus daughters, all who excelled in longevity and type.

While they don’t often purchase cattle, they do buy some embryos from deep pedigreed cows. One example of these embryo purchases is a Doorman heifer that they have from the Lustres, and are excited about.

They began implementing a flush program in 1996, with Stacy. They try to typically do four to five flushes a year, depending on donor availability. They feel that flushing has allowed them to advance their herd exponentially.

In the past they have had great successes with bull such as Comestar Lee, Starmore Rudlolph and Ked Juror. Currently bulls such as Goldwyn and Windbrook are making a major impact on the herd. Bulls that they are currently putting in service include Doorman, and his sons Jacoby and Diamondback, especially on red bloodlines. High Octane, Dempsey and Kingboy are also being used in the herd.

Throughout the years, they breeding philosophy has evolved. In the beginning of the careers, they focused largely on production to help improve cashflow. As the years have progressed, they caught the type bug and begun to breed for a better balance of both type and production.

Lochdale Breeders Herd
Lochdale Breeders Herd

Outside of being named a Master Breeder, other achievements that have value to the MacMillans included the Gold Seal Awards for milk quality as well as high herd management scores from DHI. In addition, they have enjoyed having the Grand Champion Cow at the Eastern Ontario/Western Quebec Championship Show in 2016, as well as breeding the cow that was named the Intermediate Champion at the Royal Winter Fair Red & White Show in 2014.

The future holds some more goals for David, Ann Marie and Andrew. They include achieving a second Master Breeder Shield, and being able to present a competitive Breeders Herd that can factor into many shows and earn a nomination.

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