Source: Dairy Cattle Reproduction Council news release
The Dairy Cattle Reproduction Council (DCRC) presented awards to 24 dairy operations that excel at reproductive efficiency, fertility and well-implemented management procedures during its annual meeting, held Nov. 10-12, via a virtual format.
Platinum recognition went to: Davis Family Dairies (Tom Jinkinson, farm manager, Mark, Mitch and Marty Davis, owners), Nicollet, Minn.; Hendriks Dairies (Henry and Tyler Hendriks), Brucefield, Ont., Canada; High Noon Dairy (Jody Cole, farm manager, Pete and Dana Bouma, and Jim and Katie DiGangi, owners), Hereford, Texas; Holmesville Dairy (Tim and Travis Holmes), Argyle Wis.; Patterson Farms (Paul and Jody Colgan, herd managers, Jon and Julie Patterson, and Dan Young, owners), Auburn, N.Y.; and Riverside Dairy (Andy Fisher and Tom and Jean Tienor), Reedsville, Wis.
In addition to the six Platinum winners, there were six Gold, six Silver and six Bronze winners (listed below). More than 100 nominations came from four countries and 16 U.S. states; finalists represented 11 U.S. states and two Canadian provinces. Farms were nominated by dairy professionals who serve the industry, such as veterinarians, extension specialists and artificial insemination and pharmaceutical company representatives.
Gold
Drumgoon Dairy (Rodney and Dorothy Elliott), Lake Norden, S.D.
Lake Breeze Dairy (Breeze Dairy Group), Malone, Wis.
Maple Leaf Dairy (Kristin Leiteritz), Cleveland, Wis.
Schilling Farms (Schilling Family), Darlington, Wis.
Truttman Farm (Dan Truttman), Blanchardville, Wis.
Verhoef Dairy Farm (Reinoud and Klaartje Verhoef), Belmont, Ont., Canada
Silver
Emerald Dairy (Darrin Young), Plainview, Minn.
Jauquet Hillview Dairy (Dave and Stacy Jauquet), Luxemburg, Wis.
KC Dairies (Edward Kavanaugh), Elkton, S.D.
Scholze Family Farms (Theo and Will Scholze), Humbird, Wis.
Spring Breeze Dairy Group (Breeze Dairy Group), Bryant, Wis.
VanBedaf Dairy (VanBedaf Family), Carrington, N.D.
Bronze
Dairi-Acres Farms (Dean and Amy Bryant), Strathroy, Ont., Canada
Davis Family Farm (Jayme and Brad Davis), Darlington, Wis.
Newmont Dairy Farm (Gladstone Family), Bradford, Vt.
Quarry Hill Dairy (John and Connie Meyer), Rollingstone, Minn.
Rock River Jerseys (Brett Kirkley), Inwood, Iowa
Ruedinger Farms (John Ruedinger and Dave Zappa), Van Dyne, Wis.
This awards program, sponsored by Hoard’s Dairyman magazine, recognizes dairy producers whose herds excel in getting cows safe in calf. DCRC’s Herd Reproduction Award judges considered many criteria when reviewing finalists’ applications, including pregnancy rate, voluntary waiting period, interbreeding intervals, heat detection, conception rate, value of reproduction and culling rate.
