October 2013

www.holsteinquebec.com

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The family of Cotopierre Lindy BerthaStar-spangled cows, mothers and daughters alike

Desnette HolsteinKnowing how to work one’s way to the top

Breeder Yvon St-Pierre remembers thatvisit. He also remembers that MarcComtois (manager of the NationalSpring Sale in 1994) had pointed out to him only a short time earlier thatBertha would certainly make a goodimpression at the Sale and that hehoped to see her consigned to auction.Yvon St-Pierre, whose herd included anumber of other good young cows,decided to respond affirmatively to thatrequest.

It was with good reason that the Salemanager and the buyer were impressedby the merits of this young cow. Firstand foremost, Bertha drew attention toherself because of her family roots.Indeed, she is the daughter ofCotopierre Starbuck Bine, EX 4*, andthe granddaughter of Cotopierre TempoBinette, EX, both daughters of strong siresthat were popular at the time. Binetteproduced two daughters, one EX and one VG,and showed good longevity, starting her lastlactation at the age of 9 years and 9 months.Her daughter Bine followed the same trend,earning two Superior Lactations andproducing four daughters, all classified GP orbetter, before calving for the last time at theage of 11 years and 3 months. As Yvon St-Pierre explains, it’s easy to see wheresuch longevity comes from because all theanimals in this family have always been ingood health, particularly where udders areconcerned. It is for all these reasons,underlines Mr. St-Pierre, that about 30 percent of the animals in the Cotopierre herdstem from this family.

Another strong point in Bertha’s pedigree isthat she is the daughter of Lindy, a then newlyproven bull with scores that predicted a

brilliant future. And finally, it would be hard to remain indifferent to her top-qualityconformation, as can be seen with her firstclassification, VG-87, at three years.

Yvon St-Pierre also remembers that CIAQ hadshown an interest in Bertha. It was in fact onthe insemination centre’s recommendationthat she was bred with Leadership. Thatmating produced Bertha’s first heifer,Cotopierre Leadership Berthe, VG-88 5*. Asthe dam of 19 classified daughters, including2 EX and 4 TB, Berthe has had a tremendousinfluence on the Cotopierre herd. One of herdaughters, Cotopierre Rud Belina, EX-92 3E,is the dam of the bull Cotopierre J R Belero,by James, a sire recognized as Superior Type.

Cotopierre Rudolph Estelle, VG-87 4*, thirdJunior Three-Year-Old in Rimouski, in 2001, isanother of Bertha’s granddaughters thatcontributed to the development of this familywith eight daughters all classified GP or

better. One of her descendants, CotopierreGoldwyn Eloise, VG-87, was secondSenior Three-Year-Old and ReserveIntermediate Champion at the Rimouskishow in 2013.

On the Jacobs farm

Purchased when she was only twoyears old, Bertha has given most of herdescendants to the Jacobs farm, with allbut one bearing the Jacobs prefix. LikeBertha, many of these descendants havethe ability to pass their sought-afterqualities on to their offspring. Many ofher 46 classified daughters (including 4 EX and 20 VG) and her granddaughtersalready have stars in their pedigrees.Such is the case of Jacobs Storm Bette,EX-91 2E 6*, dam to 11 daughters all

classified GP or better, including JacobsJasper Best, VG-88 4*, herself the dam ofJacobs Goldwyn Britany, EX-96 2E, a many-time leader in the show ring who, in 2011,won, among other titles, Reserve All-Canadian and Reserve Tout-Québec Four-Year-Old, as well as Grand Champion at theQIHS and first Four-Year-Old in Toronto.

Jacobs Progress Betty, VG-88-3yr 5*, is alsoattracting attention. Purchased by FermeDrolet et fils as an embryo, this first JuniorThree-Year-Old at the Portneuf show in 2003is the dam of 8 daughters, including 4 EX and4 VG. Among them, Drolie Stormatic Bentley,EX-93 2E 3*, second Senior Two-Year-Old inPortneuf in 2006, is the dam of 13 daughtersall classified GP or better.

Jacobs Champion Bianca, EX-91 4*, thePortneuf Holstein Club’s candidate for MyFavourite Cow this year, is another of Bertha’sdaughters who has made her mark with 14

Cotopierre Lindy Bertha, EX-2E 25*A favourite on the Jacobs farm

hen invited to speak in the Bas-Saint-Laurent region, Jean Jacobs took advantage of the opportunity to visit theSt-Pierre family, where a young cow named Cotopierre Lindy Bertha caught his eye. He learned that the animal wouldbe up for auction at the National Spring Sale. He was quite taken with the cow, a case of love at first sight, so to

speak. In attendance at the auction, he was the last to raise his hand. Bertha thus set off for Cap-Santé to become one of theleading lights of the Jacobs herd. That was in April 1994, when Bertha was two years old and had calved a few months prior.

By Michel Dostie

Editor

Translation byNicole De Rouin

FEATUREF

W

Cotopierre Lindy Bertha, EX 2E 25*, is the dam of 46 classified daughters, a group that includes 4 EX

and 20 VG, and the progenitor of a myriad of second- andthird-generation descendants, including some that already

have a number of stars to their name.

daughters all classified GP or better. Nominated Tout-Québec Senior Three-Year-Old in 2006, she is the dam of Jacobs Goldwyn Blacka, VG-89, nominatedTout-Québec Junior Heifer Calf in 2007 and Junior Two-Year-Old in 2009, inaddition to winning second Junior Yearling, in Portneuf, in 2008, and first JuniorTwo-Year-Old at Expo Québec, in 2009. Finally, another of Bertha’s daughters,Jacobs Rudolph Bella, VG-3yr 6*, second Junior Three-Year-Old in Portneuf,in 2000, is the dam of 12 daughters, a group that includes 2 EX and 4 VG.

And now for milk

In addition to their excellent reputation for type, the descendants of this familyare also known for their milk production. Bertha herself is the holder of threeSuperior Lactation certificates, and has produced, in four lactations, 54 501 kgof milk, with 4.4% fat and 3.7% protein, thus earning BCAs of 255-306-302. Notto be outdone, her first daughter, Berthe, has two Superior Lactations, one forher second lactation, at 3 years and 4 months, that yielded 11 331 kg, with 4.7%fat and 3.6% protein, for BCAs of 249-314-279. The trend continues in the thirdgeneration as well with Belina, who in three lactations, has produced over 42 000 kg of milk, recording BCAs of 234-289-259.

On the Cotopierre farm, Estelle, another of Berthe’s daughters,is the holder of one Superior Lactation and, in five lactations,has produced over 70 000 kg of milk, earning herself BCAs of250-267-260. Her daughter Estelise, VG-88-2yr 5*, also earneda Superior Lactation award for her third lactation, recordingBCAs of 298-290-292. Her daughter Elsie, VG-87-3yr, by Bolton,is carrying on the line with a Super 3 award and a yield of 53 135 kg in three lactations, for BCAs of 293-325-303, whileher full sister Ella, VG-86-2yr, is also the holder of a SuperiorLactation certificate. Ella’s daughter Eloise is following in herfootsteps, producing 11 341 kg of milk in her first lactation, at2 years and 3 months, for BCAs of 267-279-270.

And milk flows aplenty on Ferme Jacobs as well. JacobsAerolien Barb, EX-92 2E, holds a Superior Lactation and

A TOWNSON LINDY ETEX-CAN EXTRA

S-W-D VALIANTEX-USA

PAWNEE FARM ARLINDA CHIEFEX-USA

ALLIED ADMIRAL ROSE VIVIANTB-85-5YR-USA

TOWNSON ELEVATION LINDYEX-93-4E-USA

ROUND OAK RAG APPLE ELEVATIONEX-96-10YR-USA

TOWNSON CHIEF LINDAEX-90-4E-USA

COTOPIERRE STARBUCK BINEEX-CAN 4*

HANOVERHILL STARBUCKEX-CAN EXTRA

ROUND OAK RAG APPLE ELEVATIONEX-96-10YR-USA

A ANACRES ASTRONAUT IVANHOETB-85-4YR-CAN TB-88-3YR-USA

COTOPIERRE TEMPO BINETTEEX-CAN

ROYBROOK TEMPOEX-CANEXTRA

COTOPIERRE TINO BISQUETTETB-86-3YR-CAN 2*

Family Tree of Cotopierre Lindy Bertha, EX 2E 25*

Jacobs Goldwyn Britany, EX-96 2E, a great-granddaughter of Bertha, was centre ofattention in the show ring in 2011 when she was crowned Grand Champion at the

QIHS and first Four-Year-Old in Toronto. It was with good reason that she finished theyear with the titles of Reserve All-Canadian and Reserve Tout-Québec Four-Year-Old.

recorded BCAs of 232-295-256 with a yield of 56 752 kg of milk in fivelactations, with 4.8% fat and 3.5% protein. Another of Bertha’sdaughters, Jacobs Rudolph Beaute, EX-91 2E, showed good longevityby producing 91 703 kg of milk in eight lactations. Yet another daughter,Bette, has earned three Superior Lactations and recorded BCAs of273-324-300 after four lactations. Her 10 daughters enrolled in milkrecording have a projected mature equivalent yield of 12 650 kg, with3.8% fat and 3.2% protein. Of that group, Best has a Superior Lactationand, among her seven VG or EX daughters, Britany and Brillance havetwo Superior Lactations and Brandy has one.

As for the future

It is now time for the younger generations to continue developing thisfamily. As a case in point, Ysabel Jacobs underlines the performanceof Jacobs Observer Bethany, VG-2yr, destined to play a role in thegenomics market, particularly the embryo market given her GPA LPIof 2908. She is already the dam of 5 heifers born in 2013. JacobsJasper Boucle is another cow that will likely ensure the family’scontinuity. Classified VG-88 2*, she is the dam of 5 classifieddaughters, 1 EX and 4VG, in addition to 14 heifers under the age oftwo. Jacobs Alexander Blacky, VG-86-2yr, has a GPA LPI of 2161 andis also in an embryo transfer program.

As well, adds Ysabel, Jacobs Sid Bamba, third Senior Heifer Calf atthe Spring Show last April, will undoubtedly be a credit to the familythanks to her GPA LPI of 2353. Indeed, Bamba brought the bidding upto $50 000 at the Intrigue International Sale last July. She is now co-owned by Ferme Jacobs and Martin Veilleux (Market-Gen).

As for Yan Jacobs, he points to Jacobs Goldwyn Berla, VG-88, fullsister to Britany, an excellent milk producer with a yield of over 48 000 kg of milk in four lactations (and BCAs of 282-310-289) and anLPI of 2749. He also mentions one of Bertha’s granddaughters, JacobsRoy Betta, classified EX-92 2E, who represents the family’s fifthgeneration of EX cows and is already the dam of five heifers by Goldwyn.

Finally, Jacobs Windbrook Bally, Junior Champion at the provincialfinal in Montmagny last August and now owned by the Gillette farm,should also be able to uphold the family’s reputation thanks to her GPALPI of 2585.

Selling and buying

Jean Jacobs had a keen eye in 1994 when he recognized the potentialin Cotopierre Linfy Bertha. For a breeder whose herd already includedan abundance of high quality animals, a purchase such as this mightseem unwarranted. On the other hand, what followed clearly showedthat all breeders can sometimes benefit from a newly purchasedanimal.

As for Yvon St-Pierre, he says that he is thankful that the Jacobs familybelieved in Bertha and was able to make best use of her. As far as theCotopierre herd is concerned, he explains: “We’re not losing out, notat all. Selling good animals certainly doesn’t prevent us fromdeveloping our herd.” �

FEATUREF

Jacobs Champion Bianca, EX-91 4*, is a daughter of Bertha who brought credit to her family with a Tout-Québec Senior

Three-Year-Old nomination in 2006. She also made her mark with 14 daughters all classified GP or better.

Drolie Stormatic Bentley, EX-93 2E 3*, a granddaughter of Bertha, was second Senior Two-Year-Old in Portneuf, in 2006, and is the dam

of 13 daughters all classified GP or better.

Cotopierre Goldwyn Eloise, VG-87, Reserve Intermediate Champion inRimouski in 2013, produced 11 341 kg of milk in her first lactation,

at 2 years and 3 months, for BCAs of 267-279-270.

Carl had learned the ropes at anearly age through his involvementwith the young farmers’ group inWarwick. “A large group that offereda multitude of activities and openedthe doors to the show world for me,”he recalls with pleasure. And so itwas that he realized early on in hislife just how interested he was inbreeding and farm work. But therewas no question of him working fulltime for the moment. If Carl wantedto get involved and eventually takeover the farm, his parents insistedthat he study agriculture. So, in 1990,Carl registered at the ITA, Saint-Hyacinthe campus, in the zoo -technology program (now animalproduction technology).

It was during that time, while doinghis compulsory internships, that Carlrealized that he really didn’t want to work forsomeone else. So upon graduating in 1993,Carl acquired 20 per cent of the shares in thefamily farm, which was already registeredunder the Companies Act. Moreover, becausehe was familiar with insemination techniquesand interested in breeding, his father put himin charge of the herd. Not because his fatherwasn’t interested any longer, Carl explains.On the contrary, his father was very devotedto the herd but wanted to give his son achance to gain some experience.

A successful farm transfer

At the same time, it was important to preparefor the farm to be handed down to the nextgeneration. Carl continued to increase hisshareholding each year and, in 1999, tookover the operation and became president. Hisfather, who no longer wanted the responsi -bility of managing the farm, decided to retirefrom the business. But he certainly went out

on top, earning a Master Breeder title at thesame time. Although he no longer wanted torun the operation, he continued to take aninterest in the farm work and today still workson the farm on a daily basis. Carl’s mother,Ginette Laroche, is no longer involved on thefarm, but formerly took an active interest inthe operation and was a member of the boardof directors of Holstein Canada, from 1988 to1995.

Prior to transferring the farm fromone generation to the next, father andson, although on good terms, decidedtogether with their spouses to taketwo courses offered specifically toproducers involved in farm transfers.The first course focused on the farmtransfer itself, while the second dealtwith operating a farm in co-ownership. Carl recalls that thesecourses really enabled them to setthings out clearly. He emphasizesthat the courses “were very helpfuland much appreciated,” an opinionevidently shared by his spouse,Sandra Verville, who has since joinedthe operation and become a co-owner.

Sandra, who describes herself as a“city girl”, gradually became moreinvolved in the farm work. Although

trained as an esthetician, she abandoned thatcareer path in 1995 to stay on the farm andstart a family. It was at that time as well thatshe began helping Ginette Laroche, who wasthen in charge of various administrativeduties. Sandra slowly began to take an

interest in the herd andlearned how to do themilking, a responsibility she

Desnette HolsteinTop of the list in Victoriaville

Don’t hire anybody new, I’m on my way.” Those were the words of Carl Desrochers, a few months shy of obtaining hisdiploma, when he confirmed to his parents that he had decided on his career path. Henceforth, the herd and the farm wouldbe his life environment. Carl represents the fourth generation of Desrochers to farm the land on Rang 4 Ouest near Warwick.

By Michel Dostie

Editor

Translation byNicole De Rouin

BREEDER PROFILEB

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The buildings that house the herd on the Desnette farm are clean,spacious and well designed.

Sandra Verville and Carl Desrochers have two daughters:Laurie, aged 17, and Marianne, 13. They are photographedhere in the reception room the family fixed up over the

milkroom to receive visitors.

assumes entirely today and one that she verymuch enjoys. In 2008, after successfullycompleting an Attestation of College Studies(ACS) in Accounting and Management, shewas able to obtain an establishment grantand acquire her first shares in the operation.In addition to the milking, Sandra also handlesthe accounting and takes part in the fieldwork.

The Desnette herd

As soon as Jean Desrochers took over thefamily farm in 1967, he turned his attention tobreeding, selling a few crossbreds when hecould to replace them with a Holstein animal.Thus the herd quickly evolved into an entirelypurebred outfit. Looking to give freeexpression to his passion for shows, Carlfocused on conformation. The occasionalpurchase of a good cow made it easier toreach his goal.

Desnette Alexia Roseplex, VG-89-3yr, iscurrently one of the herd’s top cows. Co-owned with Ferme Yvon Sicard, Alexia is thedaughter of Bulstrode Amanda James, VG-88,a cow that Carl acquired as an embryo. In2013 alone, she won first Senior Three-Year-Old, Intermediate Champion and HonourableMention Grand Champion at the Spring Show,as well as Reserve Grand Champion inMaxville, and first Senior Three-Year-Old,Reserve Intermediate Champion and ReserveChampion Bred and Owned at the Victoriavilleshow. In her first lactation, at 2 years and 2 months, she produced 10 892 kg of milk in

305 days, for BCAs of 260-256-266. She hastwo daughters by Windhammer and one byGoldsun, born in 2012 and 2013.

Desnette Brianne Shottle, VG-88-3yr, isanother sure bet for the owners of DesnetteHolstein. In her first lactation, at 2 years and2 months, she had a 305-day yield of 12 158 kgof milk, with 3.9% fat and 3.0% protein, forBCAs of 291-305-277, giving her a compositedeviation of +131. She is the dam of sevenheifers, including Desnette Brielle Lauthority,Junior Champion in Victoriaville in 2012 andalso shown with the young farmers’ group byMarianne, the family’s youngest child.

Brianne is currently expecting a calf byReginald.

Brianne is the daughter of Desnette BritneyMr Sam, VG-88 1*, holder of a Super 3 awardand a descendant of Desnette Bianca Leader,EX 5*, holder of a Superior Lactation,nominated All-Canadian Senior Two-Year-Oldin 1999, and named Reserve Tout-QuébecSenior Three-Year-Old the following year.Bianca was first sold to Pierre Boulet andSimon Lalande and later acquired by theBelfontaine farm. She is the dam of 15daughters classified GP or better, includingBelfontaine Dundee Shania, EX-91 2E. Buyingher daughter Desnette Bianca Cousteau, VG-89-3yr, gave Carl the opportunity to breeddescendants of this family.

With a yield of more than 73 000 kg of milk infive lactations (273-248-268), Desnette CarellaChampion, EX-92 2E, is at the head of anotherinfluential family. Notably, she is the dam ofthree daughters by G W Atwood thatclassified VG at 2 years: Charlie, 87 points,and Canelle, 86 points, both in an embryotransfer program on the Desnette farm, andCarmen, 86 points, sold last January to FermeR. Therrien et fils inc. (Raypien) at the VenteMentorat, during the Holstein QuébecConvention.

The herd’s future also rests on the family ofDesnette Lexis Sanchez, VG-89-3yr, co-owned with JM Valley Holstein, Ferme Jendroand Jean-Philippe Proulx. In 2010 and 2011,Lexis was not only nominated All-Canadian

Desnette Holstein in figuresThe Desnette herd now comprises 140 head, including 65 milking cows (8 EX, 36 VG and11 GP), each with an annual production of 10 968 kg of milk, with 4.1% fat and 3.3%protein, for BCAs of 240-262-247.

The Desrochers had 110 ha under cultivation in 2013 and plan to add 18 more next year.The 13 ha seeded to barley, 15 to grain corn and 9 to corn silage this year were used tofeed a TMR to the herd, which is divided into 3 groups. An additional 16 ha were devotedto soybeans. Of the remaining 57 ha, 47 were used to produce an alfalfa-timothy mixharvested as silage or hay, while the last 10 were reserved for pasture. In addition tobeing used to graze their heifers, yearlings and dry cows, the pastures allow the cowssome freedom during the night, particularly the show cows.

To manage the field operations, Carl and Sandra count on Carl’s father, Jean, and onefull-time employee, in addition to their daughter Marianne, who enjoys helping out.

Desnette Alexia Roseplex, VG-89-3yr, the daughter of a cow purchased as an embryo, produced 10 892 kg of milk in her first lactation, at 2 years and 2 months, for BCAs of 260-256-266.

Intermediate Heifer Calf and Inter -mediate Yearling but also won ReserveTout-Québec in the same categories. In2012, she won Reserve IntermediateChampion in Rimouski, HonourableMention in Victoriaville, and first SeniorTwo-Year-Old and Grand Champion inAmqui.

Des-Y-Gen Holstein

While Carl Desrochers is particularlyinterested in conformation and strivesto breed outstanding cows from well-known families, he nonetheless givesattention to genomics and good scores.He is refining that interest with Des-Y-Gen Holstein, a group composed of fourenthusiastic breeders, namely, YvonChabot, Stéphane Tourigny, YvesDesaulniers and himself. The group isdeveloping a worthwhile market,particularly for embryos and bulls. Workingwith the group allows him to make goodinvestments while sharing the risks, explainsCarl, and it opens doors for him in terms ofhigh indexes and genomics, a sector that hefinds increasingly interesting. He adds that heis particularly surprised by the level ofinterest in their animals among potentialbuyers. The animals that belong to the groupare housed on the Deslacs and Desnettefarms. Not surprisingly, the breeders select

their sires based on the most recent genomicproofs.

One of the group’s outstanding cows is Des-Y-Gen Planet Silky, VG-86-2yr, with a GLPI of2905 and a first-lactation yield of 11 331 kg ofmilk, for BCAs of 278-303-292. Silky is alreadythe dam of 12 heifers and is a full sister to therenowned Des-Y-Gen Planet Silk, VG-87-2yr,a red factor carrier sold at the age of 9 months to Sébastien Dion and David R.Dyment.

Breeding

Although Carl has always focused hisbreeding decisions on conformation,principally to satisfy his passion forsuperb animals and shows, he alsostrives to develop good cow families.The approach he adopts is a cautiousone. Accordingly, the majority of thesires he uses are proven bulls thatmust necessarily present a well-balanced profile and score at least +12for conformation and positive for milk.

Young sires nevertheless account for30 per cent of the herd’s matings, andCarl is increasingly interested in youngbulls endowed with good genomicindexes. In addition to the scores ofthese young sires however, thebreeder also analyses the strengths oftheir families, particularly the bulls.

Val-Bisson Doorman (GLPI 3209 - 08/13) is oneof the most recently used sires.

All of these efforts have paid off over theyears. In fact, 2012 was especially gratifyingwith the Desnette herd winning bothBreeder’s Herd and the Breeder Banner atthe Victoriaville show. This victory wasparticularly motivating, says Carl, “in a regionwhere there is a great deal of camaraderie,but where the milieu is nonetheless high-calibre and very competitive.” �

BREEDER PROFILEB

Thanks to the Desnette herd, Carl and Sandra’s dairy operation, FermeDesnette, won both Breeder’s Herd and the Breeder Banner at the

Victoriaville show in 2012.

Desnette Brianne Shottle, VG-88-3yr, produced 12 158 kg of milk in her first lactation, at 2 years and 2 months, for BCAs of291-305-277, earning herself a composite deviation of +131. She is the dam of 7 heifers, including Desnette BrielleLauthority, Junior Champion in Victoriaville in 2012.