WALNUT CREEK, Ohio — Holmes County has 35 herds totaling 4,600 cows on official test, and of those 35 herds, seven rank among the top herds in Ohio for production for 2011 among Jersey, Holstein, Guernsey and Brown Swiss herds.
These producers were recognized during the annual dairy banquet March 26 at Carlisle Inn in Walnut Creek.
High herds
Hal and Rod Hunsberger had the high Holstein herd in the county for milk, protein and energy corrected milk among herds over 100 cows with 28,546 pounds of milk, 1,058 pounds of fat, 876 pounds of protein and 29,636 pounds of energy corrected milk. They also had the high top first lactation Holsteins for milk with 34,714 pounds of milk and 1,011 pounds of fat and 34,625 pounds of energy corrected milk and butterfat with 1,314 pounds of protein.
Springwalk Farm Holsteins had the high herd over 100 cows for butterfat with 1,086 pounds of fat. They were also recognized as the most improved herd over 100 cows for butterfat with an increase of 15 pounds of fat.
Aged cows
Doughty Valley Farm had the top Holstein aged cow for milk with 38,044 pounds of milk and protein with 1,177 pounds of protein. Doughty Valley Farm also had the top lifetime production cow in the county with 305,956 pounds of milk, 12,411 pounds of fat, 9,284 pounds of protein and 327,615 pounds of energy corrected milk in 12 lactations.
Springwalk Farm had the top Holstein Aged Cows for butterfat and energy corrected milk with 1,523 pounds of fat and 39,937 pounds of energy corrected milk.
Somatic cell count
Spring Hill Farm was recognized as the most improved herd over 100 cows for somatic cell count with 60,000.
Schlegel Dairy Farm was recognized as the most improved herd over 100 cows for milk and energy corrected milk with an increase of 872 pounds of milk and 596 pounds of energy corrected milk.
Schlegel Dairy Farm was also recognized as the most improved herd over 100 cows for a decrease of 98,000 in their somatic cell count.
Doughty Valley Farm was recognized as the most improved herd for protein with an increase of 18 pounds of protein.
David and Effie Miller had the high Holstein herd for milk, protein and energy corrected milk in the county among herds under 100 cows with 24,669 pounds of milk, 732 pounds of protein and 24,672 pounds of energy corrected milk.
Mohler View Farms had the top herd for butterfat with 882 pounds of fat, while John Mark Weaver had the lowest somatic cell count for herds under 100 cows with 56,000.
Narrow Valley Farm was recognized as the most improved herd under cows for milk, fat, protein and energy corrected milk with an increase of 2,535 pounds of milk, 94 pounds of fat, 78 pounds of protein and 2,644 pounds energy corrected milk cell herd under 50 cows with a 62,000 average.
Pine Grove Guernseys were recognized as the most improved herd under 100 cows for dropping their somatic cell count by 233,000.
R N R Swiss had the high herd in the colored breeds over 100 cows for milk with 23,039 pounds of milk. They also had the top two aged cows for milk, fat, protein and energy corrected milk with 32,609 pounds of milk, 1,745 pounds of fat, 1,113 pounds of protein and 40,717 pounds of energy corrected milk.
They also had the top first lactation cow for milk with 27,600 pounds of milk.
Dar-Re Jerseys had the high herd for fat, protein and energy corrected milk among the county’s colored breed herds over 100 cows with 1,002 pounds of fat, 781 pounds of protein and 25,960 pounds of energy corrected milk.
Alan Kozak was recognized for the lowest somatic cell count for herds over 100 cows with 163,000.
Springwalk Farm Guernseys had the high herd for butterfat the county’s colored breed herds under 100 cows with 983 pounds of fat. They also had the top first lactation cow in the colored breeds for butterfat with 1,179 pounds of fat.
Spring Valley Farm had the top herd in the colored breeds under 100 cows for milk, protein and energy corrected milk with 19,167 pounds of milk, 714 pounds of protein and 24,148 pounds of energy corrected milk.
Pine Grove Guernseys were recognized as the Low Somatic Cell herd under cows with a 37,000 average.
Other awards
Other high lifetime production awards were presented to Doughty Valley Farm, Kick’s Dairy Farm, Dar-Re Farm, R N R Swiss, Levi E L Hershberger, David and Effie Miller, John Mark Weaver, Spring Hill Farm, Springwalk Farm Holsteins, David Yoder, Robert Crilow and Hal and Rod Hunsberger.
Reuban Miller was elected to the Holmes County Dairy Service Unit Board of Directors.
