The latest statistics released by Dairy Herd Improvement (DHI) show that in 2008 Beaver Ray Farm, of St Anne De Prescott, had the highest producing cow in Canada. Four-year-old Beaver Ray Blitz Mirka produced 25,438 kgs of milk and had a composite BCA (Breed Class Average) of 515.3. BCA is an index measuring a cow’s production, and Mirka’s production is five times higher than the average cow’s production back in the 1950s.

"I improved the watering system, including water bowls," and that added 500 kilograms to milk production, said owner Patrice Leroux.

"I improved the comfort of the stalls including plenty of straw for bedding and that added 1,000 kilograms to milk production."

Explaining the improvement in stalls, he said: "A cow makes milk when she is lying down chewing her cud."

He couldn’t say how much tunnel ventilation added to his production, except that he installed five fans instead of two and the breeze in the alleyway can sometimes knock your hat off.

But Beaver Ray Farm had a stroke of luck along the way when Beaver Ray Star Moeella, now living in retirement, was born seventeen-years-ago. A super cow, she’s won three superior production awards and six superior lactation awards. Over seven lactations she produced 120,000 kilograms of milk and had a butterfat level of 4.3 and a protein level of 3.7.

"It wouldn’t matter what bull she was bred to," Leroux said, noting that her daughters all produced great quantities of milk. She has nine stars after her name which means nine of her offspring have been rated superior for body style and production.

A second cow, Beaver Ray C Mark Madelle, was rated the highest producing eight-year-old in 2008. She had a BCA of 433 and produced 22,025 kgs. of milk.

Leroux says he feeds his whole herd a balanced ration aimed at producing 35 kilograms of milk per day. He doesn’t top dress because it’s too much of a pain and is expensive and doesn’t produce results. He feeds his fresh cows a little more.

He grows 150 acres of hay. Soybeans, corn and barley are grown on another 150 acres. The crops are almost all fed to the 70-cow milking herd.

The farm is a partnership owned by Remi, Cecile and the son, Patrice.

"We work as a family and make decisions as a family. Family is very important," he says.

Maintaining high production in a herd requires "lots of work and patience," he says. "And that takes family support."