Eastern Ontario and east central again dominated the Dairy Herd Improvement’s top cow list in 2005. Both Brabantdale and Gillette farms of Navan and Embrun are beginning to loom like giants over the dairy industry. Brabantdale had the second best yearling, the two best two-year-olds and the second best four-year-old while Gillette had the best four-year-old and the second best five-year-old.

Gillettte-1 Durham Jericho, a four-year-old, was the highest producing cow in the province, producing 22,887 kilograms of milk.

Ken Rose, of Mountain, continues his superb performance for the Ayrshire breed, boasting the top two producing cows. Rose along with Bruce Mode, of Vankleek Hill, also dominates the show circuit.

The top cows are listed below by BCA (Breed Class Average), which is an index rating a cows production with other cows. In 1956, when indexing began, the average herd was indexed at 100. Last year that number had risen to 207 for the Holstein breed.

 Yearling

Daisycrest Leduc Marvelous, second, BCA 373, Harry and John Nooyen, Navan

 Two-Year-Olds

Brabantdale Inquirer Caroline, BCA 426.7 Harry and John Nooyen

Brabantdale Inquirer Spike, BCA 420.3, Nooyens

 Four-Year-Olds

Gillette-1 Durham Jerico, BCA 476, Gilles Patenaude, Embrun

Brabantdale Lee Ellie, BCA 449, Nooyens

 Five-Year-Olds

Sunnlodge Rudolph Scariet, second, BCA 388, Gilles Patenaude

 Ayrshire

Rosayre Helig’s Jess, BCA 376, Ken and Shirley Rose, Mountain

Jelyca Retake Maggie, BCA 347, Jean and Lyne Cayer, St. Albert

 Brown Swiss

Eastwind Pr Perle, BCA 341, Walter Von Ah, St. Albert

 Guernsey

Glen Haven Roger Edna, BCA 288.6, Tom MacGregor, Crysler