Herb bags grand champ Holstein in east-west show
KEMPTVILLE — Herb Henderson scored his 4th premier breeder award at this year’s prestigious Eastern Ontario-Western Quebec Holstein championship show at Kemptville.
But the honour he has always been hoping for finally arrived. His four-year-old Hendercroft Lehros Gumball was named grand champion cow. "Oh ya, that was a first," said a pleased and surprised Henderson, adding that you never know how your cow will do as it comes down to the preferences of one judge on one particular day.
But he knew Gumball was a contender. "She’s big. She’s got a good udder and she’s had four calves and as a four-year-old that’s very rare."
Gumball also finished first or second in her category in the last four years: she was 1st for milking senior yearling, 2nd for senior 2-year-olds, 1st for senior 3-year-olds and this year finished 1st for 4-year-olds.
Henderson said his herd has had "average" finishes at the Toronto Royal, the top Ontario show, which runs in November. He shows his herd to boost embryo, calf and breeding bull sales but mostly for direct sales to farmers of his replacement cows.
He milks 57 cows at Ashton, in Carleton County, southeast of Ottawa.
Here is a shortlist of the top winners at the Eastern Ontario-Western Quebec Holstein championship show at Kemptville Oct. 17:
Grand champion female:
Hendercroft Lehros Gumball, owned by Herb Henderson of Hendrcroft Farms, Ashton.Reserve grand champion:
Kingsway Leduc Gabriel, owned by Quebec’s Ferme Blondin.Honourable mention female:
Pynacker Elyta Goldwyn, owned by Ferme Blondin.First place beauty and utility award
(for highest composite BCA calculated on milk, fat, protein): Maplehome BF Cinderella, owned by Signature/Glenholme (306-344-305)Second place beauty and utility award
(forPremier Breeder:
Herb Henderson, of Hendercroft Farms, Carleton CountySecond place breeder:
Ferme BlondinThird place breeder:
Sandy Crest Holsteins