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Copyright © 2001 Eastern Ontario Farmers Forum Inc. All Rights Reserved |
GLENN
MACDONALD LIVING DAIRY DREAM
Out
of 60 cows, record 35 cows classified Excellent. And BreezeHill Holsteins
may have 40 classified Excellent if MacDonald has his say. How will he do
it? It's in the details and a life-time dedicated to the business.
Glenn
MacDonald is one of those few people who achieve their lifetime dreams.
The owner of Breeze Hill Holsteins doesn’t believe you find that elusive
goddess called success through talent alone. You need to have more than an
eye for good cattle to fill your barn with excellent cows. And he should
know. He had 32 cows in the herd of about 60 cows classified Excellent in
2000. Then three more made Excellent the end of April, 2001.
Holstein Canada said its records couldn’t determine whether or not Breeze Hill had a record number of Excellent cows in the herd. Tom Byers, who is in charge of classification, said that only 1.9 per cent of the Holstein breed are classified Excellent.
What’s the key? "The big thing" MacDonald says, "is to look after them 365 days of the year". He trims hoofs twice a year, once more than most farms, and uses large quantities of barley straw for bedding. The barn is well ventilated, bright and airy.
He doesn’t discount lotteries. But his barn didn’t fill suddenly and magically with cows potentially capable of crafting the future of the Holstein breed. He’s one of those breeders who is always and forever looking for a good cow. He scans the breed books while his son Jason, one of the top young showmen in Ontario, scans the internet.
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A lifetime in the business also helps. "People know I’m looking and they call me," he says. He’s bought cows from as far away as California. Doggedness is the characteristic that has paid off big time. In 1992, he had 20 cows classified Excellent and 25 Very Good. A year ago he set his goal at 30. Now he’s not sure...maybe 40. |
While MacDonald tries to hold on to his best cows, some get away. Breeze Hill BC Alana, VG 89 as a two-year old, owned jointly by farms at Ajax and Cannington, made All-Canadian as a senior yearling.
Others are making their name in the marketplace. Breeze Hill Astre Silver’s dam produced the first Excellent Skychief daughter. "She (Silver) was flushed heavily," he says and produced 20 sisters.
About a quarter of the farm’s income comes from cattle sales. Last winter, he had 2,500 visitors to his farm but has closed the farm to Europeans for the time being.
Longevity is one of the cornerstones of the farm operation. He’s still flushing cows 13 and 14-years old. Most cows produce between six and 10 lactations.
The farm is owned by Glenn and brother Larry. Larry looks after the machinery and crops on the 452 acre farm.
His 17-year old daughter, Julianne, like her brother has proven herself in the show ring in the east. His wife Brenda works at the Embrun Vet Clinic.