Over the winter, the barn was filled with seven or eight horses, he recalls. But in the spring Ronbeth Holsteins began to build with registered cattle.

In 1978, he earned the farm’s first Master Breeder’s Shield, awarded for an outstanding history of production and quality in the Holstein breed. In 1994, his sons on the same farm, Dean and Wayne, were awarded another Master Breeder’s Shield.

A graduate of the University of Guelph, Dean went to work for Agriculture Canada but returned home to farm in 1978. "I always thought they needed a little time away form home to find themselves," his father said. "You can’t push them to farm."

Since then, Dean has made a reputation for himself in Ontario and round the world. He’s been a fitter all over and at the best of shows. He’s a respected Holstein Judge and the president of the Ontario Holstein Association.

Self-effacing, he doesn’t figure he’s the tops in anything, preferring to describe himself as a farmer-breeder. Nonetheless, in the early 90s he bred an All Canadian and All American, Ronbeth Stary Missy.

Though he’s well respected and liked, he’s the dread of the show circuit. This year, eight-year-old Ronbeth A Star Dentra was named grand champion at the Peterborough Show, duplicating her feat of four years ago. Dentra has been classified Excellent twice and is the eighth generation from one foundation cow who has either classified Excellent or Very Good. "They (cows) get better as they get older," he said, commenting on the longevity of his cows. "She’s out of quite a breeding family," he adds.

The Warners milk about 45 cows with a BCA (Breed Class Average) around the 200 mark. The herd has 10 cows classified Excellent, 29 Very Good and 15 Good Plus. Maintaining high quality has been one of the keys to his success.

Looking down a line of classy cows with good body condition, we asked him where the breed was going. "Show us the ideal cow?" we asked. He walked about two thirds of the way down the alley of the barn, stopped and pointed to Ronbeth A Star Dentra, winner of the Peterborough Show.

The judge in him began to speak: "She’s got width of rump, well attached udders, good quality legs, lots of capacity, a good combination of strength and dairy character." Her BCA (breed class average) the index that measures her production is 228 for milk, 230 for fat and 211 for protein. Her production is about 15 per cent higher than the herd average on two milkings per day.

Depending on the year, the farm makes between 15 per cent and 20 per cent on selling prize cattle. Occasionally, they buy a quality heifer.

We don’t know the limits of the Holstein cow, he says. Management is of a higher quality than it’s ever been, and higher quality feeding has made the breed produce more than was ever imagined in even the 70s.

He follows a hay program. He puts baleage in front of the cows four times per day and dry hay. He feeds a grain ration consisting of barley, dry shell corn and a protein supplement twice a day. The hay is composed of 70 per cent alfalfa, 15 per cent brome and 15 per cent timothy. His first cut has 15 per cent protein while subsequent cuts have 20 per cent.