A2B—Lancaster Farming, Saturday, August 8,1981
Former president of Lai .ostt Y >ey Breeders,
Peter Witmer, Willow Street, captures the overall judging
honor with a high score of 145.
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Third-high scorer in the judging contest, Thelma Garber,
Willow Street, correctly places a class. She and husband
Kenneth milk 55 Guernseys at their dairy, Willows Farm.
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Elmer Lapp, Kinzers, scrutinizes a class of 2-year-olds
before making his decision at the Romella Farm, Strasburg.
Although Lapp has a small herd of Guernseys, he is better
known for his 40 years experience breeding Belgian horses
and serves as Secretary and Treasurer of Pennsylvania’s
Horse and Mule Association.
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Romella Farm host field day
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Guernsey breeders gather
BY DONNA TOMMELLEO
STRASBURG More than 120
Guernsey enthusiasts gathered at
Robert and Melvin Breneman’s
Romella Farm near Strasburg on
Tuesday for the annual Lancaster
County Guernsey Breeder Field
Day.
Like many present day farms,
the Brenemans expanded in 1970,
from a stall barn operation to a
free-stall with an accompanying
double-six milking parlor.
However, the 165-head registered
Guernsey dairy is also flavored
with a bit of the past. The
Breneman homestead was built in
1815. Overlooking the modern free
stall and parlor, a stone barn,
erected in 1790, rests on a hillside.
Meanwhile, the Brenemans
employ progressive dairying
practices such as group feeding
and a total-mixed ration.
Herdsman Don Breneman ex
plained the 165-head herd is divided
mto three production groups, high,
low and near dry.
Twice daily, a mixer wagon
loaded with haylage, com silage,
high moisture com and a 26 per
cent concentrate churns and
grinds its way down the long free
stall center alley to feed the
Breneman herd.
In addition, the herd receives
much of the 10,000 bales of hay
made at Romella Farm during the
year.
The on-the-farm semen tank
contains a variety of bulls but
Minnie’s Choicer Atlantic and
Jupiter get the most use said
Breneman, who along with co
herdsman Joe Witmer, Strasburg,
are responsible for artificial
breedings.
Two people handle the 3*6 horn
chore of milking which begins at
3:30 a.m. while most folks toss and
turn and begin another dream.
The afternoon milking begins
about 11 hours later.
Although merchandising cattle
is not heavily practiced on this
Strasburg farm, about eight
Romella animals have been sold in
the past year.
“We’re geared more toward
getting good production,”
Breneman said.
Later in the day, the Brenemans
and other Guernsey breeders got
some advice from Field Day judge
and former Guernsey breeder
William Fredd, Quarryville, on
obtaining top production.
Fredd urged the group to
evaluate them feeding programs
and provide quality forage. He
stressed veterinarian use and
CTurn to Page A 29)
Romella herdsman, Don Breneman coaxes field day on Tuesday, while field day par
an unwilling class member at the Guernsey ticipants evaluate the Romella 2-year-olds.
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long, hard look at the senior yearling exhibited by Brian
Shimp, Strasburg. Kurt is the son of Art and Dot Breneman,
Willow Street.
It back to business, as usual. While field day participants
bask under large shade trees and hear various guest
speakers, Don Breneman is back at work for the afternoon
milking.
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