AlB—Lancaster Farming, Saturday, November 7,1981 *
6 Down-Under’ Shorthorns build top-notch herd
BY BETH HEMMINGER
Staff Correspondent
NEWVILLE - ‘‘At Three
Springs Farm, we are partial to
red cows,” said James Young,
owner and breeder of a top-notch
Ilwara Shorthorn herd, a line
developed in Australia.
Young can be described as a
maverick Milking Shorthorn
breeder and an innovator in the
milking industry, “It has all been
part of my heritage,” he said.
"My father was a true maverick,
striking out on his own to start
farming and selecting an “un
derdog” breed, the Milking
Shorthorns, to raise and milk. But
he taught me the value and
benefits of the red and roan
beauties,” said Young.
The Milking Shorthorn herd at
Three Springs Farm began in 1942
with one white bull calf named
Minstrel. Harold and Mary Young,
founder of the Three Springs herd,
bought the calf from well-known
Pennsylvania Shorthorn breeders,
the Frazier sisters in Lockhaven.
James remembers being told as a
boy that Minstrel rode home in
style—in the backseat of a 1937
Chevy. Several months later, two
heifers were added to begin the
Three Springs’ dynasty.
Queeme was the first heifer calf
to carry the Three Springs prefix
and eventually became the
foundation of the herd.
Why, with the other dairy breed
choices, did the Youngs choose
Milking Shorthorns, then and now?
“Well, my father felt the Milking
Shorthorn’s dual Capacity for milk
and meat was a great advantage
compared to other breeds of that
tune. The Shorthorns also are easy
feeders, hardy and have a calm
disposition, which can not be the
claim-to-fame of any of the other
breeds,” remarked Young.
“Also, uniqueness played a part
in his selection. He wanted to prove
to other breeders that the Milking
Shorthorn could be competitive in
the milk market.”
Young admitted, "I wasn’t quit
as loyal to the red cows at first;
when I joined my father m farming
Cumberland County’s ‘maverick’ Shorthorn breeder,
James,Young, scoops out silage to his barnful of Milking * - 4
Shorthorns. The breeder confesses he’s partial to “red Three Springs Farm’s Elwood Promise Rena pionship and was selected as the top aged cow
cows." His herd of 40 head boasts a number of showring Brought fame to the Pennsylvania Shorthorn at Harrisburg’s All-American Daily Show and
winners, both on the state and national level. breeder when she earned a national cham- the National Show held at Madison, Wisconsin.
For Cumberland Co. 6 maverick 9 dai\
we made a switch to the Holstein
breed.” Young commented that he
was mildly disappointed with their
performance compared to the
Shorthorns.
Shortly after the switch James
said he reevaluated the favorable
characteristics of Shorthorns that
his father pointed out to turn, and
said, "1 realized that the grass
wasn’t greener on the other side.”
In the early 19705, Three Springs
Farm returned to the Milking
Shorthorn breed, but with an added
flair, the Ilwara Shorthorns. The
breed needed a boost at that time
and these Australian Shorthorns
were the answer, Young explained.
With confidence and an in
dependent spirit. Young was onnpf
the first breeders to use the seraln
brought from Australia by three
Shorthorn breeders. The
Australian dairymen developed
the new Shorthorn strain to
withstand the country’s harsh
terrain, very hot and frigid
weather, along with enormous
swarm of insects. Young explained
the original dual-purpose Shor
thorn could withstand this type of
terrain, but the Australians
wanted a stronger milker. Now,
with the Uwaras, they have the
combination they were looking for.
Compared with the dual-purpose
Shorthorns, the Uwaras have
changed physically, they are
sharper, leaner and have more
dairy character, while retaining
all the other outstanding qualities
that make the Shorthorn breed
unbeatable by Young’s standards.
In 1971, Three Springs Farm
celebrated the birth of their first
Uwara heifer. A purchased cow.
Green Vista S.V.P.P. Peggy, has
become the “roots” of the Three
Springs Uwara herd.
Peggy has produced an excellent
show herd for the farm. At the 1981
All-American Dairy Show, Young
captured every championship
title—junior champion heifer,
grand champion cow, junior
champion bull and grand cham
pion bull.
During the show year, Three
(Turn to Page A 25)
__r a short diversion to Holsteins, the P 1 eed.
Youngs switched back to milking Shorthorns Forming the foundatin of their present llwara
and started incorporating some Australian herd is Green Vista S.V.P.P. Peggy,
bloodlines to improve the dairyness and milk
Carrying on the family tradition, Peggy’s for in the llwara breeding, along with improved
daughter, T.F.P. Peggy displays the desired hardiness and milk production,
dairy character and udder that was selected
r '
•%*,>«s 3% > *7^
5 1 «. v x- v * v%'
- x
•jiy, v,
*■
***' o
V*S
■* -