D2—Lancaster Farming, Saturday,
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BY SHEILA MILLER
KLEINFELTERSVILLE -
When you talk to a dairy fanner
about breeding programs, it is
inevitable that sometime in the
conversation the topic of tran
smitting ability will come up.
What are the chances of that top
quality bull or cow passing on the
excellent traits he or she displays?
That idea has been the cor
nerstone for many dairy
producers’ herd developing
strategies. Its importance is
evident at a glance when
examining each year’s sire
summaries, listing top bulls’
Predicted Difference and
Repeatability scores.
It’s a proven fact that genetics
plays a dominant role in the
quality of future generations ot
dairy cattle. But, along with the
inherited blueprint, a cow or bull’s
performance is influenced by its
environment.
The idea of you are what you
eat’ applies to cows as well as
people. The ability to keep a top
pedigreed dairy animal pampered
for top production is a quality
exhibited by knowledgeable
dairymen, those who’ve succeeded
in the business for generation upon
generation.
Lebanon County’s Harold
Bollinger is one dairyman who not
only breeds top Holstein cattle, but
who also knows how to treat them.
He is the eighth generation of
Bollingers in the dairy business,
farming on the same 50 acres as
his forefathers.
Over the years, each generation
of Bollinger has milked a herd ot
registered Holstein cattle. Today
the herd, which numbers 39 head
on the milking string, has its roots
in the Black and White foundations
built by the Bollinger family.
When Harold bought the farm
from his parents in 1943, he didn’t
have to start out from scratch.
Along with the knowledge of the
business, the 28-year-old dairyman
also brought with him several head
of Holstein cattle he had raised as
4-H and FFA projects while a
student at Schaefferstown High
School. These cattle, along with
some he bought from his parents
herd, got Harold and wife Amy off
to a good start.
In his second year of farming on
his own, Harold recalls, he decided
to start building the genetic
capabilities of his herd through the
use of artificial insemination. In
selecting a sire to compliment his
Is It possible that the ability to be a top dairyman runs in
the family? If Lebanon County’s Bollinger family is proof,
there’s no question. Harold Bollinger, left, is the Bth
generation dairyman milking registered Holsteins, along with
son Donald, right, and 7-year-old grandson Steven.
iember 12, 1981 ‘Success is in their blood 5
generation dairyman combines
feeding
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Cc >ervation plays an important part on the Bollinger
farm. Contour strips, a sod waterway, tile drainage, along
with no-till and chisel plowing help keep the fertile soil from
tie and bring out their best
its, he chose Gold Medal Proven
e Lauxmont Admiral Lucifer,
; of the Holstein breed’s most
luentiai sices who was bred at a
m in Wrightsville, York County,
it still bears his prefix.
Vith this female base, Bollinger
led another genetic keystone in
jorndale Ivanhoe, an Excellent
Id Medal sire.
ly the early 19605, ivanhoe haven’t gone unnoticed at the state
ighters made up half the" level while all these national
dinger herd. Then in 1963, the honors were being doled out.
ictic progress suffered a slight Under the supervision of the Dairy
back as lightning destroyed Herd Improvement Registry, Mae
ht head. “We were lucky, has come in at the top of her class
ugh,” remembers Harold. “We m milk production for Penn
n’t lose any Ivanhoe blood, and sylvama. Her 13 lactations have
y lost four Lucifer daughters.” made 295,000 pounds of milk and
)ne of the survivors of this 10,616 pounds of butterfat.
itructive act of nature has Her prime came as an tt-year
ught national recognition to the old, when Mae made 37,865 pounds
linger herd. For in 1966, an .of milk in 375 days, along with 1,276
nhoe daughter, gave birth to a pounds of fat.
Eer calf sired by Limerock With a production record like
Election Oscar. Her name Mae’s, Bollinger admits he would
luw Maple Reflection Mae
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Now 15 years old, this graying
hallmark of the Bollinger herd is
still standing in the stanchion barn
and pouring out the production
records. She was recently
recognized as the national class
leader in milk for senior aged’
cows. As a 14-year-old, Mae
milked 32,255 pounds in 368 days
with 1,111 pounds of butterfat.
Mae’s production records
Fifteen-year-old Willow Maple Election pounds fat has helped keep the Bollinger
Mae and her nationally recognized production herd’s rolling average above 20,000 for the
record of 32,256 pounds milk with 1,111 past four years.
in top Holstein herd
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(Turn to'Page 03)
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washing away. Donald has been an active director on the
Lebanon Conservation District Board since graduation from
high school.
Along with their dairy operation, the Bollingers raise five
flocks of broilers each year, under contract. Each flock
numbers 72,000 birds that reach the 4-pound market weight
in six weeks.
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