A2B—Lancaster Farming, Saturday, March 24,1984 Go along on Cumberland - Perry Holstein to BY LAURA ENGLAND LANCASTER Approximately 100 Lancaster County dairymen put their daily chores and cares aside Thursday and traveled west to visit five of Pennsylvania’s top dairy herds. Participating in the annual Lancaster County Holstein tour, the farmers and agribusinessmen filled two buses and set out for a day of sight-seeing and exchanging ideas with other dairymen. The first farm on the all-day tour was Beshore Farms, owned by father and son Wayne and Jed Behore, of New Cumberland. The Beshore herd consists of 45 cows with a rolling herd average (RHA) of 20,249 pounds of milk and 740 pounds of fat with a 3.7 percent fat test. Considered a family operation, Wayne is responsible for field chores, while Jed gears his knowledge to the dairy herd. This combination of talents has led to 10 Progressive Breed Registry awards within the past 11 years. The Beshores emphasize the need for a quality breeding and feeding program. The cows are fed corn silage, hay and grain ac cordingly. Top bull studs, such as Carnation, Tradition and Valiant, are used. Currently, 10 bulls carrying the Beshore prefix are in stud service. Huntsdale Stock Farms, owned by Tom and Cindy Sheaffer of Carlisle, was the second stop for the Lancaster tour group. Hunt sdale Holsteins are well-known for their exceptional mammary systems. Twenty-six cattle have received excellent ratings for well placed and stylish udders. The dairy herd, which includes 19 excellent cows, 32 very good and eight good plus, carries a RHA of 19,000 pounds of milk and 680 pounds of fat with a 3.6 percent test. The 59 cattle are fed corn silage, alfalfa and feed sup plement. SWD Valiant is used heavily in the breeding program, along with - -'l'll** Cows at the Beshore Farm enjoy a diet of corn silage, alfalfa hay and supplement. - poi adds to the attractiveness of Dumbelle Farms, owned by Tom and Shayne Dum 111 of Landisburg. Huntsdale Partner who was bred by the Sheaffers. Moving on to Perry County, the farmers visited Ray-Mc Holstems, owned by Ray McMillen and sons of Loysville. Ray-Mc Holstems has had the top producing DHIA herd in the county for several years. The 68 cows have a RHA of 22,571 pounds of milk and 831 pounds of fat with 3.7 percent fat. About 80 percent of the dairy herd traces back to the family of a GMD Kingpin daughter. Owned by the McMillens, the cow was the first excellent Kingpin daughter. The bulls, Kingpin, Chairman and Elevation make up the bulk of the breeding program at Ray-Mc Farms. At the same time, 30 of the homebred bulls have been placed in AI service. A first for the Mc- Millens was a Jemmi daughter which recorded 27,000 pounds of milk as a 2-year-old. Continuing on in Perry County, the buses headed to Milmay Farm, owned by Dave and Judy Roth, also of Loysville. One of the oldest registered Holstein herds in the county, the Milmay cows have been on DHIA test since 1925. Currently, the RHA stands at 19,376 pounds of milk and 718 pounds of fat with a 3.7 percent test on 54 cows. Elevation, Jemini and Jet Stream are used extensively in the herd as is Milmay Kingpin Elevation Bob. Bred by the Roths, this bull is with American Breeders Service and is one of the top stud bulls. Rounding out the .tour of out standing dairy operations, was a visit to Dumbelle Farms in Lan disburg. A family farm owned by Tom and Shayne Dum 111, the herd of 50 Holsteins has a RHA of 18,000 pounds of milk and 650 pounds of fat with 3.6 percent fat. The Bums use embryo transfer in their herd and have 60 ET calves with 30 in recipient dams. They expect to transplant between 30 and 50 calves this year. Fourteen excellent, 32 very good and 8 good Ray-Mc Farms, owned by Ray McMillen of Loysville, houses the top DHIA dairy herd in Perry County. plus cows are in the Dumbelle herd. Until 1980, Tom 111 was in part nership with his father, Tom Dum Jr., who is now a Holstein con sultant and classifier. Making up the work force on the farm are Tom and Shayne’s daughters Meranda, 8, Sarah, 10, and Emily, 7, and 4-year-old son Thomas. In addition to their farm tour, the Dums arranged a ham dinner served at the Messiah Luthern Church. Following dinner, the dairymen returned to Lancaster County full of ideas and managment tips from five of the state’s top Holstein farmers. ♦ '** Beshore Farms, New Cumberland, is a family operation n by, from left. Joy Beshore Daugherty, C.E. Hubbard, ai Florence, Sue, Wayne, Athena and Jed Beshore. Members of Lancaster County Holstein Association insp« one of the calf hutches on the Milmay Farm in Perry County. Ton. md Cindy Sheaifer, owners of Huntsdale Stoc Farms, Carlisle, have bred a herd of Holsteins with o ceptional, well-styled udders. WMWWN>>g*j?»S»? * ! ' V*. ** - f
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