A2O-Lancaster Farming, Saturday, November 21, 1987
BY ROBIN PHILLIPS
Berks Co. Correspondent
KUTZTOWN—“Better times are
coming and we need to prepare for
them,” stated the featured speaker
for the evening at the annual
awards banquet of the Berks Coun
ty Holstein Club last Friday even
ing. Ron Buffington, widely
known) and well respected as an
authority on the breeding and
marketing of registered Holstein
cattle, was in Pennsylvania last
week participating in a series of
educational lectures for Landmark
Genetics and ended his week by
appearing at the meeting and talk
ing to Berks Holstein breeders.
After a lengthy comparison of
the Florida Citrus Commission and
their efforts in reducing govern
ment intervention, regulating their
own industry, and promoting their
product to the hilt. Dr. Buffington
concluded, "Nothing has been
advertised with a better success
story than orange juice, ...there is
only one product better than
orange juice.” At his last pause, the
audience finished the sentence -
MILK!
Dr. Buffington continued his
inspiring lecture to the dairymen.
“Nothing is selling faster today
than yogurt,” he stated. As he
quoted statistics he noted that if
everybody ordered pizza with dou
ble cheese, the world would run
out of cheese in thirty days, Buf
fington stated, “I dream of the day
we can have double cheese on piz
za and we’ll run short of cheese.”
The Milk and Fat Production contest winners in the junior
club were: Denise Stump, Cathleen Ohlinger, and Susan
Troutman.
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Distinguished Junior Members are: Brian Richard, Jen
nifer Davis, and ftlichael Davis.
Buffington Urges Berks Holstein Club
Dr.
To Marke
“We could make this country run
short of dairy products,” he
excitedly went on. “We have to
produce a product according to the
market needs,” he said.
Granting that the dairy advertis
ing has made an impact. Dr. Buf
fington encouraged breeders to do
more. He encouraged embryo
transfer technology as a virtually
untapped resource by many dairy
men as essential extra income.
“China is starving for dairy pro
ducts,” he stated. It is cheaper for
overseas countries to ship embryos
over then it is to ship bred heifers.
“Are you ready on your farm if the
Chinese stop in? “he questioned
breeders.
“Do not rule out the possibility
of the tremendous demand of
genetics in the future,” he con
tinued. “It is very significant that
the genetics that you put into your
cows is the best available,” he told
breeders. “If you are a registered
Holstein dairyman and never sell a
female, you might as well have
grades,” he told dairymen. “A
registered Holstein dairyman can
sell his animals and multiply his
prefix,” Buffington said.
He advised breeders, “When
cattle prices are down, sell. Build
your markets when the price is
down so that when the price goes
up, you’ll have a long list of people
who want cattle from your farm.”
‘Those that make it will have an
exciting future,” Dr. Buffington
concluded.
After his lecture. Dr. Buffington
t Embryo Transfers
The Board of Directors oi
Dean Hartman, Luther Davis, Dave Schuler, Scott Miller, David
Dave Schantz, Connie Troutman. Don Meyers is the State D
showed a series of slides on the
proper way to photograph good
cattle and the mistakes often made.
Good photographs are a must and
he advised doing a professional
job. Several tips included: use a
plain background, mowed or weed
free; a professional photographer
who knows how to get the cow in
the best picture; take time to excel
lently clean the animal, get her
accustomed to the halter and lead
ing: have the animal properly fit
and clipped for the picture. Dr.
Buffington also showed his inspir
ing slide show “God Bless Ameri
ca” as a conclusion of his
presentation.
President Dean Hartman, of the
Berks County Holstein Club led
the business meeting and directed
the awards program.
Plaques were presented to the
members of the first place Dairy
Bowl team at the Pennsylvania
Holstein Convention. Team mem
bers included: Mark Moser, Doris
Stump, Gary Bicksler, and Charles
Seidel. An award was also pre
sented to Ray Bicksler, of Rich
land, who consigned the highest
selling animal in the Berks County
Holstein Club sale this past year.
Ray Seidel, Kerchenhill Holsteins,
Kutzlown, has received a plaque
for his BAA of 106.4 which
includes four excellent, 22 very
good, and 14 good-plus cows.
Appreciation awards of hand
painted Holstein clocks were pre
sented to Leonard Sloltzfus for
donating the calf for the calf raffle
for the junior club, and to the John
Stump family, Bemvillc, for host
ing the annual field day for the
juniors.
Election of directors was also
held. In the junior club, the new
directors are Brian Richards, Scott
Youse, and Heather Schlegel. The
adult club elected David Bitler,
Ken Sanner, David Schantz, and
Connie Troutman to their board.
The junior Distinguished mem
bers were also recognized and pre
sented with silver platters. The
Distinguished Junior Members are
Brian Richard, Michael Davis, and
Jennifer Davis.
(Turn to Page A 22)
4m?
- '.y
Bicksler (right) consigned the highest selling animal in the
annual club sale.
The newly elected junior board of director members are
Brian Richards and Scott Youse.
Bitler, Ken Banner,
irector.