VOL 33 No. 18 Opening Holstein Herdbook Debated BY KARL BERGER Special Correspondent If a cow looks like a registered Holstein, produces milk like a registered Holstein and, most importantly, is bred like a regis tered Holstein, is it a registered Holstein? That’s the question Holsticn breeders across the country are asking themselves as a result of a controversial proposal to allow at least some grade Holslcins to achieve registered status in the herdbook of the nationwide Hols tein Association. The issue of “national identifi cation,” as it’s been labelled by Mindy Johnson, Damascus, Maryland, (center) was crowned the 1988 Maryland State Jersey Queen at the Mary land Jersey Cattle Club’s 67th Annual Meeting held in New Midway last Saturday. Crowning Mindy is last year’s Queen Tonna Caple (right). Esther Hoffman, Queen Contest coor dinator (left), helps with her banner. Goal: Put Maryland Jerseys On Map GINGER SECRIST MYERS Adams Co. Correspondent NEW MIDWAY, MD. “Our goal is to put Maryland Jerseys on the map. This includes excellence not only in the showring, but also showing that our cows can be pro fitable.” This was the challenge issued by Maryland Jersey Cattle Club President James Sloncsifcr in Bergland To Speak At Lancaster Ag Energy Conference Former U.S. Agriculture Secret ary Robert Bergland will be the keynote speaker at a one-day con ference on energy in agriculture Monday, March 14 at the Lancas ter County Home and Farm Ccn |kr Starting time is 10 a.m. Bergland, the executive vice President and general manager of !hc National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRE CA), will participate in the confer ee aimed at the Pennsylvania (Turn to Pag* A 35) Holstein officials, is sparking healed discussions at regional, stale and county meetings in the Mid-Atlantic area. It was the major topic at the Holstein Winter Forum in Culpeper, Va., March 7-8 and is expected to highlight the agenda at the winter forum for Pennsylvania and New Jersey breeders March 14-15. These meetings, part of a series of winter forums the association conducts each year for members in various parts of the country, have become a kind of primary vote for proponents of the grade-up plan. Reportedly, feedback from these meetings will determine whether his opening remarks before the 67ih Annual Meeting of the Mary land Jersey Cattle Club. The day- (Turn to Pag* A2l) Yules Pride Farm In Columbia County. (See story Page A-28) Lancaster Farming, Saturday, March 12, 1988 the association’s board of directors puts the issue to a vote of the direc tors attending this year’s national convention in San Diego. As proposed by the “Holstein Identification Task Force” a committee of 10 members appointed in June 1987 by Hols tein Association president Kip Herzog the grading-up process would involve four mam steps. Like the similar “genetic recov ery” programs already in place among Jersey and Guernsey breed ers, the Holstein plan would start with a grade cow that is manifestly Holstein in appearance, but whose (Turn to Pago A2O) Dairy Of Distinction Seeks Applicants WILLIAMSPORT The Northeast’s most beautiful dairy farms are invited to compete for this year’s Dairy of Distinction .-wards. Dairy of Distinction appli cations are now available for the states of Pennsylvania, New York and New Jersey. The purpose of the Dairy of Dis tinction program is to recognize attractive farmsteads. Farms are judged on neatness, good maintenance, and roadside appear ance. The program is based on the theory that attractive farms can increase consumer confidence in the quality of dairy products. All dairy farms producing milk for sale are qualified to apply for the award. Applications are avail able at all county cooperative (USE APPLICATION ON PAGE F-3) extension offices, local farm publi cations, as well as through the American Dairy Association and Dairy Council (ADADC). A number of awards will be made during 1988. The stales of Pennsylvania and New York have (Turn to Page A2O) Six Sections Bedford COunty'a Outstanding Holstein Youth, Saran Ann Baker of Bedford RD 4, is a yo