Maryland Brown Swiss Breeders
Meet To Review Year
CYNTHIA L. WARNER
President, MD/Brown
Swiss Association
WOODSBORO. Md. A
large crowd of 10S Brown Swiss
breeders, friends, and dairy per-
sonnel. recently gathered for the
Annual Meeting of the Maryland
Brown Swiss Association, held in
Woods boro, Maryland to review
and congratulate members and
youth on the past year’s accomp-
lishments. This well attended
meeting continues to show the
great interest, enthusiasm, and
progress of Brown Swiss in Mary-
Besides posting another suc
cessful year throughout state and
National activities. Dr. Lee Majes
tic, Extension Dairy Specialist
with University of Maryland, pre-
sen ted an exciting DHI summary
which ranked Brown Swiss at the
top of the list for ECM (Energy
Corrected Milk) among all breeds
in the 1997 totals. Brown Swiss
had a +2500 lb. ECM increase for
1997 which gave them a total of
21,220 ECM. This was 540 pounds more than
their next competitor which was Holstein,
who only saw a +lllO lb. ECM increase for
their breed in 1997. Energy Corrected Milk
formula takes into account the protein and fat
when adjusting the milk for components
which identifies cows that produce high vol
umes of milk solids, proving that Brown
Swiss remain very competitive in the milk
marketplace when compared to other breeds.
Highlighting this part of the program was
the Herd Management Award Winner going
to Scott and Judy Hood, Middletown, Md. Dr.
Majeskie commented this award goes to
someone that “is doing a lot of things right.”
The Hoods have 23 cows with 23,846 ECM
81.7 percent Low SCC which gave them the
high amount of points to win this prestigious
award. Milk Production Award for high herd
for 10 cows or more went to Eric Green, Fir-
Thome-B, wiht a 24,779 ECM on 36 cows.
Winning the high herd for nine cows or less
was Brian Galbreath, Green Castle Swiss,
with 20,050 ECM. And repeat winners for
Low Somatic Cell Count Award went to Joy
and Tom Crothets, Oxford.
Individual Awards were as follows;
Jr. 2-ycar-old; Dublin Hills Star Susie,
Aimee Smith
Sr. 2-year-old: Hoosier Knoll Ballet,
Aimee Smith
3-year-old: Grassy Creek Emory Coleen.
Geo. Win. Smith m
4-year-old: Tahill Jade Eve: Shannon Har
rison
5- Amola Sarnie: GS Associates
6- and older. Hawthorne Jades Robin:
Dwayne Bell
Another highlight of the meeting was an
update on the Brown Swiss and Ayrshire “Co-
Convention being planned for 1999. Mary
land is excited about hosting this important
event, and received a great editorial comment
in the February 10,1998 Hoard’s Dairyman
—whereas it said “Bravo to the Brown Swiss
and Ayrshire Associations for planning joint
annual meetings in Maryland. Why haven’t
some of the other breeds held meetings to
gether for which they could consolidate the
awkward begging for sponsorships, put to
gether mote high-powered educational ses
sions, and exchange ideas at dairy producers
and members of breed association staffs?
(This is just a paragraph of the article entitled
“Dairy Groups Can’t Afford Luxury of Not
Working Together.”) It’s a great article to
read, supporting the 1999 Co-Convention be
ing planned in Maryland!
An exciting Convention logo was intro
duced by Brown Swiss co-chairman Bill War
ner, and Ayrshire co-chairman, Becky Chan
ey to the group which was well received. The
logo has the Brown Swiss and Ayrshire head
shots within an oval, highlighted by black
eyed susans on each end, and the word
MARYLAND at the top, and a slogan at the
bottom saying “A Shared Vision-’99.” Sever
al promotional items were displayed with this
logo which really reproduces well in foil
color on all kinds of shirts, canvas bags, etc.
The convention will be held
July 14-17,1999 at the Turf Val
ley Conference Center, Ellicott
City, which is near Baltimore
Maryland. This facility is very ac
commodating to handle separate
breed association meetings and
activities, and is well equipped to
handles large combined welcome
reception for both breeds. Just 20
minutes from Baltimore’s Harbor
place and SO minutes from Wash
ington, D.C., close to major air
ports, and also just minutes from
the Howard County Fairgrounds
where both breeds will have their
National Sales, Ayrshire Sale on
Friday night, and Brown Swiss on
Saturday. Convention meetings
and committees are beginning to
formulate between both breeds to
plan, coordinate, and execute an
outstanding convention for every
one.
John Meyer, executive secre
tary for the National Brown Swiss
Association sent his congratula
dons and greetings to die Mary
land Annual meeting. He com
mended Maryland on their leader
ship in the Brown Swiss breed,
and encouraged the youth to keep
up the good work. Meyer assured
the breeders that the financial pic
ture continues to improve, where
as they have reduced expenses
dramatically, and the board of
directors have a plan to cany out
which will surely put the Associa
tion back in the “black ink” by
19981 The Brown Swiss Advant
age Program is really catching on,
and is a great bargain in gaining
services from Brown Swiss. Mey
er also reported that there is still a
lot of work to do, but the market
continues to be strong in the U.S.
and also in the international mar
ketplace. Evans Wright, national
district director also sent an opti
mistic message to the group. He
foresees the dairy compact legisla
tion actions as a positive force
which should indicate mote stable
and profitable prices for 1998. As Production Winners In Maryland: From left, front, Almee
a board member, he commends Smith; Scott Hood with daughter, Nicole; Back, Eric Green;
Meyer for developing a well Brian Galbreath, and Brad Garst.
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