Welcome to the Bullvine Podcast, where we bring
you the latest insights, stories, and strategies
from the world of dairy cattle breeding. Each
episode, we dive deep into the genetics, show
ring success, and breeding philosophies that
shape modern Holstein excellence. we're exploring
the transformative impact of Aikenbrae Starbuck
Aida on Holstein breeding. Whether you're a seasoned
breeder, show enthusiast, or dairy professional
looking to strengthen your herd, you'll find
valuable takeaways in today's conversation. So
let's get started with the Bullvine Podcast,
where great genetics and dairy passion meet.
Ever think about, you know, like... How one cat,
one single cow, like just an average looking
cow could end up like really changing an entire
breed. Yeah. Because like that's kind of what
happened with this Holstein cow born back in
1986 in rural Ontario. It can brace Starbuck
Ada. She became like a global influencer in Holstein
genetics. Wow. So like how does that even happen?
How does one animal like reshape a whole breed?
That's a great question. And that's exactly what
we're diving into today on this deep dive, all
about Aitkenbrae Starbuck Ada and the absolutely
massive impact she's had on Holstein breeding.
Yeah. And not just here in North America, but
really around the world. And it wasn't just about
looks with Ada, right? Like she was more than
just a pretty face in the show. Oh, absolutely.
What makes her story like so interesting for
people like us in the industry is how she kind
of like bridged this huge gap between the cows
that everyone wanted to look at. You know, the
ones winning all the banners. Right. And then
the cows are really like, you know, putting up
the big milk. numbers. It's like she found this
sweet spot between show ring glamour and the
then emerging world of genomic science. Exactly.
She really kind of sparked a dynasty and her
influence is still felt today in modern Holstein
herds. So to really understand her significance,
we need to like rewind a bit and look at the
Holstein landscape when she first came on the
scene back in the mid -1980s. Okay, so like paint
a picture for us. What was the Holstein world
like back then? I vaguely remember something
about this, like, great divide or something.
Yeah, you're right on the money there. The mid
-1980s were a really interesting time. There
was this, like, big tension. A lot of folks called
it the great divide between type and production.
You had on one side the traditional show breeders.
These are the people really focused on confirmation.
They wanted cows with that certain look, that
structural correctness that just shines in the
show ring. They were all about beauty, essentially.
So these were like the head turners, like the
pinup models of the dairy world. Exactly. But
then on the other side, you had this growing
group of more commercial breeders. And these
guys were all about the genetic indexes. You
know, those numbers that predicted things like
milk, yield, butterfat percentages, protein.
production. Right. The bottom line. Yeah. Efficiency
and output. And we can't forget about the AI
organizations at this time. They were really
pushing those young sire sampling programs, you
know, where they take semen from promising young
bulls and use it widely to test out their offspring.
Right. Those programs were becoming a major force
in genetic improvement. So basically like two
totally different ways of thinking about breeding.
Absolutely. And while those breeders focused
on type had been the dominant force for a long
time, those production oriented operations were
starting to see better economic returns. Some
folks even noted how the real leadership in genetic
improvement started to shift from breeds and
prominent herds to artificial insemination organizations.
Interesting. So where does our star Ada fit into
all of this? She comes into the picture right
in the middle of this shift. And what's amazing
is that her descendants ended up bridging these
two seemingly opposite priorities. Wow. They
excelled in both the good looks department. and
those all -important production figures. It's
really a story about finding that perfect blend.
Okay, let's hear it then. Yeah. Tell me about
the birth of this legend. Where did it all begin?
Well, it all started on September 13th, 1986
at Aitkenbrae Farm in Holstein, Ontario. That's
where Aitkenbrae's Starbuck Ada was born. And
her family tree, oh man, it was packed with Holstein
royalty. Her sire was the one and only Hanover
Hill Starbuck. Oh yeah, I've heard that name,
a true icon. A legend. Even today, Starbuck was
known for siring daughters with exceptional udders
and overall good type. Okay. He was super popular.
And her dam was Aikenberry Sheik Arlene, who
was classified good plus 80 as a two -year -old.
Now, she wasn't an EX -97 herself. Right. But
this particular cross of Starbuck on this specific
cow, it really turned out to be transformative
for the Holstein breed. But to really get to
the root of Ada's greatness, we need to dig a
little deeper into her family history. Okay,
so let's go way back. What's the foundation of
this incredible lineage? We're going all the
way back to the 1940s with a cow named Banistine
Dutchland Clothilde. She was a real star, setting
a world record for fat production as a senior
two -year -old in 1948. Wow. Her breeder, Tom
Hayden, who used the Benella prefix, he bred
Clothilde to Spring Farm Sovereign Supreme. And
this mating, it produced a heifer named Benella
Sovereign Supreme Delight. But get this. She
was actually considered quite poor in terms of
type. You're kidding? A world record holder in
the family tree and the results of disappointment?
That's farming for you, right? I know, right?
So much so that Hayden actually sold Delight
for a pretty low price to his friend Cecil Barber.
But Barber, he was a smart cattleman. He saw
something in Delight that others missed. He bred
her to Liflock Re -Echo Voyager, and that produced
a cow named Sheila Voyager. And then Sheila Voyager
was bred to Pabst Walker Ollie, and that's who
Seabar Ollie Beale was born back in 1959. Okay,
so we're tracing the lines here. What happens
with Ollie? In the mid -1960s, Walter Aitken
was always looking to improve his herd, and he
bought the five -year -old Ollie Bell. He actually
got her through a cattle dealer named Bill Snively.
Okay. Now, Aitkenbrae Farm itself was already
a pretty big operation. It was a partnership
between Morley Aitken and Don Lance starting
back in 1978. They built up a really top -notch
herd under the Aitkenbrae prefix. They were always
winning premier breeder and exhibitor banners
at the shows. Their breeding skills even got
them two master breeder shields. Wow, that's
a huge honor. A big deal in our industry. So
Aitkenbrae was already a well -respected name
in the Holstein world. And what about Don Lance?
What was his connection to the farm? It goes
way back. Don's father passed away when he was
only six years old, and his uncle Walter Aitken
really took him under his wing. Dutton spent
pretty much every weekend and all his summers
working on the farm. That's where his love for
farming and Holsteins really started. It never
left him. And when he got older, his first job
was working with his uncle. When Walter decided
to retire, he was farming with his son Morley,
and they both saw how talented and hardworking
Dawn was. So Walter offered to sell Dawn his
share of the business. It's a real story about
mentorship and a shared passion for the black
and whites. Yeah, definitely. So back to Ollie
Bell. You mentioned something about her not being
the best mother. Right. Well, despite her impressive
pedigree, Ollie Bell didn't seem to have much
of a maternal instinct. Her first two calves
at Aitkenbrae actually died soon after birth.
No doubt. But one daughter did survive Aitkenbrae
Radar Olive. Okay. And through a few generations
of careful breeding, it was this line that led
to Aitkenbrae Chic Arlene. And when she was bred
to the famous Hanover Hill Starbuck, we got the
one and only Aitkenbrae Starbuck Ada. So even
with a bit of a rocky start with Ollie Bell,
that strong foundation really paid off in the
end. It just goes to show you never know where
that next great cow will come from. It's really
amazing how those family lines can keep going
and then all of a sudden, boom, something incredible
happens. Yeah. So when did people in the industry
start to realize that Ada was something special?
It was after her first calving in 1988. A well
-known cattleman named Brian Karsgaden, he was
one of the first to really notice her. He was
working for a firm in California, but he was
also buying and selling high -quality cattle.
He and Ken Empey were regular visitors at Aitkenbrae.
They'd bought animals from Morley and Don before
Don Lance remembers it well. He said Brian was
the first one to really see her potential. Brian
and Ken talked about Ada a bit, and in the end,
Ken Empey bought her. So it was a good eye for
cattle that made that first crucial connection.
And what was Aitkenbrae's thinking on selling
such a promising young heifer? You don't see
farms letting go of potential superstars every
day. Don Lance and Morley Aitken, they had a
really practical and pretty forward -thinking
approach. Right. Exactly. from a business point
of view yeah so mp buys ada and that's when her
career really takes off right exactly ken mp
buys her and ada heads south all the way to ohio
there was this investment group called hygerian
associates they had robert binger and william
atkins in it and they wanted to build a top quality
holstein herd they got in touch with ken mp who
brought them to see ada She was only about two
months fresh at the time, still early in her
first lactation, but she must have made a big
impression because they bought her right there
and took her to their farm in Ohio. Wow. And
I bet she didn't disappoint her new owners. Not
at all. As a two -year -old, she finished an
incredible lactation record, especially for a
young cow. Over 25 ,000 pounds of milk, over
900 pounds of butterfat at 3 .6%, and almost
800 pounds of protein at 3 .2%. Those are numbers
that'll turn heads. Man, those are some serious
production figures. For sure. And the show ring
wins weren't far behind. During that same lactation,
Binger and Atkins, they brought in a new partner
named Lawson Bennett, and they decided to take
Ada to the Michigan State Fair in the summer
of 1989. She won her senior two -year -old class,
and get this, she was named grand champion of
the whole show. What a debut. From big milk numbers
to grand champion, that's an incredible combination.
What came next for her? I think she was at World
Dairy Expo in Madison that same year. You're
right. Her next big show was Madison, 1989. Howard
Binder was the judge that year. She initially
got second in her class, but was later moved
to third after the official milk out behind DuPasquier
Stab Winnie and the eventual All -American Comstar
Lori Sheik. Now, even though she didn't win her
class in Madison, being there was really important
because it's where she caught the eye of some
big names in the Holstein industry. Like Douglas
King of Kingstead Farms and the folks at Gray
-Wilcombe. Exactly. Douglas King from Kingstead
Farms in Maryland and the team from Gray -Wilcombe.
They were both at Madison that year. And Ada
really impressed them. King later said he thought
she was a little on the small side, but very
correct in her confirmation. But he was clearly
impressed enough with her overall quality and
her potential that he and Wilcom approached Nigerian
Associates and bought her in December of 1989.
A new chapter begins with Kingstead and Wilcom.
Yeah. And this is when she really becomes a household
name in the show ring. Absolutely. Under their
care, Ada really blossomed. She got taller, filled
out, and they prepped her meticulously for the
1990 show season. This was her breakout year.
She won the three -year -old class and was named
Supreme Champion at the Eastern National Show.
And then at Madison that year, she took first
place in her class and won Best Utter. Wow. And
to top it all off, she was unanimously named
the All -American Senior Three -Year -Old of
1990. A tremendous honor to be chosen unanimously.
Unanimous. That really says something. So after
all that success in the show ring, what was the
next step in building her legacy and creating
that dynasty we talked about? The next big connection
was with Hardy Shore Jr., the head of Shoremar,
Inc. At the end of that amazing 1990s show season,
Hardy bought a half interest in Ada. Now, Hardy
had a background as a professional hoof trimmer.
Oh, wow. He had a real eye for structural correctness,
especially in a cow's feet and legs. He was really
drawn to Ada's exceptional feet and legs. He
often said she had some of the best feet he'd
ever seen on a cow. This focus on functional
confirmation would become really important later
on when he made breeding decisions with her.
Interesting. So a hoof trimmer who really understands
how a cow's body works sees something special
beyond just the show Ring Beauty. Yeah. What
happened with Shormar's involvement? Well, in
1991, Shormar had their big herd dispersal sale.
Right. And Ada ended up selling for a whopping
$71 ,000. That was the second highest price in
the wholesale, which shows how highly regarded
she was. Wow. After the sale, Kingstead and Wilcom
bought back the other half of Ada and ended their
partnership with Shore. So Ada goes back to being
fully owned by Kingstead and Wilcom. But Shore's
part in her story wasn't over, was it? He still
had a big role in shaping her genetic legacy.
Absolutely. Even during that short time as co
-owner, Hardy Shore made a really important breeding
decision, one that really set the stage for the
Ada Empire and changed the future of the Holstein
breed. He decided to flush Ada to a few different
sires, and one of those matings was with Donendale
Skychief, an excellent extra sire known for producing
daughters with strength and dairy character.
Now, Shore really liked Skychief's strengths.
But he knew the bull could benefit from improvement
in his daughter's feet, and as we know, that's
where Ada really excelled. This pairing, aiming
to combine Sky Chief's good traits with Ada's
amazing feet, it ended up producing the two daughters
that really made Ada a breeding legend, a true
matriarch. What a smart breeding move. Yeah.
So who were these game -changing daughters that
made Ada... a Holstein legend. This is where
the Ada Empire really starts to take shape. Her
influence grows exponentially. That flesh -to
-Donendale sky chief produced two daughters who
became legends themselves, Shormar S. Alicia
and M .S. Kingstead Chifa Dean. These two full
sisters became the cornerstones of Ada's impact
on Holstein genetics across the world. Okay,
let's start with Alicia. I remember her being
something really special both in the show ring
and as a brood cow. You got it. Shorm RS. Alicia,
born in 1995, she took the family's reputation
to a whole new level. She ended up being classified
Excellent 97, which puts her in this elite group
of only about 35 registered Holstein cows in
North America to ever get that close to a perfect
score. And her show career actually surpassed
even her famous dam's achievements. Alicia was
nominated All -American five times in milking
form. Wow. Which shows her consistency. And she
was named Supreme Champion of the Royal Winter
Fair in 2000, which is like the biggest show
ring honor in Canada. Five -time All -American
nominee and Supreme Champion at the Royal Citus.
That's amazing. How did she even come to be?
What's the story behind that mating? It's another
one of those stories that shows how small the
dairy world really is. David Innes of the City
View Herd in Ontario. He met Hardy Shore at a
cattle show and asked about buying some embryos
from Ada. And it just so happened that Ada had
just had a really successful flush to Don and
Dale Skychief. So they made a deal for two embryos.
Wow. And the two calves that resulted were jointly
owned by Shore and Innes. And one of those calves
turned out to be the incredible Shoremar Alicia.
A lucky break for everyone involved. So a chance
meeting leads to a world champion. That's awesome.
Yeah. What happened with Alicia when she started
competing? Under the expert care and handling
of Jeff Butler, Howard Binder, and the Kingstead
team, Alicia was unstoppable. She topped the
five -year -old class at Madison and then went
on to win the grand championship at the Royal
Winter Fair in 2000. Wow. Those big wins made
her the unanimous all -American and all -Canadian
five -year -old that year. A truly remarkable
achievement. But she didn't stop there. In 2003
as an older cow, she won the 125 ,000 -pound
cow class and was again named Grand Champion
at the Eastern National Show. She was the All
-American Aged Cow that year, too. She kept going,
earning Reserve All -American in 2004 and High
Honorable Mention in 2005. She was at the top
of her game for years. A real show ring powerhouse.
But she was more than just a pretty face. She
also became a key part of the breed as a brood
cow, right? Exactly. Like her dam Ada Alicia
really helped move the breed forward. She produced
over a dozen excellent daughters from different
sires, showing how well she could pass on those
great traits. Her influence really spread through
her Startmore Rudolph daughter, City View R.
Alicia, who was also classified Excellent 92,
and earned 23 recognition in Canada for her production
and type, and also through her daughters by Regan
Crest Elton Durham, BKB, Abby, who became an
excellent 95 3E Dom cow with multiple production
awards, and BKB Amanda, who is classified excellent
92 GMD Dom and also a top producer. So she wasn't
just a champ herself, she was making the next
generation of champions. That's amazing. Now
let's talk about the other Sky Chief daughter,
MS Kingstead Chief, Adeen. I understand she had
a big impact, but maybe in a slightly different
way than her sister. Yeah, Adeen, born in 1997,
she turned out to be just as influential, maybe
even more so, but in a wider range of ways. She's
often called a foundation cow for a lot of big
name herds. Through her many descendants, she's
connected to some of the most famous families
in the Holstein breed. The Atwood -Atlee -Ariel
and Autumn lines, all of them have had a huge
impact on modern Holsteins. Wow, what a family
tree. So how did Adeen's story unfold? Well,
her story starts in a pretty unique way. In 1997,
Kingstead Farms decided to disperse their whole
herd in a big sale. There were three buyers who
really wanted to get the young chief of dean,
who was only about two weeks old at the time,
to decide who would get her. They actually flipped
a coin. Cranberry Meadows Farm, owned by Gary
and Crystal Dell, they won the coin toss and
got her. And when she was old enough to breed,
they flushed her to the popular sire Mawflin
Storm, which resulted in five heifers that all
got classified very good as two -year -olds.
Wow, a coin flip deciding the fate of a future
genetic powerhouse. Yeah, you really can't make
this stuff up. But what happened to a dean after
Cranberry Meadows? Adeen was sold as a two -year
-old to a group of well -known breeders that
included Billy and Mike Heath of Heath Holsteins,
Gerald Todd, and Amlerd Callum McKinvin. In the
six months they owned her, they flushed her to
Comistar Lee. And the star of that mating was
Amlerd Lee Alice, who got a lot of attention
when she was named the first junior two -year
-old at Madison in 2003 and then became an All
-American. So even in a short time, she was already
showing how she could produce top -quality offspring.
And she also shared the spotlight with her sister
Alicia at the national level, didn't she? That's
right. In the year 2000, Shormar S. Alicia and
MS. Kingstead chief Adeen did something really
amazing. They were unanimously chosen as the
All -American Produce of Damn. Wow. It's not
common at all for two full sisters to get that
kind of recognition together. Adeen was also
nominated for All -American as a junior three
-year -old in 2000, and that year she produced
over 30 ,000 pounds of milk with a 4 % butterfat
test. Talk about a cow who could do it all. That's
incredible. So where did Adeen go after that
successful period? She was sold to another partnership
this time with Jeff Butler and Lance and Amy
Ruppert. Later on, Douglas King and Kingstead
Farms bought out the Ruppert share of Adeen.
And from then on, all her offspring carried the
BVK preface, which represented Butler View and
Kingstead at GED. Jeff Butler, who worked with
Chief Adeen for over a decade, he called her
one of the most influential and one of the only
cows in the breed with offspring over plus 2
,500 on genomics and all -American progeny. That
really shows how special she was excelling in
both the show ring and the world of genomics.
Yeah, that's the key, isn't it? Bridging those
two worlds. And her impact as a brood cow beyond
those early wins. It was huge, wasn't it? It
was enormous and it lasted. Adeen went on to
have an incredible 51 daughters who were classified.
Excellent worldwide. That puts her in a very
elite group, second only to the legendary Ashlyn
for most excellent daughters. That many top quality
offspring really cemented her status as an industry
elite and spread the influence of the Ada family
across the globe, impacting so many herds. 51
excellent daughters. That's amazing. And a real
testament to her ability to pass on those desirable
traits. Douglas King must have some amazing memories
from working with both Alicia and Adeen. He does.
He often talked about that time as the thrill
of a lifetime and was so proud of their achievement.
He even talked about how cool it would be to
get all their daughters together in one barn.
Yeah. What a sight that would be. A true testament
to Ada's legacy. Absolutely. Now this brings
us to the next generation and what's often called
the golden flush. This is where Adeen's granddaughter
Durham Attlee comes in. You got it. While there
have been so many smart breeding decisions that
have contributed to the success of the Ada family,
the matings with Adeen's granddaughter M .D.
Delight Durham Atlee E .T. were probably the
most important for the family's international
impact and their continued relevance in the genomic
era M .D. Delight Storm Amberley, one of Adeen's
daughters by Mothlin Storm. She gave birth to
M .D. Delight Durham Atlee E .T. on September
11, 2001. Her sire was Reagan Crest, Elton Durham.
another super influential sire known for producing
daughters with great udders and good production.
Attlee was later bought as a bread heifer by
a partnership that included Michael Heath of
Heath Holstein's Rick and Shannon Allen and Jason
Lloyd. And Heath's decision to buy her wasn't
exactly love at first sight, was it? It wasn't
Michael first saw Attlee as a calf at the Maryland
convention sale where he was working his last
sale as a professional fitter. He said he liked
her pedigree and her look, but she was pretty
small for her age. About a year later, he found
her at Foster's Farm in North Carolina, who had
bought her at that Maryland sale. She was priced
at $20 ,000 as a springing heifer, and Heath
decided to take a chance. He liked her strong
maternal pedigree being a granddaughter of Chief
of Dean, and figured that even if she was only
classified very good 85 as a two -year -old,
she'd probably be in demand for embryo sales,
which could make the purchase worthwhile. So
a bit of gamble that really paid off. What happened
with Atlee once her show career began? It paid
off big time. They took Atlee all the way from
North Carolina to Massachusetts for their state
show on a super hot summer day. But she toughed
it out and actually won her class the very next
day. Wow. Later that year, she got 15th in the
senior two -year -old class at Madison. Then
as a senior three -year -old in 2005, she wasn't
supposed to cab until September 1st. But because
of a wrong breeding date, she ended up calving
in mid -September, just a few weeks before Madison.
The partners weren't sure if she'd be ready to
compete so soon after calving, but Heath saw
her potential and convinced them to take her
to Madison anyway, figuring they had nothing
to lose. In an incredible turn of events less
than a week after calving MD Delight, Durham
Attlee was named reserve intermediate champion
of the 2005 International Holstein Show. From
a small calf that almost got passed over to reserve
champion at Madison, that's quite a journey.
Yeah. And Heath really understood how important
showing at Madison was for Cal's reputation,
didn't he? He did. He famously said that she
became known worldwide because of her success
at Madison, which shows how important the show
ring still is for building a reputation and creating
demand. even as genomics was becoming more popular.
Okay, so now we finally arrived at the golden
flush, the breeding decision that really launched
the Aida legacy into the genomic era and had
a global impact. Tell me all about that mating.
The moment that really made the Aida family internationally
known and put them at the forefront of the genomic
age was when M .D. Delight Durham Atlee E .T.
was bred to the famous Braydale Goldwyn in 2007.
Okay. This mating produced an amazing group of
sons of flesh that's become legendary. We're
talking about the birth of bulls like Maple Downs,
IGW Atwood Allendale, I Attic Allendale, I Atticus
Maple Downs, IGW Atlantic Allendale, IGW Arden,
and Mr. Atlee's Altamazing. Some of the most
influential names in Holstein genetics. A real
all -star team of sires. Yeah. And these bulls
went to all the major AI organizations, right?
That's right. Atwood Arden and Atlantic went
to Select Sire's Attic, and Atticus were bought
by Cemex, and Altamazing went to Alta Genetics
Inc. And in that same year, 2007, Atlee's son
by Pixton Shottle, MS Atlee's SHT Aftershock
was bought by St. Jacob's ABC, spreading her
influence even further. So her genetics were
going everywhere through these high -demand sons.
And there's a pretty surprising story about Atwood's
early days, isn't there? There is. It's pretty
ironic, actually. Steve Valthuis from Valthuis
Farms, he bought some embryos from this golden
flush. and ended up with three heifers and five
bulls. And he later said that Atwood was actually
the one left that no one particularly wanted
when the big AI companies were picking from the
flush. Really? This is when genomics was really
taking off, and Atwood's full brothers had early
genomic results that were so good that the AI
studs didn't feel like they needed to test Atwood
right away. But Steve Valthuis, he has a great
eye for pedigrees, and he decided to collect
semen from Atwood even before his genomic results
came back. Wow, the bull that went on to become
a global superstar was almost overlooked. I know,
right? But through conversation between Steve
Valthuis and Ed Fellers, a group of breeders
got together and invested in Atwood to get a
sampling done, and the results, while they were
amazing, Atwood became a leader in the breed,
exceeding everyone's expectations for type and
demand for his semen just exploded. Valtheus
pointed out that with semen from Braydale, Goldwyn
becoming harder to get and more expensive, Atwood
was a great replacement for those breeders who
wanted that Goldwyn blood in their herds. What
a story. And Atwood's impact wasn't just a short
-term thing. His influence on type and confirmation
has been huge. Absolutely. By the end of 2013...
All six of Atlee's proven sons had earned superior
type status, and five of them were ranked in
the top ten for type in the whole breed. Wow.
This incredible consistency in passing on good
type led the Holstein evaluator Tim Abbott to
say that Atlee's ability to transmit outstanding
type appears to be as strong as that of any cow
in the entire history of the breed. Wow, what
a statement. And it wasn't just talk. In the
fall of 2015, Charwool Attic Marcy, an EX95 daughter
of Allendale Iattic, one of those Golden Flush
brothers, she finished an undefeated show season
by winning the Grand Championships at both the
Royal Winter Fair and Madison. Wow. That's real
proof of the power of this family. Definitely.
And there was another really famous daughter
from that Golden Flush, wasn't there? One that
sold for... record price yeah ms atlee's goldwyn
ariel et she was classified very good 89 as a
young cow and was named reserve all -american
junior two -year -old in 2009 she was later bought
by a canadian syndicate for a mind -blowing five
five million dollars which shows the incredible
value of the ada family genetics won five million
dollars yeah that's insane yeah so looking back
how is the legacy of aikenbrae starbuck ada changed
modern holstein breeding The Ada family story
really reflects how dairy cattle breeding has
changed over the last few decades. We talked
about the great divide between type and production
earlier. And what's so amazing about the Ada
family is that they've been able to excel in
both areas generation after generation. They've
stayed relevant and important through all the
changes in the industry, from Ada's show, Ringwins,
to her daughters, Alicia and Adeem, passing on
great type, and then to Atwood and his brothers
dominating the genomic era. It's like they were
leaders in every era of Holstein breeding. Exactly.
Today, genomic indexes are essential for almost
all breeding decisions, whether a breeder is
focused on show type, high milk production, or
better health traits. Right. And the Ada family
has kept succeeding in this genomic era with
descendants that rank high for both type and
production indexes. They show that you don't
have to choose one or the other. And their impact
isn't just in North America, right? Ada's influence
has gone global. Absolutely. The Ada family has
spread all over the world, affecting breeding
programs on every continent. Their descendants
have done really well in shows and have been
super valuable in breeding programs all over
the world, which shows how strong and adaptable
their genetics are. For example, in Japan, TMR
Adin Dundee, chief ET, a daughter of MS Kingstead
chief Adin, was named grand champion at a big
national show there. Wow. So Ada's legacy has
really spread far and wide. What are some of
the biggest takeaways from the Ada story for
breeders and industry professionals? I think
there are a few key lessons. First, it shows
the importance of making smart and strategic
breeding decisions. Right. Think about the breeding
of Ada to Hanover Hill Starbuck, which combined
great traits. Then the golden flush of Dermatli
to Brado -Goldwyn, which was all about amplifying
strengths and creating a balanced genetic profile.
These weren't random pairings. They were well
thought out decisions to get superior offspring.
And this idea of strategic mating is still super
important, even with genomics. While we have
all this data and technology now, the best breeding
programs still use a balanced approach, combining
data with visual assessment and a good understanding
of cow families like ADAs. So it's about using
genomics, but not forgetting about the traditional
ways of evaluating cattle. Exactly. The ADA family
shows how to blend tradition and innovation in
breeding. New technology has given us powerful
tools like genomics and advanced reproduction.
But the basic principles of finding genetically
superior animals and spreading those good traits
are still at the heart of success. And when you
look at the results of this kind of careful breeding
over time, the big increases in milk production,
better health and improvements in conformation,
it's clear that this approach makes a huge difference
for the whole industry. And the commercial success
of the Ada family. Their high sale prices, that's
another important part of her legacy. Absolutely.
The impact of Ada's sale and the prices her descendants
have brought over the years have been consistently
higher than average. And that's only gone up
in the genomic era, as we saw with the $15 million
sale of MS Atlee's Goldwyn Ariel Elite Genetics.
Especially those that excel in a lot of different
areas are worth a lot of money. So as we look
to the future, how will Ada's story continue
to shape the Holstein breed? The Holstein breed
is always evolving with genomic selection speeding
up genetic improvement. The fact that the Ada
family has thrived through all these changes
in technology and breeding goals is a good example
for breeders who want long -term success. The
challenge for the industry is to keep those distinctive
Holstein traits while also improving things like
milk yield components, health, and fertility.
The Ada family has shown that great type and
conformation can go hand -in -hand with high
production and strong genetics. And we have to
remember that the modern Holstein is the result
of centuries of careful breeding by dedicated
people who have adapted to the changing needs
of the dairy industry while keeping the breed's
core strength. It's incredible that one cow from
rural Ontario could have such a huge and lasting
impact on the dairy industry worldwide. It really
is amazing. through her fantastic daughters,
her influential granddaughter, and her many high
-ranking descendants like Atwood the Ada family,
hasn't just stayed relevant. They've been leaders
in every era of dairy cattle breeding. Charlie
McAvoy said it best, her descendants have changed
our barns and show strings forever. And that
change goes beyond the show ring. It affects
commercial dairy farms everywhere, improving
genetics and productivity. That's so true. For
dairy breeders today, the story of Aitkenbrae
Starbuck Ada is an inspiring example of what's
possible when you can find and effectively use
truly exceptional animals in your breeding program.
Her story continues through her descendants,
and her influence will be felt in the Holstein
breed for generations to come. For all of you
listening, the key takeaways are clear. One exceptional
cow can transform a whole breed through smart
breeding and strong genetics. Finding that balance
between great type and good genomic merit is
key for lasting success. Careful matings can
really make those good traits stronger over time.
And elite genetics are worth a lot of money.
But maybe the most important lesson is that even
with all the new technology, the basic quality
of the breed is still super important. Absolutely.
And as you think about your own breeding programs,
think about this. What cow in your herd might
be your next Ada? Yeah. Think about how you can
use what we've learned from Ada's story in your
own breeding decisions. And I'd encourage everyone
to check out the archives on the Bullvine website
at www .bullvine .com. Yes. There are so many
fascinating stories, analyses, and insights into
the world of Holstein genetics and dairy cattle
breeding. It's a constantly changing and exciting
world. And the story of Aitkenbrae Starbuck Ada
is just one amazing chapter in a much bigger
story. That wraps up another episode of the Bullvine
Podcast. Thanks for tuning in and investing your
time with us today. If you enjoyed what you heard,
please subscribe to the podcast on your favorite
platform and share it with a fellow breeder who
might find it valuable. Visit us at thebullvine
.com for show notes, expanded articles, and our
complete catalog of resources for dairy professionals.
Until next time, keep breeding for excellence.