Creeping over fields of green Remembering the
faces The moments unseen The hands that built
a dynasty The vision in their eyes Echoes in
the auction bar Beneath an endless sky This is
the bull buy Turn the bar Hey there, dairy folks.
Welcome back to the Bullvine Podcast. I'm your
host, and today I've got an absolutely incredible
story to share with you. It's about a cow that
literally rewrote the history books of Holstein
breeding. And trust me, by the time I'm done
telling you this tale, you're going to understand
why this one, red -carrying Holstein, changed
everything. Picture this scene for a moment.
It's August 2008, and you're sitting in a packed
sale arena. The energy is electric. Hearts are
racing, and the bidding has reached levels that
nobody, and I mean nobody, had ever imagined
possible for a dairy cow. One million dollars.
Can you even wrap your head around that? When
that hammer finally fell, KHW regiment Apple
Red ET hadn't just shattered every sales record
in Holstein history. She had announced to the
entire cattle world that the genetic revolution
begun by her remarkable mother was far from over.
That mother, my friends, was Camp's Hollow Altitude
ETRC. Born on a cold January morning in 2000,
this Durham daughter would become the most influential
red Holstein cow in modern breeding history.
But here's the thing, on that winter day when
she drew her first breath, absolutely nobody
could have predicted that this little calf would
single -handedly transform an entire segment
of the Holstein breed. Let me paint you the bigger
picture here. More than 80 % of Red Holsteins
at major shows today trace back to her bloodlines.
80%. That's not just influence, that's genetic
domination on a scale that's almost incomprehensible.
Now this story doesn't actually begin with Altitude
herself. It starts with three college friends
whose shared vision would reshape Holstein breeding
forever. Picture Ryan Camps, Mark Hogg, and Ryan
Weigel. young men with big dreams and an eye
for exceptional cattle. Together, they formed
KHW Genetics. And folks, these guys were about
to make history. They were later recognized as
Wisconsin's Distinguished Young Holstein Breeders
in 2014, but back then, they were just passionate
young breeders with ambition. The foundation
for their incredible success was laid at a dispersal
sale in November 1998. Richard Camps made what
would prove to be one of the most prescient purchases
in Holstein history. At the Clovermist Dispersal
in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, he acquired Clovermist
Augie Star EX94 along with her young prelude
daughter, Alicia. Here's where it gets really
interesting. In that barn at Clovermist, there
was this legendary cow called DRA August EX96.
Everyone just called her the white cow. She was
an absolute icon, standing in the end box stall
and producing three 94 -point daughters. Through
Augie Starr and Alicia, that extraordinary maternal
line was about to find its way to Camps Hollow,
setting the stage for everything that would follow.
So Altitude is born on January 11, 2000, carrying
within her genes a convergence of Holstein excellence
that breeders literally dream about but rarely
achieve. Her pedigree read like a who's who of
breed legends. She was sired by Durham, and let
me tell you about Durham. This bull was known
for transmitting long bodies, broad rumps, and
well -attached udders. He was a five -time premier
sire at World Dairy Expo from 2003 to 2007. That's
the kind of genetic power we're talking about
here. But Altitude was destined to be so much
more than just the sum of her illustrious parts.
As she matured in those freestall barns at Camps
Hollow, her own excellence became absolutely
undeniable. She eventually classified EX95USA2EDOM.
That's a score that placed her among the elite
5 % of Holstein cows for confirmation. Think
about that for a moment. Out of hundreds of thousands
of Holstein cows, she was in the top 5 % for
physical excellence. And her production? Oh my
goodness. Let me tell you about her production
records. By her seventh lactation, she was producing
39 ,690 pounds of milk with an exceptional 4
.7 % butterfat. Those are the kind of numbers
that literally turn red ink to black on dairy
farm financial statements. That's the kind of
performance that keeps family dairy farms viable
in an increasingly challenging economic environment.
But here's what made Altitude truly special.
And this is where the story gets really exciting.
Her true genius lay in her extraordinary ability
as a brood cow. You see, in the unpredictable
world of cattle breeding, exceptional parents
don't always produce exceptional offspring. But
Altitude? She possessed that rarest of gifts,
the consistent ability to transmit superiority
across generations and through diverse genetic
combinations. The first hint of Altitude's genetic
prowess came through her son, KHW Kite Advent
Red ET. Now, let me tell you about Advent, because
this bull was nothing short of legendary. In
the competitive world of red and white Holstein
breeding, his dominance was so complete that
he claimed the premier sire banner at the Grand
International Red and White Show at World Dairy
Expo for seven consecutive years. Seven years.
That's unprecedented. For breeders across Wisconsin
and beyond, watching Advent's offspring mature
became like a master class in genetic consistency.
His daughters displayed what admirers called
excellent frames and open rib structure, the
kind of cattle that caught judges' eyes and commanded
premium prices at sales. The numbers behind Advent's
success tell an incredible story. He sired over
400 excellent daughters in the United States
and Canada combined, with 105 earning All -American
nominations in just five years. When 41 of those
daughters achieved All -American or reserve All
-American status, it represented more than just
ribbons and trophies. It represented increased
asset values for the families who owned them.
Advent's journey to artificial insemination wasn't
without challenges, and this shows you the resilience.
that defines our industry. Initially purchased
by Select Sires, he encountered a health issue
with leucosis and was subsequently offered to
Glazeway Enterprises before being leased back
to Select Sires. But you know what? His popularity
absolutely soared once his calves began dominating
show rings with their exceptional frames and
open rib structure. Now if Advent established
Altitude's reputation as a producer of Sires,
It was her daughter, KHW Regiment Apple Red ET,
who would make her a household name throughout
the global Holstein community. Apple Red, born
in May 2004, possessed this rare combination
of show ring glamour, production excellence,
and genetic potency that absolutely captivated
the cattle world. Picture this. In the early
morning hours at barns across North America,
farm families would gather around their laptops
and phones, watching Apple Red's show career
unfold with the dedication of sports fans following
their favorite team. Her breakthrough moment
came at the 2006 World Dairy Expo, when she captured
the Junior 2 Holstein class. Think about the
significance of this, a red cow triumphing in
a world traditionally dominated by black and
whites. For red breed enthusiasts who had long
felt like an overlooked minority in the Holstein
world, this victory felt like pure vindication.
But 2008 was when Apple Red truly made history.
At auction, bidding reached that unprecedented
sum of $1 million. $1 million. The sale generated
international headlines and brought previously
unimaginable attention to the red Holstein breed.
For small dairy farmers watching the coverage,
This was validation that exceptional genetics
commanded exceptional value, and that sound breeding
decisions could literally transform the economic
prospects of an entire operation. Yet Apple Red's
influence extended far beyond the show ring and
sale barn. Her impact as a brood cow has been
nothing short of revolutionary. She holds the
distinction of being the first Red Holstein with
over 100 excellent daughters worldwide. Let me
say that again, over 100 excellent daughters.
That's 83 in the United States and 16 in Canada.
For commercial dairy farmers, this productivity
translated to something more valuable than any
ribbon, genetic consistency they could bank on,
generation after generation. While Advent was
conquering North American show rings and Apple
Red was captivating the cattle world with her
celebrity status, Altitude's influence was quietly
spreading across continents through another of
her offspring, Jotun Red E .T. This Jordan son,
introduced by the German A .I. Masterrind in
2005, became the European trailblazer for the
Altitude family's international expansion. In
the rolling dairy country of the Netherlands,
farmers discovered that Yotan Red's daughters
were literally transforming their operations.
These late -maturing cows with excellent rumps
and strong feet and legs thrived under various
management conditions, carrying their productive
lives through longer lactations than farmers
had dared hope for. Yotan Red became a sales
phenomenon, ultimately producing nearly 18 ,000
daughters in at least 10 countries. 18 ,000.
His popularity in Eastern European countries
was particularly notable, as farmers discovered
that his daughters delivered exactly what commercial
dairy operations needed, functional cattle that
converted feed efficiently while maintaining
their structural integrity through multiple lactations.
The success of Jotun Red proved that Altitude's
genetics weren't just American show ring curiosities,
they were foundational bloodlines that could
improve dairy herds anywhere. exceptional cattle
were valued. Now, as the dairy industry evolved
into the genomic era, many people wondered whether
traditional cow families would maintain their
relevance in a world increasingly driven by DNA
-based selection. At farms across North America,
breeders held their breath as genomic test results
arrived, hoping their favorite bloodlines would
translate to these new digital scoreboards. Altitude's
daughter, KHW Goldwyn, ICO -ETRC, provided the
definitive answer this goldwyn daughter achieved
a remarkable gtpi of 2050 demonstrating that
altitude's genetics didn't just adapt to genomic
evaluation they excelled under its criteria for
breeders who had invested their futures in altitude
bloodlines ico's success represented more than
validation it was their ticket to continued relevance
in an increasingly competitive marketplace Aiko's
global appeal was evident in the demand for her
genetics, with embryos sold to six countries.
Her offspring continued the family's tradition
of excellence, including daughters that became
elite genomic performers and sons that earned
high rankings in Germany. This proved the international
appeal of Altitude Genetics across gender lines.
You know, the true test of any genetic program
isn't show ring victories or auction prices.
It's performance in commercial dairy operations,
where profit margins depend on cows that calve
easily, milk heavily, and breed back efficiently.
At Coaster Dairy in Illinois, one of America's
leading production herds with an average of over
36 ,000 pounds of milk per cow, the altitude
influence shines through descendants that prove
their worth every single milking. Take K -Star
Frazzled Ruby, for example. She's fresh for her
second lactation and milking 145 pounds daily,
representing the practical application of altitude
genetics. In a herd that has won the Holstein
Association's Herd of Excellence Award for five
consecutive years, Ruby's presence demonstrates
how elite genetics translate to operational success.
For the coaster operation, which pushes feed
to their cattle 12 times daily, and maintains
the intensive management that elite production
demands. The Altitude bloodlines deliver the
metabolic efficiency and structural soundness
that make such performance sustainable. These
aren't pampered show cows. They're working dairy
cattle that convert feed to milk, with the efficiency
that keeps family dairy farms viable. The dairy
industry's recognition of Altitude's extraordinary
impact came through multiple prestigious awards.
In 2009, she was named Red Impact Cow of the
Year by Holstein International, specifically
acknowledging her profound influence on the global
red -white Holstein population. That same year,
Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle proclaimed her Wisconsin
Cow of the Year. Perhaps most tellingly, every
bull she put into stud made the active lineup,
a remarkable testament to her consistent ability
to produce high -quality sons desired by artificial
insemination organizations. The transformation
altitude brought to Red Holstein breeding was
so complete that today, any Red Holstein or RC
bull without an intensive link to her or her
famous descendants is embraced as an outcrossed
sire. That's how tremendous her influence became
in the international Red Holstein population.
At Drouner Holsteins in the northern Netherlands,
the Albring family's experience with altitude
genetics demonstrates how exceptional bloodlines
adapt to different management systems. When Harm
Albring reflects on their investment in embryos
out of KHW Goldwyn Ico nine years ago, he's describing
a breeding decision that transformed their operation.
The family characterizes their Icos as late maturity
cattle that look a bit round as heifers, but
they all continue developing. This trait has
proven to be an asset in their management system.
providing the predictability that allows dairy
farmers to plan their replacement strategies
with confidence. When their herd averages over
86 points for black and whites and more than
87 points for red and whites, combined with production
averaging 22 ,700 pounds, they're demonstrating
how altitude genetics contribute to the kind
of balanced excellence that sustains family dairy
operations. When Altitude passed away at the
age of 15 in July 2015, she left behind a genetic
legacy that had already transformed Holstein
breeding. Her influence extended through multiple
generations of exceptional descendants that continue
to dominate show rings, breeding programs, and
AI catalogs worldwide. Ryan Camps, reflecting
on Altitude's impact. noted that she and her
dam Alicia put Camps Hollow and KHW on the map
as fantastic brood cows that transmit strongly
generation after generation, with each generation
seeming to get better. Today, that vision continues
to unfold in barns across the globe. From the
European descendants of Jotun Red to the latest
genomic stars tracing back to Ico, from the show
ring dynasties built on Apple Red's foundation,
to the commercial dairy herds benefiting from
Altitude's production genetics, her influence
touches virtually every corner of Red Holstein
breeding. In the challenging environment facing
modern dairy farming, where profit margins shrink,
regulations tighten, and family operations compete
against industrial -scale facilities, the Altitude
legacy represents something invaluable, genetic
consistency that farmers can depend on. Her descendants
don't just win show rings. They populate the
milk lines of farms where economic survival depends
on cattle that calve easily, milk heavily, convert
feed efficiently, and breed back reliably. The
genetic echo of Camp's Hollow Altitude ETRC resonates
through pedigrees, production records, and show
ring victories on six continents. She was more
than a great cow. She was a genetic cornerstone
who proved that exceptional individuals can indeed
change the trajectory of an entire breed. Her
story reminds us that in agriculture, as in life,
true greatness is measured not just by individual
achievement, but by the lasting impact we have
on future generations. Through her sons and daughters,
grandsons and granddaughters, and the countless
descendants yet to come, Camp's Hollow Altitude
ETRC achieved a form of immortality that transcends
her physical presence. She became a genetic force
of nature whose influence will shape Holstein
breeding for generations to come, a matriarch
for the ages whose greatest achievements may
still lie ahead in the offspring yet to be born,
carrying forward her extraordinary legacy. And
that, my friends, is the incredible story of
how one red -carrying Holstein cow rewrote breeding
history. From a cold January morning in 2000
to a genetic empire that spans the globe, Altitude's
legacy continues to shape the cattle we breed
and the dreams we pursue. Thanks for joining
me on the Bullvine Podcast today. Until next
time, keep breeding excellence, and remember,
sometimes the most extraordinary legacies begin
with a single, exceptional individual who dares
to be different. Turn the volume high. For the
icons of the ages, they never will die. From
the shoring thunder to the quiet strength they
knew. Hear their stories now, coming right on
through. Oh, tell the tale. Legends live here.