At least one surprise emerged from the recent Calgary Stampede Dairy Classic Championship Show.
CRF Lheros Rudolph Pete Joel, a nine-year-old milk cow from Wendon Holsteins of Innisfail, not only won the mature cow class but was named grand champion in the black and white Holstein breed.
Not bad for an animal with very little experience in the show ring.
“We bought her from Colpitts Ranches (near Calgary) when they were phasing out their dairy operation,” said Don Chalack of Wendon Holsteins in a release.
“I went there to look at some cattle, and I saw this cow out in the pasture, and she was about a three-year-old at that time.
“We bought the cow and never did actually show her until last year. We took her to the Dairy Classic for the first time in her life — and she goes and wins the mature cow class, right out of the blue.”
Chalack said CRF Lheros Rudolph Pete Joel’s success at the show can be explained by her excellent conformation — which obviously caught the judges’ eyes.
“She has a great udder, and great feet and legs — those are the two things they need for longevity.”
Wendon Holstein is a small dairy operation with a genetics program.
This year’s Dairy Classic Championship attracted nearly 75 cows from Alberta and Saskatchewan.
Other Central Alberta winners included Crasdale Destry Stellar of Wendon Holsteins, which was junior champion among red and white holsteins; and Crestomere RL Lovable of Ponoka’s Crestomere Holstein, which was junior reserve champion in the same class.
Mosnang Gold Chip Wink of Rimbey’s Mosnang Holsteins Ltd. topped the field in the junior yearling heifer Holstein category; while MS Chassity Domain Chaya-ET of Ponoka’s Morsan Farms Ltd. was judged the best among two-year-old Holstein females.