JEROMESVILLE, Ohio — Two Ashland county dairy herds have been ranked among the top 5 percent of Ohio herds and they were among those recognized during the Ashland County Dairymen’s Banquet March 1 at Hillsdale High School.
Awards
Among operations milking three times per day, Ayars Farm, Inc., is among the top 5 percent of Ohio herds for milk and protein was recognized as the county’s top herd for milk and fat with 28,636 pounds of milk, 1,012 pounds of fat and 822 pounds of protein.
They were also recognized as the most-improved herd for fat with in increase of 57 pounds of fat and the lowest somatic cell count.
Ayars Farms also took home awards for individual cows, including the high-producing cow for milk with 39,609 pounds of milk, and eight cows producing over 200,000 pounds of milk lifetime.
Robert Brightbill, also among the top 5 percent of Ohio herds for protein, was recognized as the county’s high herd for protein with 27,444 pounds of milk, 928 pounds of fat and 830 pounds of protein.
Most improved
Idyl Wild Farms was recognized as the county’s most improved herd for milk production with 23,297 pounds of milk, an increase of 537 pounds of milk, 782 pounds of fat and 724 pounds of protein.
They also took home individual cow awards including the top Brown Swiss cow for milk and protein with 38,739 pounds of milk and 1,164 pounds of protein and four cows producing over 200,000 pounds of milk — including the top lifetime cow with 252,901 pounds of milk, 8,174 pounds of fat and 7,898 pounds of protein.
Among those milking three times per day, Harold Mong had the top cow for protein with 38,019 pounds of milk and 1,165 pounds of protein and was among the county’s top five with 24,804 pounds of milk, 782 pounds of fat and 763 pounds of protein.
The herd of Lois Mutchler rounded out the top five with 23,908 pounds of milk, 843 pounds of fat and 733 pounds of protein. Mutchler also had a cow recognized for producing over 200,000 pounds of milk in her lifetime.
Top Jerseys
Cletus Garver was recognized for having the county’s top Jerseys for milk and protein with 22,340 pounds of milk and 867 pounds of protein, and was also recognized as the county’s most-improved herd for protein with an increase of 33 pounds of protein.
Among those milking two times per day, Harley Heffelfinger took home the award for the top herd for protein with 22,910 pounds of milk, 885 pounds of fat and 736 pounds of protein, as well as individual cow awards for the high-producing cow for protein with 1,018 pounds of protein.
Harpster Enterprises Ltd. had the top herd for fat with 21,784 pounds of milk, 935 pounds of fat and 672 pounds of protein, as well as individual cow awards for two cows producing over 200,000 pounds of milk in their lifetime.
Clair Oberholtzer had the county’s top herd for milk with 23,169 pounds of milk, 902 pounds of fat and 704 pounds of protein. Rounding out the county’s top herds milking twice per day were Daniel Eichelberger with 21,928 pounds of milk and 678 pounds of protein and Broad-Vue Holsteins with 797 pounds of fat.
Eichelberger had the high cow for milk with 32,697 pounds of milk, while Broad-Vue Holsteins received recognition for the lowest somatic cell count. Eichelberger also had a cow recognized for producing over 200,000 pounds of milk in her lifetime.
Finishing the list of cows with over 200,000 pounds of milk in their lifetime were Richard West, U-Dean Farm and Ron Rupp.
Elected to a three-year term on the board of directors of the Ashland County Dairy Association were Todd Harpster, Ryan Twining and Ryan Welch.
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