The Wisconsin Holstein Association invites all members and
area dairy farmers to the 2014 Barn Meetings. The focus of this year’s barn
meetings is show heifer management. Host farms will open their facilities for
tours and will be on hand to answer questions. Nick Uglow, a nutritionist with
Vita Plus, will speak at each barn meeting on show heifer nutrition.
Bella-View Holsteins - Lynn & Sara Harbaugh Family
The first of this year's hosts, Bella-View
Holsteins, Marion, is a family-run operation owned by Lynn and Sara Harbaugh.
Lynn and Sara have been involved in the Registered Holstein industry their
entire lives, and their children Jacob (8), Logan (6), and Madison (3), are
just starting to become involved with Junior Holstein and 4-H activities.
The
Harbaughs currently own about 50 head of Registered Holsteins, and they house
as many as 25 in our facilities at any one time depending on age and size. They
do occasionally house a show heifer for others, but own part interest in nearly
all the heifers they care for. Most of their milking females are housed at
Forest-Ridge Holsteins and the balance of the heifers live there as well. The
Harbaughs have a few partnership cows housed elsewhere. Most of the chores at
Bella-View are covered by the family. They do have occasional help from a
neighbor if they need to be away from home.
The goal at
Bella-View is to grow and develop heifers from deep pedigrees to their highest
potential. They do a small amount of IVF flushing on select cows and flush a
few heifers conventionally with sexed semen. Most embryos are implanted at
Forest Ridge and Car-Cor Holsteins with resulting calves owned in partnership.
The
facilities sit on 20 acres, of which 13 are grass hay and the balance is
pasture and the buildings. The barn consists of a shavings bay, manure storage,
heifer housing and an office. They also have a machine shed that is utilized to
store hay and other equipment.
Lynn and
Sara are excited to be working with several deep-pedigreed cow families. Some
of these families include the Roxys, Elegance, Ashlyn, DRA August, Apple,
Laurie Sheik, Rubens Marlene, Talent Limited, Durham Juba, Integrity Dixie and Go
for Gin. Members of all of these families have produced All-American
nominations. They have daughters from these families sired by Durham, Goldwyn,
Braxton, Sid, Dundee, Dempsey,
Aftershock, Gold Chris *RC, Talent and Advent.
Heifers
bred by Bella-View had a remarkable show season in 2013, topped with three
summer yearlings placing first, second and third at the Wisconsin Championship
Show. Bella-View Alex Ashanti-ET was purchased by Paige Vossekuil in last
spring’s Quest for Success sale, hosted by Lynn and Chad Ryan. Ashanti was the
All-Wisconsin and Junior All-Wisconsin Summer Yearling as well as being named
Junior Champion of the Junior Show and Reserve Junior Champion of the Open
Show. Ashanti is an Alexander from Kingsmill Ashlyns Ashore-ET, EX-92.
Reserve
All-Wisconsin Summer Yearling was Bella-View Angels Apple-ET, owned in
partnership with Cory and Cara Biely. She is a Dempsey from Ms Angelina
Angashock-ET, a granddaughter of Apple-Red. Finally, placing third was
Bella-View Goldwyn Julip-ET, a Goldwyn from Wilstar Shotle Jacquie-ET VG-85.
These three heifers were Nominated All-American Junior Best Three Females. Two
of the three heifers will be on display at the barn meeting, as well as some of
their spring sale consignments.
The
Harbaughs do a limited amount of work with genomic families, but are working
with an Epic daughter of Curr-Vale Goldwyn Delicious.
All heifers
at Bella-View are cared for the same. They are housed in group pens of three to
five on a shavings bedded pack. Each pen has access to dirt exercise lots. The
barn has curtain side-walls to maximize natural ventilation. In addition, there
are five individual box stalls for heifers on flush shots or specialized
feeding programs during the show season. The box stalls and wash area have
rubber flooring to ensure optimal footing.
They feed a
protein pellet and free choice dry grass hay with corn supplemented in the
winter months. Hoof trimming is done on all heifers in early March with
additional trimming done as needed throughout the year. All heifers are clipped
four to five times a year, with show heifers getting extra attention throughout
the year. The show heifers are washed daily and are also under fans during the
show season.
Lynn and
Sara believe in a strong vaccination program to promote maximum health and
growth. All heifers get three doses of Bovi-Shield prior to their first
breeding and Inforce 3 is given before leaving to go to shows. In addition, all
heifers are poured with a dewormer in spring and fall.
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