Cows Newly Appraised Excellent-96% or Higher
A final score of Excellent-96% is given to just a few of the 100,000-plus cows that are appraised each year by the American Jersey Cattle Association. In fact, just 42 cows in history have earned the distinction to date (July 2022).
To be appraised Excellent-96% or higher, a cow must be nominated and then evaluated by an anonymous committee of appraisers. The Jersey breed's most recent cows to be appraised Excellent-96% or higher are listed below.
Herd appraisals are performed in states across the country on a 7-9 month rotation. If you would like to see when herds in your state are being appraised, see page 10 of the Jersey Journal. To get your herd appraised, contact Herd Services at 614/322-4457.
Now Excellent-97%
Bri-Lin Valson Spritz
Excellent-96%
Owned by Vierra Dairy Farms, Hilmar, Calif.
Bri-Lin Valson Spritz is the most recent cow to be appraised Excellent-97%. She is owned by Vierra Dairy Farms, Hilmar, Calif., and was bred by Brian and Linda Raymer of Bright, Ont.
The daughter of Deerview Valson-ET was given a final score of 97 points at 9-2 in August 2023. Her breakdowns include 50s in dairy form, rear udder height and rear udder width.
She has a three lactation m.e. average of 20,413—943—760 and 24 registered progeny to date.
“Spritz” is a two-time Grand Champion of the International Jersey Show, earning laurels in 2019 and 2021.
Hirds Colton Dream
Excellent-97%
Owned by Keightley-Core and Borba, Salvisa, Ky.
Hirds Colton Dream is owned by Keightley-Core and Borba of Salvisa, Ky., and was bred by Nathan Wade, Woodstock, Ont.
She was appraised E-91% as a four-year-old and continually gained points as she aged. She was raised to E-96% at 9-7 in May 2021 and E-97% in late August 2022.
“Dream” is the 2022 National Grand Champion. She was also 2018 National Grand Champion and 2018 Supreme Champion of the North American International Livestock Exposition.
She is sired by Chilli Action Colton-ET and has two records over 27,000 lbs. milk, 1,600 lbs. fat and 1,070 lbs. protein. "Dream" has 12 registered progeny to date.
Now Excellent-96%
Stoney Point Impression Blenda
Excellent-96%
Owned by Vierra Dairy, Hilmar, Calif.
"Blenda" is the second cow owned by Vierra Dairy, Hilmar, Calif., to be appraised Excellent-96% in recent months. The daughter of Rock Ella Impression-ET was raised a point to earn to prestigious final score in June 2022 as an eight-year-old cow.
“Blenda” was bred by Ashley R. Mayer, Stoney Point Jerseys, Taneytown, Md., and sold to Vierra Dairy in March 2019. A member of the dairy’s elite show string, she was tapped Grand Champion of the California Spring Show weeks later and then placed second in the aged cow class at the International Jersey Show in October. The following show season, she was Grand Champion of The Jersey Event, Reserve Senior Champion of the North American Dairy Show and All American Aged Cow at the national show in Louisville, Ky.
She has a best record of 16,630 lbs. milk, 982 lbs. fat and 667 lbs. protein at 2-11 and has seven registered progeny to date. She is from the “B” cow family at Stoney Point Jerseys. Three of her four closest dams are Excellent.
Random Luck T Heather
Excellent-96%
Owned by Red Dirt Genetics, Perkins, Okla.
"Heather" is sired by Tower Vue Prime Tequila-ET and backed by two Excellent dams: Random Luck R Hayley, E-91%, and Random Luck K Honesty-ET, E-95%.
She was bred by Lisa A. Caya, Darlington, Wis. She is now owned by Red Dirt Genetics, operated by Abe and Katrina Cobb, Perkins, Okla., who recently were named AJCA Young Jersey Breeders for 2022.
"Heather" was appraised 96 points at 8-6 in early May. She has two lactations over 20,000 lbs. milk and a top record of 4-10 305 22,160 4.2% 923 3.8% 848 96DCR.
She has an extensive show resume that includes Grand Champion (2021), Reserve Grand Champion (2018 and 2019), and Honorable Mention Senior Champion (2020) of the Southern National Jersey Show and Grand Champion of the Southwestern Exposition (2018). She is also the 2021 Reserve All American Lifetime Cheese Production Cow.
Hi Poits-Concept Spunky Morgan {6}
Excellent-96%
Owned by Jason Luttropp, Berlin, Wis.
"Morgan {6}" is the breed's first cow to be appraised Excellent-96% in 2022.
She is sired by Forever Hopeful Spunky-ET and backed by two Excellent-90% dams: Brenhaven Comerica Model {5} and then Royark DC Megan. She was bred by Moira and Scott Poitras and Concept Genetics, Brimfield, Mass., and is now a member of the Lost Elm herd in Wisconsin.
"Morgan {6}" has also been owned by Budjon Farm and partners Peter Vail and Frank and Diane Borba of Lomira, Wis.
She was appraised 96 points at 8-6 and has six complete lactations, three of them over 20,000 lbs. milk. She completed a top record of 24,110 lbs. milk, 1,025 lbs. fat and 846 lbs. protein at 6-3.
She was Grand Champion of the Wisconsin Spring Dairy Showcase in 2019 and named All Breed Access Reserve All-American Junior Two-Year-Old in 2015.
Woodmohr V Diamond-ET
Excellent-96%
Owned by Woodmohr Jerseys, Bloomer, Wis.
Woodmohr V Diamond-ET is owned and bred by Woodmohr Jerseys of Bloomer, Wis. She was raised a point to E-96% at 8-9 in June 2021.
“Diamond” is sired by Arethusa Verbatim Response-ET and has two records over 24,200 lbs. milk, 1,630 lbs. fat and 880 lbs. protein. She is from a high-type, long-lived cow family. Two of her maternal sisters―-appraised Excellent-94% and Excellent-95%―placed in the AJCA Leading Living Lifetime Production Contest in 2019. Their dam has been honored for lifetime production as well.