Pearl’s Honored With Master Breeder Award

William and Gwen Pearl, Barnet, Vt., are this year’s recipients of the American Jersey Cattle Association (AJCA) Master Breeder award. Pearlmont Farm’s legacy has been developing high-producing, high-scoring cows with an emphasis on genomics.
The Master Breeder award is bestowed annually to a living AJCA member, family, partnership, or corporation that, in the opinion of the Board of Directors, has bred outstanding animals for many years and thereby made a notable contribution to the advancement of the Jersey breed in the United States.
Pearlmont Jerseys began in 1956 when William’s parents, Merwyn and Eva, bought the farm’s first three Registered Jersey heifers and chose Pearlmont as the prefix. Over the next decade they would transition to an all Registered Jersey herd.
William and Gwen took over the farm in 1994 and were directly involved with all decisions, management, and animal care from the start. Their goal was for proficient production, as the farm’s bottom line was most important. With this in mind, William and Gwen pushed for the result of “good production, healthy cows, and smaller feed and veterinarian bills.”
Under Gwen’s attentive care of the newborn calves, the farm reported a less than 1% mortality rate. This made it possible for the Pearls to sell about 40% of their young stock. Pearlmont also had an impressive first service conception rate of 68%.
Pearlmont Farm attributes their continuous genetic improvement to solely utilizing artificial insemination technologies as their breeding practice. They have also been great proponents of using unproven sires. “We believe that sampling young sires gives us a head start by using tomorrow’s genetics today,” said the Pearls in their nomination form.
These progressive views on how to produce quality cattle with good genetics has provided Pearlmont’s genetics the opportunity to enter markets not only across the nation but also in Canada, Cuba, and Japan.
One of the most influential products of Pearlmont breeding has been Pearlmont Impuls Daffy, Excellent-90%. They consigned her to the 2008 All American Sale where she was purchased by the parternship of Eric Leonard Silva, Kara Hale, and Bruce Roos, Cloverdale, Ore. Before leaving Pearlmont, she had produced sons that went to ABS, Genex, and Select Sires. But her story was just beginning.
In total “Daffy” has had over 30 sons sent to A.I. and more than 500 registered maternal descendants. Two of “Daffy’s” sons, Sunset Canyon Dimension-ET and Sunset Canyon Daybreak-ET, were ranked first and second respectively on the Historical Top 100 JPI Bulls August production summary in 2015.
“There are not many breeders that can boast owning cows that become a household name in the cow world across the entire country, even fewer due to their genomic impact,” writes Corrina Aldrich, owner of Edan Jerseys in her letter of support. “Pearlmont will always have ‘Daffy.’”
In studying the April 2024 genetic evaluations, 74% of the top 50 Active, Foreign and Genomic sires trace back to “Daffy” within the first six generations. These include the #1 and #2 sires of the breed—JX Peak Altafarva {6}-ET and JX CDF JLS Pilgrim Thrasher {6}-ET. The impact of this cow family continues to captitalize on high-genomics, production and type.
Another Pearlmont success story that has impacted the Jersey breed is Pearlmont Choice Camille, Excellent-95%. “Camille” was not only the highest scored cow the Pearls bred but she also is the dam to several notable progeny. These include Pearlmont Hallmark Calamity who was the top seller of the 2003 All American Jersey Sale for $18,000. Her full sister, Pearlmont Hallmark L Classy, appraised Excellent-92%; and her son, Pearlmont Hallmark Catamount-ET, ranked 58th on the active sire list as well as being the highest-ranked New England bred bull on that list at the time.
“Their cows have been bred to produce an abundance of high-quality milk with ease while looking good, lasting a long time, and transmitting those genes to their offspring,” writes Jennifer McReynolds of Lucky Hill Farm LLP in her letter of support.
Pearlmont has bred several appraised Excellent cows who have a lactation record exceeding 21,000 lbs. milk, 900 lbs. fat, and approximately 700 lbs. protein. Some of these standout cows include: “Camille,” Pearlmont Barkly Bettina, Excellent-93%, Pearlmont Lester Diamond Empress, Excellent-91%, Pearlmont Hallmark B Lyric, Excellent-90%, and Pearlmont Hallmark BF Lyra, Excellent-90%.
Pearlmont Farm has been a substantial supporter of AJCA programs including REAP and consigning to national level Jersey Marketing Service sales such as the National Heifer Sale, Pot O’Gold and the All American sales.
The Pearls’ dedication to improving the Jersey breed has not gone unnoticed as they have been recognized several times in New England over the years. They accepted the Vermont Outstanding Senior Breeder award in 2000 and the New England Master Breeder award in 2002. Pearlmont Farm itself was named a Vermont Dairy of Distinction for eight consecutive years.
“They have kept New England Jerseys relevant, and on the map,” writes Aldrich.
Though the Pearls sold their Jerseys in 2019, they continue to be active in the community and the dairy industry in many ways including their previous activities with the farm and New England Jerseys.
William has served as vice president of the New England Jersey Young Sires. Pearlmont Farm hosted a field trip for a kindergarten class from a local school for several years and a third-grade class from another school nearby. The Pearls have worked with many 4-Hers from hosting dairy judging practices to selling quality calves at affordable prices.
“William and Gwen should be recognized as AJCA Master Breeders not only for their contribution to the creation of highly productive and profitable Jersey cattle and foundation genetics that we now have to work with, but also for the gracious and humble way they have gone about it,” adds Aldrich. “Their enthusiasm for the Jersey cow and willingness to lend encouragement to those just starting out or to support others breeding programs through their genetics is unparalleled in my opinion.”