Holstein Association Awards

Star of the Breed
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The Star of the Breed award will recognize one cow annually that has excelled in the show ring and the milking barn.

To be eligible for the Star of the Breed award, a cow must place in the top five in her class at a National Holstein Show, have completed a lactation in the last year, be in a herd enrolled in the TriStar program and have an official classification score.

Once the eligible cows are determined, the following calculation
is used to decide the recipient:

Combined ME Fat and Protein
+
Age Adjusted Classification Score
x
(Breed Average ME CFP/Breed Average Age Adjusted Score)

2019 Star of the Breed
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Ocean-View Sterling Silver
EX-94 2E
5-07 2X 365D 58,330M 4.1%F 2,419F 2.8%P 1,640P

Sire: Regancrest S Braxton-ET

Bred & Owned by: Ocean View Genetics,
Deerfield, Wis.

Read more about Silver

Previous Award Winners
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2018 Star of the Breed T-Triple-T Platinum-ET EX-94 2E 7-04 2X 365D 46,830M 6.5%F 3,049F 3.1%P 1,471P Sire: Braedale Goldwyn Owned by: Triple-T Holsteins, North Lewisburg, Ohio; Aaron R. Eaton, Syracuse, N.Y.; Bradley R. Murphy, Parish, N.Y. Read more about Platinum
2017 Star of the Breed Smith-Crest-TW SH Virgie-ET EX-95 2E 6-04 2X 305D 44,710M 4.0%F 1,784F 2.9%P 1,296P Sire: Picston Shottle-ET Bred by: Matt and Travis Smith, Watertown, Wis., and Anthony W. Whitehead, Conway, Mo. Owned by: Paul Grulke, Mayville, Wis. Read more about Virgie
2016 Star of the Breed Miss Hot Mama-Red-ET EX-92 1-11 2X 274d 33,520M 5.8%F 1,940F 3.5%P 1,162P Sire: Mr Apples Armani-ET Bred by: Nathan Thomas, Michael Heath and Will Iager Owned by: Smith-Crest Holsteins, Watertown, Wis.; Majestic View Genetics LLC, Sun Prairie, Wis.; Rhonda Shore, Sun Prairie, Wis.; Randy Connery, Sun Prairie, Wis. and Crailoo Dairy Farm LLC, Brownsville, Wis. Read more about Hot Mama
2015 Star of the Breed Air-Osa Redbull 12417 EX-95 2E 6-03 3X 305d 61,020M 4.1%F 2,491F 3.2%P 1,975P Sire: KHW Redbull Bred & Owned by: Joe Airoso, Tipton, Calif. Read more about Redbull 12417
2014 Star of the Breed Pineylawn Jasper Bethany EX-94 4-04 2X 365d 46,920M 4.5%F 2,130F 2.9%P 1,366P Sire: Wilcoxview Jasper-ET Bred by: Pineylawn Acres, Fond du lac, Wis. Owned by: Heatherstone Enterprises, Baraboo, Wis. Read more about Bethany
2013 Stars of the Breed Bur-Wall Buckeye Gigi 2E-94 5-09 2X 365d 52,190M 3.9%F 2,040F 2.9%P 1,532P Sire: R-E-W Buckeye-ET Bred & Owned by: Bur-Wall Holsteins, Brooklyn, Wis. Read more about Gigi
Idee Shottle Lalia 2E-94 5-03 2X 365d 48,240M 4.5%F 2,191F 3.1%P 1,484P Sire: Picston Shottle-ET Bred by: Idee Holsteins of Hunter River, Prince Edward Island, Canada Owned by: Milk Source LLC, Kaukauna, Wis. Read more about Lalia
2012 Star of the Breed Siemers Alisha Gold Ava-ETS 2E-95 5-03 2X 365d 56,330M 4.1%F 2,301F 3.3%P 1,865P Sire: Braedale Goldwyn Bred & Owned by: Crystal Siemers-Peterman, Newton, Wis.
2011 Star of the Breed Hazel-Bush Flap Flower EX-92 (EEEEE) 4-05 2X 305d 49,810M 4.1%F 2,042F 2.9%P 1,436P Sire: My-John Free Flap-ET Owned by: Beth Nelson, Blair, Wis. Bred by: Hazel Bush Farms, Inc., Rice Lake, Wis.
2010 Star of the Breed Scarlet-Summer RB Gwendelyn Excellent-94 2E (EEEEE) 5-00 2X 365d 58,270M 5.2%F 3,004F 2.9%P 1,677P Sire: STBVQ Rubens-ET Owned by: Scarlet Summer Holsteins, Muncy, Pa. Bred by: Scarlet Summer Holsteins, Muncy, Pa.
2009 Star of the Breed Eskdale Dundee Marcia Mona Excellent-92 (VEEEE) 3-00 2X 365d 46,490M 3.8%F 1760F 3.3%P 1519 Sire: Regancrest Dundee-ET Owned by: Siemers Holstein Farms, Inc., WI Bred by: Eskdale Dairy, UT

2008 Star of the Breed Stuewes FB Giddy-ET Excellent-94 (EEEEE) 3-03 2x 365d 42,270M 5.6%F 2369F 3.3%P 1407P Sire: Boulet Charles-ET Owned by: Andrew D. Stuewe, MN Bred by: David Stuewe, MN
2007 Star of the Breed MS Crockettacres Monique-ET Very Good-88 (VEEVV) 2-05 2x 305d 32,900M 4.5%F 1491F 3.6%P 1169P Sire: Braedale Freelance-ET Owned by: Allison Stammen, OH Bred by: Ferme Lesperron & Crockett Farms Holsteins, Inc., Quebec, Can.

Click here to search the
Gold Medal Dam list.

Gold Medal DamSM
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In order to be recognized as a Gold Medal Dam (GMD), a cow must qualify under the
following criteria:

		A cow and at least three of her daughters must have been classified.
		The cow herself must be milking in a herd participating in TriStarSM service option. TriStar published records are used in the evaluation.
		Equal emphasis is placed on production and type. In addition, there is equal emphasis on progeny and dam performance. Dam's age adjusted final score Dam's average 2X 305 day ME production records Average of daughters' age adjusted scores Average of daughters' ME production records.
		Separate cutoffs are determined by birth year of the dam. ME production will only be calculated on actual records of 270 days in length or greater for the cow and her progeny.
		If the cow, herself, does not qualify on a mature equivalent basis, she may qualify on either one of the following lifetime credits: 200,000 pounds of milk, or 7,200 pounds of fat, or 6,400 pounds of protein
		Automatic evaluation is done twice a year for all cows 87% RHA or higher that were born in the past 25 years. The GMD award is permanent recognition.
Read more about the Gold Medal Dam in this article from the Holstein Pulse.

GOLD MEDAL DAM CRITERIA
Year of Birth	Dam Milk Cutoff	Dam Fat Cutoff	Dam Protein Cutoff	Dam AASC Cutoff	Daughter Milk Cutoff	Daughter Fat Cutoff	Daughter Protein Cutoff	Daughter AASC Cutoff
1991	25,800	901	748	83	26,300	921	763	83
1992	26,000	908	754	83	26,500	928	769	83
1993	26,300	918	762	83	26,800	938	777	83
1994	26,400	922	765	83	26,900	942	780	83
1995	27,227	950	789	83	27,727	970	804	83
1996	27,477	959	796	83	27,977	979	811	83
1997	27,727	968	804	83	28,227	988	819	83
1998	27,977	977	811	83	28,477	997	826	83
1999	28,227	985	818	83	28,727	1,005	833	83
2000	28,477	994	825	83	28,977	1,014	840	83
2001	28,727	1,003	833	83	29,227	1,023	848	83
2002	28,977	1,012	840	83	29,477	1,032	855	83
2003	29,227	1,020	847	83	29,727	1,040	862	83
2004	29,477	1,029	854	83	29,977	1,049	869	83
2005	29,727	1,038	862	83	30,227	1,058	877	83
2006	29,977	1,047	869	83	30,477	1,067	884	83
2007	30,227	1,055	876	83	30,727	1,075	891	83
2008	30,477	1,064	883	83	30,977	1,084	898	83
2009	30,743	1,074	891	83	31,243	1,094	906	83
2010	31,010	1,083	899	83	31,510	1,103	914	83
2011	31,276	1,092	907	83	31,776	1,112	922	83
2012	31,555	1,102	915	83	32,055	1,122	930	83
2013	31,834	1,112	923	83	32,334	1,132	938	83
2014	32,114	1,121	931	83	32,614	1,141	946	83

Click here to search the
Dam of Merit list.

Dam of MeritSM
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In order to be recognized as a Dam of Merit (DOM), a cow must have a GTPI® or CTPISM exceeding year of birth cutoff and at least three offspring with a PTA for production and type; the GTPI or CTPI must be calculated using a required classification score.

Automatic evaluation is done twice a year for all cows 87% RHA or higher that were born in the last 25 years and milking in a herd enrolled in one of the TriStarSM service options. The DOM award is permanent recognition.

DAM OF MERIT CRITERIA
Birth Year	Dam's TPI Cutoff	Birth Year	Dam's TPI Cutoff
1993	+1435	2005	+1887
1994	+1470	2006	+1925
1995	+1511	2007	+1962
1996	+1549	2008	+2000
1997	+1586	2009	+2055
1998	+1624	2010	+2111
1999	+1662	2011	+2166
2000	+1699	2012	+2312
2001	+1737	2013	+2457
2002	+1774	2014	+2603
2003	+1812	2015	+2749
2004	+1849	2016	+2894

Click here to search the
Gold Medal Sire list.

Gold Medal SireSM
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In order to be recognized as a Gold Medal Sire (GM), a bull must qualify under the following criteria:

Must meet the minimum TPI® level, which is updated semi-annually to recognize approximately 25
new bulls each year.

Minimum reliability of 90% for PTA Fat and PTA Type.

Must be free of undesirable recessive and enzyme deficiencies.

Automatic evaluation is done twice a year for all sires 87% RHA or higher. The Gold Medal Sire award is permanent recognition.

Elite PerformerTM
For a cow to qualify for the Elite PerformerTM award, she must meet the following criteria to be considered:
		complete at least three lactations in a herd participating in Holstein Association USA's TriStar program, completing the most recent lactation in the previous calendar year
		87% RHA or higher
		classified VG-85 or higher
Eligible cows across the country are ranked based on pounds of combined fat and protein per day in milk. The top one percent receive the National Elite Performer award. Those National Elite Performers are then removed from consideration and the top one percent of eligible cows from each of the nine regions are honored as Regional Elite Performers. All cows currently enrolled in TriStarSM are automatically evaluated annually. Elite Performer recognition is a lifetime award and is printed on a cow’s pedigree, found underneath her milk production records. Read more about the Elite Performer award in this article published in the Holstein Pulse.
2020 Elite PerformersTM
		View 2020 National Elite Performers pdf file excel file
		View 2020 Regional Elite Performers pdf file excel file
2019 Elite PerformersTM
		View 2019 National Elite Performers pdf file excel file
		View 2019 Regional Elite Performers pdf file excel file
2018 Elite PerformersTM
		View 2018 National Elite Performers pdf file excel file
		View 2018 Regional Elite Performers pdf file excel file
2017 Elite PerformersTM
		View 2017 National Elite Performers pdf file excel file
		View 2017 Regional Elite Performers pdf file excel file
2016 Elite PerformersTM
		View 2016 National Elite Performers pdf file excel file
		View 2016 Regional Elite Performers pdf file excel file
2015 Elite PerformersTM
		View 2015 National Elite Performers pdf file excel file
		View 2015 Regional Elite Performers pdf file excel file
2014 Elite PerformersTM
		View 2014 National Elite Performers pdf file excel file
		View 2014 Regional Elite Performers pdf file excel file