Friesian cow at the top

Press, 4 January 1980, Page 6

Friesian cow at the top

An American Friesian cow has become the first cow of any breed anywhere to produce more than 15.0001 b of fat, according to the New Zealand Friesian Association. Breezewood Patsy Bar Pontiac, by the end of her tenth lactation at the age of 13 years on twice-a-day milking, had a lifetime production of 337.5891 b cf milk and 15,1661 b of fat with a 4.5 per cent test in 3674 days, creating a world record for lifetime fat production. Recalving again at 14 years of age, Pontiac has unofficially produced a further 13,9201 b of milk and 6041 b of fat in 134 days. When these figures are confirmed Bar Pontiac will also be the lifetime all breeds record holder for milk. The previous lifetime world milk producer was also a Friesian, Or-Win Masterpiece Riva, with 346,2181 b of milk. Pontiac’s highest yearly production was as a 10-year-old with 47,5001 b of milk, a 4.7 per cent test, and 22301 b of fat in 365 days. Included in her 10 lactations to date are three annual returns of over 20001 b of fat and a further four over 10001 b of fat. Pontiac was bred to be great as her dam, Breezewood Champion Barbara, had a lifetime record of 235,8021 b of milk and 10.1451 b of fat in nine lactations, with a top record of 14171 b of fat, and her grandam, Princess Breezewood R A Patsy, produced 187,3611 b of milk and 8281 b of fat in seven lactations. Patsy returned 18661 b of fat in 1960, a butterfat record she held for 12 years until surpassed by her granddaughter. Looking further into Pontiac’s pedigree it is noted that her three direct paternal sires were all minus rated for production but plus rated for type. However, the dams of these bulls were all classified excellent, each with several 10001 b of fat records and lifetime totals over 10,0001 b of fat. Pontiac has already bred three daughters who have produced over 10001 b of fat a year and up to 14101 b of fat. A further two

younger daughters, not yet in milk, are sired by Roybrook Starlight, the top milk rated bull in Canada. Some semen of Roybrook Starlight has also been used in New Zealand and the first survey on 12 New Zealand daughters recently published by the Dairy Board shows that he easily tops the Friesian ratings for both fat and milk with a fat B.L of 154 and a milk B.L of 139. The .New Zealand lifetime milk and fat records are also held by a Friesian cow. Lelburne Louise Brabazon, still milking at 19 years of age. with current totals of 13,2231 b of fat and 305,0001 b of milk.