Page 22 - BCHNews-XXX2020-Web

NEW MASTER BREEDER
CORLANE HOLSTEINS
Amanda Poelman
A Master Breeder Shield is the sum of years of hard work and dedication, when things tick along seamlessly and when it’s -50C and you’re just keeping things running. Such was the case for Corlane Holsteins of Leduc, AB, who on one of the coldest nights of the year, was recognized with Holstein Canada’s highest honour.
The Modest Origins
Corlane Holsteins was born when Cor Hofstra purchased the current farm in Leduc County in 1968 with a handshake deal. The property came with 40 cows in a relatively new tie- stall barn. Coming up with a prefix proved simple: “Cor”, who lived down a long “lane” = CORLANE.
Over the years, sons Harold and Fred worked alongside Cor, slowly taking over the farm together. The facilities saw many improvements, including a calf barn in 2000, and two additions to the tie-stall barn to get to 86 milking cows. Fred and Cor looked after the genetics side of the business, while Harold focused on the crop work and anything mechanical.
A new freestall facility was built in 2014, equipped with two DeLaval robots. The same year, Fred’s son Chance finished his schooling at Lakeland College and returned to the farm full-time, with a keen interest in genetics.
After Harold’s departure in 2018, Fred and Chance began transitioning, acquiring more land to put up enough feed for their 120-cow milking herd.
Today they farm 800 acres, growing various crops including corn silage, barley, oat silage, winter triticale and alfalfa for hay.
Although Chance handles most of the breeding and genetics, discussions on sire selection are still 50/50. “The focus has always been on higher type,” says Chance, “but we’ve also added more production as feed costs go up.” Selections are made to achieve a balanced cow that is not extreme in type or production but has positive milk and fat deviations.
“We use about a 60/40 ratio of proven bulls to genomic bulls,” says Chance, “and we aren’t afraid to go back to a bull that is a little bit older if he works well.” The foundation of Corlane genetics was built on sires like Inspiration and Lee, followed by Seaver, Bradnick, Jettair, Windbrook and Unix. Today the tank is filled with Delta Lambda and Renegade bloodlines, along with Hulu, Master, Logic, Conway, Victor, Le Magic, Capital and HasItAll.
Solid “G”roundwork
A large portion of the Corlane herd can be traced back to CORLANE GERDA INSPIRATION EX-90 5E 4* and her sister CORLANE GLADYS HUGO GP-84. Gerda produced over 70,000 kgs lifetime milk and left 7 VG and 1 GP daughters in the herd. Gerda and Gladys, left daughters and granddaughters who produced many generations of VG and EX animals. “They were incredible transmitters and our current herd shows that,” says Fred.
A current favourite from the Gerda line is CORLANE DELTA GUMDROP EX-90 4E 1*. Sired by Mr. Hovden Delta, Gumdrop has two VG daughters, one Superior Lactation, and has made over 80,000 kgs lifetime milk. She placed first in the Longtime Production class at the 2023 Alberta Dairy Congress, where Corlane also earned first place Breeder’s Herd.
Another big contributor to the shield is CORLANE SHELLEY BLAZE EX-92 4E 1*. Shelley produced over 70,000 kgs in her lifetime and left 4 VG daughters. One of her descendants is CORLANE UNIX SKIPPY VG-86 (87 MS). Backed by six VG and EX dams, Skippy was fresh in November with a flashy Goliath heifer calf and is projected to be almost 10,000 kgs.
Sell the Best, Milk the Rest
Unafraid to sell their best cows, Corlane has had several successful animals grace the coloured shavings. CORLANE SEAVER MISTY EX-92 was nominated All-American Senior 3 Year Old in 2019 and CORLANE GOLDCHIP LEMON EX-93 was Reserve Intermediate Champion at the California State Show. Both cows are owned by the Borba Family in California.
CORLANE ENTRANCE DELANEY EX-92, a sixth-generation descendant of the Gerda family, was Honourable Mention All-American Senior 2 Year Old in 2020, now owned by Elmvue Farms in New York. Her sister, CORLANE MIDNIGHT DESIRE EX- 92, still calls Corlane home.
Sold through “The Quality of Corlane” sale in June 2021, CORLANE UNIX SALISBURY VG- 89 is owned by Wendon Holsteins.
She made her mark in 2023, capturing Reserve Grand Champion at both the Alberta Dairy Congress and the Westerner Dairy Showcase. Salisbury has produced over 30,000 kgs in two lactations.
The Big Reveal
The night of the Master Breeder
reveal had been a “super fun” day at Corlane. It was -50 degrees outside and Fred and Chance were in the middle of chores and trying to keep the barn thawed. After finding out via friends on Snapchat, Chance immediately located Fred and simply said, “We won!”
Fred admits that it’s a little bittersweet in some ways with Cor having passed away in 2019. “My dad used to talk about being a Master Breeder all the time, so I automatically think of him and wish he could be here for this. Becoming a Master Breeder is such a big deal. You’ve finally achieved the recognition – you’re in the conversation now with other elite breeders across the country. I don’t think it hit me until I read ‘Corlane Holsteins – Master Breeder’ when we were looking up a cow on Holstein Canada. That will be there forever.”
The Hofstra’s hope to maintain the breeding philosophy that has served them well and remain profitable doing it. “I’d love to see one of our cows do well at Royal,” says Fred, “seeing cows you’ve sold do well is exciting.” Of course, working on their second shield is also on the agenda.
A dream, fueled by drive, discipline and dedication – woven through three generations and counting.
L-R: Fred, Melissa, Chandler, Josh, Sydney and Chance.
22 B.C. HOLSTEIN DAIRY DIRECTORY 2024/2025
CORLANE
HOLSTEINS
2023
Fred and Chance with their
1st place Breeders Herd - Alberta Dairy Congress 2023.