Bruce Gingerich Tops Michiana BAA Herd List for 2023
Published: Friday, January 19, 2024
Two area dairy farms have landed on Holstein USA's annual list of Top 200 BAA herds, announced last week.
Sunrose Holsteins in Millersburg and Nise-N-Fancy Holsteins of Leesburg were the highest-ranking Michiana herds on the top 200 list, based on Breed Age Average (BAA) for 2023 classifications.
"Breed Age Average values factor in the age of an animal and their stage of lactation at the time of classification, putting cows of all ages on a similar playing field," said Lindsey Worden, Holstein USA's chief operating officer. "Achieving recognition as a top BAA herd is a significant accomplishment—congratulations to all registered Holstein breeders who earned a spot on these lists."
In 2023, 951 herds had a BAA value eligible for inclusion in these lists. The average number of cows included in the BAA calculation for the entire group was 67, and the average BAA% was 108.0. Herds must have a minimum of 10 cows to be included for calculation on the list.
Matthew T. Mitchell of Tennessee and Triple-T-Holsteins in Ohio tied for the top spot on the 2023 highest overall BAA list with a BAA of 115.6. Rounding out the top five spots on the list are Conant Acres Inc., Maine; Prestige Genetics, Illinois; and G. Alpheus Stoltzfus, Pennsylvania, all with BAAs of 115 or higher.
Sunrose Holsteins, led by Bruce R. Gingerich, ranked 12th overall with a BAA of 114.6. The ranking was even higher when compared with herds of 10 to 49 cows. Sunrose, with 16 cows, ranked ninth in that size category.
Nise-N-Fancy Holsteins, led by Rich Nisen, ranked 20th overall with a BAA of 114. Compared with herds of 10 to 49 cows, the Nisen herd, with 37 cows, ranked 16th on that list.
Other top 200 herds from Michiana (listed by farm name, owner, location, overall rank, herd size and BAA%) were: Lookwell Farm, Elkhart, 48th place (tie), 24 cows, 112.6; Creeknook Holsteins, Steven R. Landis, Goshen, 48th place (tie), 28 cows, 112.6; Stookeyholm, estate of John R. Stookey, Milford, 83rd place, 12 cows, 111.7; and Troyer, Marcus and Julia Troyer, LaOtto, 126th place, 15 cows, 111.
Looking at the top herds by region, Gingerich and Nise-N-Fancy ranked third and seventh, respectively, among herds in Indiana, Michigan, Illinois and Ohio. Lookwell Farm and Creeknook Holsteins were tied for 12th place. Stookeyholm Holsteins ranked 20th place.
Top Michiana herds, by size, were: 10 to 49 cows, Gingerich, ninth and Nise-N-Fancy, 16th; 115 to 249 cows, Kuehnert Dairy Inc., Fort Wayne, 19th place, 243 cows, 107.6 BAA; Oneeda Farms LLC, Syracuse, 23rd place, 158 cows, 107.2 BAA; and over 250 cows, Brand Dairy Farm, Waterloo, 25th place, 340 cows, 104.9 BAA.
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