The Milk Producer - May 2012 - (Page 50)

THEBACKFORTY By Sharon Laidlaw Gillette E. Smurf, a top-notch Holstein cow, has broken the world record for lifetime milk production A humble servant S he’s humble, hard-working and has never called in sick. She is a top-notch Holstein cow that has just broken the world record for lifetime milk production. Gillette Emperor Smurf has produced a record-breaking 216,891 kilograms of milk over her lifetime, says dairy farmer Eric Patenaude, one of four brothers who operate La Ferme Gillette, near Ottawa. The previous record was held by the late Japanese cow, Ykt Tettje Amanda EX 93. Her record was 215,218 kg. Gillette Emperor Smurf is a problem-free cow that never gets any mastitis, has never had feet problems and just wants to keep milking, says Patenaude. 50 | May 2012 | MilkPRODUCER The prized 15-year-old Holstein has produced an average 38 kg of milk in 10 lactations, says Patenaude. He says she is a special cow that has never given him any problems. “What sets Smurf apart from the other cows is that she is a problemfree cow that never gets any mastitis, has never had feet problems and just wants to keep milking,” he says. Patenaude attributes Smurf’s longevity to her maternal line, which the family have been working with for more than 25 years. Four generations of dams have lived to be at least 10 years old, says Patenaude. Smurf has never had twins, and was due to give birth to her 11th calf in early May. She has had only two daughters. One of then is an EX champion still at the farm. Smurf was named after a young farm worker called Mathieu Murphy, who bought a share in her grandmother. The four brothers called her Smurf because they used to refer to Murphy as “little smurf” due to his small size. Smurf was recently awarded the title of having the most milk yield in a lifetime by the Guinness World Records. In 2011, Smurf was recognized as the first Canadian cow to produce more than 200,000 kg of milk. Only eight other cows in the world have surpassed this number.

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of The Milk Producer - May 2012

The Milk Producer - May 2012
Contents
Editor's Notes
DFO Chair's Message
Dairy Update
Farm Finance
DFC Promotion
Cover Story
Research
Applied Science
Ruminations
Udder Health
Calf Health
Markets
New 'N' Noted
Back Forty

The Milk Producer - May 2012