Hilrose Advent Anna-Red EX-94, an eight-year-old Red & White Holstein bred and owned by Hilrose Holsteins of Sherwood, has been named the 2018 Wisconsin Cow of the Year. Anna will be recognized with the honor at a special ceremony on October 4 during this year’s World Dairy Expo.
Each year, a different Wisconsin purebred cattle association selects a cow to represent her breed as the Cow of the Year at World Dairy Expo, The honor rotates annually among Wisconsin’s seven major dairy breeds, (Guernsey, Ayrshire, Holstein, Red & White Holstein, Brown Swiss, Jersey, and Milking Shorthorn), with the Red & White Holstein recognized this year.
Anna has a long list of honors in the Red & White breed, including Reserve All-American 125,000 lb. Cow in 2017, Reserve All-American Aged Cow in 2016, and nominated All-American five-year-old in 2015.
Hilrose Holsteins is owned and operated by Joe and Chris Brantmeier, and their sons Andy and Jeff. The Hilrose prefix originates from Joe’s parents, Hilard and Rosemary Brantmeier, who registered their first cow in 1959. Since then, the farm has bred and developed 212 Excellent and 621 Very Good cows.
Today, Hilrose is home to 100 registered Holsteins with a rolling herd average of 32,293 lbs. of milk, 1,236 lbs. of fat, and 1,006 lbs. of protein, with a current Breed Age Average (BAA%) of 111.1. Aside from the cattle, the Brantmeier family also manages 1,200 acres of cropland.
“Our underlying goal has been to breed and develop profitable cattle, with a strong emphasis on high type and cows with a tremendous will to milk,” said Jeff Brantmeier.
Commitment to quality has helped the family to be honored as a Holstein USA Herd of Excellence for many years. The family has also won Premier Breeder and Premier Exhibitor several times at the Wisconsin District 10 Holstein Show.
“We are humbled and honored to receive the Cow of the Year award. As a 10th generation Excellent cow, Anna is one that exemplifies the type of quality we strive for at Hilrose. Receiving this award with my sons, Andy and Jeff, brings us much joy,” said Joe Brantmeier.
The Cow of the Year ceremony is organized annually by the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection. The 2018 ceremony will be held at approximately 2-2:30 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 4 during the Red & White Holstein Winter Calf Class. The award will be presented to the Brantmeier family by DATCP Secretary Sheila Harsdorf and 71stth Alice in Dairyland Kaitlyn Riley.
