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The Rural Voice, 1999-05, Page 31Master class It takes years of dedication to excellence in breeding cattle to win a Master Breeder shield. Two of the latest recipients, from Huron County share their strategies in building long-term herd success Story and photos by Keith 1:vulston VILLVERN FARM Jts the highest award a Holstein breeder can attain, a reward for years of dedication to excellence and building a herd. It's the Master Breeder shield and only a handful of breeders from across Canada achieve it each year. For two Huron County Master Breeders who picked up their awards at the Holstein Canada annual convention in Halifax in late April, it's the culmination of years of breeding strategies that built outstanding herds. In the case of Clinton's Paul Gibbings, he began to dream about achieving Master Breeder status when he was still in 4- H, and working for two breeders who had won the award. For Ethel's Lyle Martin, it's an added reward for daily The Master Breeder Award was a family affair for the Martin family of Ethel. Daughter Wanda, Lyle and Barbara, son Grant and his wife Pam all help out on the farm. Ellen and Paul Gibbings (at left) have seen their bloodlines make their way around the world. breeding decisions over the long term. "Whcn you start out you never think you'll make it," says Barbara Martin. "It takes a long time to get the points to win. Only until in the last few years did we begin to realize it could happen." Gibbings says the idea of winning the award has been in the back of his mind ever since he was a kid but it was only three years ago he began to realize he might be edging closer. He paid Holstein Canada to do a search of records and found out he was closer than he thought to the coveted award. Aftcr that he began to look closely at the cows in his herd to sec which might earn "very good" or "excellent" status and contribute to his point total. Still, he says, he was surprised to qualify this year. To become a Master Breeder, a Holstein breeder amasses points for "very good" (up to 12 points, depending on the cow's production) and "excellent" cows (up to 18 points) that have been bred in his herd. Cows that go on to have top offspring earn points as Star Brood cows. Those cows may be in his own herd or in another Canadian herd. The morc cows you have registered, the higher the goal of points you need to qualify. It takes years of excellence to gain enough points to qualify. A breeder can use his best 20 years of accumulated points but the Gibbings only needed 15 years and the Martins, 18. Unlike show cattle, production counts as well as type with cattle qualifying for Master Breeder's points. The Gibbings herd has had the highest production in Huron County in the past three years and the Martins have taken first or second place several times. Paul and Ellen Gibbings have a milking herd of 40 cows, with the MAY 1999 27