The Brown Swiss Cattle Breeders' Association of the U.S.A. recognized Todd Keune of Wykoff, Minnesota, as its 2011 Young Breeder Award recipient at the breed's national convention held in Frederick, Maryland, July 6-9. Keune and his wife Jill own and operate North Star Brown Swiss, where they currently milk about 50 cows and raise 40 heifers. As of December 2010, their herd obtained an official DHIR test average of 20,450 pounds milk, 773 pounds fat and 656 pounds protein on 3x per day milking.
As a participant in the Brown Swiss Advantage program, which credits breeders for their outstanding individual and herd DHIR production records, Keune has received many Genetic Honors and PTAP (Predicted Transmitting Ability Protein) herd awards. His cows have also produced honor roll records and made the Top PPR (Progressive Performance Ranking) Cow List.
Five of his bulls rank among the top 83 PPR sires in the breed and he has sold or leased more than 20 bulls to A.I. companies.
Keune attributes much of his success to R Hart CD Cora, whom he bought as an open heifer. She is scored EX-94 and at one time was the highest indexed 94-point cow in the breed. Four of Cora's daughters are contracted to A.I. organizations.
His future goals include increasing embryo transfers, genomically testing his entire herd, maintaining healthy cows, improving production and remodeling/replacing a few farm buildings, he said.
He would also like to enhance his breeding program. "Thus far, our breeding program has focused on elite production indexes with good sound type. The next progression in our breeding program is to compete at higher level shows, while trying to maintain our high production genetics," Keune said.
The Young Breeder Award is presented to an individual or member and spouse who have shown an expertise in dairy farming and Brown Swiss cattle breeding, participated in Association programs and events and held leadership roles in the community both in agricultural and nonagricultural organizations. A state association officer or five-year active national member must nominate candidates. PD
—From Brown Swiss Association news release
