World Dairy Expo brought together more than 72,000 individuals from around the world Sept. 29 to Oct. 3. While each came with unique experience and ambitions, this year’s central theme, “Dairy in our DNA,” drew on attendees’ shared interest in the dairy cow.

Many of the attendees observed more than 2,200 of the best dairy animals compete on the royal blue colored shavings. From the animals standing at the top of their class in the International Holstein Show, there’s no question those watching found a common thread of DNA among the winners – Holstein sire, Braedale Goldwyn.

In fact, last year Goldwyn-sired animals captured 33 top-10 finishes, including the coveted top spot in five classes. And, the highest honor went to RF Goldwyn Hailey EX-97-3E, making it the fourth consecutive year Goldwyn has sired the Grand Champion of the International Holstein Show. These results were a continuation of Goldwyn's history-making dominance, as he garnered the Premier Sire banner of the International Holstein Show for seven years, ending Regancrest Elton Durham’s five-year run in 2008.

In 2015, Goldwyn’s streak of champions continued as more than 60 daughters competed in the International Holstein Show, resulting in three class winners and 30 placing in the top 10 of their classes, including the Supreme and Grand Champion, as well as the Reserve Grand Champion. And, after a seven-year run as Premier Sire of the show, he relinquished his title to Pine-Tree Sid. But Goldwyn’s story is far from over, as five of the seven Sid daughters placing in the top three of their classes were from Goldwyn dams.

Bred by the Beaton family of Braedale Holsteins in Cumberland, Ontario, Goldwyn’s maternal line is a strong family Semex had been working with for five generations, according to sire analyst Julien Chabot. Goldwyn’s dam, Braedale Baler Twine VG-86, was contracted as a heifer and bred to Shoremar James, resulting in her first natural calf born in 2000.

“He was a beautiful calf,” Chabot recalls. “Of the 50 bulls we brought in that year, he was one of the easiest decisions to make.”

Goldwyn was sampled through the Semex progeny test program, and his first daughters began to calve in 2004.

"From the first group of 20 milking daughters I saw, I could tell Goldwyn was going to make the really special ones, even before his numbers were on paper,” Chabot says. Over the years, Chabot has seen nearly 1,000 daughters globally, and his assessment of them has remained the same.

Chabot explains, "From the first daughters I saw a decade ago to the most recent ones I’ve seen, Goldwyn follows a phenomenal pattern. His daughters consistently possess tremendous udders, excellent style with great stature and length, and good feet and legs."

Goldwyn also gives his daughters the right attitude for the show ring.

“They have a special presence in the ring – just the right edge and intensity that sets them apart,” Chabot says. “While Goldwyn daughters will look great standing in the barn among herdmates, get them in the show ring and they shine with their presence.”

In 2008, Goldwyn both passed away and had a breakout year at the International Holstein Show at World Dairy Expo. A group of impressive heifers and young cows finished first in five classes, and Goldwyn sired the Junior Champion, Reserve Junior Champion and Honorable Mention Junior Champion. Goldwyn was awarded Premier Sire of the International Holstein Show for the first time, which Cabot notes was impressive given Goldwyn’s young age.

Since then, Goldwyn daughters have continued to excel in the World Dairy Expo show ring. Two exceptional cows Chabot points out are 2011 International Holstein Show Grand Champion Eastside Lewisdale Gold Missy EX-95-2E, and 2012 and 2014 International Holstein Show Grand Champion RF Goldwyn Hailey EX-97-3E.

Goldwyn's accolades extend beyond the World Dairy Expo show ring, as his influence and mark can be seen in herds everywhere. Dairymen are consistently impressed with not only Goldwyn’s consistent type pattern, but also the production and longevity he transmits. He has been crossed on a variety of bloodlines but is oftentimes used on Regancrest Elton Durham-ET, Picston Shottle-ET and Regancrest Dundee-ET.

In addition, because of Goldwyn’s high Total Performance Index (TPI) and Lifetime Profit Index (LPI) ranking, he has been used on new, high index families. It is a unique situation and an opportunity to add Goldwyn to new bloodlines and elevate them to a new level, according to Chabot.

Goldwyn offers a unique and complete package, making his daughters versatile and practical for any environment. Chabot remarks he’s consistently seen “6- to 8-year-old cows looking like 4-year-olds” because Goldwyn’s daughters are mobile, agile and youthful looking with great udders. While today Goldwyn semen can be hard to find, there’s still a group of passionate breeders who seek him out because of his appeal.

A global sire of sons, the first Goldwyn sons were released in 2010. Today, there are several sires available with different strengths – some being stronger type, others production. Chabot notes Goldwyn was an extreme individual, so rarely will sons meet or outperform his level. Goldwyn’s most notable son, Maple-Downs-I G W Atwood, is beginning to make his own impact in the show ring. Other sons include Crackholm Fever, Regancrest Reginald-ET, R-E-W Seaver-ET, Lirr Drew Dempsey and Mr Chassity Gold Chip-ET, whose second-crop daughters are now calving.

“Although Goldwyn has passed, his daughters and sons will continue his legacy by adding to his growing list of accomplishments,” Chabot says. Goldwyn has, and is continuing, a historical career and impact on the World Dairy Expo show ring, one that will be hard to ever replicate or surpass.  PD

Sarah Lenkaitis is a freelance writer and dairy farmer in Saint Charles, Illinois.