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Strong cow families take center stage at Poppe
3STAR Poppe Gretta (Picard x Palmer)
During the demo Grasdag at Poppe Holsteins, visitors were given not only an insight into grassland management and forage production, but also into the genetic strength of the herd. GGI Holland showcased several cows with German sires. Particularly noteworthy was the presence of three cows that were co-bred by GenHotel: the second-lactation cows 3STAR Poppe Gazelle and 3STAR OH Kayme Red, and the first-calver 3STAR Poppe Gretta.
These animals once again demonstrated how carefully selected cow families, combined with a focused breeding program and proper management, can develop into the foundation of successful and sustainable dairy herds.
The second-lactation 3STAR Poppe Gazelle GP-84 (Gladius x Durable) attracted considerable attention during Grass Day. This is hardly surprising, as Gazelle was the highest-producing heifer at Poppe Holsteins during her first lactation, averaging more than 60 kg of milk per day. This exceptional production potential is no coincidence. Gazelle is the full sister of 3STAR Poppe Gigantic, currently the number one proven sire in Spain. The performance of both Gigantic and Gazelle highlights the tremendous production capacity that has been present in this family for generations. Gazelle continues to demonstrate this in her second lactation, with a 305-day production of 15,680 kg of milk. She is now more than a year into lactation and is still producing over 55 kg of milk per day.
Even more impressive, however, is the family behind her. Through her dam Poppe K&L Gorgina GP-84 and the renowned granddam KHE I’m Good VG-88, Gazelle traces back to an exceptionally strong German cow family. During her lifetime, KHE I’m Good produced more than 87,000 kg of milk and developed into a true brood cow with many successful descendants.
3STAR Poppe Gazelle GP-84
The 2-yr-old 3STAR Poppe Gretta represents the same successful family as Gazelle, but through a different branch. Gretta is a daughter of Picard and traces through GP-83 Palmer x VG-86 Soundcloud back to I’m Good VG-88.
Her dam, Gilina, developed into a highly complete production cow, with a second-lactation record exceeding 15,000 kg of milk in 305 days. Her granddam, K&L Poppe Goody VG-86, is also the full sister of the well-known sire Poppe K&L San Remo. Through the French Gourmette family, this line traces back to a remarkable sequence of twelve consecutive generations of VG- and EX-classified cows.
3STAR Poppe Gretta
In addition to the Holsteins, the red 3STAR OH Kayme Red GP-83 (max VG-89 MS), bred by De Oosterhof and GenHotel, also attracted considerable interest. This second-lactation cow combines an international pedigree with modern genomics and excellent component percentages. Kayme Red is sired by Koepon Camden RDC out of Bacon-Hill Crown Kay Red (Crown-Red), the top seller of SonderKollektion 2021. Her roots trace back to the North American Art-Acres Kay721-ET EX-90 family.
Kayme Red calved for the second time in February. At her most recent milk recording, she produced 54 kg of milk with 4.05% fat and 3.59% protein. Her Poppe Flight Red half-sister, 3STAR OH Kaylove Red, was sold to Switzerland as a young heifer calf through the Highlight Sale 2023. There, she has produced numerous high-ranking offspring, was classified GP-84 (VG-87 MS), and is now in her second lactation.
Poppe 3STAR Kayly Red, a daughter of Brakels Elevate-Red directly from Kayme, currently tests at an moderate 318 gNVI, with more than 2,300 kg Milk, 110 CGT, and 105 Fertility Index (VRU).
3STAR OH Kayme Red GP-83
The strength of this family lies in its broad versatility. Behind Kayme Red we find influential cows such as Ms C-Haven Oman Kool VG-88 (the world’s #1 gTPI Man-O-Man daughter) and Art-Acres Kay721 EX-90, cows that have had a major international impact on Red Carrying breeding. Notable sires from this family include Progenesis Keystone, Progenesis Kane, Westcoast RUW Brilliance, Cedar-Haven-NR Kid, and Lookout Pesce Altakado.
With 3STAR Poppe Gazelle, 3STAR Poppe Gretta, and 3STAR OH Kayme Red, the collaboration between Poppe Holsteins and GenHotel demonstrated how carefully developed cow families continue to produce animals that make a difference both genetically and practically at the farm level. It also highlights a long-standing and successful partnership with GGI Holland, which continues to support the 3STAR Breeding Program through the provision of elite sire semen.