2017 Young Breeder Award
Adam & Kaitlin Spierings
Lone Oak Swiss, Wayauwega, WI
Adam and Kaitlin Spierings of Lone Oak Swiss, Weyauwega, Wisconsin, are the recipients of the 2017 Young Breeder Award, presented on July 7, 2017, at the National Convention in Canton, Ohio. Adam and Kaitlin are first-generation owners of registered Brown Swiss, and the third generation to register cattle under the “Lone Oak” prefix.
Adam and Kaitlin have two sons, Franky and Henry, with a third on the way. Lone Oak Swiss has just over 100 mature cows, 75% of which are registered Brown Swiss. Their RHA is 19,416M 743F 637P. In the fall of 2015, Adam and Kaitlin built a 115-stall free stall barn, a double-8 rapid exit parallel parlor, a 30’ x 40’ calf barn with automatic calf feeder and a manure handling and storage facility for the free stall and parlor. The new parlor was put to use on July 1, 2016.
The Spierings have bred several prominent cows and bulls. Lone Oak Campo Cayla ‘3E90’ has a best record of 6-00 365D 35,260M 4.3% 1,528F 3.4% 1,184P. Another great cow was Lone Oak Jetway Destiny ET ‘E90,’ also with records over 30,000M. Their first bred and owned bull to go into A.I. was Lone Oak Cad Hercules ET *TM at Select Sires. Hercules is a Cadence out of a ‘V89 90MS’ Driver and posts great numbers for Net Merit $, milk, fat, protein and udder composite. Also being collected are Hercules’ full brother, Lone Oak Cadence Hank ET, and his maternal brother by Trace, Northill Trace Haywire.
The Spierings have several goals for the future of the farm. They have a goal to become a profitable enterprise using three key objectives: quality forage, cow comfort and a flawless transition program. They plan to grow their family’s involvement at local, state and national Brown Swiss events. Finally, they hope to continue to advance their herd’s genetics.