VISIT #2: ALTONA LEA FARMS
Altona Lea’s motto, where families have a meaning, is a true testament to the emphasis the Barkey family places
on both their own family and cow families under the Altona Lea prefix located in Blackstock, Ontario. An entirely
homebred herd, 50 cows are milked in both a tie-stall and parlour system. The parlour milks the entire herd in
the summer while the cows are on pasture. Altona Lea Holsteins is also known in the dairy world for breeding the
first homebred seventh generation Canadian Excellent cow, Altona Lea Inquirer Aloe (EX-91). Altona Lea is a CHAH
Leucosis free herd and are a three-time Master Breeder winner achieving this success in 1978, 1994, and 2006.
Founder and late-breeder, Frank Barkey, received his 50-year honour as member of Holstein Canada in 2010.
VISIT #3: TARA HILLS STUD
David Heffering, son of prominent Holstein breeder, Peter Heffering of Hanover Hill Holsteins, operates Tara Hills
Stud farm in Port Perry, Ontario. Located on 75 acres, this standard-bred stud farm has bred over 1,000 mares in the
last eight years and is one of the largest breeding mare farms for a single operation in North America. Mares housed
at Tara Hills come from deep-pedigreed horse families, and also well-known, proven race- track winners. A highlight
on the stud farm are the Dual Hemisphere Stallions which are kept at Tara Hills for the breeding season from February
to July and then shipped to New Zealand during their summer from October to February for a second breeding season.
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