It is only fitting that the Trilass stud recieves its own page on our website , as Bill and Pam McLean from the former Trilass stud in Matamata, are the two people who deserve most of the blame for getting us into Pedigree friesian cows!
Very early in my dairying career I was introduced to Bill and Pam through Bill's parents, and in no time at all, the whole McLean Clan became family. I used to visit with Bill's father on a semi-regular basis, to see the latest additions to their herd, the latest purchase from one of the Dairy Expo sales, or to see the next batch of heifers when they arrived home.
It never ceased to amaze me how they could rattle off the pedigree of any particular animal you happened to pick out, and they would then turn around and pick out all that animals relatives from the numerous animals trying to lick you or get inside your pockets to see what treats you had....thus, the spark was ignited.
On one such visit I was to meet a calf that would eventually cost me a small fortune! After one of the Dairy Expo sales that used to occur, where the female calves from the embryo's the companies had brought in from overseas were auctioned off, I happened to be visiting with Bill's parents, and it was suggested I should go and have a look at the 2 new calves that had arrived. in the car we got, and in a short time we were standing in the paddock looking at Aquila Cash Femme and Ron-nan Ingot Wendy, impressed by both, little did I know then that on the day of their Dispersal sale, that calf called Wendy would, through her offspring, manage to empty my wallet!
That day, I purchased Wendy's Elwillo Bellman Cleo daughter, Wenona, and Wenona's Kiri Daughter Wynsome, at the time, it just about broke the bank account, but as it turned out, it was a good day, the Kiri daughter went on to leave a Gold Bullion and a Dynamite daughter, with the Dynamite then breeding on to Favour, which has produced our top 2 year-old this season.
Two other cows at Trilass who seem to have made a significant mark within Stormview are Elwillo US Corinna ET, and Peticote US Masc Libby ET. Both seem to have a perminant withdrawal facility on my funds, and each deserves recognition.
Elwillo US Corinna ET, Rinni, a huge cow with a fantastic personality.She was from the full sister to Elwillo Bellman Cleo, by Paulo-Bro Diego, and the best comment that can be made about that mating, is Capacity! I first met Rinni as a calf, such a great softy, always nosey and never far away when affection was being dispensed! I used to give her a cuddle whenever we walked through the herd, and later, after Bill and Pam had "retired" from milking, I used to see her when I would visit them at their lifestyle block, cuddles were compulsory as far as Rinni was concerned, and as long as she didn't decide to use you as a scratching post, everything was fine! I have never met a cow who liked people as much as Rinni did, and when we had the chance to buy her Pierre daughter Chloe, we couldn't say no. We had Chloe nearly 12 months when Rinni herself came up for sale, and for the same reason, she came home to Stormview, upon arrival she had another Pierre daughter, so we had a matching set, we were very happy! About a year later, both of Rinni's other daughters came to Stormview, one by Paladium, the other by Extasy. Unfortunately time caught up with them, and the family has since left, but Rinni will always be fondly remembered, and sits in a photo on my bedside table to remind me how great cows can be!
Peticote US Masc Libby ET, a cow that is destined to have an impact here at Stormview, in more ways than one.She was the Mascot daughter of High-sights Kai Lois ET, ( making her a sister to Etazon Knockout) a family known worldwide as the Lou Etta's , arguably one of the greatest cow families there are ( in my humble opinion!) Firstly we purchased Trilass Linsan Louise, not sure exactly how Pam talked me into that one, I remember being rather broke the day that conversation started, but never the less, Louise came here! She left us a Favour daughter (Lisa) and a Liam daughter (Laine) before she retired. Secondly,we have used two of libby's sons, Trilass Pal Liam, and Trilass Holiday Looker. Both bulls have daughters on the ground here and these are due to come into the herd in June 2010. These are more than likely the last Liam calves there will be, as he suffered an accident and had to be destroyed before his career got started. Judging by the calves he has left here, it was a large loss to the breeding industry.
We have kept a Liam son from our top cow Odessa to use as a herd sire after he missed out on final selection for the CRV Ambreed sire proving scheme in 2008 . We hope he will bring the best of both sets of genetics to the table and leave us with some good daughters. Our plan was to run him with the Carry-over cows this season, and will return home for the 2010 mating season as a Natural Service sire to the cows here.
So, three cows, all from Trilass, who have had brought International genetics and top cow families to Stormview, the Lou Etta's are here, Wendy was from the Nowerland Tradition Buttercup family, so the Buttercups are here, and Corrina was here, so we have had some great genetics to base the herd on, and we look forward to the future generations from these families.
I have bought other cows from the McLeans over the years as I was starting to collect bovines, many I bought as calves, most have now departed as age has caught up with them. Trilass Cleo Talia was probably one of the best ones, having never had a bull calf for me, she had a Paladium in the herd who I regarded very highly, and who I miss greatly, she also has a Favour coming in 2010. The Paladium was a fantastic cow, and she has left us a Pierre and 2 Favour daughters, all of whom are cows of interest with CRV Ambreed, and are my favourite cows. In turn, the older Favour now has a Firenze daughter, and we can't wait for her to grow up!
Then you have to include Spice, Heather, Chloe, the list goes on and on when you start adding their offspring also, but the underlying theme is the same, there isn't a bad one, and they are all good in the udder, and evenly tempered and they all produce, a testiment to Bill and Pam and their breeding philosophy.
I guess you could say that Bill and Pam now rank at the very top of our list of great friends, its always great to see them, and I even enjoy the earbashing I get from Pam about the "Rubbish" I have in my AB tank! , they and their cows have certainly had a great influence on me and the herd here, and they continue to do so whenever we catch up, as we often talk about the cows, what bulls are coming through the system, and other highly interesting stuff like that!
Update: We prize these two people so highly for their friendship and blunt honesty, we were very happy when they accepted the role of God-parents to little Jessica, we plan on being around for quite some time yet, but should the day come when we are not, we know little Jess will be in great hands.
Thanks guys for inspiring the dream, the support and the ridicule, all of it is your fault, and we love you for it, cheers!
