She was just "one of the gang" when Marvin Saturn Isabel 2 was sold by the Boakes and Edwards Families of Marvin Jerseys, south of Woodstock in dairy farm-rich Oxford County, Ontario. She was simply one of five bred heifers bought by the Butcher family of Granclare Jerseys at Princeton, east of Woodstock, but still in Oxford County.

However, when Isabel hit the milking string at Granclare in November 2001 she attracted the attention of Dale Butcher and his son Jeff who manage the herd. Her first completed record of 9738 596 6.1% 383 3.9% for BCAs of 324-366- 336 was more than impressive! Less than twelve months later this "becoming extraordinary" dairy cow freshened in mid- October 2002 and blessed her owners with 3-10 11,603 714 6.2% 481 4.2% for BCAs of 366- 410-401!! Amazingly enough the best was yet to come! 364 days after her 2002 freshening Isabel 2 was at it again with a third calving on October 15, 2003. In the ensuing lactation she accomplished what Jersey Canada believes no other Jersey cow in the world has ever done!

Obviously Isabel 2 has also attained the status of All Time Canadian Class Leader for senior four year old butterfat and protein production by a Jersey!

In addition Jersey Canada research has yet to unearth a Jersey cow anywhere in the world who has yielded more butterfat in 305 days! Does the phrase World Champion come to mind?

What makes this record even more astounding over and above Isabel 2's regular calving record is the fact that the record was made in a herd of well over 100 head of cows in a freestall barn with Isabel 2 receiving no special attention. The Granclare herd is 70% Jersey and 30% Holstein.

This incredible will to work is expressed in Isabel's extraordinary deviations from herdmate BCAs of +128 for milk, +234 for fat and +168 for protein! Her November cow index indicates an LPI of +1080, +89 kilograms of butterfat, one of the highest in the breed, and deviations of +.44% for fat and +.07% for protein.

Isabel 2's pedigree is equally as fascinating as her productivity. Her sire Van Holme Imperial's Saturn Ex-95% was bred by Neil and Mary Van Oirschot of Lambeth, Ontario. Saturn has been a popular member of the Semex Alliance Jersey sire team. Saturn's sire Meadow Lawn J Imperial 50R bred by Barry Little of Markham, Ontario was also a real international foundation sire for Semex. He is also Isabel 2's maternal great gransire!

Isabel 2's VG dam is by another Semex Alliance sire Diarwood Junction whose sire is by a half brother to J Imperial. In all J Imperial appears twice in her five generation pedigree, his world- renowned maternal brother Meadow Lawn Bright Spot 60D Semex star of the 1980s also appears twice as does syndicate sire Valleystream Silver Beacon.

The dam of J Imperial and Bright Spot, famed Maritime cow Kingshurst Zinnia's Bright thus appears four times in this pedigree. Semex veteran sire JFD Title also makes three appearances in the extended pedigree of the new champion.

In a time when the focus of the Canadian dairy industry has once again shifted to components and more specifically butterfat it is exciting to see this level of unprecedented butterfat yield!

Gross milk revenue for this lactation would top $14,500 at current component prices in Ontario! Her milk would be worth more than $100.00 per hectolitre at current returns!

It is also instructive to note that the ratio of SNF to Fat in Isabel's milk is approximately 1.40, almost a full point below the current national goal!

Veteran Jersey breeder and leader John White of Belmont, Ontario had the following to say after reflecting upon the stunning performance of this cow: " Jersey Canada used to have a Ton Of Gold Award for cows who could produce a ton, or 2,000 pounds, of butterfat in four lactations. This cow has produced at the Ton Of Gold level in just one lactation!! "

The new champion continues to go about her business quietly and humbly. Jeff Butcher reports that she will calve again before the end of the year.

Modern Jerseys - they milk, they last, they calve regularly and they produce milk that fits today's consumption trend wonderfully! When dairy producers hunt for profit does it get any better than that?