Which are the Jersey cows that have met the test of time, and who, in addition to their own accomplishments, have had significant influence on the breed? Jersey Journal readers have had their say four times.

The First Contest
The Great Cow Contest has been held three times before, first in 1950, then again in 1971 and 1985. The contests were immensely popular with Jersey enthusiasts, with votes for the “Great Cows” coming from all parts of the United States and around the globe.

The first mention of a Great Cow Contest for Jerseys was on the editorial page of the January 25, 1950 Jersey Bulletin. In that article, it stated, “There are many great lifetime producing cows in this breed; there are many ‘cow families;’ there are many more being developed and discovered through the advance in production testing and classification that is under way.

“To recognize and honor the contribution of these great female lines we have decided to publish a “Great Cow Issue.’”

In the next issue of the Bulletin, a ballot appeared so that readers could send in their nomination for the “Greatest Jersey Cow.” The advertising and results of the voting appeared in the May 25, 1950 issue of the magazine.

How The First Contest Was Decided
Three criteria were suggested as guidelines to rank the cows entered in that first contest.

The first criterion listed was influence for good to the breed. Second was the lifetime accomplishments of the cow, including production records. The third was individuality. After all these criteria were considered by the nominating Jersey enthusiasts, 30 cows were on the list to compete for the title of “Greatest Jersey Cow.”

The winner of the original contest was Jesters Royal Maid, owned by B. H. Bull and Son, Brampton, Ontario, Canada. “Maid” was distinguished as the first cow with five sons recognized as Superior Sires and classified as Excellent in the days when bulls were given scores.

Coming in second was another entry by B. H. Bull and Son, Brampton Basilua. The cow had three Medal of Merit and a Silver Medal production record. Her top lactation was 19,012 lbs. milk and 1,313 lbs. fat.

Stories about the top 10 cows selected by Jersey Bulletin readers were published in the magazine, and pictures of the top five graced the cover of the May 25, 1950 issue.

The 1971 and 1985 Contests
The successful format of the first Great Cow Contest was continued after the Jersey Bulletin was purchased by the Jersey Journal. The winners were determined by the magazine’s readers—not a panel of judges— through popular vote.

The second contest was held 21 years later, when The Trademarks Sable Fashion placed first with 2,888 votes. 

The Excellent-95% cow, bred and owned by Chester and Mary Elliff of Victory Jersey Farm, Tulia, Texas, had four Hall of Fame records to her credit. She was the National Milk and Fat Champion that year and the highest Tested Dam of the breed.

The 1971 Great Cow Contest extended over nine months, with 72 cows originally nominated. There were 24 finalists selected by readers of the Jersey Journal. Of those 24 cows, a dozen were ranked in the March 5, 1972 issue. All were pictured on the cover of that issue.

Marlu Milady, Excellent-92% and four times Hall of Fame, bred and owned by Marlu Farm, Lincroft, N.J., placed second with 2,772 votes.

The slate entered by Jersey breeders in 1985 reflected the tremendous gains in Jersey productivity since the adoption of modern genetic evaluations and type appraisal system. The February, 1985 issue carried nominations for 55 cows, including several cows ranked in the Top 10 of the 1971 contest and eligible by still having been alive in 1971. Jersey Journal subscribers narrowed this list down to 11 finalists, which were ranked by readers following a series of stories completed in the October issue.

The top three cows were all sired by Milestones Generator. Generators Topsy, the 1973 National Grand Champion and Hall of Fame producer nominated by James Chaney, Bowling Green, Ky., was the winner. To her belongs the distinction of being the first Jersey cow officially appraised Excellent-97%.

Placing second was Generators Imp, Excellent-96% and owned by The Jersey Nook, Riley, Kans., and Dr. Florence Lenahan, Galena, Ohio. Both cows were bred at Cedarcrest Farms, Faunsdale, Ala.

Third was Generators Faustine of Ogston, Excellent-93% and owned by Heather Dawn Acomb, Stafford, N.Y. She was bred by John Bishop VI, Columbus, N.J.

“Generator’s” dam, Beacon Bas Little Lady, Excellent-92%, was voted fourth. She was bred and owned by Mayfield Dairy Farms, Inc., Athens, Tenn., and had placed fifth in the 1971 contest.

The 2000 Contest
Announcement of the contest in the December Jersey Journal brought immediate response, and an impressive set of 67 candidates, nominated by 54 different breeders. They represented Jersey excellence for more than a century, from the first 305-day milk champion honored in the United States to two reigning World Production Champions.

Analyzing their credentials, we found that:

• All have official production records, averaging 21,780 lbs. milk and 1,028 lbs. fat;

• Fifty of the nominees have protein records, averaging 879 lbs; and

• All but one have official appraisal or classification scores, averaging 91.4%.

The nominees included the current World Champions for milk and fat, plus the dam of the current World Champion protein record holder. Several former World and U.S. production champions were recognized with nominations, as well as cows that at one time held places on the National Class Leader List. Hall of Fame records abound.

Eight of the nominees have placed among the Top 10 in the annual Living Lifetime Production Contest. There are also four winners of the President’s Trophy.

Veteran show campaigners in the group share nine Grand and five Reserve Grand Championships at the All American, at least two Championships in the All American Junior show, and three Championships at Canada’s Royal Agricultural Winter Fair.

It’s also a group of genetic giants, with many of the nominees earning places on the Production Type Index (or previously, Cow Performance Index) list. Most have produced sons that have graduated to active A.I. services in studs worldwide.

Finding The Greatest Cows of the Millennium
The Great Cow Contest was, from its very inception, viewed as a way to track the development of the Jersey breed. As the editors of the Jersey Bulletin commented on May 25, 1950: “It will be interesting to ballot Jersey folks again in a few years to see the change. It will take some phenomenal individuals with remarkable progeny records to place up with the leaders chosen in this balloting. But, hasn’t the Jersey breed demonstrated again and again its ability to bring forth such remarkable cows? There will be many interesting finds in the road ahead.”

Those “interesting finds” since 1985 have been added to the record of previous “Greats” in the 2000 Great Cow Contest.