Braefield Farm

Our next recipients of the Master Breeder award are Frank and Anna Waterston of Braefield Farm in Penobsquis, New Brunswick. Frank represents the third generation at the farm. His grandfather arrived from Scotland in 1925 with his wife, his son and daughter. He bought a farm in Sussex that he operated until 1945 when he acquired the present farm. Frank’s father took over in 1961; Frank and his wife Anna have been operating the farm since 1994, their three daughters represent the fourth generation on the farm. There have always been Ayrshires on that farm, but it’s in the 60’s that the first purebred arrived and the business took advantage of the national identification program to register the rest of the herd. The present herd consists of 60 cows in milk; the production average is at 7,478kgs of milk for a BCA of MCR de 202-194-204.  The classification shows 5 multiples EX, 1EX, 23 VG, 38 GP and 8G. Frank started showing at exhibitions in 1971.  First locally, the first participation was at the Charlottetown exhibition back in 2001. In 2004, again in Charlottetown, the herd obtained the titles of Grand Champion and Reserve Grand Champion with Braefield BBBK Oreo EX-6E-92 and Braefield BBBK Maycherri EX-5E-91.  More recently, in 2011, the herd won the titles of Reserve Grande Champion and Honorable Mention with  Braefield BBBK Olivia EX-7E-92 and Braefield Calimero O’Mally TB-85.  The herd continues to show in Charlottetown and in the 4-H, Terri-Lynn and Leanne finished their 13 years in the 4-H with lots of success in the showring; for her part, Christine will be in her 11th year in the 4-H in 2012. The most important cow family in the Braefield herd is the one they commonly call the O family.  This family began with the acquisition of a calf from East River Farm in Prince-Edward Island.  East River Greta’s Orchid, daughter of Selwood Greta’s Boy 2 from the Orchid family. When one visits, the exceptional uniformity of the Braefield herd is easily noticeable. They aim at having powerful cows, productive with quality udders. Mating choices are always done in view of improving conformation and production. The cows’ longevity is also very important. With the arrival of the new generation at the farm, the Braefield herd’s future is full of beautiful promises. Ayrshire Canada offers its most sincere congratulations to Frank and Anna for obtaining the title of Master Breeders.