Ferme Cock Rond

It’s from the work of 4 generations that the Cock Rond breeding deserves the title of Master Breeder. After 113 years of farming by the Bilodeau Family, today it’s Gilbert & Cécile, as well as their son Christian and his wife Annie, who continue the work of their ancestors. All involved on the farm, they are also very present in their community. In fact, Christian who manages the hers is also President of his CAB, of the Caisse Populaire Audit Committee, President of the Etchemin-Lotbinière Ayrshire Club for the past 8 years and volunteer fireman in his spare time. Annie is no less busy. Besides looking after their four children, she’s gradually taking over the farm’s accounting that was done by Cecile up to now. Gilbert is in charge of the fields and the machinery, besides being President of an Agro-ecology Club for the past 5 years, not to mention the numerous years within the UPA. The least we can say here is that these people are active in their community! In 1970, believing in this discovery in agriculture, Gilbert introduced artificial insemination in his herd. Four years later, he decided to joint Milk Recording in order to have official data, and it’s still the case today. Having parallel productions, such as beef cattle and pigs, in 1979 they decided to go solely with dairy breeding, therefore ending the other productions. The installations were ancestral but still very functional. The barn built in 1969 now houses the heifers, while the cows are now in a tie-stall barn built 12 years ago than can accommodate 61 cows.   Since 1999, all the buildings have been renovated or rebuilt, thus making work easier. Christian has never been afraid of using young sires for his inseminations. He believes in their potential and with reason; 6 EX of the Cock Rond breeding are from young sires, the reason why they are used for 40% of their breeding. Presently, the breeding philosophy is to raise descendents of cows classified VG or EX, and a few selected GP. The other cows are used for embryo transplant. Presently, the herd has 3 EX, 29 VG, 30 GP and 5 G and the herd is totally Ayrshire. The production average is at 7,624kg, with 4,3% fat and 3.5% protein, for a BCA of 212-222-225. Incidentally, their objective for the next years is to increase their milk production to an average of 8,500kg. Christian would really like to have a bull with the Cock Rond prefix in an insemination centre, therefore it’s with that in mind that he develops his breeding to have good non-commercialized cow families. Certain good animals have already made sure that the Cock Rond prefix is not unknown to us. In fact, Cock Rond Hector T-Bel, who was sold in 2007 to Martin Duclos and Ferme Gemme Ayrshire, was All-Canadian Intermediate Calf the same year. T-Bel comes from a family that Christian likes, because she’s a descendant of a very good family in the herd. Her dam is a Kellcrest Harmony daughter classified VG 88 that produced 12,236kg of milk at 4 year 4 months with 4.1% of fat and et 3,7% protein for a BCA of 294-288-320. She was herself in the All-Canadian winners’ list being Reserve in 2005. If we go back, we find a VG 87 and one EX 90 4E in her pedigree. Another one of his favorite is Cock Rond B-Jurist Neutron VG 86, an Elite cow that makes him happy with the milk she produces and her LPI of +2161. She comes from another of his best families and already has two daughters in the herd. The family of Cock Rond Dalton Super has also left a mark, notably with 3 generations of Star Brood daughters.   Christian is particularly proud of having represented Quebec farmers last winter when he participated in the Big Brother TV series, where he even introduced the Ayrshires! In fact, it’s not everybody that can bring an Ayrshire to a TV shoot. Him and his wife are, as we can say, very active and full of ambition. Their hard work will surely ensure lots of great achievements to come for the Cock Rond herd. We congratulate you for your hard work and enthusiast for the Ayrshire that taken you to your first Master Breeder title.