The following article originally appeared in Farmshine and The Pipeline and was written by Suzanne Perdue, Communications Specialist with Maryland & Virginia Milk Producers Cooperative. The Perdue family has been actively involved in the Maryland Brown Swiss Association for many years.
Proudly Starting Back Up with Brown Swiss
While many small, family farmers are leaving the dairy industry, the Perdue family of Three Aces Swiss in White Hall, Md., has decided to get in on the action. What makes this story even more interesting is that in this male dominated industry, its Catherine, the Perdues 24-year-old daughter that is spearheading the familys new milking venture.
Brown Swiss have long been seen grazing in the Perdues pastures. John grew up milking and showing Holsteins, Swiss and Jerseys but always favored the big brown cow. About 20 years ago, John and his wife Laura, decided to sell their herd of cattle. To keep the farm in operation, John planted produce including asparagus, strawberries, raspberries and many summer vegetables.
When Catherine, their oldest daughter, turned eight, John and Laura enrolled her in 4-H and she insisted on having a dairy project. She specifically had to have a Brown Swiss because among the remaining cows in the pasture, the lone Swiss named Brownie was always her favorite. The family headed to the Mid-Atlantic Brown Swiss Calf Sale where the bright eyed, freckle faced Catherine eagerly anticipated her first purchase. She was not disappointed and she returned home the proud owner of a fall calf.
In the years that followed, Catherines younger sisters, Suzanne and Allison, followed in her footsteps and also purchased dairy calves. In addition to showing, all three girls participated in Dairy Judging and Dairy Bowl and annual attended Marylands Udderly Awesome Adventure, an annual weekend camp for dairy enthusiasts. The learning experiences that they had through their dairy projects were innumerable.
Over the years, the Perdues small herd steadily grew. The farm no longer had milking facilities which forced the trio to keep their lactating animals at local farms. This barrier, however, did not prevent them from having an active role in caring for their animals and learning responsibility. Catherine and Suzanne assisted with milking and farm chores where they kept their cows and were also in charge of feeding their own calves and heifers and preparing everything for shows.
As the Perdue girls grew up, they gradually took on all of the responsibilities of caring for their animals, including working full-time at the homes of their milking herds. Catherine knew that she loved her animals more than anything else and someday wanted a career that would allow her to continue working with the herd. She decided to attend Delaware ValleyCollege in Doylestown, Pennsylvania where she majored in Dairy Science.
As graduation quickly approached, Catherine became more certain that milking Brown Swiss would be in her future. I just love my cows, says Catherine. I cannot imagine not having them as a part of my life and I knew that my career would certainly involve my Swiss.
After discussion and debate, Catherine and her family formed Three Aces, LLC with the intent of milking cows. As Catherine threw her graduation cap in the air, the family drew up plans to build a milking parlor. They built a double-six swing parlor next to the heifer barn and converted old strawberry fields to grazing pastures. Three Aces also purchased several yearlings and young cows to help kick start the herd.
By mid-January 2009, Three Aces Swiss officially began milking on a daily basis. They are currently milking a herd of between 35 and 40 cows, nearly all registered Brown Swiss. Catherin is in charge of the mating and feeding programs and is looking forward to breeding quality animals that are high in type and milk production.
Both of her sisters also continue to be active in the dairy industry. Suzanne works in communications for a regional dairy cooperative and Allison is a student at Virginia Tech studying Agricultural Economics.
When asked if he ever wished he had sons to help on the farm John replies, No, my girls can do just as much as any boy and have achieved more than I could have dreamed.
Like any farm, there are new problems that arise on almost a daily basis but Catherines youth, dedication, and enthusiasm are sure to help her continue dairying successfully for many years in the future.