St. Jacobs Animal Breeding Corp (STJ) is a business involved with the development of elite dairy cattle genetics through the sale of live cattle, embryos and semen. The genetics we select are focused on developing dairy cattle with outstanding type traits, both for function and competition.
The business is owned by Tim and Sharyn Abbott, Fairfield, VT. The Abbotts purchased the business in June 2011 from the members of St. Jacobs Artificial Breeding Cooperative. STJ is a longtime partner of ABS Global, Inc, Deforest, WI the exclusive distributor for STJ products around the world. STJ has a management contract with ABS who provides employees to do all functions for the STJ business.
A timeline of history of the St. Jacobs ABC business is below:- 1958- Mr Earl Fieck, of Waterloo County Ontario started a cattle breeding service in St. Jacobs Ontario offering technician service to breed cattle.
- 1968- The business became a member owned cooperative of breeders of dairy cattle in Canada
- 1972- St Jacobs builds a bull housing facility and offices in Elmira, Ontario
- 1986- St. Jacobs begins to market their own semen in a partnership with Elmira ABC
- 1990- St. Jacobs begins to market their semen in a partnership with ABS Canada
- 2000- St. Jacobs enters into an agreement with ABS Global to process their semen, manage their business and become the exclusive distributor of STJ product.
- 2001- The Judge’s Choice Program is started
- 2004- St. Jacobs takes over the management of ABS’ Red and White Sire Program
- 2005- Tim Abbott hired as General Manager of the St. Jacobs ABC business while working for ABS Global, Inc.
- 2011- St. Jacobs ABC 44 Members vote to sell the business to Tim and Sharyn Abbott and in June the transaction was completed and the Ontario based Cooperative became a corporation owned by the Abbotts.
The Judge’s Choice program is the only program in the industry that uses well respected judges to help us select our bulls. Our panel of judges has taken great pride over the years at helping us identify and acquire the best bulls in the business. They give many hours to the program and are dedicated to it because they have helped us develop a unique product in the cattle breeding world. The Judges are:
Michael Heath, Westminster, MD. Michael and his family have been involved with breeding and developing a great herd, Spring Valley Jerseys. Michael has worked with the marketing, promotion and development of the herd from an early age. He has owned many All-American nominations in the Jersey, Holstein, and Red and White business, and has judged shows all over the world.
Bloyce Thompson, Frenchfort, PEI. Bloyce owns and operates Eastside Farm, Inc., with his wife Terri and children Taylor, Alyson and Jenell. He is a third generation Holstein breeder, and his 400‐acre farm is home to 70 milking animals that average 22,400 lbs milk, with 4.1%P and 3.3%F. Eastside was awarded a Master Breeder Shield in 2006, and has had several All‐Canadian and All‐American nominations over the years.
Chris Hill, Thurmont, MD. Chris and his wife Jen own and operate MD-Hillbrook Sales. They manage many of the top sales around the country and have bred and developed numerous All American and All Canadians. Chris works with the cattle and the people of the business each day. Chris has judged shows all around the world and been on the halter of many great ones.
Ken Empey, Dorchester, Ont. Ken has been at the forefront of the show business for many years. He has been at the halter of many champions and has named the champions at shows all over the world. Ken also works in the commercial cattle business giving him a real insight to what the commercial dairy producer is looking for in today’s genetics.
Callum Mckinven, Canton de Hatley, Que. Callum and his family own Lookout Jerseys and Holsteins. Callum was raised around great show cows and has spent his life showing and caring for the great ones. He has an incredible ability to find the next great one in the rough and shine her up to be a champion. His keen eye for cattle has gotten him judging jobs across the globe.
Hank Van Exel, Lodi, CA. Hank and his family own and operate Van Exel Dairy a large dairy operation with a focus on great cows. Hank has bred and developed many champions in the Holstein, Jersey and Red and White breeds and has stood in the center of the ring for the world’s biggest shows. Hank has bred several top cow families and developed several great bulls for AI.
Tim was raised on a small Jersey farm in Central Vermont. He was the 1985 winner of the National Jersey Youth Achievement Contest. He is a 1987 Graduate of the University of Vermont with a BS in Animal Science. He started his career with the American Jersey Association and held positions as the Northwest US Area Representative, Manager of Field Services and Jersey Marketing Services. In 1991 he began a career with ABS Global, Inc which lasted almost 20 years. He was responsible for sire selection and acquisition and later became the General Manager of ABS Canada.
Sharyn was raised in Northwest Vermont on a family Holstein dairy. She was very involved with 4-H and Holstein youth activities and was the 1987 winner of the National Intercollegiate Dairy Judging Contest. She graduated with a degree in Animal Science from the University of Vermont in 1988. Sharyn’s career has included being Editor of the Guernsey Breeders Journal and an assistant manager of Jersey Marketing Service. She put her career on hold to raise the Abbott’s two children Chelsea and Caitlyn.
Chelsea (17) and Caitlyn (15) are active in school leadership, sports and 4-H. They are also involved with the cattle they own and breed and enjoy showing at all levels. They have had over a dozen Jr. All-American Nominations and this year were both members of the VT 4-H Dairy Cattle Judging Team that finished 12th in the national contest.
ABS is the exclusive marketing agent for St Jacobs ABC around the world. ABS representatives and distributors offer the St Jacobs product line along with their outstanding line up of bulls. ABS' sampling program is one of the largest in the industry and they offer a full product offering of Dairy and Beef semen along with programs, products and services for the cattle producer. Headquartered in DeForest, Wisconsin, ABS Global is the world leader in bovine genetics, reproduction services and technologies. ABS has been at the forefront of animal genetics and technology since its founding in 1941. ABS Global is a division of Genus plc.
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St. Jacobs Animal Breeding Corp.