Press Release

Marc and France Comtois and shown with their Comestar Farm in Victoriaville, Quebec, Canada. Crédit : Gil Raymond

Global impacts can be measured many ways. In the world of dairy genetics, the number of daughters and sons a bull sires and the impact those offspring create is the ultimate benchmark in measuring a bull’s success. One herd more that any other has received the highest stamp of approval from Holstein breeders with four of their bulls each having produced and sold over one million units of semen. The names Lee, Leader, Outside, and Lheros and the cow, to which they all trace, Laurie Sheik, are now household names in the Holstein breed. They all have one thing in common; these animals all hail from the herd of Marc Comtois and bear the Comestar prefix. Together, the global impact of these bulls is tremendous. Only 26 bulls in the history of the Holstein breed have produced over one million units of semen . . . 15 percent bear the Comestar prefix . . . no other herd has bred more than one millionaire. In all, nearly 400,000 Lee, Leader, Outside, and Lheros daughters are on production test around the world. One other family member, Stormatic, has sold over 700,000 units of semen and has over 38,000 daughters on test. And the matriarch of the whole group, Laurie Sheik, can be found in over 40 percent of the pedigrees of animals entered in the Canadian herdbook just 20 years after her birth. What’s more, 44 percent of the cattle in Holstein Canada’s purebred registry database contain the Comestar prefix somewhere within the four-generation pedigree.

As if these achievements were not enough, the Comestar herd was named Premier Breeder at the 2007 Royal Winter Fair, and they currently have the number one indexing cow in Canada. This young cow is not only valued for her genetics, but show-ring type as well as she was named the 2006 Reserve All-Canadian Junior 2-year-old. What’s more, four other Comestar bred cows are in the top 11 for the LPI (Lifetime Profit Index). For these and many other accomplishments, National Dairy Shrine will honor Marc and France Comtois and their Comestar Herd from Victoriaville, Quebec, Canada, as the 2008 Distinguished Cattle Breeder. Comestar will be the 36th herd to receive the Industry’s highest honor bestowed to a cattle breeder. They are just the second Canadian herd to receive this honor with Roy Ormiston, owner of the famed Roybrook herd, being the first to receive the honor in 1989. The formal presentation of this award will take place October 2 at World Dairy Expo during National Dairy Shrine’s banquet. The Comestar herd was established in September 1977. Early on, Robert Chicoine knew that Marc was a gifted person. “Marc decided to go on his own as a breeder at a very young age,” said the one-time sire analyst and eventual general manager of the Semex Alliance. “He had to start from scratch and earn the hard way every step of his ascension to success. He studies his herd and the breed methodically, but in his decision-making process, he always leaves some room for his intuitions,” says Chicoine. “His achievements as a breeder are phenomenal to say the least. He is one of the very few that have, for decades, bred simultaneously champion producers and show-ring champions,” the now retired Semex general manager went on to say. Since being established in September 1977, the Comestar herd has had 456 cows with their prefix classify Very Good with 11 scoring Excellent. At the same time, Marc and France Comtois have sent 119 bulls to A.I. that have received a production proof and another 46 young sires are in waiting for a total of 165. Of all the Comestar bulls, eight have received the Class Extra rating. In order for a Canadian bull to receive the Class Extra rating, the bull has to be in the top 5 percent for type and production. An additional 14 Comestar bulls have rated Superior for Type, and 13 have rated Superior for Production, again ranking in the top 5 percent for their respective categories. Perhaps most impressive, however, is the fact that 83 of the their 119 proven bulls — 70 percent — are plus for Productive Life, the best genetic measure for longevity. At the very heart of the herd’s success is Comestar Laurie Sheik who was twice nominated All-American and All-Canadian. She was named Canada’s Cow of the Year and in 1995 was selected as a Queen of the Breed Two finalist two years ago by the Holstein World. Laurie Sheik is the dam of Leader and the granddam of Lee, Outside, Lheros, and Stormatic. Recently, Lheros became the first bull in Canadian history to classify Excellent 97. Laurie Sheik and two of her daughters rank in the top 10 all-time in the Canadian Star Brood Cow Program, the best measure for a cow’s ability to transmit outstanding genetics to her offspring. Comestar Laurie Sheik and daughters Comestar Laura Black and Comestar Lausan Black all have 23 stars, while another sister Comstar L’or Black has 16 stars. The Comestar herd also has faired well at the shows. Over the years, they have had 51 All Canadian nominations which resulted in 7 All Canadian honors, 6 Reserve All Canadian, and 9 Honorable Mention All Canadian. In addition to the Premier Breeder banner won at the 2007 Royal Winter Fair, the Comestar herd has been Premier Breeder at the Quebec Spring Show and the Quebec International Holstein Show. “They have accomplished so much in developing the Comestar herd to where it is recognized the world over, as one of the premier breeding establishments for world class genetics,” says Peter Heffering of Hanover Hill Farm. “Marc’s knowledge of breeding and farm management is well documented, and his forums are always well attended. The breeders appreciate the opportunity to listen and absorb his thoughts and wisdom,” says Heffering. Marc is indeed respected by his peers. In 1996, he was awarded the Curtis Clark Award which is the highest honor given to a Canadian dairy exhibitor at the Royal. In 1999, he judged the Royal Winter Fair. In addition, Marc Comtois also has traveled to 20 countries to judge breed shows, and he was named a Master Breeder by Holstein Canada in 1995, and has served on Holstein Canada’s Classification Advisory Committee.  “Comestar cattle are among the most sought after in the world,” says Steve Briggs of Brigeen Farms in Turner, Maine. “The breeding impact of Comestar Laurie Sheik is now legendary.” So it goes without saying that buyers voted with their pocketbooks in 2000 by making the Comestar herd the highest ever sale in the history of the province of Quebec when the Marc Comtois Family sold 269 head for a total of $2.16 million which is an average of $8,036. Marc and France Comtois’ children are now part of the business, ensuring a promising future for Comestar Holsteins.