Featured Breeder

Groves View Dairy

By David Jons

In 1913, the 16th Amendment to the United States Constitution was ratified, authorizing the Federal government to impose and collect income taxes. That same year, German immigrants Walter and Lula Luezinger started a dairy farm in Billings, Missouri. Could they have foreseen that 108 years and 5 generations later that same dairy farm would still be going strong as Groves-View Dairy?

Today, Groves-View Dairy is run by Todd and Sheila Groves and Todd’s brother Brad and his wife Gail. Todd and Sheila’s children Brittany 27, Grant 20 and Bailey 19, the 5th generation, are also actively involved in the dairy. Brown Swiss were introduced to the herd in 1991 when Todd and Sheila were married, Sheila brought in Swiss from her family’s dairy which has bred Brown Swiss for years. Todd and Sheila continued to grow their Brown Swiss herd with the Holstein herd and the total current herd consists of a combination of Registered Holsteins, 185 milking cows and 250 heifers with Registered Brown Swiss, 45 milking cows and 50 heifers. When I called Todd to inquire if he would be interested in providing information for an article in the Bulletin, he said, “I’ll have the girls call you, they know what’s going on. ”

Pictures L-R: Bailey, Grant, Brittany

My phone interview with two knowledgeable and personable young ladies, Brittany and Bailey, proved Todd correct. “Dad bought Milk & Honey Tonis Tessa at the National Brown Swiss Convention Sale in New York as a heifer in 2007,” said Brittany. Tessa was a daughter of 4-time All American Timberline Jetway Toni 3E-EX94. Milk & Honey Tonis Tessa was a purchase many breeders dream of making; she classified 2E92/92MS, was the Reserve All-American 4 Year Old Cow in 2011 and 3rd Place 4 Year Old Cow at the International show in Madison that same year.

But the long-term influence of Tessa was her ability to transmit, “Today 80 percent of our Brown Swiss herd trace back to Tessa,” stated Bailey. Tessa’s Sunnyisle Total daughter, Groves-Sun Total Trustie ET 2E93 with over 30,000 lbs. of milk and almost 1250 lbs. of fat was the 2019 HM All American Aged Cow. Tessa’s daughter, Groves View Agenda Tina ET 2E94/94MS with a best record of nearly 35,000 lbs. of milk and over 1700 lbs. of fat was the Total Performance Winner, Reserve Sr. Champion and 1st Place Component Cow at the 2018 Southwest National show. Other Tessa daughters include Toy ET E91/91MS, Teresa ET E92/93MS, Taya ET E91/91MS, Tulip ET V89/91MS and Topaz E91. Granddaughters of Tessa include Trustie’s daughter Groves View Pkeq Trust Me V86/87MS, 1st Place Sr. 3 Year Old Cow and Best Udder at the 2020 Southwest National Show.

A cow not from the Tessa family that has contributed to the success of the Groves-View Brown Swiss herd is Groves View Snickpack Tale 3E93/93MS with over 28,000 lbs. of milk and over 1350 lbs. of fat. Tale was 1st Place Aged Cow and Total Performance Winner at the 2015 Southwest National Show. In 2013, Tale was the Supreme Champion of both the Junior and Open shows at the Missouri State Fair. “That was the first time a Brown Swiss cow had won Supreme Champion in both the Junior and Open shows in the same year,” commented Bailey.

Tale also transmits and her daughter, Treasure E93/93MS with over 30,000 lbs. of milk and 1300 lbs. of fat was 3rd Place Aged Cow at the 2018 Southwest National Show. Daughter Groves View T Maker ET E91/92MS was 1st Place Sr. 3 Year Old Cow at the 2020 Delco Classic, Grand and Intermediate Champion at the 2020 Iowa State Fair, and 2nd Place Sr. 3 Year Old and HM Intermediate Champion at the 2020 Midwest Regional Show.

Currently, the Brown Swiss herd participates in the Brown Swiss Advantage Program and boasts 12 Excellent cows. Grant is going to Kaskaskia College in Centralia, Illinois. He graduates this May with a degree in Animal Science. Bailey is going to Missouri State University in Springfield, Missouri, and is a sophomore majoring in Animal Science. Brittany graduated from Missouri State University with a degree in environment plant science and a minor in animal science. She now works for the Farm Service Agency. All three intend to continue the success with the Big Brown Cow at Groves View.