It was in the early 1960’s that everything started for Ferme Jean-Paul Petitclerc & Fils inc., when Jean-Paul Petitclerc made the acquisition of a small piece of land with about fifteen cross bred cows, in Saint-Basile, Portneuf, about thirty minutes from Quebec City. In the 1970’s the family started working with pure bred animals. Each year the acquisition of quota, land and the upgrading of infrastructures have been made and now the Petitclerc Family is on it’s third generation of dairy farming.
The Enterprise currently
Today the herd consists of 350 head total, including 155 cows, 135 of which are milking and are producing 180 kilograms (kgs) of fat a day. Three time Master Breeder winner 1987, 2001 and 2017. The Petitclerc herd consists of 35 EX, 90 VG and 25 GP, with an average production of 11,500 kgs at 4.4% of fat and 3.3% of protein.
The milk cows are kept in a tie-stall barn while the dry cows, pregnant heifers and young heifers are housed in a free stall barn with alley scrappers. Calves from zero to eight months are outside. Recently a new barn was built to accommodate from 80 to 100 head including their top cows and heifers with the most genetic and show potential. The farm consists of 400 acres of landand 150 acres of leased, from which 120 acres are used for corn and the rest for hay.
At Ferme Petitclerc, it is a family affair, since Réjean, Carole, Maxime, Dominic and Jessica work there and carry out specific tasks in the smooth running of the business, with the help of foreign workers in full-time.
The company is now co-owned with Réjean, Maxime and Dominic.
Feeding
The milk cows get fed a Total Mixed Ration (TMR) that is comprised of 50% corn silage and 50% alfalfa, with two kinds of personalized mixed supplements, mineral, soda and dry corn. The cows are separated into two groups, one of high producing cows and the other, end of lactation cows. The dry cows, for their part, are fed first cut wrapped round bales with a small amount of mineral. Although, during winter, they add corn silage to their daily meal plan.
The exhibition is the ideal place for us to showcase our genetics, to show our vision of breeding. The show is also a great place to see the bulls that are in effect. We can see heifers and cows for real. We have a visual of what we value the most and what we value the least. It is also an opportunity to compare our breeding with that of other breeders who have the same passion as us and thus become better known and stay abreast of what is happening in the Holstein industry.
La Ferme Petitclerc has been present every year since 1967 at more or less eight exhibitions per year, local, regional, provincial, national and international. At each of these, the Petitclerc herd made its mark by winning several prizes and banners. Moreover, one of our greatest prides is probably to exhibit as many cows as heifers, constantly under the PETITCLERC prefix. We are proud to be recognized as breeders, which is increasingly rare in major shows.
Ultimately, genetics and exposure are very important to us, but we still don't want to stray from the basics, the primary purpose of the business: milk to pay the bills. Exhibitions are prioritized, but production is not set aside. Without production, there are no exhibitions.
