08/25/2025
Garys Zues Starburst EX913E EXMS
7-06 record over 30,000 4% milk
Zues × Premium x Liriano
Starburst's crowning achievement thus far would have to be Saffron, but she may very well be one of the least known, high quality shorthorn cows. After the success of Saffron, I always had in the back of my mind doubling down on this family. The year after she had Saffron, she had a beautiful heifer calf by Rockstar for Ben. We went to see the calf and were impressed, while she had some characteristic Rockstar traits, it was apparent her dam was also shining through. In my mind, Starburst had the makings of an amazing brood cow.
Fast forward to expo 2023. While traveling solo to expo, ready for Saffron to bring some serious heat, my trip ended in Cleveland, Ohio. I was involved in a serious MVA, and although I was lucky to have survived, I had a very long road of recovery ahead of me. Not being able to do much physically and recovering mentally from the trauma, I needed motivation to keep fighting through.
While talking to a great friend of mine, he expressed interest in us finding a cow and doing something cool together. I knew just the cow. I contacted Ben and we worked out a deal to acquire Starburst. She made the trip to NY at over 7 years old and started her next chapter. She went on test and peaked at well over 100 pounds a day and really started hitting her stride while we started planning the IVF work. She gained a point and a E designation, completed her genomic testing healthy and A2A2, finished a record of over 30,000 pounds of 4% milk, and produced over 250 oocytes in her first 5 IVF sessions nonstim. Then all we had to do was wait.
The calves started coming, each one showing that Starburst stamp of being special. We unfortunately lost her due to health complications in early 2025, but she will continue to live on through her daughters and those yet to come.
While I only had her for a short time, this cow did more for me than I could have ever asked. My passion for cows, and this family in particular, kept me on the path to recovery and I could never thank her enough. To Starburst, and her story that has only begun being written.
