University of Wisconsin-Madison judging teams took first and second place at the Accelerated Genetics 7th Annual Midwest Intercollegiate Dairy Cattle Judging Contest, held Sept. 17 at Viroqua, Wis.

The UW-Madison team 1 was high team overall and in oral reasons, and placed first in Ayrshires and Holsteins and third in Jerseys and Guernseys.

Team 1 members, all students at the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, included: Kylene Cook, a junior ag journalism/dairy science major from Fort Atkinson, who was high individual overall, first in Holsteins and third in oral reasons (this was Cook”s second collegiate win; she was also high individual at the 1999 Southern Intercollegiate Contest); Nick Sarbacker, a sophomore dairy science major from Verona, who was second high individual overall, third in Holsteins, and fourth in oral reasons, Guernseys and Jerseys; Denise Zygarlicke, a sophomore dairy science major from Marshfield who was 10th high individual overall; and Karla Lundberg, a sophomore dairy science major from Osseo.

The UW-Madison team 2 was second team overall, second in oral reasons, Ayrshires and Brown Swiss, and fourth in Jerseys.

Team 2 members, all CALS sophomores majoring in dairy science, included John Dorshorst of Junction City, who was seventh high individual overall and third in Brown Swiss; Mark Heinze of Portage, who placed second in Jerseys, fourth in Milking Shorthorns, and sixth in oral reasons; and Becky Mentink of Waldo, who placed fourth in Ayrshires and fifth in Brown Swiss.

Seventeen teams from national and regional universities competed in the judging contest. The UW-Madison teams were coached by Ted Halbach, CALS dairy cattle evaluation instructor, and Dave Dickson, emeritus professor of dairy science.

“I am extremely proud of what these sophomores and Kylene have accomplished,” said Halbach. “This class has been marked by their willingness to learn, focus, and desire to compete.”

The UW-Madison dairy judges will be competing in four more intercollegiate competitions this fall, including the National Contest slated for Oct. 3 at World Dairy Expo.