MAYTAG FARMS: WASHING MACHINES, CLASSIC COWS & BLUE CHEESE Hardcover – September 1, 2023
The Maytag Holstein herd existed thirty years (1919-1949), which is a mighty long stretch for any breeding institution to be in continuous operation. From its beginning, founder E. H. Maytag had the vision of developing a breeding herd that would make a major contribution to the improvement of the Holstein breed and the dairy industry. During those three decades he developed a herd of Holsteins that could compete with the best in the show ring and even more important, in the milk pail.
Elmer H. or (E. H.), as he was commonly known, was no ordinary “Gentleman Farmer.” He found time on the golf course boring and was known to regularly visit the farm long after most people had gone to bed to observe the midnight milking. At that time, the herd was milked four times each day. E. H. seemed to have more interest in his Holsteins than in the washing machine business, though he fully realized that the business supported his hobby.
Maytag cattle were in high demand throughout North America and in many foreign countries. The Maytag reputation was only rivaled by legendary herds such as Carnation, Dunloggin, Pabst, Mount Victoria and Winterthur.
The first animals for the Maytag herd were purchased in 1919. An original foundation female came to Maytag from Mr. D. F. Macauley of Vermont. The determining factor for acquisition was the freedom of this herd from TB and abortion, and this early attention to herd health had a bearing on the later achievement of the Maytag herd in being the No. 1 Bangs-Free certified Holstein herd in Iowa.
As a student of pedigrees, E. H. Maytag from the beginning of his herd, wanted to concentrate the influence of Sir Pietertje Ormsby Mercedes and his son Sir Pietertje Ormsby Mercedes 37th. Mr. Maytag’s goal was to intensify the blood of these great sires through a line breeding program with the sons and daughters of these bulls. This was long before artificial insemination and sire proving programs.
The real foundation of the herd came as a group of five “Ormsby-bred” females which J. P. Eves purchased for Mr. Maytag in the John Erickson dispersal in June 1924. Of these, Princess de Ormsby, $2,150 daughter of Sir Pietertje Ormsby Mercedes 37th with two records over 900 lbs. fat, left the greatest impact.
Sir Inka May came into the limelight in 1924 as the All-American Junior Yearling bull. Bred by Minnesota Holstein Company, Sir Inka May was the son of May Walker Ollie Homestead, holder of the US. fat record at that time; and Mr. Maytag wanted very much to have a son of “Princess” by him.
The intriguing story of how Mr. Maytag arranged to have his prize Princess de Ormsby mated to Sir Inka May and the story of the resulting calf, Prince Ormsby Inka May, dubbed “The Washing Machine Bull.” Prince Ormsby Inka May, the Washing Machine Bull, followed a son of Sir Pietertje Ormsby Mercedes 37th (Sir Pietertje Ormsby Jack) and (Bess Burke Sensation), a son of Sir Pietertje Ormsby Mercedes 41st in the Maytag herd.
As a continuation of his desire to concentrate the blood of Sir Pietertje Ormsby Mercedes and his son Sir Pietertje Ormsby Mercedes 37th, Mr. Maytag went back to Minnesota where he selected one of Sir Pietertje Ormsby Mercedes 37th’s great sons, a bull named Man-O-War, bred by O. J. Grover, Glyndon, Minnesota and born Feb. 3, 1923.
Man-O-War was a son of Sir Pietertje Ormsby Mercedes 37th; out of a daughter of Sir P. O.M. 22d; the next dam a daughter of Sir P.O.M. 14th-a remarkable line-bred pedigree. The daughters of Man-O-War were making exceptional history at Empire Stock Farms at St. Peter, Minnesota.