Round Oak Rag Apple Elevation (born 1965, often abbreviated RORA Elevation), was one of the most influential artificial insemination Holstein/Friesian bulls of the last century. Elevation was named bull of the century by the Holstein International Association in 1999. Elevation was sired by Tidy Burke Elevation, a highly inbred bull from the Burke bloodline. His dam, Round Oak Ivanhoe Eve, was sired by the famous 1950's bull Osborndale Ivanhoe. Elevation was born in Virginia, bred by Ronald Hope, and was later owned by the artificial insemination company Select Sires. Elevation had many famous sons, including Sweet-Haven Tradition, Rockalli Son of Bova, Marshfield Elevation Tony, Ocean-View Sexation and Straight-Pine Elevation Pete. In Canada, he had Hanoverhill Starbuck, an influential sire of sons worldwide. As of April 2009, Elevation is considered to be the bull with most actual descendants in the United States, by the Sire Summaries April 2009, of the Holstein Association.
Family tree
Elevation's impact
Elevation had an influence worldwide through his sons, grandsons and great-grandsons. Elevation came from a combination of the Rag Apple Bloodline with the Burke bloodline, which came to have a good result. These are a few of his actual descendants:
Hanoverhill Starbuck - Well known for his famous sons and grandsons, Starbuck has had many descendants worldwide. In Canada, he had Madawaska Aerostar, Hanoverhill Raider, Duregal Astre Starbuck, Ronnybrook Prelude and Browndale Stardust. In the United States, he had the superstar in conformation, Marcrest Encore, famous for his World Dairy Expo Supreme Champion daughter, Tri-Day Ashlyn (EX-96). In France, he had Besne Buck and his famous grandson, Fatal. In Italy, came Sabbiona Bookie, as well as other sons in different parts of the world.
Influence of Starbuck's sons
Madawaska Aerostar – Aerostar became one of the first Starbuck sons to be proofed, and one of the first to sell one million doses of frozen semen. His sons in Canada were Maughlin Storm and the Millionaire Sires Startmore Rudolph and Oliveholme Aeroline. In the US, he had Parker Aero Wade and Ladys-Manor Winchester. In Great-Britain, he became successful for the famous brood cow, Condon Aero Sharon (EX-91) dam of Picston Shaker, and the most successful 2nd crop sire of the 21st century: Picston Shottle.
Hanoverhill Raider – Raider was successful with his son, Comestar Lee, sire of the famous Ashlyn son, EK-Oseeana Aspen, Idee Lustre's son, Wedgwood Laramie and Shoremar S Alicia's son, BKB Affirmed. Lee is also known for his grandson in the US, Den-K Marshall LL Laurin.
Duregal Astre Starbuck – Astre had a successful descendence in his two sons Tcet Lyster, and a Red carrier son, STBVQ Rubens. Lyster was born from a Starbuck son and his maternal grandfather was also a Starbuck son. Rubens was born from a Starbuck son and his dam was sired by Starbuck, meaning both bulls came from an inbreeding of Starbuck.
Ronnybrook Prelude – Prelude was the best bull in Canada from 1993–1994, but his proof later crashed. His sons proofed to be better than Prelude, such as Duncan Progress in the US, Comestar Outside in Canada, and Carol Prelude Mtoto in Italy. Windy-Knoll-View Pronto and Picston Shottle are two of the grandsons of Prelude.
Browndale Stardust – Known for his strength and type, Stardust was the sire of the famous Blackrose son, Indianhead Red-Marker, and later sire of a red holstein bull, Carrousel Distrigene-Red. Stardust is still one of the Body composite top 50 according to the Sire Summaries April 2008.
Marcrest Encore-A High Type bull who has a World Dairy Expo champion daughter Tri-Day Ashlyn (EX-96). His two famous sons, Regancrest Dundee and Indianhead Encounter whose dams are the famous Snow-N Denises Dellia and Stookey-Elm Park Blackrose.
250 Besne Buck-A French Starbuck son who was the sire of Jocko Besn, the bull that has sired more than 50% of French holstein cattle and at 14 years of age is still alive.
Sabbiona Bookie – An Italian Starbuck son who was the sire of Boss Iron, a German born bull proven in Italy. He is still the highest type bull proven in Italy, and has 2 AI sons: Alpag Iron Active and Pine-Shelter Logan Iron.