Farming Eye

Described by judge Edward Griffiths as one of the best cows he’d ever had the pleasure of judging, the third calver Hilltara Zenith Echo from Sam and John McCormick’s noted 250-cow Hilltara herd based at Bangor, County Down, clinched the supreme overall and exhibitor-bred championship, at the 2013 Irish National Holstein Show, held at Moira.

Hilltara Zenith Echo

“She is an outstanding strong, well balanced cow with a fabulous udder. Exactly the type of cow that we all aspire to breed and milk,” said Mr Griffiths who runs the 150-cow Coachgate Herd at Penistone near Sheffield.

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by Chrissie Long

Here’s a picture gallery from the weekend’s impressive display of pedigree dairy cattle at Borderway Dairy Expo.

As ever, pictures are available from MacGregor Photography.

by Chrissie Long

Today’s show of Simmental cattle in Roscommon has seen Michael Barlow tap out Garrett and Lyndsey Behan’s Jennalyn Charlie Rose as the overall senior champion. Winner of the first class of bulls, this one is by the herd’s senior sire Banwy T-Rex out of Jennalyn Tara-Rose.

The reserve senior honours went to the second place bull from this class Tulla Classic from Denis O’Halloran. This Kilbride Farm Newry son out of Tulla Vanessa, a Ballyduff Jeweller daughter.

In the junior section top spot went to Coolatinny Dell Boy from Noel Forde. By Curaheen Tyson this one is out of Lisnacran Themlma, a Hurtig daughter. Reserve here was the second prize from the same class Barnattin Dinny 2 from Derek Costello. By Kilbride Farm Newry, this one is out of the Seepa Teejay daughter Barnattin Amanda.

In the female classes top spot went to Mark neenan with Fearna Countess Jubilee, a Hillcrest Jerome daughter out of the Milton Lord-Tiffany daughter Fearna Tiffany. Reserve to her was Garrett and Lyndsey Behan’s Clonagh Diamond Eyes, again by Banwy T-Rex this time out of Milton Senhorita.

by Chrissie Long

Having taken the overall Holstein championship earlier today, the January 2006-born Lavenham Adeen owned in the three-way partnership of the Riverdane, Carldanton and Holmland herds has gone one better by scooping the overall title here. Having originally been purchased privately from Strutt and Parker Farms is currently giving 50 litres a day having calved her third in November and took the overall Holstein title at AgriScot in November.

Mark Nutsford and Lavenham Adeen

by Chrissie Long

Fourcrosses Bigshow Nona

It was a double whammy for Izzy Wright and her family as they took both the champion and reserve champion titles in the Jersey ring earlier today.  Their top spot female was the third calver and September 2008-born Fourcrosses Bigshow nona, a RJF Bigshow daughter who calved in October and is currently giving 42kg.

Standing reserve to her was their winner from the three year old section, the november 2009-born Courcrosses Ringmaster Celandine, a Familyhill ringmaster daughter out of Fourcrosses Jurisdiction Celandine.

Earlier in the judging the Smith family took the top spot in the two year old class with Glanmor Saber Siwgr, a O F Montana saber daughter out of Glanmor Ring Shot, while second to her was Bayview Excitation Osprey 3 from the Pye family, this one is by Bridon Excitation.

Second to the reserve Jersey champion in the three year old class was Clifton Excitation from the bland family. this one is by Bridon Excitation again, while third place in this class went to Saxtown Excite heidi 11 from the Saxby family. Then second to the overall champion in the four year old class was Grayridge Comerica’s Vivaciou from Debbie Mackellar, this one is a Bridon Remake Comerica daughter, while third here went to the Saxby family with Saxtown Comerica Angel, a Bridon Make Comerica daughter.

Taking the lead in the senior cow class was Croftland Explosion Leanee from Robert Buchanan. This Grayridge Explosion daughter is out of Danish CL Cameron. Second here was Fourcrosses Ringmaster Pepper, a substitute entry from the Wright family.

by Chrissie Long

Having taken the intermediate championship in the Holstein section, the September 2010-born Sterndale Sterling Jodie Red from Andrew Bunting also secured the overall championship in the Red and White section. By Ardross Sterling, she is out of Sterndale Talent Jodie Red and was purchased at last year’s Global Classic sale for 10,000gns. This first claver is currently giving 42kg a day having calved in October and is one of 120 run by Andrew and his family.

Sterndale Sterling Jodie Red

Standing reserve to her was the winner of the three year old class Wolfa TDR Anna Red from Messrs Armstrong. This one is a Rosedale Touchdown Red daughter and is out of Wolfa Talent Anna Red.

Taking the second place in the two year old class from which the champion came from was Nobold LPT Helene Red from the Roberts family. This one is by Ladino Park Talent and is out of Nobold Rose Helene, while third place went to Stevensons Bunty 114, a Muirston Trump Card daughter. Then in the senior cow class the winner was Conncorr Rose Sara Red from Riverdane Holsteins. This is a Sterndale Rolls Royce Red daughter out of Riverdane Strawberry Red then Bill Nadin and Co stood second here with Sterndale Ruby Red, a KHW Kite Advent Red daughter out of Miss Ruby Lee Tuesday.

by Chrissie Long

Marleycote Princess Jill 31

Securing the overall championship in the Dairy Shorthorn classes was Richard Baynes with the August 2010-born Marleycote Princess Jill 31. By the homebred sire Marleycote Rampage this one was second at the Great Yorkshire Show last year.

Standing reserve to her and winner of the senior cow class was Churchroyd Kirkelvington 17 from the Collins family. Born September 2008, this one is an Innisfail Prince of Diamonds and was heifer champion at the Dairy Event in 2011.

Standing second to the overall champion from the two year old class was Dee Autumn 8 from Messrs Price-Jones, while third place here went to Churchroyd Peggy 16 from the collins fmaily. Winning the three year old class was Marleycote Petal 114 from Richard baynes. this one is by KC Roses Chatter, while he also took second place with the Marleycote Rampage daughter Marleycote Songstress 13.

Standing second to the reserve section champion in the senior cow class was churchroyd Bronte Wildeyes from the collins family, while the third place rosette went to Marleycote Petal 108 from Richard Baynes.

by Chrissie Long

Scooping the senior and overall Holstein championship was the January 2006-born Lavenham Adeen owned in the three-way partnership of the Riverdane, Carldanton and Holmland herds. Having originally been purchased privately from Strutt and Parker Farms is currently giving 50 litres a day having calved her third in November and took the overall Holstein title at AgriScot in November.

Lavenham Adeen

And Mark Knutsford continued his winning form scooping the reserve senior and reserve overall championship with the January 2009-born Willsbro Berdina Howie. Bought as a calf at the Willsbro sale for 2900gns, her dam Stanhope Berdina Astre was originally imported from Canada and is currently giving 47kg a day.

Coming through in second place in the five year old class was Bilsrow Gibson Ada from the Thomlinson family, while third place went to Sterndale Gold Ashlyn from Bill Nadin and Co.

Standing second to the overall champion was Saxelby Goldwyn Rose from the Butterfield family, while third place went to Wormanby Jasper Betty 26 from the Hodgson.

by Chrissie Long

Winning the junior two year old Holstein class and taking the intermediate championship was Sterndale Sterling Jodie Red from Andrew Bunting. Born September 2010, this one was purchased at last year’s Global Classic sale for 10,000gns and is by Aedross Sterling and is out of Sterndale Talent  Jodie Red. Second to her was Logan alexander Belle from Brian Yates, a Golden Oaks Alexander daughter, while third place here went to Sterndale Alexander Sheen from Bill Nadin and Co.

The senior two year old class and the reserve intermediate title went the way of Riverdane Holsteins with Riverdane Knowledge Spotless, a May 2010-born Magor Bolivia Allen daughter, while the Whittaker family stood second with Knowlesmere Golden Kitty, a Braedale Goldwyn daughter an then third place went to Berryholme Baltimor Maud from the wright family.

Back on winning form was Riverdane Holsteins in the junior three year old class with Riverdane Gold Mattia, a Braedale Goldwyn daughter, while second to her was Wormanby Bottle Mahala from the Hodgson’s. This one is by Whiteleys Bottle. Third here went to Carrock Buckeye Royal, a R-E-W Buckeye daughter.

Then standing at the top of the line in the senior three year old class was the Laird family with Blythbridge Goldwyn Rosealee, another Goldwyn daughter. Second here was Hollywood Goldwyn Fleur from the Armstrongs, while third palce went to Sterndale Goldwyn Rae from Bill Nadin and Co.

by Chrissie Long

Soulseat Jublend Beatirce

Doing the double in the Brown Swiss rings just now was Robert and Sheila Mccolm and standing top of the line for them was the winner of the combined two and three year old class, Soulseat Jublend Beatirce, an August 2009-born second claver by Jublend. Currently giving 36kg a day having calved in January, this is first time out for her and she is one of 70 Brown Swiss run in the 130-cow herd.

Reserve honours went to Highlight Proview Roseanna from the same home. Purchased privately last year, this one was bred by the candy family and is a sixth calver. Born in May 2004, she is by R Hart Protein preview and is out of Highlight Emerald Roseanna and is due to calve in June.

Standing second to the overall champion was Kedar KSD felicia from the Lochhead family. this one is by Kedar Special Davie and is out of Kedar Hurpes Felicia, while third place here went to a substitute entry Soulseat Event Candy from the McColm’s. Second in the senior cow class was Kedar TD Reia from the Lochhead family, which is a Webster Ridge daughter, while third here went to Farrick Prunki Emma from John West.

by Chrissie Long