Farming Eye

Ayrshire Champion – Ardmore Orphan 95

Maggie Howie has just completed her judging stint in the Ayrshire classes and out of a wonderful line up of first prize winners has tapped out John Hunter’s Ardmore Orphan 95 to take the top honours. Born November 2007, this third calver is by Morwick Sand Ranger Red and is currently giving 35 litres with a projected lactation of 9000 litres. No stranger to winning ways this one was breed champion at the Winter Fair and has taken reserve honours at Balmoral last year and in 2011.

Maggie described her champion as “a beautiful, modern, dairy cow, correct in every way with a great future ahead of her.” She then found her reserve in the form of John Sufferin’s Ravenhill Fergie 20, a VG86 Twellow Admiral Glen daughter.

In the Holstein classes the winner was SaharaGoldwyn Ambrosia, a second calver from Neal Pepper of Quilly Farms. Bought as a maiden heifer for 5100gns Ambrosia has previously been junior champion at the All Ireland national Holstein show and gave 12,600kg as a heifer.

She is six weeks calved and currently giving 50kg a day at 5.01% butterfat and 3% protein. Reserve to her was the leader from the third calver class Sam McCormick’s Hilltara Zenith Echo, an Ex93 classified Ocean-View Zenith daughter which is 13 months calved.

by Chrissie Long

Dairy Shorthorn Champion -

Beautiful sunshine is beaming down on these dairy rings and the first championship of the day to be decided was the Dairy Shorthorns which saw judge Owain Harries tap out Iain McLean’s August 2010-born first calved heifer Marleycote Princess Jill 31 to take the top award. Bred by the Baynes family, this one is by Marleycote Rampage and out of Marleycote Princess Jill 26 and is currently giving 28 litres having calved in January.

Reserve to her was George Booth’s senior cow, the January 2008-born Beechview BS Whitetail, an Ex 93 daughter of Beechview Stowdamshof out of the VG Beechview BS Whitetail.

Jersey Champion – Clandeboye Paramount Brunette

Then in the Jersey classes was a one-two for Clandeboye Estate under judge James Waring. Taking the red and white ribbons was Clandeboye Paramount Brunette, winner of the senior cow class, By Rock Ella Paramount, this one calved January and is currently giving 35 litres. Her last lactation saw her give 9700 litres and 5.22% butterfat and 3.8% protein. She was also the senior cow class winner at last year’s show.

In reserve was the winner from the second class of cows from the same home, Clandeboye Sultan Mabel, an August 2009-born SHF Centurion Sultan daughter out of Clandeboye LS Mabel.

by Chrissie Long

Charollais breeders scored a memorable grand slam in the interbreed championships here at Balmoral this morning, taking the pairs, group of three, shortwool and overall interbreed titles.

Leading the way for the breed was the breed champion, William McAllister’s shearling ewe by Ballyhibben  Kickstart which was first here as a lamb last year. Her full sister was NI shearling ewe of the year in 2012.

Charollais Champion

Reserve in the overall and shortwool titles was Gary Beacom’s Suffolk champion, his older ewe by Garryhinch Empire which was breed champion at the show as a gimmer in 2011.

Suffolk Champion

Judge Clark Stewart said the Charollais was a standout winner, a great bodied ewe with plenty of breed character and style and exceptionally well turned out. “She’s everything you’d want in a gimmer and beat the Suffolk for that bit of extra sparkle,” he added.

Taking top spot in the Longwool breeds was the Lanark-type Blackie champion from John and Charlie Harkin. This gimmer is by The Buffalo and out of a dam by the homebred sire Jecko. Reserve to her was the Border Leicester champion from David and Liz Mawhinney, with this one being an Eildon Iconic daughter.

Lanark-type Blackie Champion

Teaming up with the Charollais gimmer to take the pairs title under Graham McClymount (snr) was Dianne Christie’s older tup Kicking King, a tup originally purchased at Worcester by the Geldard family and subsequently sold to Herbie Kennedy before being bought by Diane. He was male champion here last year too.

Pairs winners, the Charollais

Reserve in the pairs were the Zwartble duo from John Thornburn, a homebred gimmer by Holmlea Nimmo and a homebred tup by another Holmlea sire. The tup’s full sister was breed champion at Balmoral last year and also National champion in 2012.

Joining up with the Charollais duo to take the group of three championship was William McAllister’s ewe lamb, while the Zwartbles were reserve here too, with a ewe lamb from Mr Thornburn completing this team.

Reserve in the groups of three were the Zwartbles

by Jonathan Long

Champion Group – Charolais

Colin Hutchings was back in action this morning in the interbreed group of three competition where the Charolais team came through as the winners out of 11 groups. Their winning group consisted of the reserve male champion Rumsden Fawkes from Paddy Gallagher, as well as Gilbert Crawford’s cow Coolnaslee Diane and Noel Gallagher’s heifer Pubble Goldie.

Reserve Group – Beef Shorthorn

The Beef Shorthorn team was tapped out as reserve which consisted of Messrs McDowell and Martin’s bull Castlemount Jimmy, Thomas Madden’s heifer Ballyvaddy Heathermaid E775 and William and Jill McAllister’s overall champion Burnside Francessca.

Beef Pairs Champion – Limousin

The straight after Colin tapped out the Limousin pair to take top spot in a hotly contested competition which saw yesterday’s beef interbreed champion Milbrook Ginger Spice from Willie Smith, team up with Derek Hume’s bull Iveagh Gilkes.

Reserve Beef Pairs – Salers

Then in reserve was the breed champion and reserve champions from the Salers breed. The champion was John Elliot’s bull Drumlegagh Felix, which paired with the reserve, Patrick Maginn’s Lisnamaul Eimear.

by Chrissie Long

The final day of this year’s Balmoral Show, the first at the new showground, is upon us and it promises to be another action packed day around the judging rings, with dairy breed judging first up this morning followed later in the day by the interbreed championship and group championship.

Interbreed competitions will dominate proceedings in the sheep rings, kicking off with the pairs and group classes followed after lunch by the finale, the individual interbreed championship.

As ever the Farming Eye team are here and ready for action, so stay tuned for all the news as it happens……

by Jonathan Long

Trade at Wednesday’s Border and Lakeland Holstein sale, Carlsiel, was cautious with forage and grass shortages impacting on buyer confidence.

Leading the trade was Espland Buckeye Abigail from Messrs Cannon at 2500gns, this Buckeye heifer is out of a homebred Cedarwal Spirte cow and calved early April. She stood reserve champion in the pre-sale show under judge Craig Cochrane, Majestic View Holsteins. This heifer sold giving 40kg a day to R M and N Wainwright and Son, Low Hesket, Carlisle.

The Cannons then sold a heifer at 2250gns, this was Espland Shottle Melody by Shottle and out of a homebred Final Cut daughter. Also from the same home was Espland Allen Agatha 2, a daughter of Bolivia Allen and out of a homebred cow by Riglio Juror Indro. Both of these heifers sold to R Byers and Son, Canonbie, Dumfries.

The day’s champion Bankview Ray Carol 2 from Messrs Walton sold for 2000gns, she is by Canyon Breeze Allen son Bowberhill Ray and out of the Carol family going back to Hinton bloodlines. She sold to Fauld Farm, Longtown, Carlisle.

Also at the same money was Lhanbryde Norah 45 from A E Milne, Elgin, this heifer was by Sikkema-Star-W Modesto, she sold to A Sloan, Lockerbie.

Averages: 11 cows in milk £1741.09; 27 heifers in milk £1888.83; 12 in-calf heifers £1855.00 (Harrison and Hetherington).

by Chrissie Long

Tuesday’s show and sale of store cattle at Middleton in Teesdale saw demand for quality cattle with the overall average up £41 on the year levelling at £838.48.

Topping the trade at £1100 was  the second prize Limousin cross bullock from John White, Rigg Farm, he was purchased by J E Suddes and son.

Two Limousin cross bullocks from Toft House then sold at £1090. Mr White sold four bullocks at £1060, including his third place Limousin cross bullock, this one was purchased by J L White and Son. A Limousin cross bullock from Brocklesgill then sold at £1050.

Heifers topped at £1010 for a Limousin cross from D Dargue and son, Bank Top, with the champion from John White selling to judge J Fawcett for £1000. (Harrison and Hetherington).

by Chrissie Long

The Perth-type Blackies were won by the Curran Brothers with their shearling ewe, with the same exhibitors taking reserve with an older ewe. Then in the Jacob classes the winner was a tup from Bentrim Jacobs, while reserve went to Cyril Cromie with an older ewe.

Perth Type Blackie champion

Top honours in the North Country Cheviots here at Balmoral went to Tommy McKean with his aged tup, a son of Allenshaws Highlander from his 100-ewe flock. Reserve spot was taken by Desmond Robinson with a gimmer from his 150-ewe flock, with this one being a daughter of a Nun Cote Nook tup, she was champion at Limavady as a ewe lamb.

In the Rouge classes it was a championship win for Michael Graham with his aged ewe, a daughter of Kinsella Kit Kat. She was also champion at Balmoral last year. Reserve to her was a gimmer from Jayne Tannahill.

Champion in the Kerry Hills was Brian Malcolmson with his aged tup, with Sean and Fiona McAllister reserve with a shearling ewe. And in the Mules is was another success for Michelle Wright who took top spot with her shearling ewe. Michelle also took top honours in the Greyface with a shearling ewe, with reserve here going to Hugh Henry with an older ewe.

Kerryhill Champion

by Jonathan Long

It takes a brave person to come back with a former interbreed champion and have another go, but Willie Smith made the journey up from Co Meath to do just that and it’s certainly paid off.

His leader, Milbrook Ginger Spice, who came through as Limousin champion yesterday under judge Stephen Illingworth has just been praised by interbreed judge Colin Hutchings as “a phenonomal heifer with great style, presence and breed character.”

Beef interbeed champion – Ginger Spice

By the prolific breeding Wilodge Vantastic, she is out of the Broomfield Useful daughter Milbrook Baby and was was breed, interbreed junior and overall interbreed champion last year as well as securing the All Ireland Derby championship last September. She’s in calf to Brookmill Fearless, a Sympa son and is due January. This is the third time on the bounce Willie has secured the interbreed honours having won in 2011 with his three year old cow Milbrook Celine.

Reserve Interbreed – Old Glenort Lavender L251

Coming in to take the reserve interbreed championship and following the same trend from the junior interbreed was the Aberdeen-Angus champion, this time James Porter’s two year old heifer Old Glenort Lavender L251.

Shown by stock man Ian Rae, this one is by Old Glenort Ennis J116, this one is out of the Haymount Wessuro B198 daughter Old Glenort Lavender H035 who goes back to a previous Balmoral champion. She’ll be heading to a few local shows this summer.

by Chrissie Long

William McAllisters Junior Beef Interbreed

Standing out in a strong line up of junior beef champions was the April 2012-born Limousin heifer Artnagullion Hanna from William McAllister and family. By Virginia Andy, this one is out of Teeshan Evanoush and was one of three junior champions in the line up owned by the family.

Judge Colin Hutchings described this heifer as “a well balanced, sweet female, who was full of quality.”

Reserve Junior Beef Interbreed – Drummeer Blackbird M808

Standing reserve to her was the Aberdeen-Angus heifer Drummeer Blackbird M808 from Alan and Naomi Morrison. This March 2012-born Netherallan Peter Pershore daughter is out of knockadrinan Blackbird G400. Speaking of this heifer, Colin said: “The Angus is a modern clean representation of the breed and will grow on to make an exceptional breeding female.”

by Chrissie Long