Farming Eye

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

Dairy Shorthorn were in demand selling to 3750gns at the Society’s official annual autumn show and sale at Chelford on Monday.

Strickley Starlet 114th

Sale leader was the reserve champion, Strickley Starlet 114^th, a two year old heifer from W H and K Robinson, Kendal, Cumbria. This one is by Nejay Amazon and out of the homebred Starlet 91^st and was purchased by C D Malkin, Stone, Staffordshire. Messrs Malkin also bid 2000gns for Dee Wild Queen 17^th, a two year old heifer by the Australian sire Panorama Aramis and out of the homebred dam Dee Wild Queen 8^th. This one was bred by D Price-Jones, Wrexham, Clwyd. The same breeder took a call of 2600gns for their champion, Dee Pansy 13^th, a two year old heifer by K C Roses Chatter Red and out of the homebred Stella Pansy 2^nd. She was secured by M Jackson, Thirsk, North Yorkshire.

A bid of 2050gns was made for Cotonhall Lady 2^nd from E Whittaker. This two year old heifer by the Australian sire Treeton Pimp and out of Lady 2^nd was knocked down sold to E Kirk, Leicestershire. The same buyer also purchased Broadlane Duchess Gwynne 93^rd for 2000gns. From O C Whittaker and Sons, Knutsford, Cheshire, this two year old heifer is by Broadlane Fabian and out of Broadlane Duchess Gwynne 72^nd.

Next at 1080gns was Churchroyd Strawberry 3^rd from I R G Collins and Partners, Dewsbury, West Yorkshire. Purchased by J Llewellyn, Narberth, Pembrokeshire, this 18 month old heifer is by Churchroyd King Kong and out of the homebred dam Churchroyd Strawberry.

Sold for 750gns was class winner Broadlane Duchess Gwynne 104^th, an eight month old heifer by Broadlane Lord Louis and out of the homebred cow Broadlane Duchess Gwynne 85^th. This one was secured by J Whittaker, Knutsford, Cheshire, and came from W D and B Norbury and Sons, Crewe, Cheshire.

The top price bull at 1700gns went to the 17 month old Lisnamulligan Prince, bred by the show’s judge A Lawson, Leven, Fife. Sired by Lisnamulligan Fairway and out of the homebred Lisnamulligan Princess Anne 2^nd was purchased by Messrs Hewson, Wigton, Cumbria.

Averages: 18 heifers in-milk £2130; 1 heifer in-calf £1281; 10 maiden heifers £784; 3 bulls £1400 (Frank Marshall).

by Chrissie Long

As well as the Bridgedale dispersal Wednesday also saw Borderway Mart host a youngstock sale from the Lawson family’s British Friesian and Dairy Shorthorn herds with trade among these reaching a 1700gns top call.

Topping the sale was one of the young stars from the Dairy Shorthorns, Lisnamulligan Fairy 13 an April born heifer sired by Meadowhaven Prides Star from three generations of Ex or VG’s. She was purchased by one of the UK top show herds, heading home with Robert and Elaine Butterfield, Bentham.

Lismulligan Empress 33 certainly attracted most of the interest when it came to the British Friesian genetics. She is sired by Lismulligan Lancelot and is out of the much admired Lismulligan Empress 19, an Ex 93 classified dam. Empress 33 was sold for 1420gns and crosses the Irish Sea to join the herd of P J and M McVerry, Belleeks, Co Down.

Mr McVerry purchased a number of heifers for the boat home, including at 1280gns Lismulligan Eileen 34. She is sired by Lismulligan Gambler bred from two VG dams with very high butterfat and protein.

A volume buyer with firsthand knowledge of how successful Lismulligan animals can perform was W H Dixon, Walterston Farm, Hayscastle, Haverfordwest. He filled his truck and paid the next best price of 1250gns for Lismulligan Renne 98 a daughter of Catlane Challenger.

Also selling for 1250gns was Lismulligan Whitetail 3 sired by Lismulligan Gambler and bred from the famous Amber Whitetail 16. The dam of this heifer was first heifer in milk and reserve champion at the Royal Highland in 2011. She was purchased by J Gatherer, Hill of Ochiltree, Ayrshire.

Averages; 47 maiden heifers £1090.76 (Harrison and Hetherington).

by Jonathan Long

Clinching the dairy interbreed title here at the Great Yorkshire Show was the overall Holstein champion Ards Duplex O Ruth from Robert and Elaine Butterfield. Born January 2006, she is a fourth calver and was bred by the Paton family, Northern Ireland and purchased as a calf at Beeston. Classified EX93, she is by Mesland Duplex and is currently giving 56kg having calved in November and gave over 13,000kg in her last lactation.

Reserve here went to the Dairy Shorthorn champion, Churchroyd Heather 30 from the Collins family making this the second time in a row she has secured the reserve interbreed. This second calver is classified VG87 and gave 9365kg in her first lactation.

In the interbreed group of five the Holsteins took the top spot followed up with the Jersey team of five.

by Chrissie Long

Dairy judging has also been completed here today and here’s a brief outline of the championship results (just waiting for the rain to pass and then I’ll set foot int he dairy sheds and find out a bit more for you). Taking the top honours in the Holstein classes under Mike Gould wasterfield family with the January 2006-born Ards Duplex O Ruth, a Mesland Duplex daughter. Standing reserve to her was Messrs Waring with Winton Spen Roxy, an August 2007-born Oseana Aspen daughter.

In the Dairy Shorthorns the Collins Family took the top tickets with the second calving Churchroyd Bronte Wildeyes 31, a VG87 Stadel daughter who gave 9365kg in her first lactation. Reserve here went to the same stable, this time with the fourth calver Churchroyd Heather 30, an EX93 female who gave 12,296 kg in her last lactation.

The Ayrshire championship went the way of the Baynes family with Ketby Me Milestone Red daughter, while the reserve ticket went to The Dowager Marchioness of Normanby with Bailiffscourt Hortense 267, a January 2006-born Horseclose Jubilee daughter.

Coldeaton Jerseys were standing at the top of the line earlier with Woodbine Comerica Sandpiper 2, a bridon Remake Comerica daughter, while the Saxby family came in at reserve with Saxown Connections Heidi 7, a homebred Giprat Belles connection daughter.

by Chrissie Long

Dairy judging as almost finished today at the Highland and leading the first of the run of championships under judge Maggie Howie, Sevenoaks, was Arthur and Susan Lawrie’s Red and White champion, Cuthill Towers White Petal, an August 2009-born Poos Stadel Classic daughter who is currently giving 30 litres a day having calved in January and is projected to give 8000 litres in this lactation.

Standing reserve to her was the second calving Hilltower Talent Marcy Red from the same family. This one is a Ladino Park Talent daughter.

Maggie Howie was back in action judging the Ayrshire section where she placed Keith, Jane and Katie Davidson’s third calver Halmure Urr Floralin. Having calved in March and now giving 45kg a day, this one was reserve here last year and gave 8400kg in her last lactation.

Reserve in the Ayrhsires went to Arthur and Susan Lawrie’s September 2009-born Cuthill Towers Zola, a Des Prairies Potter daughter.

by Chrissie Long

Judge and Jersey breeder Jenny Daw tapped out the overall Holstein champion to take the top spot earlier this morning. Hilltara Damion Maude 5 from Samuel McCormick is an October 2007-born daughter of Erbacres Damion out of the Ex94 Hilltara Storm Maude and is currently giving 50 litres as a second calver. This was her first outing and likely only outing this year, but she was honourable mention at last year’s winter fair and was reserve heifer champion here two years ago.

Standing reserve interbreed champion was the Ayrshire champion, the Ocotber 2005-born fourth calver Ravenhill Ethel 395, an Ex 92 Woodland View Pardner daughter from John Suffern. She is out of the Ex91 Ravenhill Ethel 290 and has currently given 10,500 litres in this lactation. This is Mr Suffern’s 60th year in Ayrshires and earlier this morning he celebrated his 30th Ayrshire Balmoral championship.

by Chrissie Long

A UK-owned Dairy Shorthorn cow has this week been announced as the joint winner of the prestigious World Red Aged Cow competition run by Australia-based international all-breeds publication CrazyCow.  Owned by Ian and Eiddwen Harries, Carmarthen, Wales, Marleycote Peggy 10^th was one of five global-nominations shortlisted for the aged cow class.

Marleycote Peggy 10th

Other class winners, from nominations in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, UK and USA, include UK Dairy Shorthorn three year old entry Churchroyd Bronte Wildeyes 31, bred and owned by I R G Collins and Partners, Dewsbury, West Yorkshire.

The global competition is judged by photographic entry and is jointly sponsored by Canadian cattle-breeding company, Semex Alliance and the Australian publication. The independent panel of judges could not separate Marleycote Peggy 10 Ex93 from the Australia’s aged cow entry, Panorama Angeline 9 Ex93. Both animals received two first and two second places according to CrazyCow editor Diana Malcolm. “Both cows also carry flawless show records in their countries. Peggy is a tremendous example for the modern Dairy Shorthorn breed and thoroughly deserves the accolade,” she said.

Described by Peggy’s owner Ian Harries as “the best cow of the breed I’ve ever seen.” The iconic Dairy Shorthorn has enjoyed amazing UK success and has never been beaten in her class. “Peggy was unbeaten as a show calf and heifer and after we bought her as a heifer she continued her impressive record. I’m thrilled that she’s been awarded joint winner of the World Red Aged Cow competition.”

The Harries family operate a mixed herd milking 120 Holsteins and 30 Shorthorns near Carmarthen. Peggy is the herd’s undoubted star and has yielded in excess of 9,000kgs in each of her four lactations and is again on course with her fifth having produced 7,690kgs at 4.85% fat and 3.85% protein in 217 days.

Peggy is sired by Morwick Sand Ranger, who has bred numerous show winning animals including the famous Morwick Sand Queen EX96.

by Chrissie Long