Taking Stock

The Watson family’s long established Muirston Ayrshire herd offered a selection of spring calving heifers at Ayr market where a solid trade peaked at 2800gns for a daughter of McCornick Nelson.

The leading bid came for Muirston Clover 34, a 75% pure Ayrshire out of a cow by the red Holstein Horizon Ranger that topped 11,200kg in her third lactation. Buyer was George Templeton, Auchinleck, Ayrshire.

Messrs Watson, Stranraer paid 2600gns for another heifer from the Clover family, this time sired by Muirston Brightlight, while a 2550gns call from Messrs Morgan and Hughes, Cumnock, Ayrshire secured a Brightlight daughter from the herd’s Denise family.

Muirston Carol 55 – by West Mossgiel Lord of the Ring and out of a dam by Horizon Ranger – realised 2400gns to Messrs Gemmel, Brownsfield, Dumfries with a bid of 2250gns from Messrs Miller, Airdrie claiming a Brightlight heifer from the Pan family.

Averages: 33 in-calf heifers £1595. (Craig Wilson Ltd).

The first of the shows in the south east started with a bang at the weekend for Rupert Taylor Ltd's Charolais herd as they took both the interbreed and reserve overall tickets in the beef cattle lines at Heathfiled Show, East Sussex.

Although entries were down considerably this year, with classes having to be emalgamated, the string of Charolais cattle led out by Robert and Fiona Temple dominated proceedings.

Their champion and overall female champion was the March 2006 heifer Rumsden Bianca, by Burnside Taz. Standing reserve to her was their male champion Rumsden Cruiserweight, by Roundhill Rocky. Both exhibits were out of the same dam, Rumsden Tatania.

The Sussex breed dominated the reserve line up with the Milson family taking the reserve female title with Trottenden Terpischore 91 and Trottenden Major 2 from the same holding taking the reserve male title.

In the any other breed section, Jason and Sarah Wareham took the best British Blue ticket with their August 2006 Gitan son Wareham's Billy, while Sue and Tim Watson took the best Limousin ticket with their yearling heifer Thorndean Cracker.

Thorndean also led the way in the commercial section with their purebred Limousin heifer Thorndean Cheeky.

Taking the Ayrshire title at this year's Highland is L Davidson and Son's cow in milk Halmyre urr louise. She is by Badenheath Sir Lawrence and is homebred.

Standing reserve to her was M W and A Stevenson's Buttercup 50.

In the Jersey lines, J and I Wilson's Goodtime Paragon Folly took the title.

In the Holstein lines the championship went to Almond Silky Avis, a 2000-born cow owned jointly by Almond Holsteins and Longfordhall Holsteins.

While Almond Holsteins also had a hand in the reserve championship with Weeton Brandy Reba, a cow they own jointly with J Loftus, taking the honours.

For more pictures from the cattle and sheep lines click here.  

It was the Holstein that took the top honours in the dairy rings earlier ahead of the Ayrshire.

Show leader was Almond Silky Avis, the Silky Gibson daughter from Almond Holsteins and Longfordhall Holsteins.

Shown by Paul Rawcliffe of Almond Holsteins, the eight days calved eight year old is currently giving 45kg after her last lactation of 15,400kg. No stranger to the show ring she has won two reserve championships at the Royal Show along with top honours at the National Holstein Show in 2003. Her next outing will be the Royal Welsh Show.

Taking reserve spot was the Ayrshire from Laurence and Keith Davidson. Shown by Keith's daughter Katie who is pedigree dairy assistant at Harrison and Hetherington, Halmyre Urr Louise is currently giving 40kg and has already won interbreed at Ayr this year, as well as champion Ayrshire Calf in 2005. The plan is to now show her locally.

Both exhibits were complemented by judge John Loftus, Lancashire. "The Holstein has a super udder and looks fantastically well for her age, while the Ayrshire is much stronger than most Ayrshires showing a super udder and legs."