Recently in Dairy Shorthorn Category

In the Brown Swiss Championship, Kedar Becks Alice from Jonathan Lochhead, Beyond the Barn, Mouswald, Dumfries took home the silverware.

Judge Kevin Thomas picked Alice for her breed character through the head, her deepness through the heart and a good strong walk. "With strong feet and legs, there is no doubt she will be around for a long time," he said.

This one is by Kedar Becks and out of Kedar Prelude Alice. She comes from the Lochhead's 150 cow, organic Brown Swiss herd which is averaging 8000litres.  Kedar becks Alice gave 9000 litres last year at 3.6 protein and is currently yielding 35 kg/day.

In reserve was Kedar Special Melanie from R and S McColm. Shown by Robert McColm, this was her first time in the ring. She calved in December and is giving 33litres/day. By Quincy Even Special and out of Kedar 56, she is one of 40 Brown Swiss kept by the McColms alongside their herd of 150 black and whites.

 In the Shorthorn Championship, N Madely of Cherry Oak Farm, Monkhall got the top spot with Nejay Erin 2. Judge Seimon Thomas complemented her on her fine udder and good presence in the ring. This one is by Morwick Sand Ranger and out of Cotley Erin 72.

In reserve was Elkington Gentle from M S and E A E Davies, Troedyrhiw, Carmarthen. Praised for her tremendous body and good dairyness, she is by Horizon ranger red and out of Greystones Gentle 2.

 The Guernsey Championship was taken by Bickfield Rainbow 51. She is by Slindon Posies Ambionic Ggbp and out of Bickfield Rainbow 26.

This one is owned in partnership between Neil and Kim Sales and Colin Evans, 83 Charlton Road, Midsomer Norton.

This second calver calved on 23 November and is giving 46.5 litres/day. This is the first time Mr Evans has shown his own cattle, but has shown for others over the last 30 years.

In reserve was winner of the senior class, Luckley Sylvia 15 from I and D Crouch, Chettle Farms, Blandford Forum. She is by Jensgolden Proking Royal Oak and out of Luckley Sylvia 10.

The Dairy Burke Trophy, the traditional pairs title awarded at previous Royal Shows, will for this year be judged at the new National All Breeds Dairy Show to be held at Stoneleigh in February and organised by Holstein UK.

With an initial one year licence in place for the trophy to be presented at the All Breeds Show the trophy will continue to recognise the best of British Dairying.

However, while this may seem to be the headline news from the press release issued by Holstein UK there detail buried further down is more interesting I believe.

In a statement welcoming the agreement RASE chairman Henry Cator says..."The arrangement is initially for one year as RASE has not yet finalised all its future event plans. However, both ourselves and Holstein UK, will monitor the event next February and a statement about the future of the competition will be made as soon after the National All Breeds Show as possible."

Now, you can read into those words what you will, but it does seem to suggest that if all goes well the Burke will remain at the All Breeds Show.

This in itself may not seem big news, but think back to last July and RASE's comments about planning a national livestock show for 2011. Is the Burke's move to the All Breeds Show the first nail in that coffin?

Well apparently not, according to RASE's Alice Bell. "We're looking at all the options for a livestock event next year and it may be that the new All Breeds Dairy Show is the best place for the Burke to be in future.

"The bottom line is that RASE has no livestock event this year and allowing the Burke Trophy to be presented at the All Breeds Dairy Show helps keep the competition alive," she added.

I'm yet to be convinced on RASE's plans for 2011, but until they put out any detail I'll my thoughts to myself and wait and see.

Saturday's sale of dairy cattle at Sedgemoor saw a top call of 2000gns paid for Holstein second calver Lilylane Lheros Nora 15 from A J Bennett and Sons. This price tage was matched by a fresh calved heifer from R J Goss and Sons, Posh Leader Clover.

Ayrshires peaked at 1500gns for  in-calf heifer Demans Molly which was due in October to a Limousin sire. She was forward from D Sayer.

And topping the Jerseys was a 700gns bid for a February calved fourth calver from S E Lane and Partners, Kent.

In the Dairy Shorthorn sale on behalf of the sotuh west Shorthorn Breeders Association, the trade was led at 1680gns by a fresh calved heifer Ablington Digitalis 25 from W H and S J Rawlins. Also at this money was August calved heifer Ablington Eaves Fairy 4. Topping the cows was a 1600gns sale for second calver Wawcott Clemancy 46 from R F Collins.

Averages; Shorthorns calved cows £1347.50, calved heifers £1434, in-calf heifers £833.33, heifer calves £279.13; Holsteins, calved cows £1907, calved heifers £1854.30, in-calf heifers £1365, served heifers £1141.87, yearling heifers £631.33, heifer calves £351.75; Jerseys, calved cows £662.81, in-calf heifers £682.50, served heifers £483, bulling heifers £406; Ayrshires, in-calf heifers £1464.75 (Greenslade Taylor Hunt)

Despite the contiuing wet weather here at the Royal Welsh all the dairy breed classes have been completed this morning ahead of the interbreed tomorrow.

Taking the Holstein championship were Almond Holsteins, Dumfries, with their cow Herdstown Rachel. This one, an October 1998-born entry is by Parker Aero Wode and out of Herdstown Rachel 341, she was bred by Herdstown Holsteins.

Standing reserve was perenial Royal Welsh winners the Wilson family with their cow Tregibby T G Lynda. She is a March 2005-born daughter of homebred sire Tregibby Gibson and is out of Tregibby Progress Lynda.

Lifting the Ayrshire title were P and S Williams with their cow Heydale Ginny 90. This one, bred by D W Berrisford is a September 2005-born daughter of Rosehill Blackthorn and is out of Heydale Ginny 86. Reserve were H W Outram and Co with their cow Stamford Princess 19. She's by McCornick Nelson and out of Stamford Princess 13.

Jersey champion was Clandeboye Jazzman Mabel from the Wilson family. This one was bred in Northern Ireland by the Clandeboye Estate and is by Rapid Bay Jazzman and out of Clandeboye L S Mabel. Taking reserve honours were the Murray family with their cow Whiteoaks Julian Flower. She's an October 2003-born daughter of Valleystream Julian out of Watchbury Centurians Flower.

In the Dairy Shorthorn lines the championship was taken by Ian Harries with his third calver MarleyCote Win Jill 6. She's by Winbrook Chesterton and out of Marleycote Win Jill 5. She was bred by G G Baynes and Son.

Reserve here were S V B and E A Thomas with their cow Drisgol Tulip 31. This one is by Amber Izaak 3 and out of Drsigol Tulip 23.

Taking the Dairy Shorthorn championship was Nick Madeley with  Attwell Anne, this April 2004-born third calver is by Winbrook Vince and was bred by A Gough and Arden. Having given 8675 in her second lactation at 4.25% butterfat and 3.22% protein she has given 9201 in 252 days of her third lactation having calved in October last year.

In reserve spot here was J C Hayward with Hooton Lily Fair 196, an Ex92 rated daughter of Hooton Fair Appeal. This one was born in June 2003 and calved her fourth in January of this year.

The dairy classes have been going at full steam here this morning with championships awarded in all four breeds on show.

Taking the Jersey championship was Robert Hunter with his June 2004-born third calver Clydevalley Julian Flora. She is by Valleystream Julian. Reserve here was October 2002-born Wellhead Rocket Boo from J and I Wilson. This one, classified Ex95 is by Wellhead Remake Rocket and was bred by Ken Timbury.

Dairy Shorthorn champion was Adam Lawson with Lisnamulligan Princess Anne 2, a November 2005-born third calver. She is by Kayl MP Spellbound.

Taking reserve spot in these was W H and K M Robinson's in-calf cow Strickley Annabella 117. She is by Winbrook Diamond.

Lifting the Holstein championship was Alister Laird with Almondene Whitney. She is a November 2004-born daughter of Oseeana Astronomical.

The Jersey champion, Saxowl Precious 4 from the Saxby family took overall honours in today's dairy championship at Newark and Notts. Precious 4 gave 5000 litres in her second lactation and is one of 90 cows run by the family at Skipton.

Standing reserve was the Dairy Shorthorn champion from Ian Collins, Churchroyd Heather 30. This one gave 8200 litres in her first lactation.

The first new Dairy Shorthorn bloodlines from Australia in four decades are now available from the breed's UK society.

His dam is the impressive Andeline crowned reserve champion cow at IDW 07 and champion cow and Brisbane Royal in 2005 and interbreed champion cow at Brisbane in 2006. She gave 9256 litres of milk at 4.5% butterfat and 3.2% protein. His maternal sister was also champion at Brisbane in 2006.

Redrama brings new bloodlines into the UK and gives breeders the opportunity to take advantage of this very dairy type of Shorthorn which has many desirable Shorthorn attributes as well as good milk yields, says Shorthorn society secretary Frank Milnes.

"It is also an ideal cross for black and white breeders looking to improve robustness in their cattle without sacrificing dairyness."

The semen, from Agri-Gene, in Wangaratta, Victoria, is available through the Shorthorn Society at Stoneleigh Park, Kenilworth, Warwickshire.