Balmoral Show Report

A 14-year-old Holstein cow has taken the dairy interbreed title at The Royal Ulster Balmoral Show, championing the shift in emphasis away from high yields and towards longevity in the dairy herd.

Medway Supreme Maude, owned by Sam McCormick and shown by son John, is currently
in her 12th lactation and is sired by Startmore Supreme and out of Medway Matta Marlie.

“Considering she will be 15 in August, this is quite an achievement.” Maude has given
more than 147,000kg in her lifetime and is currently yielding 48kg/day at 4.46% BF and 3.25% Protein.

The much coveted beef interbreed title was clinched by Peter Smyth’s three-year-old Limousin heifer Carmorn Vonex, sired by Rubis and out of Carmorn Lizzie. Purchased from Francis Mc-Cauley and now four-and-a-half months in-calf to bull Abracadabra – bought by Mr Smyth as part of a syndicate at Carlisle in February for £29,000 – Carmorn Vonex will appear again at the Royal Highland Show in June.

Depending on quarantine commitments, Medway Supreme Maud will go on to compete at the Royal Show in July.

Reserve went to second lactation Jersey Grayridge Renaissance Elisa, owned by Ashley Fleming, County Down. A result of a Canadian embryo imported by Grayridge Jersey’s owner David Gray, Elisa was bought as a calf and took reserve champion at the Royal Ulster Winter Fair in December.

In the sheep lines, Martin Cromie took the interbreed title with his Texel three-year-old ewe sired by Cornerston Isaac. “This is her first outing and we plan to go on to compete throughout the season and flush her later this year.”

In the pig lines, veteran shower Alfred Martin, in his 61st continuous year of showing, took the interbreed with his large white gilt Alderose Greenback 79th. Out of Bellaghy Napolean and sired by Alderose Greenback 74th, judge Phil Fowlie commented on the gilts’ outstanding form and style.