Jersey takes Bath and West Dairy Show interbreed

The Jersey champion, Hefin Wilson’s fourth calved cow Bluegrass Jazzman Panama, bred by the Daws in Hertfordshire, has taken the interbreed title here at the Bath and West Dairy Show, scoring 49 out of a possible 50 in the panel judging.

Having calved in May Jazzman Panama is currently giving 40kg a day at 6% butterfat and 3.9% protein. She’s one of a dozen Jerseys run by the Wilson family alongside their 65 Holsteins, with the Jerseys averaging 7000 litres at 5.4% butterfat. This was the first time in the event’s 29 year history that a Jersey has taken the interbreed championship.

Standing reserve was the Ayrshire leader Sandyford Anne 9 from Richard Bown and family. This one, bred by the Tomlinson family, is by McCormick Nelson and was breed champion at the Dairy Event and Livestock Show last year as well as picking up the reserve breed championship here. Again a fourth calver she gave 9987 litres last time and calved at the beginning of July. She’s one of just six Ayrshires milked by the Bowns at home in Worcestershire.

This rounded off an exceptional day for the Bowns as their other Ayshire at the show, Richaven Nelson Jonquil took the breed’s heifer championship and the reserve overall heifer award.