Livestock Event 2016: Interbreed and dairy championship results

A Red and White Ayrshire came to the fore in the dairy interbreed championship at the Livestock Event’s National Dairy Show, winning the supreme title under County Down judge Ashley Fleming.

Title winner was home-bred fifth calver Horseclose Joanna, from James McGarva, Horseclose Farm, Annan, Dumfrieshire.

Sired by Kian and out of Muirston Joanna 16, she last calved on 2 January.  She is currently giving 36kg daily at 4.81% butterfat and 3.01% protein.

See also: More news and results from the 2016 Livestock Event

Daniel McGarva, who was attending the show for the first time, was delighted he had taken the decision to exhibit. He paid tribute to Ayrshire Young Breeders UK, which had prepped her for the show and took her through her paces in the showring. “She is looking tremendous,’’ he said. “I don’t think you can fault her as a cow.’’

It was Horseclose Joanna’s first show this year, having won breed championships at Moffat Show in previous years.

Standing reserve was champion Ayrshire Cuthill Towers Crown Ray Ex, from Arthur, Susan, James and David Lawrie, Milnathort, Kinross.

Sired by Ardmore Crown Napier and out of Cuthill Towers Ray 26, she last calved in May and is currently yielding 50 litres a day at 4% butterfat and 3.2% protein.

British Friesian

The leading lady in the British Friesian section was Sam and Wendy Howarth’s Raby Jasmine 59, from Pickering, Yorkshire.

Sired by Black Isle Garve out of Raby Jasmine 52, she was described as a “very worthy winner’’ by South Yorkshire judge Edward Griffiths.

“I have not seen a better British Friesian,’’ he said. She last calved in March and is currently producing 33kg daily. It was her first competition of the year, having been named reserve breed champion at the 2015 Livestock Event.

Reserve this year went to AJ and P Barrell’s Gemini Patrol Brandy, sired by Skyigh Patrol out of Gemini Iceman Brandy, Thetford, Norfolk.

Holstein

Home-bred Peachy Ava Tyrol, described by Holstein judge Peter Waring, East Yorkshire, as a cow that would fit into any system, won the Holstein breed championship for Gillingham’s Martin and Liz Peach, of Peachy Holsteins.

This April-calved third calver, sired by Farnear Tor Altaavalon out of Peachy Allen Tyrol, is producing 60kg daily.

Mr Peach, a relief milker who runs a herd of just 12 Holsteins, said the cow had progressed to a new level after gaining an honourable mention at the 2015 show.

Reserve championship went to R and D Steeples’s 125 Cramar Brasilia Cutes, sired by Butz-Butler Atwood Brady out of Cramar Affirmed A Cutes, Kettering, Northants.

Guernsey

For the second year running, Brisslesdford Laredos Bluebell clinched the Guernsey breed championship at the Livestock Event.

After her win under EG Griffin and Sons, Isle of Wight, she was bought by the partnership of Colin and Hilary Evans and Glanmor Jerseys, Laugharne, Carmarthenshire, and has proved a sound investment.

She was described by judge James Warren, Lands End, as a cow that “represents the breed very well’’. Sired by Oak Knob Maxie Laredo out of Briddlesford Oaks Bluebell, Mr Warren said this fourth calver had a great future.

She calved in April and is currently yielding 34 litres daily. Earlier in the year she took the reserve supreme interbreed championship at the Royal Bath and West Show.

In reserve was M and C Greenslade and family’s Blacknor Cracker Iceberg Diana, sired by Greensfield Stinky Iceberg out of Blacknor Cracker Aaron Diana, Cullompton, Devon.

Brown Swiss

For a third year, Soulseat Jublend Beatrice won the Brown Swiss title for Stranraer breeders Robert and Sheila McColm.

It was the first show this year for the fifth calver, who is just eight weeks calved.

Sired by Jublend, she is currently producing 36kg at 5.4% fat and 3.7% protein.

Reserve Brown champion was T Lochhead and Sons’s Old Mill Wondermeat Sunset, sired by Top Acres C Wonderment out of Old Mill E Snickerdoodle, Mouswald, Dumfries.

Ayrshire

The Lawrie family clinched double honours in the Ayrshire section, not only winning the championship with Cuthill Towers Crown Ray Ex, but securing the reserve with Cuthill Towers Prime Nancy, sired by De La Plaine Prime out of Barr Sandy Rose 67.

Jersey

Jersey breed judge Richard Saxby named second calver Bluegrass Cougars Debbie as Jersey champion.

Sired by Bluegrass Corrianders Cougar out of Bluegrass Remakes Festive Debbie, she is from the Daw family’s herd of 150 Jerseys at Hertford Heath, Hertford.

She had produced 6,000 litres as a heifer and had been calved two months when she stepped into the showring for this – her first competition of the year.

“This show is a focus of our exhibiting – they can’t do enough here for us as breeders,’’ said Jenny Daw.

Beaten into the reserve spot was James Evans’s Jubilation Excitation Ceres, sired by Bridon Excitation out of Sowden Juno Ceres 2, Llawhaden, Pembrokeshire.