Dairy supreme champion has udder others envy
28 June 2002
Dairy supreme champion has udder others envy
By Jeremy Hunt North-west correspondent
LOCAL Holstein breeder Mark Nutsford poured away almost 50kg of milk from his supreme championship winner at the two-day Cheshire Show.
She has already given 18,000kg in her current lactation, and it seems there is no stopping her.
The cow clinching the overall dairy title was Applevue Rudy Mattia from Mr Nutsfords Riverdane herd, run with his wife Susan at Middlewich, Cheshire.
"I have never worked with a cow like this before. Shes remarkable," said Mr Knutsford, who bought Mattia after seeing her in Canada as a milking heifer.
No stranger to managing top ranking Holsteins, he believes his champion – by Startmore Rudolph – is very special. Her udder quality totally belied her 305-day 18,000kg second lactation.
"When she was milked out you could never have believed it could have coped with that volume of milk." And it was something that certainly impressed the judges, who also gave Mattia the best udder award in the Holstein section.
Standing reserve in the dairy championship was a smart Dairy Shorthorn cow from the West Yorks herd of the Collins family who run 100 milkers at Dewsbury. Their Churchroyd Kirklevington 2, by Brieryside Superstar, was also awarded the overall exhibitor-bred championship.
Jersey breeder David Jones, from Ormskirk, Lancs, is no stranger to top honours at this show, but his victory last week was a landmark. His champion, second calver Bluestone Dans Ranee, was stalled next to her 12-year-old dam Bluestone Rajkumari, which took the Cheshire title nine years ago.
Rajkumari, who looked barely half her age and has given 45t of milk,, was bred out of a heifer stirk bought by Mr Jones for £60. "It has been an outstanding family. We dispersed our herd and now only keep five cows, but there is usually a waiting list for our heifers."
Jim Barber led the Belgian Blue classes with Threeways Superstar, an 850kg son of his top show winning bull Alambic, but he was in the driving seat again to pilot the Simmental cow Miss MRL to the overall beef championship.
Owned by well-known Simmental showman Roger Birch from Stafford in partnership with Mr Barber and Rob Evans, the red-blanket coated Miss MRL was fresh from her Staffordshire victory. Her son, Newtrend Dynasty, stood exhibitor-bred beef champion. The Chapelton-sired Hereford bull Wenmar 1 Sensation, from Isle of Man-based Wenmar Farms, stood reserve.
RESULTS
DAIRY CATTLE
Interbreed Riverdane Holsteins cow Applevue Rudy Mattia; res, S R & * M Collins Dairy Shorthorn cow Churchroyd Kirklevington 2.
Holstein Riverdane Holsteins cow Applevue Rudy Mattia; res, A & J Whittakers cow Knowlesmere Paradise Papoose.
Dairy Shorthorn S R & * M Collins cow Churchroyd Kirklevington 2; res, G P Norburys cow Broadlane Lady Barrington 16.
Jersey D Jones cow Bluestone Dans Ranee; res, S Wheats cow Millvale Aimless Florence 2.
Guernsey Lady Barlows cow Bulkeley Dimple 27; res, Lady Barlows R J Posnett & J A Hopes cow Tiresford Daphne 3.
Dexter * & C Bickertons heifer Lesse Emma (no reserve available)
BEEF CATTLE
Interbreed Birch, Barber & Evans Simmental cow Miss MRL; res, Wenmar Farms Hereford bull Wenmar 1 Sensation.
Simmental Birch, Barber & Evans cow Miss MRL; res, R Birchs bull New Trend Dynasty.
Hereford Wenmar Farms bull Wenmar 1 Sensation; res, R & A Shaws cow Hallshore 1 Satin 2.
Limousin M Schofields heifer Cheadlewood Princess; res, M Schofields bull Millbrook Playboy.
Charolais S Baileys bull Beeline Safe Bet; res, S Baileys heifer Beeline Surprise.
Belgian Blue J Barbers bull Threeways Superstar; res, R Birchs heifer Astbury Trudie.
Aberdeen-Angus N Hammills bull Tegsnose Elmer; res, J Sutcliffes heifer Coalyeat Evistar.
Blonde dAquitaine J M Richardsons cow Warmingham Jill; no reserve available. *