Successes point to bright future for sector
After all the trials and tribulations of the Covid pandemic it was wonderful to see the Royal Bath and West Dairy Show celebrating the industry.
And there was more cause to celebrate as this was the 40th anniversary, with some wonderful buttonholes made by local florist Kim Sales of Midsomer Norton.
Classes were split into “showmanship” classes on Tuesday evening, with youngsters showing how well they lead and handle their calves. Seeing the ability of even the youngest the future is looking bright. These were judged by Laura Sales from Coleford, who herself has come up through the ranks of showmanship classes and now owns and exhibits cattle herself.
Some of the local winners were Justina Langley from Farmborough and Hannah Garrett from Writhlington.
After selecting her showmanship champion, Laura said: “It’s disappointing that the numbers were less than most years – however, the champion and reserve will do well at national level.”
Throughout the day on Wednesday youngstock of dairy breeds were exhibited and the quality again was testament to the breeding standards of herds for the future.
Justina and her sisters were showing the family’s Holstein youngstock and won champion and reserve calf and three exhibitor bred prizes, along with the interbreed calf championship.
Andy Limond, from Writhlington, also exhibited Holstein youngstock and won reserve champion Holstein. DB and H Miles, of Frome, won exhibitor bred prize for pair of Holsteins. The Limond family and Langley family, with the Miller family,
combined three heifers to win the interbreed group of three championship.
Laura Sales exhibited youngstock and calves for the Creech Hill Partnership, Evercreech, in the any other dairy breed classes winning three firsts and a championship and reserve. The calves and youngstock won five exhibitor bred prizes.
A successful day for local farmers and breeders of dairy cattle, Alan Lyons, head of shows, said “It is great to be back, exhibitors are happy and we all are looking forward to 2022”