UDDERLY MARVELLOUS
ANGLESEY grabbed the lion’s share of silverware in an annual competition for milking units in north west Wales.
Two herds from the island led the trophy haul in the 2015-16 Old Gwynedd Milk Recorded Herds presentation evening at Caernarfon Golf Club.
But in a year when a dozen herds were recognised, out of an entry of 13, Caernarfon dairy farmer Aled Jones repeated his success of the previous year in the inspection competitions.
He lifted the Mars Jones Cup after his Hendy cows were adjudged the year’s leading inspected herd
Brothers Gareth and Sion Roberts of Fferam y Llan, Cerrigceinwen, were once again prominent in the production competitions, stepping up on four occasions to claim trophies.
They claimed a production double with the year’s most prolific cow – at £5,021 exactly the same as the previous year’s winner – and the year’s best performing heifer, with an output of £4,257.
Their herd also fielded the cow with the highest average lifetime daily yield, at 27.6kg per day.
Also making a big impression was competition debutant Trefor Lloyd, Ty Mawr, Valley, whose Islandpride Holstein milkers collected four trophies on the night.
As well as the Novice award, the herd won inspection and youngstock titles, while Islandpride Outside Deborah was awarded the 70-tonne cow trophy.
Competition regulars JM & PJ Coker, of Mathan Uchaf, Boduan, and R & G Williams, of Cae Morfa, Pontllyfni, each went home with three trophies.
Winner of the “Silcock” Perpetual Challenge Cup, for production and genetic management, were EG & A Evans, Erw Fawr, Llanfachraeth.