Record breaking Dairy Expo
BORDERWAY UK Dairy Expo was hailed a phenomenal success, when the two-day event at Carlisle not only attracted record breaking entries and visitor numbers but also what many would describe as the best quality show of dairy cattle to date at the mart.
Such was the enthusiasm to exhibit and attend the Harrison and Hetherington event, that an additional 29 head of stock was forward on top of the 463 cattle entered. Just as importantly, some 120 youngsters took part in the showmanship competition.
It was however the superior quality of the youngstock and milking cattle on show combined with the general ‘ feel good factor’ that took what was ironically the 13th Dairy Expo, to another level.
“I am humbled at the presentation and the quality of the cattle which have been quite exceptional,” said Ben Govett, the Holstein, Brown Swiss and Dairy Shorthorn judge, of Tandara Genetics, Australia.
“It has been an incredible, world class event with the winners standing up well to our top show cows in Australia.”
International dairy judge, John Cousar of the Howcommon herd, Ayrshire, selected the top winners amongst the British Friesian and having watched the remainder of the show, was also equally impressed.
“The Black and Whites were phenomenal. The depth and balance throughout was exceptional – there was no bottom end in any of the classes,” he said adding that quality was one of the best he’d ever seen.
Backing up these statements, event organiser Glyn Lucas said: “This has been the best Dairy Expo yet. We’ve had record entries forward, a record crowd and some phenomenal quality cattle here.
“It is a huge privilege to be able to offer the dairy industry this platform to showcase the UK’s exceptional accomplishments to a global audience.
“Since the very first Borderway UK Dairy Expo held here 12 years ago, our aim was to recognise the many people who work within the industry, to encourage the younger generation, and importantly to highlight new innovations and cutting-edge technology. This is exactly what we achieved here today.”
Adding to the success was the fact that the event which included no fewer than seven breed shows was commentated live to a global audience of more than 11,000 dairy enthusiasts from the Canada, the USA, Australia and throughout Europe. There were also overseas visitors from as far afield as India, Pakistan, Australia and Canada.
Unanimous grand champion
Scottish producers reigned over several breeds and secured the supreme overall which was presented to the Laird family’s Mag Pandor, a four-year-old Holstein cow in milk which according to the three breed judges was ‘a unanimous winner’.
“From the moment she walked in the ring, I fell in love with this incredible cow,” said the Holstein judge.
“You don’t need to be the biggest to be the best and this young cow has fantastic style, frame, depth and balance. She is a faultless cow with an incredible mammary system,” said Mr Govett, who also described his choice of reserve and honourable mention Holsteins as ‘fantastic.’
Taking centre stage for the Lairds – Alister and Kathleen, son Colin and his wife Izzy – of Blythbridge Holsteins, West Linton, Pandor was providing a second supreme overall at the Expo for the family who previously landed the top spot in 2016.
Their show stopper this time which classified VG89 as a second calver, produced her third in the first week in February and is producing 60litres per day. Bred by Mag Holsteins, Bordeaux, France, this Walnutlawn Sidekick daughter bought privately in January 2023, was reserve champion at the Royal Highland, and first at UK Dairy Day and AgriScot. Paraded by Izzy Laird, Pandor is part owned by Canadian Ferme Blondin, Quebec, who bought a share in the cow at UK Dairy Day.
It was another young cow by Sidekick from Scottish producers that scooped the reserve Holstein honours.
This was Clydeview Sidekick Matilda, a second calver bred by Ewan and Emma Kennedy, Perryston, purchased by Salvy Esquierdo, Ayr after she won the best individual cow in the West of Scotland Winter Herds competition with Robbie and Margo Scott, Nethervalley Holsteins, Tarbolton, taking a share to house and show the cow. Matilda which first won the intermediate Holstein cow championship at the Expo, is classified VG89 and was was on her first outing since. Her dam is Clydeview Dreams Matilda and since calving on January first, is also giving 60kg per day.
Adding to the Scottish celebrations, the reserve intermediate Holstein championship was presented to Nairn-based Steven Innes’ Wolfa Chief Sue, shown by daughter Megan (18) of the 1200-cow Newmeadow Holstein herd. Reserve junior champion here in 2022, junior inter-breed champion at the Royal Highland, first at UK Dairy Day and heifer champion at AgriScot last year, this second calver by Stantons Chief was bought privately from Richard and Sue Armstrong. She calved mid January, is giving 52kg per day and is bred from the VG88 Wolfa Sidekick Sue that boasts10 generations of VG or Excellent-classified cows behind her.
Honourable mention Holstein was Mark and Sue Nutsford’s Riverdane Chief Lila Z from Cheshire, which also landed the same title at the 2023 All Britain Awards.
Brown Swiss
Regular Brown Swiss winner, Jonny Lochhead, Mouswald, Dumfries, and his top team of Jessica Miller and daughter Hattie again made their presence felt, taking the supreme with Kedar Nescardo Snickerliscious, an Ex94-classified fifth calver by the Swiss sire, Kalingen Nesta Nescardo. Bred from the Ex92 Kedar Snickerdee, she was going one better than her reserve win here and at UK Dairy Day last year. Four weeks calved, Snickerliscious was paraded giving 42litres per day.
Standing next to her to lift the reserve breed honours was Kedar Faust Esprit VG89-2yr, a red ticket holder here last year by Riedland Camelot Faust, out of the Ex93-classified Kedar Calvin Eclipse. She produced her second in October and is giving 36litres per day.
Team Kedar also bagged the junior breed championship with Kedar Dreamy Sweet Cheeks, a 15-month-old by Jolahofs Superstar Dreamer and grand-daughter of the Ex97-classified Kedar Sancha Maria.