The Border and Lakeland Holstein Club’s winter herd competition was brought back to its seasonal roots as farms were visited by the judge.
The breeders put on some tremendous displays of animals as judge Andrew Lawrie, of the Grangehall herd, spent two days casting his expert eyes over many exceptional cattle.
The most keenly contested class was for second calvers. A Tank descendant bulldozed her way to the top in the form of Arnott Jans Rhapsody, from the Kirkby Thore-based Crossfell herd of John and Heidi Metcalf.
The super six cows came from the Stowbeck herd of 420 cows from Skirwith Hall Farm. From the same home was the first placed intermediate cow, Stowbeck Fitz Flo. Classified excellent 93, she produced 12,001kg at 4.58 per cent butterfat and 3.03 per cent protein in her second lactation. She is currently milking her third lactation, having calved at the end of May.
Club secretary Stacey Creighton said: “The Flo family from Stowbeck was a sight to behold. I felt privileged to be stewarding that day so I also got the pleasure of seeing this uniform family showing dairyness and strength throughout.
“Jack Wilson’s Ewemoo Lambda Appleline will definitely be one to watch in the future — she looks a promising animal destined for the show ring.” The junior heifer class saw a fantastic exhibition of stock, with Stacey saying: “They were powerful yet feminine — a credit to the breeders. There is a positive outlook with animals like this carrying the Holstein breed forward.”
Just getting the edge in this section was Woodcatt Chief Fav, from D. R. and H. M. Horsley, Catterlen.
Results: Junior cow —1 Arnott Jans Rhapsody, from Crossfell Holsteins; 2 Hailstone Lighthouse Sheila, Hailstone Holsteins; 3 Heathersgill Pepper Stately, Heathersgill Holsteins. Intermediate cow — 1 Stowbeck Fitz Flo, Stowbeck Holsteins; 2 Panda Lucky Secret, Crossfell Holsteins; 3 Hailstone Bolt Faye, Hailstone Holsteins.
Senior cow — 1 Heathersgill Mogul Bevel, Heathersgill Holsteins; 2 Stowbeck Shilling Maiden, Stowbeck Holsteins. Senior heifer — 1 Crossfell Discjockey Erle, Crossfell Holsteins; 2 Hailstone Vogue Eclipse, Hailsone Holsteins; 3 Panda Treacle, Lightning Holsteins. Junior heifer — 1 Woodcatt Chief Fav, D. R. and H. M. Horsley; 2 Crossfell Crushabull Magic, Crossfell Holsteins; 3 Heathersgill Excel Bubbles, Heathersgill Holsteins.
Family group — 1 Flo family, Stowbeck Herd. Holstein Young Breeder unserved heifer — 1 Ewemoo Lambda Appleline, from Jack Wilson, Lightning Holsteins; 2 Heathersgill Homecom Squaw, Liam Graham, Heathersgill Holsteins; 3 Oakview Unstopabull Hailey, Tori Wilson, Hailstone Holsteins. Super six females — 1 Stowbeck herd, Skirwith Hall Farm Ltd; 2 Woodcatt herd, D. R. and H. M. Horsley; 3 Crossfell Holsteins, Crossfell Ltd.
