A slightly reduced show of dairy cattle did not dim the obvious enjoyment of the packed ringside who watched the judging at Agriscot on Wednesday when nearly all the top awards went to Scottish breeders.
The highly coveted top award of Super Cow 2015 went to a Holstein from the Laird family at Blyth Bridge, Peebleshire. Blythbridge Blackjack Jackie EX94 by Regancrest Mr Blackjack is a fourth calver which calved in March and is currently yielding 72kg per day. She is projected to a whopping 16000kg.
Shown by Alister, Kathleen, Colin and Ann Laird, who milk 550 Holsteins three times a day at Blyth Bridge to an average yield of 11,500kg, this cow was also champion at Northern Holstein Expo and first at the Highland Show and UK Dairy Day.
In reserve overall was another fourth calver from Arthur and Susan Lawrie, who milk 230 Ayrshires and Red and Whites at Cuthill Towers, Milnathort, with their two sons, James and David. The Ayrshire, Cuthill Towers Miss Blondie EX94 by Cuthill Towers White Knight, brought out by James, has had a successful show career. She was champion at the Highland last year and reserve in 2013. She has also twice been in the winning interbreed team at the Livestock Event in Birmingham. She calved early September and is giving 45kg per day now with her last lactation measured at 9000kg.
Judge, Alan Timbrell from Cirencester said he had a soft spot for older cows who have already made it and got nothing to prove. He said@ “This has been the most enjoyable day I have ever had in the ring and “Super Cow” is an understatement for the four finalists.”
The top Jersey belonged to Helen and Andrew Wright, who milk 200 Jerseys in Staffordshire but was brought out by daughter Izzy from her base with the Lairds at Blyth Bridge. Fourcrosses Tequila Black Rose VG88 by Tower Vue Prime Tequila calved in October and is giving 20kg per day. She yielded 6500kg in her first lactation.
John Adamson, Swaites, Lanark, took the Red and White ticket with Swaites Nice Girl by Willsbro Red Dazzle being shown for the first time. A second calver which calved in June, she is giving 54kg per day and yielded 9500kg as a heifer.
The Agriscot Super Heifer award judged in the morning went to an Ayrshire jointly owned by James McAlister and Jim and Gilmour Lawrie, Sandyford, Ayrshire.
Bruchag Talent Evelyn by West Mossgiel Class Talent was bred in the Isle of Bute by the McAlister family but Gilmour spotted her potential when he was judging at Rothesay Show in the summer and placed her champion. He approached James about bringing her out for Agriscot and was thrilled to take his second Super Heifer ticket in four years, while giving James his first Agriscot win.
The heifer, now based with Gilmour’s 250 strong Brieryside herd, calved in August, is yielding 32kg per day and is projected just under 8000kg.
The well-supported Holstein heifer classes were split into junior and senior, and it was Brian and Shiela Yates’ senior heifer, Logan Goldsun Belle by Tocfarm Goldsun which was eventually runner-up to the champion.
This heifer out of a VG89 dam from their dairy at East Logan Farm, Castle Douglas, calved in February and has given 9000kg so far and nearly did not make it to the show as Brian was going to leave her behind in favour of another heifer which ended up in third place.