By Andrew Patton
NORTHERN Ireland Holstein Young Breeders is gearing up to kick off the year by inviting existing and prospective new members to attend the first event of the 2022 programme.
The club saw a very successful 2021, with members being able to travel across the water to compete at the National Competitions Day and also the All Breeds All Britain Calf Show, albeit with Covid and Brexit restrictions in place it was far from the normal Young Breeder Year. The club is confident that more normality will improve this year with the return of the members’ favourite event, the annual Weekend Rally in August.
In order to prepare for this year’s national calendar of events, club members are kicking off on Friday, January 28, with a judging demonstration/refresher night. The evening will be kindly hosted by George and David Simpson, Damm Holsteins, 102 Tullynacross Road, Lisburn, County Antrim, BT27 5SG. The event will begin at 7.30pm.
George and David currently run 220 cows, with an impressive rolling average of 10,500kgs with components 3.95 per cent fat and 3.35 per cent protein. The renowned Damm herd has won a number of accolades, adding Champion Heifer in Milk to its bow at last month’s RUAS Winter Fair with Damm Tatoo Sallie.
On the evening we will be joined by Holstein UK Classifier Iwan Thomas of Llanelli, south Wales. Having grown up through the Holstein Young Breeder organisation himself, Iwan has much success under his belt in the stock judging competition and has also taken the role of Master Judge on a number of occasions at shows throughout the UK. Iwan will go through both stock judging and linear assessment and tips will also be provided for reason giving.
“This will be a very informative evening for members old and new. Iwan will provide his expertise to members, sharing tips and pointers which will come in useful as we head forward to the competitive, qualifier events in the Spring”, comments club co-coordinator Jessica Hall, Nutts’ Corner.
Full details of the line-up of events will be provided at the judging event next week and on the social media pages. NI Holstein Young Breeders is open to members aged four to 26.
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