Record-breaking numbers at Holstein calf show

MORE than 200 Holstein calves and young handlers were entered and took to the show ring at Dungannon Farmers’ Mart on Friday, August 19, to compete in the 19th Multi Breed Dairy Calf Show.

The show, which is solely organised and ran by the Holstein Young Breeders’ (HYB) club, is being hailed a great success – an event which is growing exponentially year on year.

“I thoroughly enjoyed the day, the standard of both the showmanship and the calves were fantastic,” said David Hodgson, who had the onerous task of judging the largest Holstein calf show on record. David hails from the Wormanby herd, Cumbria, and is no stranger to the show circuit having judged at many shows on both sides of the Irish Sea, whilst having great success in the show ring, along with being named the UK’s Premier herd in 2015.

On the day, young breeders’ members are put through their paces in the showmanship classes, which are sponsored by World Wide Sires UK, as well as taking to the ring once more in the afternoon for the calf conformation classes, sponsored by Thompsons Feeds. Exhibitor-bred awards are also up for grabs in each class, sponsored by Western Farm Enterprises.

New sponsor Blondin Sires UK was also welcomed on board this year as the sponsor of the new Interbreed Championship Award. Thanks are given to Mark Logan and Clandeboye Estate for providing a brand-new trophy for this – The Clandeboye Cup, presented in memory of Lady Dufferin. Having been in discussion over the past number of years, the interbreed championship was a great pinnacle to the day.

A grand total of 62 young members sweated it out in the showmanship section in their various age categories, an increase of 20 young handlers from last year.

The eventual Showmanship Champion and the Hamish Logan Trophy was awarded to Ava Montgomery, Saintfield. Lauren Henry, Stranocum, was awarded Reserve Champion handler (receiving the Ulster Bank Cup), with James Gregg, Ballymena, walking away with Honourable Mention.

“We have had some huge classes and we have ended up with what I class as the top five handlers here. I feel my top five handlers could show cattle at top shows anywhere in the world – they are of such a high standard,” said judge David Hodgson during the showmanship championship.

Each of the first placed handlers, from the qualifying classes, will now go forward to represent the club at the All Breeds All Britain Calf Show held at Peterborough in October, a national event which takes place each year and sees the top regional showmanship and calf class winners compete for the national title. This year the event will take place from Friday to Sunday, October 14-16, and champion and reserve handlers Simon Gregg, Ballymena, and Callum Reid, Drumbo, will represent Northern Ireland in the hope of claiming the top spots.

Once the handling classes were complete, the calf classes soon got underway

Calves are judged in age classes and the top two placed calves in each class are invited back to compete for the overall Champion award.

After picking out his final six calves in the championship, judge Mr Hodgson said: “I am always looking for calves that will go on and make great cows in any system, calves with dairy character, strength at front end, strength of loin, wide rumps, good legs and feet and I feel that the six calves in front of us here today carry all of these attributes.”

David then went and tapped out his Champion, Reserve and Honourable Mention calves, with top honours being awarded to the Mclean family with Priestland 7085 Master James Rose. Winning the December/January class and sired by Golden Oaks Master, this calf is from a VG88 point second calf Walnutlawn Solomon daughter from Priestland 5235 PS James Rose EX95, a cow who needs little introduction.

“This calf epitomises everything I look for in a calf, her balance and style is second to none,” said judge Mr Hodgson.

Priestland 7085 Master James Rose was also awarded the Exhibitor Bred Champion title. The Champion calf receives the Genus Crystal Award and Florrie Wilson Cup for best Exhibitor Bred.

Following the Champion, in Reserve and Honourable Mention positions, were two calves bred and owned by Alan and Leanne Paul, Maghera, with Reserve Champion being awarded to Slatabogie Doral All Rich Red. Honourable mention ribbons went to Slatabogie Lambda Gold. The Reserve Champion calf was awarded the McCann Shield.

Prize winners from each calf class also find themselves in a qualifying position for the national All Breeds All Britain calf show, however this year due to new Brexit restrictions, for the second year, this is unfortunately seeming to be an impossibility.

In his closing remarks, judge David Hodgson said: “The level of support that Northern Ireland HYB achieve is just about the best that you could find anywhere and

I believe that the final six calves that I pulled out for my championship were

of a level to compete anywhere and thanks go to the club for their invitation over to judge, it’s been both an honour and a privilege.”

To wrap up the day’s events, Holstein judge David Hodgson teamed up with Ayrshire and Jersey judge Sam Wake, North Hants, to tap out the eventual winner of the Interbreed Championship award, who would take away the new Clandeboye Cup in memory of Lady Dufferin.

Exhibited by the Sizzler Syndicate, Andrew Kennedy, Mark Henry, David Simpson and Rory Timlin, the winner went to the Jersey Champion – Treasure Andreas Fernleaf ET. Thanks must go to Mark Logan and all at Clandeboye Estate for making this a possibility.

Thanks must go to the sponsors for the day, without whom the event would simply not be possible – World Wide Sires UK (showmanship), Thompsons Feeds (calf conformation), Western Farm Enterprises (exhibitor bred) and Blondin Sires UK (interbreed championship).

Thanks also go to stewards Leiza Montgomery, Saintfield, Geoffrey Patton, Carrowdore, and Alec Walker, Randalstown, for ensuring the next class was always ready, enabling the event to run so smoothly.

The club is also indebted to commentator for the day Michael Taaffe, Milltown, and photographer Jane Steel, Kepculloch.

Thanks also to the Ayrshire and the Jersey Society along with Dungannon Farmers’ Mart, without whom the NI Multibreed Calf Show would not be where it is today.