Home-breeding excellence for winners at Dairy Show 2023
10th October 2023
A passion for home-breeding paid off for exhibitors at the Dairy Show, with several of the championship winners coming from long and beloved family bloodlines.
Rivermead Minx Candy VG89 scoops interbreed championship
Riding on a tide of success, having won her class at UK Dairy Day in 2022, Rivermead Minx Candy VG89 scooped the prestigious interbreed championship. Exhibited by Emily Davis, this home-bred Jersey cow had her third calf just three weeks ago and is already yielding 33 litres/day. Sired by Stonyrun Aus Tbone Minx, she was placed as champion Jersey at Dairy Expo earlier this year too.
“Jerseys are our passion, and to reach the top is amazing,” said Emily Davis. “It’s the first time we’ve won at this show, and it’s just fantastic.” Emily also enjoyed success with the family’s other home-bred entrants, winning the National Jersey Championship, reserve champion and reserve honourable mention.
Based near Tiverton, Devon, the Davis family milk 230 cows, and all share the Jersey passion, including Emily, her brothers, sisters and parents.
Reserve interbreed title bestowed on Thuborough Freda 610
Thuborough Farms’ Holstein senior cow, shown by Roland Ley, took the reserve interbred title. Another home-bred, Thuborough Freda 610 is rated EX95 and is yielding 48 litres after having her fourth calf in March. Roland has never previously won the breed championship at the Dairy Show, despite a string of previous successes. “So to get breed champion and reserve interbreed is a great result.”
Before her success at the Dairy Show 2023, Freda won the breed and interbreed championship at the Devon County Show and was breed champion at the Royal Cornwall Show. “She’s got a really good udder and is very youthful despite being a fourth-calver,” said Roland. “She has a lovely balance and moves really well.”
Hosting the Guernsey National Show
The Dairy Show 2023 played host to the Guernsey National Show, which was won by the Greenslade family’s Greensfield Dandy Dan Butterfly. “It means a lot to us,” said exhibitor Emma Greenslade. “We work quite hard with our breeding, and we bred both her and the sire behind her – Greensfield Dandy Dan. His dam won at UK Dairy Day and here, and now we’ve done the double again.”
UK Dairy Day and the Dairy Show were Butterfly’s first two shows, and she claimed the breed championship at both. “She’d never been shown before – I dragged her out of the shed a week before Dairy Day. She’s just so quiet,” said Emma.
The family milk 100 cows near Cullompton, Devon, and this second-calver; who calved in August, is giving 25 litres/day.
The other breed champions were: Ayrshire Rosehill Madison Jelly VG87, Dairy Shorthorn Churchroyd Bronte Wildeyes 63, and British Friesian Greenway Solo Billie Jo.
Full results from the competitions can be found on The Dairy Show’s website.
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