Holstein UK Announces 2018 Pedigree Herd Regional Finalists

The seven regional finalists of the 2018 UK Premier Pedigree Herd Competition have been selected. The award is designed to reward herds achieving the best breeding status for their herds where at least 90% of the animals are UK bred.

Regional competitors were nominated by Holstein Clubs and, following judging, the regional winners are confirmed as follows:

•    Scotland – Andrew Wilson of the Northshields Herd
•    Northern Ireland – Ronald McLean & Sons of the Relough Herd
•    Eastern – Messrs RV Winter of the Corringham Herd
•    Western – A & D Mackellar of the Drointon Herd 
•    Northern – A Lawson & Son of the Newbirks Herd
•    Southern - DJ Smith of the Oakroyal Herd
•    Welsh – AH Wilson of the Tregibby Herd
 

Each of the regional finalists have had to compete in 2 rounds of judging so far. Each competitor will have had to win their clubs herd competition and then go through a further round of regional judging to come out as one of the seven regional winners. Regional rounds were judged by seven judges selected by Holstein UK. All herds which are put forward for this award must consist of a herd where at least 90% of the animals are UK bred and are in the 01, 12 or 20 breed codes.

To choose the leading herd, the seven regional Premier Pedigree Herd award winners will be visited by David Brewster who won the award in 2017 with his Boclair herd. Over the next two weeks, David will visit each of the herds to determine the national winner and runners-up. Each herd will be visited at the same time of day to ensure consistency. The national winner will be announced during the National Holstein Show at this year’s UK Dairy Day, taking place on Wednesday 12^thSeptember at Telford International Centre.

Next summer, the winner of the Premier Pedigree Herd competition will open up their farm gates to host the Premier Pedigree Herd Open Day, an event which has become an important part of the Holstein calendar and offers visitors the opportunity to visit one of the very best herds in the UK to learn more about their management techniques and breeding programme.

Andrew Birkle, Holstein UK Chairman and winner of the 2016 Premier Pedigree Herd competition, commented, “Holstein UK looks to add value to members and their herds by awarding these prestigious awards to worthy winners. The awards are an integral part of our membership and recognise those herds which have impeccable breeding and management techniques to gain recognition and credibility throughout the dairy industry as a whole. The Premier Pedigree Herd award is one of the most renowned awards Holstein UK presents and each year, the Open Day which is held at the winner’s farm receives an enormous amount of interest. I am very much looking forward to seeing which of the regional winners will receive this year’s award and I wish them all the very best of luck as they welcome David Brewster to their farms over the coming weeks.”