Renowned Herd Wins National Holstein UK Premier Herd Title

Southern Region Herd finalists, RK & SG Miller & Sons of the Moorshard herd have been crowned as the National winners of the Premier Herd Competition. The Millers who represented the Southern region, were presented with the highly acclaimed award on Wednesday 11^th September at UK Dairy Day.

The award recognises the most outstanding Holstein herd in the UK with the winner of each individual club’s herd competition competing against neighbouring clubs to become one of the seven regional finalists in the National Premier Herd Competition.

The seven regional finalists are:

• Eastern – Walton Farms, Shuttlewoods Herd
• Northern – Mark & Anne Lee, Crystalclear Herd 
• Northern Ireland – W & A Patton, Ards Herd
• Scottish – David and John Brewster, Boclair Herd
• Southern – RK & SG Miller & Sons, Moorshard Herd 
• Welsh – Paul, Bessie & Bryn Williams, Waliswood Herd
• Western – AW & DS MacKellar, Drointon Herd

The Miller family’s herd based near Bridgwater in Somerset, was singled out by judge Rob Wills of the Willsbro herd, for its exceptional management and presentation on a very large scale.

The farm is currently run in a family partnership between Randolph, Marlene and Brian Miller with 450 acres being farmed. The pedigree herd was established in the 1970s with showing commencing in the mid 1980s. County and national shows were attended regularly from the mid 90s until 2018, however the family has taken a back step from showing.

The herd grazes and is milked twice a day with additional buffer feed. Out of the 255 head herd, there are 65 cows graded as Excellent, and 170 as Very Good with Shower, Alicia, Amanda, Paradise and Belle being prominent families within the herd.

The herd has previously been placed third in the national round of the Premier Herd Competition and they have also been a finalist on six occasions. Master Breeder status was achieved in 2019, along with six championship titles at the Royal Cornwall Show and five at the South West Dairy Show.

Robert Wills of the Willsbro Herd, who won the award in 2023, spent the past week visiting the finalists to determine this year’s National winner. Commented on the award, Robert said “It has been such an honour and a great privilege to judge the Premier Herd Competition this year. I had a fantastic week and met some really great people that are so enthusiastic about their cows and pedigree history. The level of animal welfare and husbandry is outstanding and there is an incredibly high standard across the board.”

Rob continued by saying “There was one herd that stood out to me above the rest and the deep pedigrees and years of breeding, combined with attention to detail was exemplary. From the legs and feet, locomotion, hoof and hock health, to the fantastic high, wide, balanced and level udders, combined with great frames, dairy capacity and style, silky hides and perfect condition. The consistency from heifers to mature cows is what determined my decision to mark Moorshard as this year’s National Premier Herd.

Following in Reserve were Andrew & Debbie MacKellar from the Drointon herd in Staffordshire, and taking the Honourable Mention honours were Paul, Bessie & Bryn Williams of the Waliswood herd based in Carmarthenshire.

Melanie Harmitt, Holstein UK CEO said “I would like to congratulate the Miller family, alongside all of this year’s regional finalists. Their dedication and hard work have shone through, allowing them to be presented with this extremely prestigious award.”