Western Holstein Club - April News
Club Members and Club Council are looking forward to following the road map out of lockdown, I can sense there is a lot of enthusiasm to get events up and running as soon as we can, please see some dates at end of this article.
Since writing my last my article, shortly after the Club received the results for the Club’s HYB Christmas photograph competition, we received a good lot of entries and it certainly created a bit of fun in the build up to Christmas. The competition was kindly sponsored and judged by John & Irene Williamson, they commented as follows: "We were very impressed with the high standard of all the photographs and have found it very hard to pick a winner, therefore we have picked three joint winners" who were :-
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| Jack Baty |
Lillie Jones |
Harvey Winstanley & Difkin |
A big thank you to everyone that entered it was a lovely way to end the year and we look forward to seeing what comes in next Christmas.
Our current HYB Co-Ordinator Mr Michael Rees has decided it’s time for him to stand down from this role due to growing commitments, the Club thank Michael for all the hard work he has put into help grow HYB events in recent years. I am pleased to announce that Mr Aran Owen will take on the role and is very much looking forward to continuing the great work the Michael has achieved.
The Western Holstein Club would like to than Tom Lomas for his time on the 15th & 16th March, when he had the tough job of judging The Western Holstein Clubs Top Ten Herd Competition sponsored by Semex UK. The club received a record number of entries and Tom had two long full days of Judging, he stated it was fantastic to see great groups of cows “farm after farm”.
Tom Lomas (Judge) with Mark Thornton & Kevin Naughton (Stewards)
The results are as follows:-
Results of Judging the Top Ten Winter Herds Competition
Small herds – Grantchester Trophy
1. Distinctive Holsteins
2. David Rees Farms
3. M J and J Rhodes
Medium Herds – G B Radcliffe Trophy
1. T H Rowland
2. Hilltop Farming Company
3. G T G Dodd
Large Herds – Tarvin Cup
1. Ray Brown and Partners
2. A A Winstanley and Partners
3. Smeaton Hall Farms
Overall Herds Champion
1. Ray Brown and Partners
2. T H Rowland
3. A A Winstanley and Partners
Results of the Best Heifer -
Qualifying from Small Herds
1. Hollymere BW Linnet, Mr A Ollier
2. Alderbarrow Rooster Elegance, B & L Whitfield
3. Marlie Brexit Sarah 2, M J & J Rhodes
Qualifying from Medium Herds
1. Longfont Lineman Opal, G T G Dodd
2. Crosslanes Marquis Goldtop 138, T A Dobson & Son
3. Budworth Unix Gloria 3, Hilltop Farming Company
Qualifying from Large Herds
1. Milwr Kimball D Jane, Messrs Pierces
2. Rowmar Alligator Freeze 14, A A Winstanley & Partners
3. Smeatonhall Brekem Mulberry 171, Smeaton Hall Farms
Overall Champion of Heifer Class – Malpas Salver
1. Longfont Lineman Opal, G T G Dodd
2. Hollymere BW Linnet, Mr A Ollier
3. Milwr Kimball D Jane, Messrs Pierce
Results of the Best Jnr Cow
Qualifying Small herds
1. Alderbarrow Applicable Tina, B & L Whitfield
2. Marlie Caviar Sarah, M J & J Rhodes
3. Dalebank Flowingbrook Roxy, David Rees Farms
Qualifying Medium Herds
1. Onston Anchor Gracefull 238, T H Rowland
2..Duttonhall Buttercup 190, C M & M A Dutton & Son
3. Longfont Seaver Christine, G T G Dodd
Qualifying Large Herds
1. Bidlea Pitcher Briann, Ray Brown & Partners
2. Smeatonhall Grazie Hyacinth 83, Smeaton Hall Farm
3. Rowmar Lineman Skua 73, A A Winstanley & Partners
Overall Champions of Best Junior Cow
1. Bidlea Pitcher Briann, Ray Brown & Partners
2. Onston Anchor Gracefull 238, T H Rowland
3. Alderbarrow Applicable Tina, B & L Whitfield
Results of the Best Senior Cow
Qualifying Small herds
1. Sterndale Lauthority Ghost, David Rees Farms
2. Marlie Dorcy Sarah, M J & J Rhodes
3. Distinctive Jeeves Noelle, Distinctive Holsteins
Qualifying Medium Herds
1. Budworth Zoltec Cavalier, Hilltop Farming Company
2. Onston Dominic Darkie, T H Rowland
3. Hermitage Alright Hoops, J M & S Hocknell & Sons
Qualifying Large Herds
1. Woodlake Cruise Nancy, James Harrison Farming Ltd
2. Bidlea Atlantis Nan, Ray Brown & Partners
3. Milwr Impression T Sweet, Messrs Pierces
Overall Champions of Best Senior Cow
1. Budworth Zoltec Cavalier, Hilltop Farming Company
2. Onston Dominic Darkie, T H Rowland
3. Woodlake Cruise Nancy, James Harrison Farming Ltd
TOP TEN HERD COMPETITION OVERALL CHAMPION COW
Champion – The Junior Cow from - Ray Brown and Partners – Bidlea Pitcher Briann
Reserve Champion – The Senior Cow from – Hilltop Farming Company – Budworth Zoltec Cavalier
Tom very kindly wrote to every entrant via the club to explain he choices and stated: -
“ The type of cow I look for is a balanced cow. I am not interested in her stature, but more how she is made. I feel that the Rump is where is all starts, with a level, or slight slope and a correct thurl placement. I want to see I great set of feet and legs, to allow her to move freely, however I want to see bone quality with it. Bone quality (angularity) is one of the highest correlating traits to milk production, and this is something I focus on. I love high loin, high spine cows. These cows are more likely to last the test of time with far less problems in later life.
After this I want to see fantastic mammary systems, not only focusing on high wide rear udders, (as this is where 2/3 of the milk is produced), but also on the fore udder. A strong attachment into the rear rib is something your will commonly see on long life cows. Strength is essential; however, I am looking for dairy strength, and I do not want to sacrifice bone quality for fat. A dairy cow needs to have width, through her muzzle, rump, and chest, but wants the cleanliness to show true breed character.
Welcome Back to Club Events
The Club is happy to report it has several events booked in for when COVID restrictions lift as follows:
June - Summer Herd Competition
To be judged on 14th, 15th & 16th June by Mrs Jane Whittaker
Deadline for entry is Monday 7th June please contact me for further details
Sunday 19th June - afternoon event
To be held at Foxes Bank Farm, Nantwich. Details to be confirmed
July - Stock Judging Evenings
Tuesday 6th July - 7.30pm
kindly hosted by The Rees Family at Foxes Bank Farm Nantwich
Incorporating presentation to 2020 Top Ten Herd Competition winners
Monday 19th July - 7.30pm
kindly hosted by Messrs Pierces at Old Fields Farm, Pulford Chester
To welcome everyone back after a tough year of COVID restrictions these stock judging events will be FREE OF CHARGE FOR 2021. As well as stock judging you can enjoy good company and refreshments.
NOTE: there is a Novice Class for the youngsters so everyone can join in the fun.
24th August 2021 – 7.30pm – Reaseheath College
By kind permission of Reaseheath Agricultural College, farm walk & talk looking the the newly installed Lely Robot Milking System. Meet at the farm at 7.30pm. Refreshments kindly supplied by Lely to be served for 8.30pm, followed by AGM at 8.50pm.
September – Club Centenary Celebration
Late September – Club Calf Show
Date and venue to be confirmed
We will keep everything crossed that these events will be able to take place and look forward to planning more events going into winter. The Club look forward to welcoming everyone back, please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or need any further information.
Ros Rimmer Western Holstein Club Secretary
Mobile: 07762 614768
Email: westernholsteinclub@hotmail.co.uk
