Dumfriesshire dairy farmer, John Jamieson who owns the Firth herd at Upper Locharwoods, has been elected president of Holstein UK (HUK).

In doing so, Mr Jamieson becomes the first member in South-west Scotland to be appointed president since the inception of the British Holstein Cattle Society and the British Friesian Cattle Society in 1998. He is also believed to be the first organic producer to take on the lead role, having converted from conventional milk production in 1999.

The third generation to farm at Upper Locharwoods, which has been in the family since 1952, John, his wife Helen and their son Graham, run 240 pedigree Holsteins boasting an average annual milk yield of 10,494 litres at 4.22% BF and 3.02% P. Cows are at grass as much as possible and milked through a newly installed rotary parlour. The couple also have two daughters, Emma and Hannah, and five grand-children.

A huge supporter of all things Holstein, John has judged throughout the UK in breed and inter-breed classes and herd competitions and his family has previously been heavily involved with Holstein Young Breeders.

In the past, he has held a variety of positions including Club chairman for both the South West Scotland Holstein Club and Holstein Scotland South and he has been involved with the BHS and Holstein UK and Ireland at Board level since 1998. John is also an independent director for the Cattle Information Service, committee member for the Scottish Dairy Cattle Association, board member for the Scottish Organic Milk Producers and vice chairman of the Caerlaverock Farmers Buying Group.

John, who follows in his father's footsteps – a former president of the Ayrshire Cattle Society – took over the Holstein presidency from Robert Clare of the Hawksmoor herd in Shropshire and holds the position for a two-year term until June 2023.

The 23rd Holstein UK agm – staged virtually for a second consecutive year due to the Covid-19 restrictions – also saw three new board members elected, with another re-elected.

Following the end of his first term on the Board, Sandy Pirie will represent Scotland for another four-year term with HUK also welcoming David Lawson, Newbirks (Yorkshire region), Richard Thomas, Churchvale (South Wales region) and Ben Yates, Wowcow (Southern Region) as the three new trustees to the Board.

Next year's Holstein dinner and agm will witness a Celebration of Holstein herds in South-west Scotland, on June 28 and June 29, and will comprise visits to some of the top herds in the area.