Dairy lines witnessed the Holstein take inter-breed champion

Getting that all important slap was the second calver, Eedy Crushabull Acclaim, which produced a calf in January and is giving 55-litres for their 500-cow herd.

She was bought privately from Robert and Jason Helen and last year landed the SuperHeifer title at AgriScot and reserve champion at the Borderway Dairy Expo in March. Classified VG89, she is sired by Oh-River-Syc Crushbull, and out of the VG88 classified dam, Eedy Breemer Acclaim.

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Inter-breed dairy judge, Hugh Kennedy, Tarbolton said: “It was an easy winner for me. This Holstein cow is the best cow in Britain, if not in Europe. She caught my eye as soon as she entered the ring.

"She showed herself well being a well-balanced animal and she was brought out to perfection," added Mr Kennedy.

“She’s an outstanding animal, with dairy presence and an exceptional udder texture and veination.”

First-time Royal Highland Show exhibitors, the Cowhill Trust, from Dumfries, also made its presence felt, when they scooped the reserve inter-breed title with the Jersey leader.

Mr Kennedy added: “My reserve was just lacking the same veination as the Holstein today, although she has a great top and handled herself well, she was just unlucky to come up against the right animal.”

Managed by Scott McGill and led out by Kaitlyn McCornick, the second calved Jersey, Kerricks Dakota Belle, stood breed champion at Ayr Show last month, having calved in February.

Bred from the Ex97 Duncan Belle, she is sired by Clydevalley Dekota, and is giving 37.5 litres per day having produced 6500 litres at 5.67% BF and 3.97% P and predicted to give 8000 litres this time.

Junior inter-breed dairy champion was the from Steven Innes Ref:RH230623103 Rob Haining / The Scottish Farmer...

From the junior section it was the Holstein heifer, Wolfa Chief Sue, that landed the supreme for Steven Innes, Inverness. She stood reserve heifer here last year and in the All Britain Awards for her breeder. Purchased privately after that, she is sired by Stantons Chief, while her dam, Wolfa Sidekick Sue, has 10 generations of VG or Ex behind her. She calved in March.

Runner up in the juniors also went to the Jersey winner, Uptown Ginger Spice, from Katie Watson, Muir Farm, Mauchline.

She produced her first calf in March and was paraded giving 25 litres. Sired by St Lo Video CJCC, she is out of Layward Belles Yega Lollipop which is classified VG86.

Another nod to the Holsteins, saw a quartet from the Steven Innes, Colin Laird and the Yates take the inter-breed team championship, with a Jersey team from the Cowhill Trust, Katie Watson and the Jacksons, pulled into second.

Dairy young handlers

Retaining his title from last year, John Caldwell, Ladyyard, Mauchline, again secured the championship, aged 13.

He was parading the Holstein calf, Ladyyard Radical Tabatha which was born in August. John is no stranger to the top awards in the young handlers competitions having stood All Britain champion in October and champion at Catrine this year.

Fellow Ayrshire-based breeder, Alison Lawrie (25), Myremill, took the reserve ticket having stood first in the senior class. She was parading the calf, Arranview Lambda, which was born in September last year.

Dairy calf championship

Champion Holstein calf was Muir Chief Ellie from the Watsons Ref:RH250623194 Rob Haining / The Scottish Farmer...

Ayrshire breeders, William and Shona Watson, Muir Farm, Mauchline, secured the dairy calf championship with the July, 2022-born Holstein, Muir Chief Ellie.

Champion at Ayr and the West of Scotland Calf Competition, she is by Stantons Chief and bred from the Ex90-classified dam, Muir Atwood Ellie.

County rivalry saw the reserve presented to Salvador Esquierdo and Rory Scott's jointly owned Hillhead Rimrock Cinnamon. This October-born Holstein calf was on her first outing, being sired by Bomaz Rimrock RDC and out of Winkleigh Jordy Sally Red.

Taking the supreme among the coloured calves for Lanarkshire breeder, John Adamson, Swaites, Lanark, was the September-born heifer, Swaites White Lily 5. Her pedigree features the sire, Koepon Altatop-Red onto the VG86 classified dam, Knowe White Lily 796. She was also on her first outing.

Coloured dairy calf champion Swaites White Lily5 from John Adamson and Son Ref:RH250623193 Rob Haining / The Scottish Farmer...

Holstein

A large crowd gathered round the Holstein ring to watch the second calver, Eedy Crushabull Acclaim, get the winning slap for Brian and Michael Yates, Castle Douglas, who also produced the champion here last year.

No stranger to the limelight, she secured the SuperHeifer title at AgriScot and was reserve at the Dairy Expo. Bought privately in Ireland from Robert and Jason Helen, this VG89-classified entry produced her second in January and is now giving 55 litres per day for the 500-cow herd. Her pedigree features the sire, Oh-River-Syc Crushbull, onto the VG88 classified dam, Eedy Breemer Acclaim.

A recent import from France, MAG Pandor, landed the reserve title for Colin Laird, Blyth, West Linton. This second calver calved in March and was making her show debut for the family.

She was paraded giving 65 litres and achieved the maximum classification of VG89 for her age. A daughter of Walnutlawn Sidekick, she is bred from the Ex91-classified dam, MAG Nacoby.

From the junior section it was the heifer, Wolfa Chief Sue, that landed the supreme for Steven Innes, Inverness. Calved in March, she is a daughter of Stantons Chief and bred from Wolfa Sidekick Sue, with 10 generations of VG or Ex behind her. Reserve heifer last year and at the All Britain Awards she was bought privately in March.

Ayrshire

Ayrshire champion was from the Lawrie family Ref:RH230623102 Rob Haining / The Scottish Farmer...

After their successful show here last year, the Lawries – Arthur and Susan, sons James and David – continued on their winning ways to take the breed championship and the top spots amongst the juniors.

Champion from their Milnathort-based enterprise, just outside Kinross was the home-bred second calver, Cuthill Towers Religious Bunty. She calved three months previous and was paraded giving 48lires. This VG86-classified entry is sired by Cuthill Towers Religious and bred out of Cuthill Towers Harrys Bunty.

The same stable produced the junior champion in the form of the heifer, Cuthill Towers Rocco Senga, which was on her show debut having calved six weeks prior to the show. She is sired by Cuthill Towers Rocco, out of Cuthill Towers Hard Rock Senga and was paraded giving 32litres per day.

The blue and white sash was awarded to the fourth calver, Swaites Bracken 19, from John Adamson, Swaites, Lanark. Having stood second to the champion here last year, she also took the reserve ticket at the Dairy Expo. A daughter of West Mossgiel Modern Reality, she is bred from the home-bred cow, Swaites Bracken 14. Calved 100 days previous, she is giving 55l per day and is classified Ex90.

Dairy Shorthorn

The Lawson won the top title in the Dairy Shorthorn section Ref:RH230623105 Rob Haining / The Scottish Farmer...

It was a clean sweep among the Dairy Shorthorns for Adam Lawson’s herd, from North Cassingray, Fife, when his entries landed the champion, reserve and the top tickets amongst the juniors.

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Supreme was the third calver, Lisnamulligan Royal Kathleen 2, which also won here last year. She calved two months ago and is a daughter of Oxton Windfall, out of the dam, Bishopsbrae Royal Kathleen 5, which was bought out of Penrith at a herd dispersal. She is now giving 38 litres and is classified Ex92.

His runner up and junior champion was the heifer, Lisnamulligan Pepsi Swallowtail 3, on her first outing. She calved two months ago and is now giving 30 litres. A daughter of Churchroyd Pharaoh, she is out of Brafell Pepsi Swallowtail 23.

British Red and White

Winning the Red and White section was the cow from te Yates family Ref:RH230623104 Rob Haining / The Scottish Farmer...

After their success in the Holstein ring, the Yates family, East Logan, Castle Douglas, also produced the champion in the British Red and White section.

This was with their second calver, Eastford Dice Kiwi Red, which calved in February and is giving 50kg. Classified VG87 as a heifer, she is a daughter of Eastford Dice Kiwi Red while the dam, Eastford Attonim Kiwi, is rated Ex93. She is a former Super Heifer at AgriScot and champion winner at UK Dairy Day.

Lifting both the reserve breed honours and the junior title was Parkend Kimball Starlet Red, from Brian Weatherup and son Brian, Fife. Previously unshown, this fresh heifer is sired by Seagull-Bay Silver Kimball, and is giving 42kg. Her dam is classified VG88 and her home-bred grand-dam won here in 2017. Parkend Kimball Starlet Red will now be sold at the family’s on-farm herd sale in July.

Jersey

Cowhill Trust won the Jersey section Ref:RH230623106 Rob Haining / The Scottish Farmer...

Going straight to the top in the Jersey ring for their first time exhibiting at Ingliston was the Dumfries-based Cowhill Trust – managed by Scott McGill while Katlyn McCornick works with the cattle.

Their breed winner was the second calver, Kerricks Dakota Belle, which calved in February and stood champion at Ayr Show in May. By Clydevalley Dekota, she is giving 37.5 litres per day having produced 6500 litres at 5.67% BF and 3.97% P and predicted to give 8000 litres this time. It is hoped she will become a 10th generation VG or Ex-classified cow with her third dam being the Ex97 Duncan Belle, while her grand-dam classified Ex94 and her dam classified Ex91 as a third calver.

Receiving the blue and white sash as well as the top ticket amongst the juniors was Uptown Ginger Spice, from Katie Watson, Muir Farm, Mauchline. A daughter of St Lo Video CJCC, she is out of the VG86 Layward Belles Yega Lollipop and is part of the 10-cow Jersey herd. Calved in March, Uptown Spice is now giving 25litres per day.

Any other breed

AOB champion was the Friesian from Adam Lawson Ref:RH230623107 Rob Haining / The Scottish Farmer...

Adam Lawson, North Cassingray, Fife, was back in the tickets and the silverware when entries from his British Friesian herd claimed both the champion and reserve rosettes.

His leader was the second calver, Lismulligan Honeyschapp, which stood champion at West Fife Show earlier this month on her sold previous outing. She calved two months previous and is giving 35 litres for the 120-cow herd. Classified VG87, her pedigree features the sire, Oakalby Rufus, onto the dam, Culverness Honeyschaap.

Reserve overall and leading the juniors was the yearling heifer, Lismulligan Grey 2. She is a daughter of Bradash Contender she is out of Culverness Grey.