AgriScot, the UK’s leading farm business event, has now opened entries for its dairy competition ahead of the judging at the event on November 13, 2024. With a prize fund of £25,000 - the largest of any dairy competition in the UK - and a broad range of classes, AgriScot’s Dairy Competition attracts some of the best breeders and competition from across the UK and Ireland.

The prize fund for each of the classes was increased last year to reflect the rise in costs of showing and to continue to attract a wide range of competitors. The classes include the traditional Ayrshire, British Red and White, Holstein, and Jersey categories as well as ‘Any Other Dairy Breeds’ class. The prize money and expanded categories is to attract and showcase the best dairy genetics from across the UK and Ireland, explains Robert Hunter, AgriScot Director and Chairman of the Scottish Dairy Cattle Association:

“We’ve evolved the competition to include a wider range of dairy categories, set a date that allows for time between other national competitions and are proud to offer one of the largest prize funds in the country across a number of categories. It’s always a great event with excellent competition and we look forward to the entries coming in and seeing some of the UK’s top exhibitors in every class in the ring in November.”

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Judging of the dairy classes will culminate with the Interbreed Super Heifer and Interbreed Super Cow awards, each carrying a £1,000 prize. For the second year, the competition includes the Best Udder category.

The judging for the competition at AgriScot 2024 will be led by Iain McLean, a renowned pedigree breeder from near Giant’s Causeway in Northern Ireland. Iain farms at Priestland Farm with his wife Joyce and son John and together they developed the dairy business with emphasis on breeding for show winning type. This element of the business has encouraged the next generation, with all having taken an active role in Holstein and Ayrshire Young Breeders. They have also been an integral part of the Priestland show team helping to win 47 Holstein breed champions to date, and a similar number for the other breeds.

The 180-cow herd includes Holsteins, which makes up most of the herd, alongside a few Jerseys, Ayrshires and Dairy Shorthorns, and over 200 followers. The herd was upgraded to pedigree status in the 1990s.

In 2008, the family invested heavily in Canadian and American world-class embryos. Their best purchase was probably embryos from a daughter of Thrulane James Rose as these, along with their offspring make up some of the best cows and heifers in the Priestland herd.

“I am over the moon to be invited to judge the AgriScot dairy competition,” says Mr McLean. “It draws the best dairy breeders from across the country and I feel very privileged and am really looking forward to it.”

Entries close on Friday, October 18.