Dairy breeders were out in force to support the first National All Breeds Show, at Stoneleigh, which attracted a top quality line up of pedigree cattle from no fewer than six breeds.

In all, more than 320 head of dairy cattle from just short of 100 separate dairy units, were forward for this two-day event which was introduced to replace the National Holstein Show.

Holstein numbers were greatest, at just short of 200 head, with the remainder being made up of Ayrshire, Jersey, Brown Swiss, Dairy Shorthorn and Guernsey. And, fittingly, it was the black and whites that scooped the coveted inter-breed Burke Trophy.

This was made up of the champion cow, Berryholme Shottle Flo, the junior cow in milk champion from Cumbrian father and son team, Francis and David Wright, Kendal, teamed with Smiddiehill Durm Ashlyn, the intermediate champion from Mark and Sue Nutsford, of Riverdane Holsteins, and Bill Nadin, of the Sterndale herd.

The Wrights’ champion Holstein cow, an Ex90 second calver in milk is no stranger to the silverware, having stood grand champion at the Northern Expo, at Carlisle, in October. Her dam, Holmland Storm Flo Ex94, is also a top show cow, having stood champion at the National Holstein Show in 2003 and champion at the Expo on several previous occasions.

Her winning partner in the Burke, Smiddiehill Durm Ashlyn, was also one of the best bred cows present, being out of the All World Holstein champion, Tri-Day Ashlyn. Classified VG88-2yr, this second calver in milk on her first show outing was bought privately from Smiddiehill Holsteins as a baby calf.

Paul Rawcliffe and Frank Lawson’s senior cow, Almond Stormatic Avis, from the Almond herd, at Annan, took the runner-up Holstein cow award. Another star show cow, this former champion at the Highland and the Royal classified Ex as a second calver and since calving three weeks ago is giving 62kg per day.

Even bigger celebrations came when young Brian Weatherup, Crossgates, Cowdenbeath, took the Holstein heifer championship with Parkend Jacob Betsy, a home-bred heifer on her show debut from the 200-cow unit which boasts a herd average of 10,200kg. She is by the Silky Gibson son, Bilsrow Jacob and out of the VG87 show cow, Parkend Dante Betsy. Jacob Betsy was paraded four weeks calved and giving 40kg per day.

John Adamson, Swaites, Lanark, took the Ayrshire heifer championship with Swaites Felicity 6, which took the same award at AgriScot on her sole previous outing. Shown three months calved and giving 34kg per day, she is by the AI sire West Spittal Regiment Red and out of Swaites Felicity 2.

Gilmour Lawrie, who placed the Ayrshire females, said he was impressed not only by the red and whites, but also the overall quality of all the breeds. He found his cow champion in the shape of Middle Emerald MR, a third calver in milk from David and Christine Sanderson, Wigton, Cumbria.

This was a Middle Emerald Patrick-sired cow bought at a Middle production sale for 5400gns, which also stood first at Agriscot and the Great Yorkshire, last year. She calved twins in December and is yielding 44kg per day.

The real success story for Scotland, came in the Brown Swiss section, when Jonathan Lochhead, Dumfries and Robert McColm, Stranraer, ran away with the majority of awards on offer.

Mr Lochhead, who runs 150 Brown Swiss milking cows with a herd average of 7800kg at 3.9%BF and 3.6%P, at Beyond the Burn, Mouswald, picked up the breed championship with Kedar Becks Alice, a home-bred third calver in milk. The reserve, Kedar Special Melanie, was also bred by Mr Lochhead but shown by Mr McColm, who is in the process of converting his 100 cow Holstein herd at High Boreland, Lochans, to pure Brown Swiss to run alongside the 40 Brown Swiss milkers he already owns.

There was more success for the Scots when the Lawrie family from Cuthill Towers, Milnathort – Arthur and Susan and sons, James and David – collected the reserve red and white championship with Cuthill Towers Daisy Mae 2.

This second calver in milk, which classified VG87-2yr, was reserve at AgriScot last year, and also made up part of the Burke pairing.