BRITISH FARMERS were out in force to support Scotland’s largest one-day farm business event, AgriScot, at Ingliston, on Wednesday, which again attracted a bumper line-up of trade stands and a top quality show of pedigree dairy cattle.

This was the event’s 16th year and such was buzz and enthusiasm surrounding it that chairman, Robin Young, did not dismiss the event becoming a two-day show in the near future.

“It has been an outstanding success and one that has exceeded all our expectations,” said Mr Young.

“For the first time, we’ve got a waiting list of companies looking to take stand space in both halls, and we’ve got similar if not more visitors. We don’t count spectator numbers, we always just go by the car parks and they’re fuller than ever – we’re even into a new one this year.

“We’ve also got an excellent show of about a 100 pedigree dairy cattle – despite the loss of two major exhibitors who dispersed this year – with several new exhibitors here from south of the Border.

“Scottish farmers and agriculture should be upbeat and proud to have an event like this,” added an exuberant Mr Young.

However, while business appeared to be booming on the trade stands, the highlight of the day for many was the show of pedigree dairy cattle – which this year, for the first time, included classes for red and white Holsteins, while Ayrshire cattle classes were for cattle comprising 50% or more Ayrshire genetics.

Significantly, it was a 50% Ayrshire that scooped the coveted Supercow award too, for 23-year-old Ann Laird and her 81-year-old grand-father Colin, who both assist at the family farm at Blyth Farm, Blyth Bridge, West Linton, milking 500 pedigree Holsteins. Taking this family team to the top was their sole Ayrshire, Barr Ranger Lottie Ex95-2-7yr, a fifth calver in milk which had been bought just 14 days previously at Alex Kirkpatrick’s Barr herd dispersal sale at Carlisle for 7000gns.

No stranger to the limelight, this big cow boasts a bumper show record having secured major awards every year of her life, to include a win at the National Calf Show and several All Britain titles. Her mother, Barr Lottie 2 Ex90-2 is also a former star in the show ring. Lottie, which is projected at 10,000kg, was shown due in April to West Mossgiel Class Talent.

Well-known Ayrshire breeders, Jim and Gilmour Lawrie, Brieryside and Sandyford Farms, Monkton, also had a bumper day taking the reserve cow title with the junior cow, Brieryside Trimova 25 H188, a McCornick Nelson daughter out of a former Ayrshire heifer champion here and at Ayr, a previous home-bred Trimova. This second calver in milk on her first outing was paraded eight weeks calved and giving 46kg per day.

The brothers went one step better with their red and white cow with Cheviotview Beckham Kitty Red VG85-2yr, scooping the section’s champion cow title. This 64-inch third calver, bought at Andrew Hodge’s sale as a heifer for 3800gns, was on her first outing and having calved three weeks ago is giving 58kg per day.

Scotland also took the runner up red and white cow sash with Cuthill Towers Daisy Mae 2 VG87-2yr, from Arthur and Susan Lawrie and sons, James and David, Cuthihll Towers, Milnathort. A second calver in milk by Ladino Park Talent, she was first at Kinross and since calving in September is now producing 40kg per day.

The biggest section, the black and white Holsteins saw Robert and Elaine Butterfield’s second calver, Saxelby Goldwyn Rose Ex90-3yr, from their Ingleview herd from Bentham, Lancs, take centre stage.

This Braedale Goldwyn daughter, bought privately from the Saxelbys, is already a noted show winner having stood reserve at the Great Yorkshire and champion at both Garstang and Westmorland shows. Milky with it, she has given 5511kg in the first 122 days of her second and is still producing 46kg per day.

Following close behind, the reserve Holstein cow was Wilfred Maddocks’ Wyndford James Grey, brought out by herd manager, Benjamin Yates. Placed at the National Holstein Show, this Shoremar James third calver which gave 9470kg in her first, is out of an Ex91-5yr cow.

Wolverhampton Jersey breeders, the Murray family, were also in the money, winning the champion cow and heifer titles with bought in females. Jersey cow champion, brought out by daughter Emma, was Whiteoaks Julian Flower Ex93-2-5yr, a Valleystream Julian-sired cow and former reserve inter-breed champion at the Dairy Event and best udder and champion at the Royal last year. Not just a pretty face, she boasts a top yield of 8000kg in 305 days.

The Murrays, who milk 80 Jerseys at Shipley Bank, also took the heifer accolade with Trecanda Vindication Lily VG86-2yr. Unbeaten all year, this January calved heifer that has already given 5200kg in 304 days at 4.03%BF and 3.89%P and is still milking, boasts numerous championship wins including inter-breed champion at the Dairy Event and the Royal Welsh as well as reserve inter-breed at the Royal. She was bred in Cornwall and bought privately from the Hurd family.

Closer to home, the Wilsons from Northshields, Cupar, again had to settle with the reserve Jersey cow honours with their Wellhead Rocket Boo Ex95, a fifth calver in milk by Wellhead Remake Rocket. Another star show ring performer, this former inter-breed dairy champion at the Highland, shown by Andrew Wilson, is also a three times reserve winner here.

A bumper line-up of heifers was again led by the Holstein leader, which this time provided an international flair to the proceedings, with the winning heifer, Drointon Jordan Brenda VG87-2yr being owned by consortium of three Europeans – Harrison and Hetherington senior dairy auctioneer, Glyn Lucas; Spaniard, Quim Serrabbasa and Erica Rijnetddweft, from The Netherlands.

Their show stopper, a massive heifer bred by Andrew and Debbie McKellar, of the Drointon herd, was bought at the Black and White sale at Carlisle for 4000gns as a baby calf in 2007 and since then has been housed at the McKellars’ ET unit in Staffordshire awaiting to be flushed to the top AI bull, Alexander.

A Roylane Jordan daughter on her show debut, she is also bred from top show cow – her mother is Drointon Leduc Brenda Ex94, a former All Britain Junior cow and reserve Holstein here. More importantly, the heifer is also paying her way in the production stakes as having calved in July she is still giving 45kg per day.

While the top heifer was a newcomer to the circuit, the reserve Holstein heifer was well- aquainted with the proceedings having stood champion heifer and best udder at the Northern Expo and third in her class at the Dairy Event. This was Stephen and Patricia Bell and son, Craig’s Holmland Golden Oralie, from Forest Hill, Bowscar, Penrith. Another milky female, this Goldwyn daughter, out of the Ex91 Weeton Oralie Charles, has to date produced just short of 9000kg in 256days at 4.38%BF and 3.26%P.

Flying the flag for Scotland, Alex and son, Russell Gray’s Langside Cactus 8, from Langside, Lanark, secured the red and white heifer championship. This classy female, on her show debut, is by Humeston Golden Bolt – a 62.5% red and white Holstein young bull bought at an Ayrshire sale from John Gilmour and out of a Horizon Ranger-sired cow bought in utero of a Mid Kelton-bred female purchased at Andrew Dunlop’s dispersal.

Pipped at the post was the second prize red and white heifer, Sterndale Sara Red, from Bill Nadin’s Sterndale herd and Yasmin Bradbury’s Peak herd, from Buxton, in Derbyshire. The couple, who run 250 Holsteins of which 25% are now made up of red and white genetics took the reserve honours with a VG87-2yr that stood third at the Great Yorkshire and the Dairy Event. She calved in April and to date has given 6800kg at 3.97%BF and 3.01%P.

While there were new classes for red and white cattle, it didn’t detract from the quality or quantity of Ayrshires forward which this year saw John Adamson’s Swaites Felicity 6, a West Spittal Regiment Red-sired heifer on her first outing take pole position amongst the heifers.

This 60% Ayrshire was shown a month calved and giving 35kg per day. Her mother, a home-bred cow by Forever Scone Cornelius, is one of 160 cows in the herd producing a rolling herd average of 8000kg.

Regular exhibitors, the Templeton family, from Knowe, Auchinleck, Cumnock, were again in the prizes taking the blue and white Ayrshire heifer sash this time with Knowe Irnola 9, a Cuthill Towers Prince Freddie daughter bred from a former home-bred H186 Irnola show cow. Shown by daughter Laura, this 68% Ayrshire female was paraded a month calved and giving 30kg per day.

But while there were numerous show heifers to the scene, there was no disputing the Jersey champion – Trecanda Vindication Lily VG86-2yr, shown by Emma Murray whose family run 80 Jerseys at Shipley Bank, Wolverhampton.

Unbeaten all year, this January calved heifer that has already given 5200kg in 304 days at 4.03%BF and 3.89%P and is still milking, boasts numerous championship wins including inter-breed champion at the Dairy Event and the Royal Welsh as well as reserve inter-breed at the Royal. She was bred in Cornwall and bought privately from the Hurd family.

The blue and white Jersey rosette also headed south, to Thomas Savage and Sheila Savage’s Shellen herd from Laitha, Bolton, Appleby, Cumbria.

Their show stopper was Shellen Sultan Prance VG86-2yr, an SHF Centurion Sultan daughter that stood first in her class at West Morland shows and several other local shows.