Scotland's Farm Business Event, AgriScot, was again hailed a roaring success attracting what is believed to be one of the highest ever attendance figures, complete with just shy of 250 trade stands and of course, a cracking show of dairy cows.

"It has been a great event and one that is a lot busier than last year," said AgriScot chairman, Andrew Moir.

"It is always difficult to guage actual numbers attending when there is no entrance fee, but the number of cars in the car parks have gone further than ever and the trade stand holders are all very happy, reporting a lot of business."

However, while the event proved to be one of the best in recent years, it was also a poignant one for Mr Moir, who is stepping down as chairman after eight years at the helm.

"I will miss it, but the event is really massive team effort. What am I really pleased about is the fact that Robert Neill, Jedburgh, will be the next chairman and he will take the event on to another level," said Mr Moir.

While the trade stands and the seminars were packed throughout much of the day, the highlight for many was undoubtedly the show of top quality dairy cattle, which sadly saw the judge, Peter Prior of Designer Holsteins, Essex, have to stand down mid way through the heifer judging due to severe back pain.

Instead, AgriScot director and chief cattle steward, Johnnie Cousar, Howcommon, who has judged throughout the UK and the world, was left very much in the hot seat.

"Obviously I wish Peter, a healthy and speedy recovery, but at the same time, his illness has given me a fantastic opportunity to judge one of the toughest and best shows of dairy cattle in the country," said Mr Cousar in selecting his choice of SuperCow.

"I have judged bigger shows, but this is undoubtedly the best show quality wise I have ever had to place when you consider we have the champion and reserve winners from the UK Dairy Day and several National breed winners here."

However, while he had no hesitation in judging his individual breed champions, Mr Cousar pointed out there was very little between his choice of SuperCow – the Holstein leader from Andy and Tom Cope and Isaac Lancaster from Staffordshire and Skipton, respectively, and the reserve, the supreme Jersey from first time exhibitor, Nia Llewellin, Wales.

"The Holstein champion just had that wee bit more veination compared to the Jersey," said Mr Cousar.

Taking centre stage was Icow Huddlesford Rosann 899, a third calver in milk which classified VG88 as a heifer. Imported from Germany as a two-year-old, this Regancrest-GV S Bradnick ET daughter is bred from an Alexander-sired cow that boasts 12 straight Excellent dams behind her.

No stranger to the show ring, Rosann was reserve champion at UK Dairy Day, champion at Staffordshire Show and first in her class at the Borderway UK Dairy Expo. Milky with it too, she gave 11,133 litres in her first at 3.41%BF and 3.27%P and since calving in April, is producing 52litres per day.

The 1000-mile round trip was well worth it too for Nia Llewellin, when her Riverside Tequila Hazelnut, scooped the top Jersey honours and reserve overall cow. Nia who runs 20 Jersey cows alongside her husband Ben and her father in law, George Llewellin's 250-cow Clarby Holstein herd, led the way with a home-bred third calver by Tower Vue Prime Tequila ET, which was champion at the breed show at Shepton Mallett and inter-breed dairy winner at Pembrokeshire. Calved in July, she was paraded by Jeff Daw.

Scottish exhibitors were also in the tickets, with the blue and white sash amongst the Holsteins presented to Hugh and Andrew Neilson's Overside Allemar Amanda, which stood second in her class to the SuperCow. Their big winner from the Overside based at Strathaven, is a daughter of Cervi Allemar ET and bred from the VG87-3yr, Overside Bogart Amanda – one of 350 cows in the herd which boasts a 12,000litre rolling herd average on a three times daily milking regime. Second in her class here last year, this big milker gave more than 11,000litres in her first, just shy of 16,500litres in her second and since calving her third a month ago is giving 68litres.

The Scots also dominated the Ayrshire breed which was led by Gilmour Lawrie and son Kevin's top show cow, Bruchag Talent Evelyn, from Sandyford, Monkton, Prestwick. Inter-breed heifer champion here in 2015, this West Mossgiel Class Talent-sired cow owned in partnership with her breeder, James McAlister, Bute, also stood first in her class here last year and champion at Ayr Show in May. She has bags of top quality milk to back up her looks too having produced 10,500litres in her second at 4.9%BF and 3.9%P, and since calving her third six weeks ago is giving 52litres.

There were more celebrations to come when John Adamson's lead show cow, Swaites Bright Spark 5, from Swaites, Pettinain, scooped the runner-up sash. A daughter of Brieryside Centurian Red, bred from a home-bred cow, she was breed and reserve inter-breed champion at UK Dairy Day, reserve champion at Ayr and champion heifer here last year. She was paraded three months calved and giving 40litres.

Brian Weatherup and son Brian's Parkend red and white herd from Crossgates, Fife, was also in the tickets, taking the reserve breed honours with Parkend Director Starlet Red VG89. Another well known show performer, this third calver by Scientific Director-Red ET, bred from the Ex91 Parkend Jordan Starlet Red, was champion here as a heifer and breed leader at the Highland. Calved in May and giving 58litres, she classified VG89 as a three-year-old.

Leading the red and whites and taking another championship down the road to Derbyshire, to follow on from a champion Holstein heifer title earlier in the day was Bill Nadin and Yasmin Bradbury's Sterndale Alchemy Noel Red Ex92-4yr. Another star performer at previous events, this similarly aged cow was fourth at UK Dairy Day and lifted a blue rosette at the Borderway UK Dairy Expo. She is by Hunsberger Alchemy ET, bred from the Ex91 Sterndale Avent Noel and was paraded by Steve McLoughlin.

The Welsh were back in the tickets in the Jersey lines when the first prize senior cow, Tregibby Tequila Panama Ex93-2-4yr, from Hefyn Wilson, was presented the reserve cow honours, to add to the runner-up heifer title collected earlier. This cracker, which stood reserve at the UK Dairy Day, first at the Welsh Dairy Show and reserve here last year, is by Tower Vue Prime Tequila ET. She calved the first week in September and is giving 35litres.

LEADINGawards

Red and white cow – Junior – 1, Drointon Holsteins' Drointon JJF Promis Red VG88-2yr, by Syke Jumping Jack Flash Red ET; 2, W and A Watson's Muir Lochinvar Dewberry VG88-3yr; 3, R and M Scott's Nethervalley Savardd Emma Red, by Savard Red ET. Senior – 1 and champion Red and White cow, WJ Nadin and Co's Sterndale Alchemy Noel Red Ex92-4yr; 2 and reserve, B Weatherup's Parkend Director Starlet Red VG89, by Scientific Director-Red ET; 3, DA Howie and Sons' Morwick Classic Princess Red Ex94-2-5yr.

Jersey – Junior – 1, champion Jersey cow and reserve Supercow, NIA Llewellin's Riverside Tequila Hazelnut, by Tower Vue Prime Tequila ET; 2, AH Wilson's Bluegrass Sams Dreaming VG89-3yr; 3, C Fleming, J Henning and K Agnew's Bluegrass Vindications Harp Ex93-4yr. Senior – 1 and reserve Jersey, A Wilson's Tregibby Tequila Panama Ex93-2-4yr, by Tower Vue Prime Tequila ET; 2, H Buchanan and Son's Bluegrass Shandys August Blondie Ex93-2-5yr, by Bluegrass Shimmers Shandy.

Holstein – Junior – 1, AH Wilson's Praire Saloon Lustre ET VG88-2yr, by Sandy-Valley Saloon ET; 2, Y Brabury's Peak Dorcy Fran VG89-3yr, by Coyne-Farms Dorcy ET; 3, R and E Butterfield's Ingleview Rebel Roxie VG89-3yr, by Ingleview Rebel ET. Intermediate – 1, Holstein cow champion and SuperCow, Huddlesford and Icow's Icow Huddlesford Rosann 899 VG88-4yr, by Regancrest-GV S Bradnick ET; 2 and reserve Holstein cow, WW Neilson's Overside Allemar Amanda VG89-3yr, by Cervi Allemar ET; 3, R and E Butterfield's Newbirks Jazz 1584 Ex93-4yr, by Comestar Lavanguard ET. Senior – 1, Laird Farming Company's Illens Atwood Australia Ex95-2-6yr, by Maple-Downs-I G W Atwood ET; 2, W Stead and S Sutton's Warnelview Winners Silverwings Ex94-2-5yr, by Gillette Winners ET; 3, H, M and D Hodgson's Wormanby Atwood Linda Ex93-5yr, by Maple-Downs-I G W Atwood ET.

Ayrshire – Junior – 1 and reserve Ayrshire, J Adamson and Son's Swaites Bright Spark 5 VG87-2yr, by Brieryside Red Centurian; 2, AW Montgomerie's Sandyford Vitality Queenie VG88-3yr, by Rosehill Vitality ET; 3, A and S Lawrie's Cuthill Toweers Elpaso Easylady VG87-2yr, by Cuthill Towers Elpaso ET. Intermediate – 1 and champion Ayrshire cow, G Lawrie and Sons' Bruchag Talent Evelyn Ex92, by West Mossgiel Class Talent ET; 2, G Lawrie and Sons' Bruchag BR Jewel Queen, by Barr Regent; 3, G and R Templeton's Carnell Hyacinth 105 VG88-4yr, by Carnell Warrior. Senior – 1, A and S Lawrie's Cuthill Towers Crown Ray Ex94-2-5yr, by Ardmore Crown Napier; 2, G and R Templeton's Carnell Snowdrop 308 Ex90-5yr, by Carnell Warrior; 3, DC Sanderson's Ballygreggan Beana Ex91-6yr, by West Mossgiel Modern Class.