DESPITE the ongoing cash crisis in the dairy sector, the industry came out in force to support its producers with yet another bumper line-up of top quality dairy cows and a packed array of trade stands at the Borderway UK Dairy Expo, at Carlisle, last weekend.

The two-day show, which attracted a similar number of cattle - covering no fewer than six breeds - and trade stands to last year's record-breaking event, also pulled in the punters with in excess of 6000 people having passed through the gates.

But while all were impressed by the event, it was Peebles-shire Holstein breeder, Alister Laird, who undoubtedly enjoyed the show most, having first won the prestigious John Dennison award for his services to the industry and later the overall grand champion.

Alister, his wife Kath, their son Colin and his fiancée Izzy Wright, and daughter, Ann Laird, from Blyth Bridge, went straight to the top of the Holstein tree with their Swiss cow, Illens Atwood Australia, which minutes later secured the overall champion of champions.

"This cow has got style, balance, a good broad muzzle and great veination," said the judge, Michael Heath, who has owned, bred and marketed many elite Holsteins, Jerseys and Red and White Holsteins in Maryland, America. "She is also free moving and so very well balanced with all the sharp angles you look for in a great dairy cow. She is definitely a cow that anyone, anywhere in the world, would want to have."

Having initially selected this third calver as senior Holstein champion and later breed champion, Mr Heath and Jeff Stephen, Troy, Ontario, Canada, who found the top winners in the coloured breeds, also agreed the Lairds' cow was an easy grand champion.

This was Illens Atwood Australia Ex93, shown by the Lairds. Bought privately last year from her breeder Jacques Rouiller, this Atwood daughter boasts several top wins in her home country. Just two years ago, she was junior champion at Bulle Switzerland.

A daughter of Maple-Downs-I GW Atwood, she gave in excess of 12,200 litres in her second at 4.2% BF and 3.2% P and since calving her third in October, is giving 63 litres.

While there was no reserve overall grand champion, the two judges said they would have selected the lead Brown Swiss as their next choice. Dumfriesshire Brown Swiss breeder, Jonny Lochhead, dominated his breed too. Supreme from this organic unit was another Swiss-bred female in Old Mill Wonderment Sunset, a VG89 second calver that is projected at 9500 litres having been shown 300 days fresh and giving 34 litres per day. Bought as a two-month-old heifer in Switzerland, she also made her presence felt last year having scooped the reserve honours at the national show, the breed and reserve inter-breed title at Dumfries and honourary mention at UK Dairy Day.

Outwith the Holstein classes, Scottish breeders took a heap of accolades north across the Border. Flying the flag for the red and white Holsteins, Brian Weatherup and son Brian, Parkend, Fife lifted the tri-colour with Parkend Director Starlet Red, a VG88-3yr second calver in milk. This Scientific Director Red daughter out of the home-bred Lesmay Jordan Starlet Red was intermediate champion at the UK Dairy Day, junior champion here and heifer champion at Agriscot, in 2014. Calved in December and producing 50 litres per day, she gave 8893 litres in her first at 3.97% BF and 3.09% P.

The Lawrie brothers, David and James, Cuthill Towers, Milnathort, also came up with the goods, taking honourable mention with Cuthill Towers Classic Ellie. This senior red and white in milk by Poos Stadel Classic and bred from a previous home-bred Ellie, was breed champion at the Highland last year.

A good show of Ayrshires was led by Beeline Swiss Florence VG87, from Steven and Rachel Bailey and son Robert, who run 270 cows at Upper Lightwood, Auldhem, Cheshire. Their show stopper, which stood first in her class at Nantwich in 2014 as an in-calf heifer and champion heifer there last year, gave 5772 litres in her first 289 days at 4.40% BF and 3.69% P. Calved at the end of January and giving 46 litres, she is bred from Beeline Star Florence and sired by the Scottish stock bull, Brieryside Lucky Swiss.

Lead Jersey was the jointly owned Bluegrass Vindications Harp, an 11,000gns purchase at the Red Ribbon Sale, which was grand champion here last year and reserve grand champion at AgriScot. Bred by Barry and Jenny Daw, and now owned by Northern Ireland breeders, Ashley and Lindsay Fleming, John Henning and Keith Agnew, this second calver is giving 30 litres having calved in December.

See this week's issue of The Scottish Farmer, out March 19, for the full report from the Dairy Expo, including all the leading awards and photos of the section winners.