New and former exhibitors produced the top two winners amongst the heifers at AgriScot, with commentator Mark Davies landing the supreme with the Jersey, Rivermead Victorious Sangria while the reserve was presented to Nairn-based Steven Innes of Newmeadow Holsteins.
Judge Mark Nutsford, of the Riverdane herd, from Cheshire, was most impressed by the quality on parade and described his heifer champion as an easy winner.
“Finding the Superheifer was easier than finding the reserve,” he said. “For me, the Jersey owned the ring as soon as she walked in. I really like her overall balance, height and width of the rear udder,” said Mr Nutsford, who gave the winning rosette to Rivermead Victorious Sangria.
Taking centre stage was a home-bred August 2021-born Jersey from first time exhibitor, Mr Davis’ 230-cow herd, all the way from Tiverton, Devon.
He was delighted with his win. “I started commentating here at least five years ago, but this time we decided to come with cattle and I’m so glad we did when it is such a well organised event. Everyone is so friendly and the quality of the cattle is fantastic. AgriScot is a great show to be part of – it’s one of the best events in the country.”
Mr Davis’ show stopper, a Jersey daughter of River Valley Victorious, is bred from the former show calf, Rivermead Jaeger Sangria VG87. All Britain Holstein Calf champion last year, Victorious was paraded six weeks calved and giving 32litres per day at 5.0BF and 4.0%P, by Mr Davis’ sister, Emily.
Morayshire breeder, Steven Innes and his daughter Megan (17), who run 1300 cows in their Newmeadow Holstein herd, Nairn, also had plenty to celebrate, when their senior heifer in milk, Wolfa Chief Sue VG88-2yr, landed the black and white championship and the reserve Superheifer.
The herd which was exhibiting for the first time since their big win here some 28 years ago, topped the section with a privately purchased heifer bought from the Armstrong’s Wolfa herd.
She is by Stantons' Chief and bred from a VG88 Wolfa cow with 10 generations of VG or Excellent-classified cows behind her. No stranger to the lime-light, Sue was interbreed-heifer at the Highland in June and reserve heifer at Ingliston the previous year. Calved in March and still giving 38litres per day, she is about to be dried off when she’s due in January, sexed to Bullseye.
Champion Ayrshire was Calderglen Nicolette, from Robin Barr and son, also Robin, Campbeltown, who was exhibiting for the first time since 2012. Their 170-cow herd was topped by a daughter of Heydale Wind Chime, out of a home-bred Ex91-rated cow. Nicolette was shown six weeks calved and giving 32litres with her sole previous outing being at Kintyre Show when she scooped the youngstock champion.
Brian and Michael Yates’ Logan herd from Castle Douglas, was in the top tickets too, this time winning the Red and White heifer honours with the April-calved Logan Avatar Rae Red, by Hoven Holsteins Avatar Red. She is bred from the father and son team’s former heifer champion here, Rockset Integral Rae Red. Classified VG87, the heifer secured a red ticket at UK Dairy Day in September and was shown giving 33litres per day.
There was more notable genetics behind Jonny Lochhead’s any other breed champion, a Brown Swiss from Mouswald, Dumfries. His home-bred Kedar Rhappily Ever After, is another bred from the 10-year-old veteran show cow, Kedar Rhapsody which has produced embryos that have been exported throughout Europe, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. The winning heifer which stood first in her class at UK Dairy Day, calved in May and is giving 25litres.
A Friesian heifer from Adam Lawson’s Lismulligan herd from Fife, landed the reserve any other breed. Lismulligan Priscilla 61, an ET is bred from the former three times National winner, a previous home-bred Priscilla and sired by Lakemead Jingle. She calved in March and is giving 30litres per day.
The runner up honours amongst the Jerseys and the Holsteins were presented to Robert and Mark Hunter’s Clydevalley SSL Fieldfare VG87-2yr and Evening Hill Farm’s Evening Goldwyn Adeen VG87-2yr.
Jersey, a previously unknown entry from the family’s Clydevalley herd from West Tarbrax, Shotts, calved in May and is projected at 6800litres at 6.43%BF and 4.18%P. She is by Steinhaurs Samson Lemonhead, while the dam is a home-bred VG88-classified cow that stood second here as a junior heifer.
An exceptional senior Holstein heifer class saw the second prize winner to the champion follow on to take the blue and white sash for the Wilson family’s Evening herd from Thursby, Carlisle. This was Evening Goldwyn Adeen, a VG87-2yr, that stood reserve heifer here. This second calver by Braedale Goldwyn was second in her class at UK Dairy Day. She calved in June and sold giving 50litres per day.
Scottish breeders scooped the runner up awards in the Ayrshire and Red and Whites. The second best Ayrshire was Bill and Roger Lindsay’s Harperfield Sandy Rose 8, a VG85-2yr on her first outing by Harperfield Spirit of Scotia.
The equivalent amongst the Red and Whites saw Mungo and Callum Bryson’s Whiteflat Attraction Geraldine, by Apple PTS Attraction Red, step up for the award.
Leading Awards
Ayrshire – 1 and champion heifer, J and M Barr’s Calderglen Nicolette, by Heydale Wind Chime; 2 and reserve, DM Lindsay’s Harperfield Sandy Rose 8 VG85-2yr, by Harperfield Spirit of Scotia.
Any other breed – 1 and champion heifer, T Lochhead and Sons’ Brown Swiss, Kedar Rhappily Ever After, by Goldhill Bender Huge SG; 2 and reserve heifer, RJ Lawson’s British Friesian, Lismulligan Priscilla 61, by Lakemead Jingle; 3, B Lawson and Sons’ British Friesian, Lisnamulligan Cactus 2, by Oxton Royal.
Jersey – 1, champion heifer and Superheifer, Davis’ family’s Rivermead Victorious Sangria, by River Valley Victorious; 2 and reserve Jersey, The Hunter family’s Clydevalley SSL Fieldfare VG87-2yr, by Steinhauers Samson Lemonhead; 3, N Heuchan’s Clanel Victorious Daisybelle, by River Valley Victorious.
Holstein – Junior – 1, S Forsyth’s Newbirks Chief Jazz, by Stantons Chief; 2, B Weatherup and Partners’ Lesmay Dalliance Patent, by Wilder Dalliance; 3, Lightening Holsteins’ Ewemoo Lambda Appleena VG87-2yr, by Farnear Delta Lambda. Senior Holstein – 1, Holstein champion and reserve Superheifer, Newmeadow Holsteins’ Wolfa Chief Sue, by Stantons Chief; 2 and reserve Holstein heifer, Evening Hill Farm’s Evening Goldwyn Adeen VG87-2yr, by Braedale Goldwyn; 3, G and G Templeton’s Knoweside Crushtime Petrelle VG86-2yr, by Col DG Crushtime.
Red and white – 1 and champion heifer, BG Yates and Son’s Logan Avatar Rae Red VG87-2yr, by Hoven Holsteins Avatar Red; 2 and reserve heifer, M Bryson and Son’s Whiteflat Attraction Geraldine, by Apple-PTs Attraction Red; 3, B Weatherup’s Parkend Minand Starlet Red, by Coomboona Zipit Mirand.
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