There is no doubt Ayr attracted one of the best quality shows of dairy cattle in recent years and all from local farming families. The big question is, will these top showman and women still be farming in the next decade?

The Scottish Farmer: Champion red and white, Nethervalley Awesome Emma Red from Andrew Struthers and Salvador EsquierdoChampion red and white, Nethervalley Awesome Emma Red from Andrew Struthers and Salvador Esquierdo

The shortage of available staff in all sectors of the industry was one of the main talking topics at the show and highlighted by inter-breed dairy judge, John Gilmour snr, Humeston, Maybole.

The Scottish Farmer: Gwen Cochrane's champion Jersey Flair Topeka Poppy VG85Gwen Cochrane's champion Jersey Flair Topeka Poppy VG85

"It was an absolutely fantastic, outstanding show of dairy cows and all from family farms, but we are not going to have any dairy farmers left alone an agricultural industry unless we get more support from the processors, the supermarkets and the government," he told The Scottish Farmer.

The Scottish Farmer: Ayrshire best Longwood Dreamer Marie 3 from Adam Montgomerie, son Adam and daughter AbbieAyrshire best Longwood Dreamer Marie 3 from Adam Montgomerie, son Adam and daughter Abbie

He warned that such is the difficulty in sourcing labour, that some farmers are already having to sell up because they don't have family keen on taking on the business due to the long hours involved and a marginal if any return.

It was nevertheless a cracking good day for Willie Watson, when he won a third dairy inter-breed for the Muir herd from Mauchline.

Having won the supreme here first in 1986 with an Ayrshire and then again in 2016 with a Holstein, he landed the top spot this time with Muir Toohot Molly a VG88-3yr. Previously unshown, this third calver by Peak Altatoohot, was paraded six weeks fresh and giving 46litres per day.

The Scottish Farmer: Ellis Caldwell right won the showmanship honours with younger brother John taking the reserveEllis Caldwell right won the showmanship honours with younger brother John taking the reserve

"She's everything you would want a dairy cow to be," said Mr Gilmour. "She is just total class from her dairy strength and cleanness throughout to breed character. She is an exceptional Holstein cow as is the reserve."

Standing next in line to the champion was the Red and White champion, Nethervalley Awesome Emma Red, from Andrew Struthers and Salvador Esquierdo, Boylston, Cumnock. Backed by the best of genetics, this second calver bred by Robbie Scott is out of an Ex91-classified Nethervalley cow that was reserve at UK Dairy Expo and at AgriScot, while her grand-dam is still milking herd at Shacklehill having produced in excess of 110tonnes of milk. Reserve Red and White calf at the All Britain Calf Show, she was shown six months calved and still producing 50litres per day.

Black and white Holsteins won the inter-breed group of four and comprised the champion from Willie Watson; Berryholme Tattoo Maude, from George Templeton, Knowe and two from Robbie Scott - Nethervalley Applicable Elegance and Evening Fitz Bourdeaux.

The Scottish Farmer: Inter-breed dairy champion and joint reserve overall champion of champions, Muir Toohot Molly VG88-3yr from Willie and Shona Watson and family of Andrew and KatieInter-breed dairy champion and joint reserve overall champion of champions, Muir Toohot Molly VG88-3yr from Willie and Shona Watson and family of Andrew and Katie

It was very much a family affair in the strong dairy calf and showmanship classes too, with Ellis and John Caldwell, Ladyyard, vying for the top awards. In the end, Ellis (15) took the supreme showmanship honours with the September-born heifer, Ladyyard Spok Tabitha, which also won the runner-up calf trophy, while John (12), had to settle with the runner up showmanship title.

Champion calf was 10-month-old Knowe Diamondback Denise, a Red and White from George Templeton and family, Knowe. She was shown by Neil Sloan and stood reserve at the Young Farmers' calf rally at Kilmaurs.

LEADING awards

Ayrshire (Judge: P Mattinson, Rosewain, Wigton). Champion – AW Montgomerie, Lessnessock, Ochiltree, winning their first Ayr championship. Supreme was Longwood Dreamer Marie 3 Ex93, a 94% Ayrshire by Nexus Dreamer bought at the Longwood dispersal. She calved her fourth in November and is now giving 40litres per day at 4.75%BF and 3.2%P. Reserve – Firm of DM Lindsay, Harperfield, Sandilands, Lanark, with Harperfield Irene 53, the second prize winner to the champion. Classified VG88 as a second calver, she is by Harperfield Sands of Time, a stock bull bred from the Ex95 Barr Sandy Rose, and out of the Ex91 Harperfield Irene. She was third at the Great Yorkshire last year and was paraded two weeks calved and giving 36.5litres. Senior heifer – W and A Watson, The Muir. Yeld heifer, heifer in milk, group of three, veterans' class – National Museum of Rural Life, East Kilbride. Cow in milk – AW Montgomerie.

Jersey (Judge: G Lucas, C/o Harrison and Hetherington, Borderway Mart, Carlisle). Champion – Gwen Cochrane, Flair Jerseys, Nethercraig, Kilmarnock, winning her first championship for the four cow herd established seven years ago. Supreme was Flair Topeka Poppy, a third calver by Heartland Merchant Topeka bred from the VG88 Flair Veronica Berry. She was third at the Expo at Carlisle. Reserve – TA and ML Jackson, Guillyhill, Dumfries, with the Ex94 Clifton Chavez Denise, a former champion and inter-breed winner at Dumfries Show that was bought privately. Second in her class to the champion, she is by Chilli Chavez, calved her fourth in February and is giving 40litres per day. Yeld heifer – N Hodge, Bogwood, Mauchline. In-calf heifer – S Roan, Boreland of Colvend, Dalbeattie. Cow in milk – Flair Jerseys.

Holstein (Judge: G Lucas). Champion and inter-breed dairy – W and A Watson, The Muir, Mauchline, with the third calver, Muir Toohot Molly VG88-3yr. Previously unshown, she is bred from a home-bred cow and by Peak Altatoohot. She calved six weeks previous and is now giving 46litres. Reserve – J Kennedy, Carngillan, Tarbolton, with the champion winner from Catrine, Stair Galantas Delight VG87, paraded by farm manager, Ewen Corbett. This second calver is by Wormanby Galtantas and bred from Stair Bolton Delight Ex93. Yeld heifer, senior cow in milk, pair – R and M Scott, Shacklehill, Mossblown. Heifer in milk – G and G Templeton, Knowe, Ochiltree. Second calver – J Kennedy. Third calver – W and A Watson. Group of four – Sypland Farms, Meikle Sypland, Kirkcudbright.

Red and White (Judge: P Mattinson, Rosewain, Wigton). Champion and reserve inter-breed dairy – J and A Struthers, and S Esquierdo, Boylston, Cumnock, with Nethervalley Awesome Emma Red VG88, a second calver by Luck-E Awesome Red bred by Robbie Scott. She was reserve red and white calf at the All Britain Calf Show and her Ex91 home-bred dam is a former reserve winner at the AgriScot and UK Dairy Expo. She was shown six months calved and still giving 50litres per day. Reserve – G and K Lawrie, Myremill, Maybole, with Hydaways Dice Raquel Red VG87-3yr, which stood second in her class to the champion. Bought at the Black and White sale at Carlisle in 2019 as an eight-month-old calf, this previously unshown daughter of Loh Dice Red, calved her second in February at two years and 10months. She is currently giving 67kg per day. Heifer – A Woodburn and Sons, Killoch, Galston. Milking female – J and A Struthers.

Calf and showmanship (Judge: W Horsley, Woodhouse, Penrith). Showmanship – Champion – Ellis Caldwell, Ladyyard. Reserve – John Caldwell, Ladyyard. Junior – 1, Iain Howie; 2, Ruby Donald. Intermediate – 1, John Caldwell (8); 2, Kyle Scott; 3, Fraser Sloan. Senior – 1, Ellis Caldwell (15); 2, Katie Watson; 3, Rory Scott.

Calves – Champion – G and G Templeton's Knowe Diamondback Denise, by Mr D Apple Diamondback. Reserve – S Caldwell's Ladyyard Spock Tabatha. Junior calf – J and A Struthers' Glenmuir Altitude Lemon Pie; 2, J and A Struthers' Glenmuir Altitude Lemon Muffin; 3, G and G Templeton's Overside Arrow Rosalita 2. Intermediate calf – 1, G and G Templeton's Knowe Diamondback Denise; 2, S Caldwell's Ladyyard Spok Tabatha; 3, R Veitch's Vetech Crushtime Barbie. SEnior calf – GT and G Borland's Mossbog Thunder Storm Zwartence; 2, Maverick Holsteins' Leagh Denyer Wears Prada; 3, N Hodge's Nethervalley Chrome Waltz.