FOR THE first time, Holstein UK and Holstein Young Breeders will next month have a team competing at the MASTERs Open stockmanship competition in Germany.

Being held in Verden, between February 24 and 27, the event sees young breeders from across Europe participate in clipping and showmanship competitions in two age categories. The junior category is open to competitors aged 16-20, whilst the senior category is for those aged between 21-25

Emily Davis of the Devon HYB Club will represent the UK in the former, while Jonny Woodhouse of the Lancashire HYB Club will compete in the latter.

Eighteen-year-old Emily lives on the family farm in Devon with their herd of pedigree Holsteins, Jerseys and Ayrshires. She is currently studying for her level 3 extended diploma in agriculture as well as working one day a week at Kivells agricultural market. Emily has been showing cattle since she was four years old and has been a member of Devon HYB for the last three years.

Emily’s show career highlights include being breed champion handler and interbreed champion handler at the South West Dairy Event for two years running. She has also had a great success rate at the All Breeds All Britain Calf Show. Her greatest achievement in HYB was winning the intermediate linear stockjudging and coming second in the intermediate stockjudging for Devon.

Twenty-one year old Jonny lives and works on the family farm where they milk 100 pedigree cows registered under the 'Shoreline' prefix. The herd currently averages 10,200kg and comprises of 24 EX and 58 VG.

Since becoming a HYB member eight years ago, Jonny has excelled in the showing ring both at home and abroad. He has twice been a member of Holstein UK’s Youth Team at the European Championships and won the clipping competitions as both a junior (2016) and senior (2019). Closer to home, Jonny has won champion handler at the Lancashire Calf Show three times; been reserve champion at UK Dairy Expo in 2018 and 2019; won the 1st Team National Clipping Champion at the HYB Competitions Day as well as qualifying for the All Breeds All Britain Calf Show five times.