Holstein hat-trick for Glaslough

Mr Morgan, who runs the 150-cow Erie pedigree Holstein herd alongside 50 Jerseys said: “It is a privilege to be back in Northern Ireland among breeders who are passionate about showing. The exhibitors are very enthusiastic about the breed, and I have enjoyed the opportunity to judge the cream of the province’s Holstein cattle. The quality has been exceptional in all of the classes.”

Claiming the supreme overall championship was the much-admired Glaslough Miss Persia, bred by

brothers David and Kenny Boyd from Glaslough in County Monaghan. This is the third year in succession that the 60-cow herd scooped the supreme and exhibitor-bred awards at the Moira event.

Glaslough Miss Persia was sired by Mr Minister, and is a full sister to the highly acclaimed Glaslough Miss Petra – winner of numerous championship awards, including the 2014 and 2015 Irish National Holstein Show.

Miss Persia calved her second in November, and is yielding 44 litres daily. She was intermediate champion at last year’s show, junior champion at Balmoral, and All-Ireland heifer in-milk at Tullamore.

“This is an outstanding champion,” stated Iwan Morgan. “She is a beautifully balanced cow with power, strength and an incredible udder – one of the best udders in Europe.”

Making her showring debut to take the reserve supreme title, and the reserve exhibitor-bred award, was Hilltara Windbrook Ianina 2 from Sam and John McCormick’s 300-cow herd at Bangor, County Down. She stood second behind the champion in the second calver class. Sired by Gillette Windbrook, this one calved six weeks ago and is producing 45 litres per day.

Iwan Morgan added: “This is another young cow with an exciting future ahead of her. She oozes style and dairy character, and has an incredible rear udder. This heifer will be full of surprises as the show season progresses.”

Securing the honourable mention award was the senior cow Edenordinary Jasper Kylie EX95, consigned by first-time exhibitor George Mitchell who runs a herd of 180 cows near Banbridge, County Down. Sired by Wilcoxview Jasper, she calved her fifth three months ago and is yielding 56 litres daily.

Iwan Morgan commented: ”This is a true type model cow. She has power, tremendous capacity, and a high and wide rear udder. This aged cow is a credit to the Holstein breed.”

Leading the way in the intermediate championship was the senior heifer Priestland 5450 Braxton Frosty from the McLean family’s 200-cow herd at Bushmills, County Antrim. She calved in October and is doing 50 litres.

“This is a stylish heifer, and she has a high and wide rear udder with exceptional ligament. One for the future,” said the judge.

Runner-up was the second placed senior heifer Sprucegrove Lavanguard Peggy bred by Aidan Foody who made the trip from County Mayo. Iwan Morgan commented: ”You’ve got to admire her frame, and her ability to milk.”

Taking the intermediate honourable mention award was the McCormick family’s junior in-milk heifer Hilltara Aftershock Dawn. Calved in November and producing 33 litres, she comes from a line of EX classified show cows.

Conor McAufield’s 150-cow Lissue herd claimed the top awards in the junior championship line-up.

Impressing the judge to secure the junior championship was the in-calf heifer Clonpaddin G Chip Fame, a Mr Chassity Gold Chip daughter purchased privately from Garry Hurley’s herd in County Wicklow. She was first in her class at Emerald Expo 2014, and has bred already bred three ET Doorman heifers. In-calf to Doorman, she is due at the end of April.

Taking the reserve junior award was the ten-month-old heifer Lissue Doorman Faith. Her dam is a former number one GTPI Seaver daughter, while her half-sister was ranked number ten GTPI heifer in Europe in March 2015.

“I’m very impressed with the junior line-up. It was difficult to split the top two heifers. They have width in the chest, they are clean and dairy, and have so much style and femininity. The champion has a massive barrel and exceptional bone; while the reserve is a tremendous calf, well balanced with a long neck and super spring of rib.”

The honourable mention award went to Sterndale Explode Ghost, an in-calf heifer from David Buchanan’s Happy Holsteins Herd at Newry. She was bought at the Sterndale sale last year, and is due in April to Doorman.

“This heifer is similar to the junior champion. She is powerful and has great capacity throughout,” added the judge.

Senior heifer Ernevale Destry Lulu Red caught the judge’s eye to take the red and white championship award. Owned by Steven Robinson, Crossgar, she was purchased at Seamus Gunn’s Ernevale Youngstock sale in 2013, and was junior champion last year.

The reserve championship went to Derrymore Snowman Jolly Red, a junior in-milk heifer bred by the McCorry family from Aghalee.

First-time exhibitor Lauren Kelly scooped the red and white honourable mention award with the thirteen-month-old heifer Broadfold Alchemy Ripple Red.

The junior showmanship award was won by HYB member Desmond McCorry; while the senior showmanship prize went to Andrea Raffery from the Breffni Oriel Club.

The Hilltara prefix won the premier breeder prize; with the premier exhibitor award going to the Priestland herd.

Holstein NI is indebted to its sponsors for their continued support: Cookstown Dairy Services, Lacpatrick, Holstein UK, Genus ABS, Gortavoy Feeds, Irwins Feed, Cogent, Western Farm Enterprises, McLarnon Feeds, AB Vista, Dynamis Homepathic Medicine, World Wide Sires, FarmGate Nutrition, Bank of Ireland, FarmGate Nutrition, SC Feeds, Trioliet, Thompsons, Ecolab/Irwin Farm Supplies and Doherty Woodshavings.

Results from the showring

Junior handler – 1, Desmond McCorry; 2, Brian Weatherup; 3, Tom McKnight; 4, Sam Hanna.

Senior handler – 1, Andrea Rafferty; 2, Kane Boan; 3, Lauren Henry; 4, Lauren Kelly.

Championships

Supreme champion: D&K Boyd, Glaslough Miss Persia. Reserve: S&J McCormick, Hilltara Windbrook Ianina 2. Honourable mention: George Mitchell, Edenordinary Japser Kylie.

Red and white champion: Steven Robinson, Ernevale Destry Lulu Red. Reserve: Noel McCorry, Derrymore Snowman Jolly Red. Honourable mention: Lauren Kelly, Broadfold Alchemy Ripple Red.

Junior champion: Conor McAufield, Clonpaddin G Chip Fame. Reserve: Conor McAufield & Tom McKnight, Lissue Doorman Faith. Honourable mention: David Buchanan, Sterndale Explode Ghost.

Intermediate champion: McLean Famliy, Priestland 5450 Braxton Frosty. Reserve: Aidan Foody, Sprucegrove Lavanguard Peggy. Honourable mention: S&J McCormick, Hilltara Aftershock Dawn.

Exhibitor-bred champion: D&K Boyd, Glaslough Miss Persia. Reserve: S&J McCormick, Hilltara Windbrook Ianina 2.

Heifer, born on or after 04/03/15 – 1, Conor McAulfield & Tom McKnight, Lissue Doorman Faith; 2, Henry Family, Mostragee Dempsey Altitude; 3, Robert Hanna, Maboy Altabarney Lulu.

Heifer, born between 04/09/14 and 04/03/15 – 1, McLean Family, Priestland Windbrook Helga; 2, Steven Robinson, Dalevalley Wyn Embrace; 3, Henry Family, Mostragee 5G Lauren.

Heifer, born between 04/09/13 and 13/09/14 – 1, Conor McAufield, Clonpaddin G Chip Fame; 2, David Buchanan, Sterndale Explode Ghost; 3, Aidan Foody, Sprucegrove Heztry Peggy.

Junior heifer in-milk – 1, S&J McCormick, Hilltara Aftershock Dawn; 2, McLean Family, Priestland 5615 Fever Dellia; 3, David Simpson, Maineview Endstory Sara 2.

Senior heifer in-milk – 1 ,McLean Family, Priestland 5450 Braxton Frosty; 2, Aidan Foody, Sprucegrove Lavanguard Peggy; 3, Steven Robinson, Ernevale Destry Lulu Red.

Cow in-milk, having had two calvings – 1, D&K Boyd, Glaslough Miss Persia; 2, S&J McCormick, Hilltara Windbrook Ianina 2; 3, Messrs Boyd, Greenan, Moore, O’Neill and Timlin, Drumlina Atwood Megan.

Cow in-milk, having had three calvings – 1, McLean Family, Priestland 5235 PS James Rose ET; 2, G&J Booth, Clongowes Atwood Thelma; 3, S&J McCormick, Hilltara Knowledge Maude.

Cow in-milk, having had four or more calvings – 1, George Mitchell, Edenordinary Jasper Kylie; 2, D&K Boyd, Glaslough Talent Harri; 3, S&J McCormick, Hilltara Monsoon Heatherdew 2.

Cow in-milk, having produced a minimum of 50,000kgs – 1, D&K Boyd, Glaslough Goldwyn Bret; 2, G&J Booth, Clandeboye Shottle Willow ET.