Mostragee herd leads Balmoral dairy line-up

This is the second time in three years that Tommy and Mark Henry’s 200-cow herd has claimed the show’s top honours with home-bred cows, both sired by home-bred bulls.

Their 2024 winner was Mostragee Bomber Louise 3 by Mostragee Bomber. Now eight-years-old and classified EX94, she returned to the Balmoral showring to secure third prize in a strong class of mature cows.

Cream of the crop at this year’s show was the August 2022 born Mostragee Vinny Lauren 3 VG87. This outstanding second calver caught the eye of Holstein judge, Brian Weatherup jnr from Fife, to win the intermediate, exhibitor-bred and supreme overall championships.

Later in the day interbreed judge Mark Davis, a well-known Jersey breeder and auctioneer from Devon, awarded her the top plaudits in the overall dairy line-up.

Both judges described the interbreed dairy champion as an “incredible cow” and a “model example” of the Holstein breed. Sired by the home-bred Mostragee Vinny, this outstanding dairy cow calved in January and is currently producing 55 litres of milk per day.

“Thank you to the RUAS for inviting me to judge Balmoral Show. It has been a fantastic show with tremendous quality throughout. My final line-up featured seven great cows with lots of milk,” said Scottish judge Brian Weatherup.

“The intermediate and supreme overall champion was an easy winner. She is well put together, oozes quality and ring presence, and has a superb udder. A fine example of the Holstein breed with nice bone and good feet and legs,” he added.

George and Jason Booth’s Sterndale Fitzlambda Airy EX94 LP70 won the reserve breed championship. This Farnear Delta Lambda daughter is in her fifth lactation.

Securing the honourable mention and reserve exhibitor-bred awards was George and David Simpson’s home-bred Damm Impression Beth 2 EX92. Sired by Monument Impression, she is in her fourth lactation.

The reserve intermediate championship went to Sam and John McCormick’s Hilltara King Doc Dawn 3. A Woodcrest King Doc daughter, she produced her first calf in February.

Winning the intermediate honourable mention award was Clive and Joel Richardson’s Annaghmore Ranger A Jodie Red VG86. This second calver was sired by 3Star Oh Ranger Red.

Young breeders Cody, Dylan and Jamie Paul from Maghera, won the junior and reserve junior championship awards with Slatabogie Lemagic Alysia and Slatabogie Lemagic Appleruz. These seven-month-old heifers, by Comestar Lemagic, stood first and second in the first class of the day.

The reserve interbreed pairs award went to Mostragee Vinny Lauren 2 and George and David Simpson’s Damm Impression Beth 2 EX92.

Results from the showring:

Specials

John Thompson and Sons Perpetual Challenge Cup for the supreme champion: Tommy and Mark Henry. Reserve: Jason Booth.

Holstein Friesian Perpetual Challenge Cup for the best Holstein: Tommy and Mark Henry.

Championship award for the best exhibitor-bred Holstein: Tommy and Mark Henry. Reserve: David Simpson.

RJ Cooper Memorial Trophy for the junior champion: Cody, Jamie and Dylan Paul. Reserve: Cody, Jamie and Dylan Paul.

Craigbet Rosan Trophy for the best mature cow: Jason Booth. Reserve: Hilltara Holsteins.

Barbican Crystal Award for the best pair of animals, bred by exhibitor: David Simpson.

Classes

Junior heifer, (6 - 12 months) born between 01/05/25 and 31/10/25 – 1, Cody, Jamie and Dylan Paul, Slatabogie Lemagic Alysia by Comestar Lemagic; 2, Cody, Jamie and Dylan Paul,

Slatabogie Lemagic Appleruz by Comestar Lemagic; 3, Slatabogie Holsteins, Slatabogie Bullseye Gold by MB Luckylady Bullseye; 4, Annaghmore Holsteins, Annaghmore Diamondback Kandie Red by Blondin Alpha RDC.

Intermediate heifer, (12-18 months) born between 01/11/24 and 30/04/25 – 1, Annaghmore Holsteins, Annaghmore Sidekicks Atlee by Walnutlawn Sidekick; 2, Iain McLean and Annaghmore Holsteins, Hilltara Lemagic Reann by Comestar Lemagic; 3, Slatabogie Holsteins, Slatabogie Lemagic Flower by Comestar Lemagic; 4, Slatabogie Holsteins, SBG Pazzle Carlin by Siemers RZ Pazzle.

Senior heifer, (18-24 months) in-calf, born between 01/05/24 and 31/10/24 – 1, Annaghmore Holsteins, Annaghmore Dropboxs Twizzle by Kings Ransom Dropbox; 2, Slatabogie Holsteins, Slatabogie Luster Joy by Cherry Lily Zip Luster; 3, Lisnamorrow Holsteins, Lisnamorrow Arti Lilibet by Lucke Artisan; 4, Stephen and Rachael Watterson, Lisnamorrow Lemagic Ashlyn by Comestar Lemagic.

Junior 2yr heifer in-milk, born between 01/11/23 and 30/04/24 – 1, Hilltara Holsteins, Hilltara King Doc Dawn 3 by Woodcrest King Doc; 2, Mostragee Holsteins, Mostragee Hardy May by Siemers Pfct Hardy; 3, Jason Booth, Beechview Eyecandy Bridget VG87 by MB Luckylady Eyecandy; 4, W and A Patton, Ards Lambda Fame by Farnear Delta Lambda.

Senior 2yr heifer in-milk, born between 01/05/23 and 31/10/23 – 1, Philip and Simon Haffey, Glasson Victor WI Flo ET VG87 by Legend Maker Victor; 2, Mostragee Holsteins, Mostragee Parlsy Ambrosia VG86 by Siemers Twn Parsly; 3, Slatabogie Holsteins, Slatabogie Lu Me Lou Red ET VG86 by Farnear Altitude Red.

Junior 3yr in-milk, born between 01/11/22 and 30/04/23 – 1, Annaghmore Holsteins, Annaghmore Ranger A Jodie Red VG86 by 3Star Oh Ranger Red; 2, David Simpson, Damm Diamondback Royalty VG86 by Mr D Apple Diamondback; 3, Andrew Patton, Ards Lambda Joanna VG89 by Farnear Delta Lambda; 4, Iain McLean, Priestland 7255 Cheerful Dream Red VG88 by Blondin Cheerful Red.

Senior 3yr in-milk, born between 01/05/22 and 31/10/22 – 1, Mostragee Holsteins, Mostragee Vinny Lauren 3 rd VG87 by Mostragee Vinny; 2, Slatabogie Holsteins, Slatabogie Lambda Alysia VG89 by Farnear Delta Lambda; 3, David Simpson, Damm Chief Fay VG86 by Stantons Chief; 4, Jason Booth, Canonstown Casper Gidge VG88 by Claynook Casper.

Four-year-old in-milk, born between – 01/05/21 and 30/04/22 – 1, Jason Booth, Beechview Solarpower Madilyn VG88 by Vogue Solarpower; 2, Hilltara Holsteins, Hilltara Lambda Doreen EX93 by Farnear Delta Lambda; 3, Martin King, Grangefarm Primrose 12 EX92 by Wilder Dynamite PP; 4, David Simpson, Slatabogie Msapple Tizer Red ET EX90 by Hoogerhorst DG Oh Rubels Red.

Five-year-old in-milk, born between – 01/05/20 and 30/04/21 – 1, David Simpson, Damm Impression Beth 2 EX92 by Monument Impression; 2, Mostragee Holsteins, Mostragee Awesome Polly VG87 by Luck-E Absolute Awesome Red.

Mature cow in-milk, born on or before 30/04/20 – 1, Jason Booth, Sterndale Fitzlambda Airy EX94 by Sterndale Fitz Airy; 2, Hilltara Holsteins, Hilltara Undenied Apple EX95 by Our Favourite Undenied; 2, Mostragee Holsteins, Mostragee Bomber Louise by Mostragee Bomber; 4, Jason Booth, Wyevalley Sidekick Barb EX95 by Walnutlawn Sidekick.

Pair of females, property of exhibitor – 1, Jason Booth, Sterndale Fitzlamba Airy EX94 and Wyevalley Sidekick Barb EX95; 2, David Simpson, Damm Impression Beth 2 EX92 and Damm Chief Fay VG86; 3, Hilltara Holsteins, Hilltara Undenied Apple EX95 and Hilltara Lambda Doreen EX93.