Speaking at the annual meeting of the Irish Ayrshire Cattle Society in Belfast in 1951, the president, Mr R King, said that two outstanding items in dairying in Northern Ireland during 1950 were the rapid increase in attested cows and the new bull licensing scheme.

He added that local farmers had “set about cleaning up their herds more quickly than was thought possible a year ago” and “it was most gratifying” to see that the Ayrshire herds still figured so prominently in the attested lists.

Continuing, Mr King said that membership of the society was still increasing and “was now almost 8,000”.

He said that he thought that one very significant point was the greater interest being taken in milk recording.

Pictured in February 2010 at a show and sale of Ayrshires at Kilrea Mart is Trevor Brown, the champion, with Stewart Baxter, judge, and Frank McClure from McIlraths. Picture: Kevin McAuley

placeholder image — Pictured in February 2010 at a show and sale of Ayrshires at Kilrea Mart is Trevor Brown, the champion, with Stewart Baxter, judge, and Frank McClure from McIlraths. Picture: Kevin McAuley

He said: “Under the 'red star' scheme last year we had awarded 221 certificates, and already this year 143 have been awarded.

Mr J Jardine (Ayr), publicity officer of the Ayrshire Cattle Herd Book Society, also spoke at the meeting.

Cup winners

Challenge cups won at the 1950 autumn sale were distributed by Mr A. Kirkpatrick (Barr), a former president of the Ayrshire Cattle Herd Book Society.

John Sufferin, reserve champion, with Stewart Baxter judge at the Ayrshire show and sale in Kilrea in 2010. Picture: Kevin McAuley

The winners were as follows:

Dickie Cup for supreme champion, and Irish Ayrshire Cattle Society Cup for champion Irish-bred heifer - James McWilliams, Glarryford, Co Antrim.

Belfast and District Buttermilk Producers' Association Cup for best Irish-bred bull - Hugh Suffern, Ballyclan, Crumlin.

Belfast Livestock Salesmen's Cup for best cow in calf or in milk, and Belfast Wholesale Milk Distributors' Association Cup for best group of three Irish-bred heifers- C C McCormick, Willowbank Attested Herd.

Michael Hunter, first prize heifer and second overall, with Frank McClure at the Ayrshire show and sale in Kilrea in February 2010. Picture: Kevin McAuley

The financial report, which showed a surplus of £55, stated that the generous support the society was receiving from the Ayrshire Cattle Herd Book Society was again demonstrated in the increased grant, which was £200 more than in the previous year.

The following members were elected to the council: Mrs M Mackie (Whiteabbey), and Messrs J B Lamb (Richhill), S D McMurray (Banbridge), T J McMillan (Crossgar), and R J Liggett (Tullyhue, Tandragee).

At a meeting of the council held later, Mr Robert King, Laymore, Ballymena, was re-elected president for the ensuing year, and Mrs Lavens M Mackie, Rathfern, Whiteabbey, was elected a vice-president. Messrs Conor Carrigan, Clonmel; William McMurray, Crossgar; James Pollock, Ballymoney; Robert Thompson, Muckamore; T J Suffern, Crumlin; and Arthur Webb, Randalstown, were co-opted to vacancies on the council.

The retiring members of council were reported as Mrs Lavens M Mackie and Messrs John Lamb, Richhill; R J Liggett, Tandragee; T J McMillan. Crossgar; and Douglas McMurray, Banbridge, were declared re-elected at the annual meeting.