	Jersey Cattle Society of the United Kingdom Scotsbridge House, Scots Hill, Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire, WD3 3BB info@ukjerseys.com tel: 01923 695296

CLUB OFFICERS

Chairman:
Albert Lowry
96 Ballyveely Road
Loughgiel
Ballymena
Co. Antrim

Secretary
Mr M Logan
11 Estate Road
Clandeboye
Bangor
Co Down BT19 1UR
Tel: 07889 532280

Ulster Jersey Cattle Club AGM 2010

Jersey Club celebrate successful year

Ulster Jersey Cattle Club Chairman Albert Lowry welcomed John Henning from sponsor the Northern Bank and Roger Trewhella of the Jersey Cattle Society to the Annual General Meeting in the Gil-Good Lodge, Moira on Tuesday 2nd March 2010. He then went on to reflect on a year that had seen Ulster bred Jerseys make headlines across the British Isles.

The Calf Show was a departure from usual being held at Balmoral in August as part of the Causeway Classic Holstein centenary celebrations. This was a very successful one of event which gave members the opportunity to show their calves to a much wider audience with breeders from GB and Southern Ireland in attendance.

In the classification league Potterswalls Paramount Glamour at EX96 and Killadeas Valleystream Pioneer at EX94 are the highest pointed female and male in the UK.

Marcus and Gordon Grey, Kiladeas receiving the production cups from John Henning, Northern Bank

In the show ring Ivan and Louise Robinson’s Montgomery Mitage Zoe took the Jersey Championship at the Spring Fair in Southern Ireland. The Fleming Family’s Potterswalls Paramount Glamour and Connection Lady took the Interbreed titles at Royal Ulster and Ballymena respectively while Clandeboye Option Amethyst overcame the Holstein and Ayrshire challenge to win the Heifer Derby at Antrim. The last ever Royal Show Jersey Champion was Potterswalls Vindication Nikki, bred by the Flemings and exhibited by Carl Smith. At the Royal Welsh Clandeboye Jazzman Mabel took the Jersey Championship for the Wilson’s of Tregibby.

Roger Trewhella, Ashley, Lindsay and Kensey Fleming, John Henning and Albert Lowry with the trophys won by the Fleming Family's Potterswalls Herd throughout the year

Northern Irish Jerseys haven’t just excelled on type. Two of the Jersey UK production cups came to the province. Marcus Grey’s Danish K Topmos won the John Ibbotson Memorial Cup as the cow having produced the highest kilograms of milk from a cow classified Excellent during the lactation. Potterswalls Paramount Glamour brought the Foxbury Cup home to Seaforde as the Excellent classified cow with the highest combined kilograms of fat and protein.

With this combination of type and production its not surprising that Ulster based Jerseys also pass on there outstanding characteristics to their offspring. Of the 9 cows to be awarded Gold Star Brood Cow status by the Jersey Cattle Society in 2009 no less than 5 come from Northern Irish herds.

John Henning from the Northern Bank presenting a sponsorship cheque to Club Chairman Albert Lowry

Mr Lowry concluded by saying that during what has been a difficult year given the economic downturn and the severe weather conditions it was encouraging to see the many successes achieved by members of the club. He hope that with the continued enthusiasm there is for the Jersey cow, from pedigree and commercial milk producers alike, that the breed would continue to move forward and meet the challenges of the future.

Following the business of the AGM and presentation of Awards, which was carried out by John Henning from the Northern Bank, those in attendance enjoyed an excellent supper.

The evening was rounded off by Jersey Cattle Society Field Services Manager Roger Trewhella who gave members an update on JCS activities. Of particular interest was the genomic testing of young bulls and the possibility of breeders having testing done on their animals through JCS partner Igenity.

A lively discussion on topics such as show uniforms and attracting breeders to club events brought the evening to a close.