Bluegrass wins the Jersey National Herds’ Competition for third successive time

17 September 2008

Barry and Jenny Daw have achieved the quite remarkable feat of winning the UK Jerseys National Herds’ Competition with their renowned ‘Bluegrass’ herd for the third time in a row.

The biennial competition was judged by Jersey breeder, Malcolm Huxtable, and Professor Malcolm Stansfield, formerly of Reading University School of Agricultural Management.

Malcolm Huxtable commented: “The top two herds were exceedingly close, only 15 points from a maximum of 1000 separated them. We were extremely impressed by the even standard of cow within the 120 cow Bluegrass herd, and that tipped it in the end.”

For the Daws, selling high quality breeding stock is a major component of the business from a performance of 6318kg milk at 5.55 per cent butterfat, all within a 380 day calving index.

Jenny Daw explains: “It is selling breeding stock which brings the real interest for us. It is an incentive to keep on improving herd performance while still focusing on pedigree bloodlines and animal type.

The competition combines both Performance and Inspection.

Performance monitors productivity and farm management, while Inspection assesses breeding policy, herd promotion and physical type of the cattle.

Potterswalls retain Inspection Championship

Pushing the Supreme Champions so closely was the Potterswalls herd of the Fleming Family in Northern Ireland. Another herd with a distinguished reputation, this herd retains the Inspection Championship, also for the third successive occasion.

Potterswalls has 95 per cent of the milking herd Classified Excellent or VG, and the judges were most impressed by the clearly focused breeding policy and breed promotion within this herd.

Within this herd, Potterswalls Connection Lady ET made such an impression on the judges that Malcolm Huxtable has presented a Special Award for this great daughter of the Star Brood Cow, Mooncrest Imperial Lady EX96 and sired by Giprats Belles Connection.

Performance title goes west

First time entrants, Bruce and Jenny Ravenhill took the Performance section with their Whitenhill herd. A mere two and one-half points separated them from the Bluegrass entry.

The Ravenhills run 130 cows, and like the Daw family they are on a County Council holding.

Producing in excess of 600kg combined weight of butterfat and protein per cow, the Whitenhill herd averages 6424kg milk at 5.67 per cent butterfat. With a PLI of £45 is ahead of its competitors in terms of genetic merit.

Six of the seven herds in the final averaged between 6424 and 6167kg milk, the other herd being on a spring calving, grazing, system.

Malcolm Stansfield was particularly pleased by the progress made over the years to improve nutritional performance with the breed. A better understanding of the Jerseys’ ability to digest fibre, coupled with dry cow management to reduce milk fever to negligible levels, all augur well for the future.

Judges Special Award

Adrian and Gillian Harrison restocked with Jerseys in 2001 and their 130 cow Hillside herd is the sole Jersey supplier to Hawes Creamery in Wensleydale. Such has been their progress that they claimed third place in both Performance and Inspection sections.

Generating a Margin Over Purchased Feeds of 24.14ppl, Hillside led the way in financial performance.

The judges rated the Harrisons’ enterprise as having the best Herd Development plans, applauding their initiative in marketing their bull calves as Yorkshire Rose veal.