UK Jerseys National Performance title goes to Devonshire herd

27 October 2008

First time entrants, Bruce and Jenny Ravenhill took the Performance section of the UK Jerseys National Herds’ Competition with their Whitenhill herd. A mere two and one-half points out of a possible 500 separated them from the Bluegrass entry.

Bruce and Jenny Ravenhill are presented with the Elmdon Trophy on winning the UK Jerseys National Herds’ Competition ‘Performance’ title. The presentation is made by Richard Calver, chairman of the South West Dairy Show organising committee and Malcolm Huxtable, judge of the National Herds Competition, looks on.

The Ravenhills currently run 130 cows at Umberleigh in North Devon and, like the Daw familyfrom Hertfordshire who won the Supreme title, they are on a County Council holding. Having taken advantage of the value they had built in the herd, and scaled back from 220 cows, the Ravenhills are now in expansion mode ago and building to150 plus milkers.

Whitenhill Fusions Windsale VG85 1st 6128 5.78 BF 3.62 P 2nd 6469 5.57 BF 3.72 P (274 days) 2nd Junior cow and 1st exibitor bred cow in Devon at the conference show 2008, Reserve champion Honiton show 2008 and 1st junior cow south west dairy show 2008 Dam: Whitenhill Remakes Windswift EX 93 MM3 1st dry cow south west dairy show 2008, 2nd senior cow conference show 2008 and 1st Best cow lifetime production Grand dam: Whitenhill Khans Winifred EX90 MM2 GM4 (still in herd) Great Grand dam: Whitenhill Junos Winnipeg EX91 MM3 GM5 Great Great Grand dam: Crondall Spots Winnie VHC MM2 GM2 (purchased Crondall dispersal) Goes back to Crondall Despots Wonder MM CM GM2(highest yielding cow in Cornwall 1980

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. And with a PLI of £45 per cow is ahead of its competitors in terms of genetic merit.

Whitenhill Chairmans Hazelnut VG88 MM 1st 6660 5.30 BF 3.95 P 2nd 4248 6.44 BF 3.56 P (173 days) 5th Junior cow south west dairy show Dam: Whitenhill James Chesnut EX 91 4th Senior cow south west dairy show 2008 as a 7th calver Grand dam: Whitenhill Royals Walnut EX90 MM9 GM1

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

Judges, Malcolm Huxtable from Crediton and Professor Malcolm Stansfield, formerly of Reading University, were particularly pleased by the progress made over the years to improve nutritional performance within 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.