Crowds flocked to the Eikon exhibition centre today for the 2017 RUAS winter fair.
Both northern and southern-bred stock packed the purpose-built showgrounds to put on one of the best shows of dairy stock on the island of Ireland.
Taking the helm on the day was US judge Hank Val Exel.
Hank has a worldwide reputation in the centre ring, having travelled the world judging at all major dairy events.
Having quickly made his way through the long list of classes, he eventually found his supreme interbreed champion in the form of Holstein cow Hilltara Lauthority Echo 2.
This five-year-old from Sam and John McCormick is no stranger to winning ways, having also secured the overall championship at this year’s Baileys cow competition.
Sired by Comestar Lauthority, she is out of homebred Hilltara Zenith Echo.
The third calver gave nearly 11,500kg in her last lactation, of which 821kg were milk solids. Echo is currently giving 42 litres having calved in June.
Maximum classified EX93, the judge said of her: “This is a beautiful silky black cow. She is a cow you love a lot of things about, her mammary system in particular, and I just love the volume that cow possesses.”
Reserve supreme
The Holstein breed also secured the reserve supreme spot with Priestland 5446 Shot J Rose.
Exhibited by the McLean family, Rose is sired by well-known Picston Shottle and out of Pierstein Talent Ruby. Classified VG89 as a second calver, the reserve supreme calved four weeks ago and is currently giving 60 litres a day.
This comes off the back of her first lactation where she produced 11,500kg of 4.56% fat and 3.33% protein.
Mr Val Exel had a lot to say about this young winner: “I really think a lot of this cow. Beautiful-frame cow.
“I give her advantage over my honourable mention because she’s just a little bit more overall dairyness, the quality of bone she has, a little bit more depth of four rib and I just love the mammary system she has.”
Interbreed
Closing off the top interbreed honours was the Jersey breed, which claimed the honourable mention with Clandeboye Tequila Cookie.
Jersey champion and supreme championship honourable mention Clandeboye Tequila Cookie.
The youngest of the line-up, this three-year-old was brought out by Clandeboye Estate, Bangor, Co Down.
No stranger to the show, this EX90 second calver was also awarded the jersey heifer in milk championship in 2016. The stylish young cow also secured the all-Britain title as a two-year-old.
Coming off a 5,700kg lactation of 5.3% fat, the stylish young cow is currently giving 32kg/day.
Sire behind Cookie is Tower Vue Prime Tequila, while the dam is Newmoor Sultan.
Interbreed heifer championship
Champion: Clonpaddin Holsteins - CLONPADDIN POLLY ET 2 ET.
Reserve Champion: Clonpaddin Holsteins - CLONPADDIN MCC CHRISI.
Honourable mention: Fleming Family - POTTERWALLS VALENTINO LADY.
Interbreed junior championship
Champion: McAufield, Conor - LISSUE DOORMAN FAME 3.
Reserve Champion: Fleming & Steel - POTTERSWALLS RUM MAGIC.
Honourable mention: Fleming Family - POTTERSWALLS PRIMERO EVENING 2.
Read more
Listen: DUP not adopting softer stance on Brexit – Foster
Milk price outlook for 2018 not encouraging – Dairy UK
Crowds flocked to the Eikon exhibition centre today for the 2017 RUAS winter fair.
Both northern and southern-bred stock packed the purpose-built showgrounds to put on one of the best shows of dairy stock on the island of Ireland.
Taking the helm on the day was US judge Hank Val Exel.
Hank has a worldwide reputation in the centre ring, having travelled the world judging at all major dairy events.
Having quickly made his way through the long list of classes, he eventually found his supreme interbreed champion in the form of Holstein cow Hilltara Lauthority Echo 2.
This five-year-old from Sam and John McCormick is no stranger to winning ways, having also secured the overall championship at this year’s Baileys cow competition.
Sired by Comestar Lauthority, she is out of homebred Hilltara Zenith Echo.
The third calver gave nearly 11,500kg in her last lactation, of which 821kg were milk solids. Echo is currently giving 42 litres having calved in June.
Maximum classified EX93, the judge said of her: “This is a beautiful silky black cow. She is a cow you love a lot of things about, her mammary system in particular, and I just love the volume that cow possesses.”
Reserve supreme
The Holstein breed also secured the reserve supreme spot with Priestland 5446 Shot J Rose.
Exhibited by the McLean family, Rose is sired by well-known Picston Shottle and out of Pierstein Talent Ruby. Classified VG89 as a second calver, the reserve supreme calved four weeks ago and is currently giving 60 litres a day.
This comes off the back of her first lactation where she produced 11,500kg of 4.56% fat and 3.33% protein.
Mr Val Exel had a lot to say about this young winner: “I really think a lot of this cow. Beautiful-frame cow.
“I give her advantage over my honourable mention because she’s just a little bit more overall dairyness, the quality of bone she has, a little bit more depth of four rib and I just love the mammary system she has.”
Interbreed
Closing off the top interbreed honours was the Jersey breed, which claimed the honourable mention with Clandeboye Tequila Cookie.
Jersey champion and supreme championship honourable mention Clandeboye Tequila Cookie.
The youngest of the line-up, this three-year-old was brought out by Clandeboye Estate, Bangor, Co Down.
No stranger to the show, this EX90 second calver was also awarded the jersey heifer in milk championship in 2016. The stylish young cow also secured the all-Britain title as a two-year-old.
Coming off a 5,700kg lactation of 5.3% fat, the stylish young cow is currently giving 32kg/day.
Sire behind Cookie is Tower Vue Prime Tequila, while the dam is Newmoor Sultan.
Interbreed heifer championship
Champion: Clonpaddin Holsteins - CLONPADDIN POLLY ET 2 ET.
Reserve Champion: Clonpaddin Holsteins - CLONPADDIN MCC CHRISI.
Honourable mention: Fleming Family - POTTERWALLS VALENTINO LADY.
Interbreed junior championship
Champion: McAufield, Conor - LISSUE DOORMAN FAME 3.
Reserve Champion: Fleming & Steel - POTTERSWALLS RUM MAGIC.
Honourable mention: Fleming Family - POTTERSWALLS PRIMERO EVENING 2.
Read more
Listen: DUP not adopting softer stance on Brexit – Foster
Milk price outlook for 2018 not encouraging – Dairy UK
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