The Ards herd of pedigree Holstein cattle is renowned for producing top-class breeding stock which are sold locally and throughout the UK.

Established in 1959, the 340-cow herd is owned by the Patton family and located just outside Newtownards.

All cows are pedigree registered and bred entirely to Holstein sires.

The management of the herd is a real family operation with Andrew and his father Wilson, mother Karen, uncle Wallace and cousin Daniel all actively involved in the business.

Andrew is passionate about cattle breeding and is the main driving force behind entering animals into premier shows.

Three animals will compete at this year’s RUAS Winter Fair, consisting of a second-calving cow and two heifers participating in the junior and intermediate heifer classes.

Herd background

Although all cows are pedigree registered, the farm is run on a commercial basis. Sires are selected to breed efficient, fertile cows with good yields, milk solids and health traits, along with good width and ease to suit any system.

The herd averages 9,500lon a 12-month rolling average, calving from 1 August to 30 April. Milk quality is currently 4.29% butterfat and 3.41% protein.

Cows are served to AI, with Andrew and Wilson carrying out inseminations to natural heats. Replacement heifers are bred to AI using a synchronisation programme based on CIDRs.

The best cows and heifers, with the highest profitable lifetime index (PLI) indices are flushed for embryo transfer. Pedigree bulls are sold annually through club sales and directly from the farm. The sale of freshly calved heifers is an important source of income for the herd, with plenty of repeat customers returning annually for additional stock.

Showing cattle

Andrew selects potential show animals from an early age, based on physical appearance. Some animals are also considered for showing based on their bloodline, mainly to highlight new herd genetics.

“I like show animals that exhibit good balance along with plenty of width and depth. They must be correct on feet and legs from an early age. Cows and heifers must also have a balanced, quality udder that is well attached,” says Andrew.

Show animals are pulled out from the main herd around one month prior to a show date. Andrew leads animals on a halter to prepare them for the show ring. Show animals are bedded on straw to help keep them clean. Washing and clipping is carried out closer to the show date.

During show preparations, show animals remain on the same diet as the main cow herd so that milk yield is unaffected.

“When showing cattle you have to have animals that are the most representative of your herd. There is no point in trying to sell breeding stock that are completely different from the majority of animals in the herd,” says Andrew.

For Andrew, the highlight of his show career has been winning reserve champion at Balmoral Show in 2015 with Ards Atwood Lou Ella, a heifer which he bred himself. This animal went on to secure the reserve champion in the Irish National Holstein Championship that same year.

Winter fair show team

The two heifers entered for this year’s RUAS Winter Fair were selected as show calves in 2017. Both animals were successful in the Northern Ireland calf show last year and went on to achieve success in the All-Britain calf show.

They calved in August 2018 and are now in production on the farm.

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