An “ultimate style of dairy cow” perfectly suited for any commercial business was the “runaway winner” for the £1,000 Super Cow award at the climax of AgriScot.
Having topped “without doubt the greatest line-up of cows” that judge Edward Griffiths, of the Coachgate Herd, Sheffield, has ever had the pleasure of judging during the Holstein breed championship, Peak Goldwyn Rhapsody took the ultimate accolade for Yasmin Bradbury and Bill Nadin, of Fernydale Farm, Derbyshire.
The veteran EX96-3 rated seven-year-old cow, by Braedale Goldwyn, produced her fifth calf in June and is now giving 55kg on a daily basis.
“She’s a wonderful, mature type of cow that is just so true to type,” said Mr Griffiths.
He judged with precision, providing the ringside with thorough explanations of each of his class decisions, and brought a wealth of industry knowledge to the centre of the main ring as a champion and breeder of each of the Holstein, Jersey and Ayrshire breeds.
Mr Griffiths said he was aware AgriScot is widely recognized as “the best dairy show in the country”, and the entry forward proved that on the day.
Reflecting on his Super Cow, he said: “For me, this is everybody’s ideal type of cow.
“She has strength in her front end, she has a fabulous breed character in her head and neck, has strength through her spine and has a nice wide, clean rump on her.”
Added to this she had “great legs and feet” and walked with an udder that could hardly offer a greater capacity.
“She is zipped right to the top with milk and she’s bang on form today,” he said.
Peak Goldwyn Rhapsody, fitted and shown in the ring for Yasmin and Bill by Steve McLoughlin, from Ireland, stands as the 13th generation of EX-rated females in bloodlines leading back to foundation cow Butterfly Audrey Posch.
During the show season she was champion of champions at Dairy Expo, second at the Great Yorkshire and third at the UK Dairy Day.
Reserve for the Super Cow title was another mature cow, which Mr Griffiths said had won her breed title “by a mile”.
This was the Hunter family’s Jersey champion Clydevalley Governor Flora, from West Tarbrax Farm, Shotts.
Shown in the ring by Karen Hunter, the September-calved six-year-old cow lifted the Super Heifer award at AgriScot in 2011 the same year in which she was interbreed heifer in milk champion at the Royal Highland.
She has progressed to stand as champion at the Highland in 2012 and 2013 and was also previously breed champion at AgriScot last year.
The EX93 fourth calver, sired by Griffens Governor, has given 27,000kg to date and is currently giving 43kg per day.
She was home-bred out of Clydevalley Julian Flora (EX95), which was junior champion at the Royal Highland for three consecutive years from 2009 to 2011, and breed champion at the Highland this year.
Just shy of the overall Super Cow placings, but taking the championship in the Ayrshire section home to Cuthill Towers, Milnathort, was Arthur and Sue Lawrie’s five-year-old senior cow Cuthill Towers White Patch 11.
This EX91-rated cow was produced behind the scenes at Ingliston by David Lawrie and shown in the main ring by brother James.
White Patch, which has given more than 23,000kg to date, was on only her second ever show outing, having stood fourth in her class at AgriScot last year.
The daughter of Lagace Modem produced her fourth calf in July and is giving 44kg per day.
With the Lawries’ AgriScot success not stopping there, the Cuthill Towers float was also homeward bound with the reserve Red and White champion onboard.
This was Cuthill Towers Mystic Molly 7, a VG86 rated daughter of Magy’s Lustrum.
Earlier in the proceedings Mr Griffiths found his Super Heifer in the Black and White heifer champion from the Sahara and Wiltor Holsteins of Church Farm, Wilcrick, Monmouthshire.
This was Ortongrange Snowman Alysia, a 2-year-old ET heifer by Flevo Genetics Snowman, which is owned by David and Claire Jones.
“She won through very easily from a very strong class of Holsteins during the morning,” said Mr Griffiths.
He said his choice for the award was “a close call” between the top two heifer champions, but the Holstein shone out with her “unbelievable cleanness of bone”.
He said of the Super Heifer: “She is a lovely feminine Holstein with a fantastic udder which is just full of milk. She offers a really great frame and just presents so much potential.”
Rated VG87, this heifer, which is a grand-daughter of the 2004 Royal Winter Fair reserve grand champion Stanlee Storm Allison (EX94), came to AgriScot having stood second at the Royal Welsh and third at the UK Dairy Day.
“She is improving and maturing every time she comes out,” said David Jones, who handled her in the show ring.
This scopey heifer, which calved in May, is giving 40 litres per day.
She was originally bred by Richard Martin, out of Comestar Alysia Goldwyn (EX94).
Following not far in her wake was the Jersey champion co-owned between Tony Burton and Robert and Elaine Butterfield, of Linghaw Farm, Bentham, in Lancaster.
Their winner Saxown Tequila Alexandra 6, which is also rated VG87, stood heifer champion at Gargrave Show, in August, and was first in her class at the UK Dairy Day.
“There was little to separate these top two heifer champions,” said Mr Griffiths.
Giving the Jersey the pull for reserve, he explained: “This lovely heifer really is very much on form.
“She is a very natural heifer offering great breed character, and again she is also full of milk.
“When she walks around the ring she carries her milk very high and wide,” he added.
The 2-year-old daughter of Tower Vue Prime Tequila, which was shown in the ring by Elaine, was bred by the Saxby Family, of Garden Cottage, Clitheroe, in Lancashire.
She is giving 20kg per day.
Results were as follow.
Heifers
Super Heifer: Sahara and Wiltor Holsteins, Church Farm, Wilcrick, Caldicot, Monmouthshire, with Ortongrange Snowman Alysia. Super Heifer reserve: W Burton and R&E Butterfield, Linghaw Farm, Bentham, Lancaster, with Saxown Tequila Alexandra 6.
Ayrshire: G Lawrie & Sons, Brieryside Farm, Monkton, Prestwick, with Brieryside Pearlstone Swan. Reserve: J & G Lawrie, Brieryside Farm, Monkton, Prestwick, with Brieryside Pearlstone Trimova.
Holstein: Sahara & Wiltor Holsteins, Church Farm, Wilcrick, Caldicot, Monmouthshire, with the Super Heifer, Ortongrange Snowman Alysia. Reserve: PD & BS Lawrence Ltd, Holme Farm, Meathop Road, Grange-over-Sands, Cumbria, with Holmland Lavanguard Pledge.
Jersey: W Burton and R & E Butterfield, Linghaw Farm, Bentham, Lancaster, with the reserve Super Heifer, Saxown Tequila Alexandra 6. Reserve: J Doherty and S Whittaker, Ivy House Farm, Weston Under Resastle, Shewsbury, Shropshire, with Bluegrass Vindications Harp.
British Red and White: Brian Weatherup & Partners, Parkend Farm, Crossgates, Fife, with Parkend Director Starlet Red. Reserve: John Adamson & Sons, Swaites Farm, Pettinain, Lanark, with Swaites Mavis 6.
Cows
Super Cow: YK Bradbury, Fernydale Farm, Earl Sterndale, Buxton, Derbyshire, with Peak Goldwyn Rhapsody. Super Cow reserve: the Hunter family, West Tarbrax Farm, Burnbrae Road, Shotts, Lanarkshire, with Clydevalley Governor Flora.
Ayrshire: Arthur and Sue Lawrie, Cuthill Towers, Milnathort, with Cuthill Towers White Patch 11. Reserve: L Davidson & Sons, Halmyre, Haugh of Urr, Castle Douglas, Kirkcudbright, with Halmyre Urr Louise 260.
Holstein: YK Bradbury, Fernydale Farm, Earl Sterndale, Buxton, Derbyshire, with the Super Cow, Peak Goldwyn Rhapsody. Reserve: Sahara & Wiltor Holsteins, Church Farm, Wilcrick, Caldicot, Monmouthshire, with Sahara Goldwyn Sara 2.
Jersey: the Hunter family, West Tarbrax Farm, Burnbrae Road, Shotts, Lanarkshire, with the reserve Super Cow, Clydevalley Governor Flora. Reserve: ME & AW Wright, Kennels Farm, Tixall, Stafford, with Fourcrosses Ringmaster Pepper.
British Red and White: Yates & Lawrie, Eastford Holsteins, East Logan Farm, Castle Douglas, Kirkcudbright, with Dilandy Debonair Tabitha Red. Reserve: Arthur and Sue Lawrie, Cuthill Towers, Milnathort, Kinross, with Cuthill Towers Mystic Molly 7.