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HERDS INSPECTION COMPETITION:
June 2011: Judging of Holstein herds already underway
Judging of Holstein NI’s annual herds inspection competition is underway, with club secretary, John Martin, reporting an increased level of entries for the Ulster Bank sponsored competition.
“The herds inspection competition is growing from strength-to-strength, and I am delighted at the number of new entrants taking part in this year’s competition.
“Retired breeder, Wilbert Rankin from Nutt’s Corner near Crumlin, started judging entries in the junior section this weekend. “
Wilbert Rankin needs no introduction in Holstein breeding circles, having been associated with the black and white dairy breed since the mid 1960’s. He owned the 100-cow Ballysculty herd prior to his retirement in 1999, and was the recipient of Holstein UK’s Distinguished Achievement Award in 2010.
Mr Rankin was chairman of the NI Holstein Friesian Breeders’ Club in 1983/85 when the breed celebrated its 75th Anniversary. He is also a past council member of the British Friesian Society, and was president of Holstein UK in 2007.
“I am looking forward to my whistle-stop tour of Northern Ireland over the next few days,” said Wilbert Rankin.
Holstein NI chairman, Alan Cleland, said:”We are indebted to Ulster Bank for its continued sponsorship of this hotly contested competition. This year we have attracted a lot of new entrants, and I’m sure the judges will visit many excellent herds with outstanding individual animals.”
“Thanks also to our judges, Wilbert Rankin and Richard Whelan, who have kindly agreed to give up their time to judge our 2011 competition.”
The senior and premier sections of the herds inspection competition will be judged by Richard Whelan from the Lumville herd, Clonard, County Meath, during the week commencing Monday, June 13.
John Martin concluded:”As in previous years, cows, heifers, progeny and cow family groups from the junior section are eligible to compete for the overall awards. The winners in the junior section will be selected by Wilbert Rankin, and the top-placed herd, cows and heifers in this section will be re-visited by Richard Whelan to be judged alongside the senior and premier herd entrants.”
The presentation of awards will take place on Friday, June 24, and will coincide with two farm visits organised by Holstein NI, to take place at the Wallace family’s Abercorn herd and the Bingham family’s Tailormaid herd near Nutt’s Corner in County Antrim. See next week’s Farming Life for further information.
Mapping their route around the Province to visit the juinior entrants in Holstein NI's Herds Inspection Competition, are judge, Wilbert Rankin, Nutt's Corner, and club secretary, John Martin.
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MAY 2011: Entry forms available for Holstein herds competition sponsored by Ulster Bank
Entry forms are now available for Holstein NI’s annual Herds Inspection Competition, generously sponsored by Ulster Bank.
Club secretary, John Martin, said:”The competition schedule and entry forms are available to download from the club’s website, and the closing date for entries is strictly Wednesday, June 1.
Launching Holstein NI's 2011 Herds Inspection Competition are, from left: club chairman, Alan Cleland; secretary, John Martin; and sponsor, David George, Ulster Bank.
”Everyone who took part in last year’s competition will automatically be re-entered unless they advise me otherwise. Breeders who want to amend their entry or withdraw from the competition should notify me on or before the closing date. We also look forward to welcoming entries from new members and those who haven’t participated in the competition for several years.”
Holstein NI chairman, Alan Cleland, added:”This competition is growing from strength-to-strength and we are indebted to Ulster Bank for its continued commitment.”
Ulster Bank awards will be presented to the best small, medium and large herds in the premier, senior and junior herd categories. There are also prizes for the best individual heifer, junior cow and senior cow, as well as awards for the best exhibitor-bred cow and heifer.
There are also categories for the best bull progeny group and the best cow family group.
Due to the level of entries in the last number of years a second judge was introduced in 2009 to inspect herds in the junior section of the competition. The junior herds will be visited during the week commencing Monday, June 6, and judging is in the capable hands of retired breeder and former society president, Wilbert Rankin from Nutt’s Corner, Crumlin.
The senior and premier sections of the 2011 herds inspection competition will be judged by Richard Whelan, owner of the Lumville herd based at Clonard in County Meath. Judging will take place the week commencing Monday, June 13.
John Martin concluded:”As in previous years, cows, heifers, progeny and cow family groups from the junior section are eligible to compete for the overall awards. The winners in the junior section will be selected by Wilbert Rankin, and the top-placed herd, cows and heifers in this section will be re-visited by Richard Whelan to be judged alongside the senior and premier herd entrants.”
The entry fee is £20 per herd, and bull progeny and cow family groups can be entered at an additional cost of £10 each. All herds must be officially milk recorded.
The presentation of awards will take place on Friday, June 24, and will coincide with two farm visits organised by Holstein NI, to take place at the Wallace family’s Abercorn herd and the Bingham family’s Tailormaid herd near Nutt’s Corner in County Antrim.
Click here to download an entry form, or contact club secretary, John Martin on mobile: 07711 041128.
Holstein NI is staging the Causeway Classic Elite Sale III in association with Genus ABS and United Feeds, at the Pedigree Sales Arena, Moira, on Wednesday, August 10. Last year’s event was a phenomenal success with prices reaching a ceiling of 10,200gns, and 22 lots changing hands to average £3,882 per head. Holstein NI wants to continue to promote the very best of NI genetics and consignors are reminded that the closing date for entries is fast approaching. All heifer calves must be bred from at least three generations of VG or EX dams, and will be inspected prior to the event to ensure they satisfy the selection criteria. Interested vendors should contact auctioneer, Michael Taaffe, immediately on 00353 86 2545132.
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June 2010 - Holstein herds under scrutiny
Judging of Holstein NI’s annual herds inspection competition gets underway next week.
Holstein NI secretary, John Martin, has reported an increased entry for the Ulster Bank sponsored competition. “We have been overwhelmed at the number of new entries received for this year’s competition.
Holstein NI chairman, John Patterson, and junior herd judge, Robert Wallace, Templepatrick, plan their route around the Province to judge the entrants in the 2010 Ulster Bank Herds Inspection Competition.
Picture: Steven McAuley
“Retired dairy farmer and Holstein breeder, Robert Wallace from Templepatrick will judge the junior herds, while the senior and premier herds will be placed by Mick Gould, owner of the Woodmarsh herd in Shropshire.
“As in previous years, cows, heifers, progeny and cow family groups from the junior section are eligible to compete for the overall awards. The junior herd entrants will be judged next week, and the winners in this section will be re-visited the following week and judged alongside the senior and premier herds by Mr Gould.”
Robert Wallace founded the noted Alderview prefix in 1982 with foundation stock from the Wallace family’s Abercorn herd. He is a past chairman of the NI Holstein Friesian Club, and was actively involved in showing for 45 years. The highlight of Robert Wallace’s showing career was in 1992 when his home-bred cow, Alderview Midnight Rose 25, won the Holstein Friesian championship at Balmoral Show. He was one of the first breeders in the Province to receive Holstein UK’s prestigious Master Breeder Award (2002).
“I am looking forward to travelling around the countryside to visit the herds in the junior section of Holstein NI’s annual herds inspection competition. It is an honour and a privilege to be entrusted with this important task,” said Robert Wallace, who featured regularly in the prize list in the competition’s small herds section. Mr Wallace’s Rose Bud family was the recipient of the cow family award in 1997, 1998 and 2000.
John Patterson, chairman, Holstein NI said:”We are indebted to Ulster Bank for its continued sponsorship of this widely contested competition. Thanks also to our judges, Robert Wallace and Mick Gould, who have kindly agreed to give up their time and judge the competition.”
The senior and premier sections of the herds inspection competition will be judged by Mick Gould, owner of the Woodmarsh herd based in Shropshire. Judging will take place the week commencing Monday, June 14.
John Martin added:”This year the best cow section has been subdivided to include junior cows and senior cows. The junior cow section will include second and third calvers, while the senior cow section is open to cows which have produced four or more calves.”
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HERDS INSPECTION COMPETITION 2010:
This competition is again being sponsored by the Ulster Bank with the junior section judged by Mr Robert Wallace week commencing 7th June 2010 and the senior/premier sections judged by Mr Mick Gould, Woodmarsh herd the week commencing 14th June 2010. All herds which entered the competition last year will be automatically entered into this year’s competition. Changes / withdrawals for this year should be notified to the secretary by the closing date.
Launching the 2010 Holstein HI herds inspection competition, are, from left: last year's winner, Sam McCormick, and daughter, Kate, Hilltara herd, Bangor; John Patterson, chairman; John Martin, secretary; Denis O'Neill, committee member; and Ann Caldwell, Ulster Bank, sponsor. Picture: Columba O'Hare/Fotacol.
In each section awards will be made for:
- Best small herd.
- Best medium herd.
- Best large herd.
- Best individual junior cow (2nd and 3rd calvers)
- Best individual senior cow (4 or more calves)
- Best individual heifer.
- Best individual cow (Exhibitor Bred).
- Best individual heifer (Exhibitor Bred).
We will also have an overall award for
- The best cows and heifers
- Best bull progeny group (a minimum of; small herd 4 progeny, medium herd 5 progeny, large herd 6 progeny).
- Best cow family group - three generations or Dam and Two Daughters.
- Best Herd overall which will go forward to represent Northern Ireland in the National Pedigree Premier Herd Competition providing that Holstein UK criteria is met.
Premier Herd – Will consist of those herds placed in each of the small, medium and large sections from last year plus the three winners from the Senior Herd category.
Senior Herd – Will consist of all other Senior Herds plus the three winners from the Junior herd section last year. Lowest placed Premier herds from last year may be entered in the Senior section. Lowest placed senior herds last year may be entered in the Junior section.
Junior Herd – Will consist of remaining herds in Junior section and new herds entering the competition.
Progeny Group - Herds may enter one or more bull progeny groups, consisting of a minimum of four to six daughters (depending on herd category) having had at least one calf. Herd size category can only be determined at the closing date for entries.
Cow Family Group (three generation's class) - Families should cover not less than three generations, at least one animal in each direct line a descendant of the oldest. For this award a Dam and Two Daughters can also be entered.
All herds must be officially milk recorded. Herds must be located either in NI or adjacent border counties
Premier and Senior herds sections - at least half the herd must be pedigree or SR animals
Exhibitor Bred Heifer or Cow - An animal is defined as exhibitor bred if the animal is born on the Exhibitors farm and registered with the Exhibitors prefix An Exhibitor Bred cow / heifer will be eligible for the best cow / heifer and exhibitor bred cow / heifer award.
Your herd must be entered for the herd's inspection in order to qualify for any of the other awards.
To enable more efficient judging of the competition we would ask that each progeny or family group on the day of the judging are held separate from the main herd and that pedigree certificates along with the most recent milk recording statement are available for the stewards inspection.
To comply with health and safety legislation the judge will not be asked to inspect a herd if a stock bull is present.
Stewards will be responsible for checking milk recording statement and pedigree certificates. Please ensure all documentation is at hand for inspection.
To show our appreciation of the sponsor, entrants or representatives of entrants must attend the awards presentation.
*** Closing date: Strictly Saturday 29th May 2010 ***
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