Supreme champion perfect end to buoyant Dairy Show

MORE than 6,000 farmers and suppliers came together at the Dairy Show last week to support each other, share ideas and exhibit top-class livestock.

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Despite a backdrop of falling milk prices, the mood at the Bath & West Showground was buoyant, with producers sharing regenerative farming tips in the LandAlive seminars, learning from industry experts in the AgriForum theatre and exploring new technology from more than 300 exhibitors.

After two days of calf and cow competition, the culmination of the show was picking out the best of the best to crown the supreme interbreed championship.

Claiming top spot with a perfect judges’ score of 50 was Oliver Reed with his three-year-old Holstein cow Davlea Chief Lulu 3. Sired by Stan-tons Chief, this impressive cow calved in June and is yielding 60 litres of milk per day.

Oliver, whose family milk 150 cows through three Lely robots in Blackborough near Cullompton, also won the reserve interbreed calf competition with Beaconhill Arrow Kelly. Coupled with his first-ever supreme win at the Dairy Show, celebrations were therefore guaranteed.

In reserve spot was James Evans with his three-year-old Jersey cow Mydrim Tequilas Spring Tracy. This homebred cow by Tower Vue Prime Tequila produced twins in June, is yielding 40 litres per day, and is back in-calf to River Valley Victorious. Following a string of successes at the Royal Welsh, Pembrokeshire and national Jersey shows, she'll be heading to the Welsh Dairy Show next.