It was a day to remember for the Wilson family, Cumbria, when their six-year-old cow Evening Sidekick Jennifer was tapped out as SuperCow champion for a second consecutive year. This marks the first time the same cow has claimed the championship for two years running and adds to an already impressive track record, after it claimed the supreme championship at all three of the UK's major dairy shows last year.
READ NOW: Quality on show at Stars of the Future
The home-bred EX95-classified cow calved its fourth in June and was shown giving 70 litres daily. Part of the Wilson's 450-cow Holstein herd, the win also marked a fourth consecutive championship win at AgriScot for the family.
Reserve
Reserve SuperCow was the Ayrshire champion, Allstar Ringer Joybell, a three-year-old cow from Evie Tomlinson, Cardigan. Home-bred Joybell was classified VG88 as a two-year-old, and calved in September with its second. Its previous wins this year include UK Dairy Day heifer and supreme Ayrshire champion, All Britain and Ireland photographic competition champion and reserve inter-breed champion at the Welsh Dairy Show, where it stood supreme heifer in 2023.
Judge Iain McLean of Priestland Farm, County Antrim, said his SuperCow champion and reserve were two world-class cows, although he had no hesitation on tapping out his winner which he described as a phenomenal animal.
READ NOW: Expansion plan put in action at Shropshire family dairy farm
Reserve Holstein was EX97-classified Dulais Silver Lustre from the Lustre Syndicate, a syndicate comprising the Howni, Iscaway, Logan, Shambles and Wiltor herds which bought the September-2017 born cow for 40,000gns from the Welsh Sensation sale in 2023.
Ayrshire
Taking reserve in the Ayrshire section was Swaites Promise 9, an EX90-classified home-bred cow from John Adamson and Sons, Pettinain.
Topping the Red and White section was fourth calver, Nethervalley Awesome Rosanne Red, from A.H. and F.M. Wilson and the team at Tregibby Farm, Cardigan. The EX94-classified cow was bought from Robbie Scott's Nethervalley herd, Ayr, as a year-old heifer. This year it also stood Red and White champion at UK Dairy Expo, and was Royal Welsh reserve Holstein champion and Welsh Dairy show reserve champion.
Reserve Red and White cow was VG87-classifed Parkend Kimball Starlet Red from Robbie Scott, Ayr.
Champion Jersey was Logan Chrome Caribbean, a home-bred second calver from Brian and Michael Yates, Castle Douglas. March-calved, it was shown giving 30 litres and is one of a handful of Jerseys the family keeps alongside their 280-cow Holstein and Red and White herd.
Jersey
Reserve Jersey went to Layward Divinely Victorious, a March 2020-born cow from Kerry Scott, Mealsgate.
READ NOW: Scrupulous biosecurity is a must in wake of new bird flu cases
In the any other breeds section, it was the Dairy Shorthorn, Oxton Ric Wildeyes 970 from Shaun Dixon, Co Durham, which took the red ticket. The October 2018-born cow is classified EX91. Reserve any other breed went to the Brown Swiss, Kedar Faust Esprit, a home-bred January 2020-born cow from the Lochhead family, Dumfries.
SuperHeifer
This year's SuperHeifer heifer championship ticket went to the Holstein heifer champion, Boclair Lambda Hope 18. Bred by brothers John and David Brewster, Lanark, the VG88-classified two-year-old is now shared with Ian Smith and Sons, Lanark, who bought a half share in January this year. Led by David Gray, it was shown giving 38 litres and was praised by the judge for its strong lines and openness of rib. It has previously won at the National Holstein Show in September and stood reserve overall heifer at this summer's Royal Highland Show.
Reserve SuperHeifer went to Brian and Michael Yates' home-bred Red and White heifer champion, Logan Latenite Shania Red. December-calved, the VG87-classified two-year-old has not yet been beaten in its class, standing supreme at UK Dairy Day, champion at the South West Scotland Dairy Show and winning the Red and White section at this year's Royal Highland Show.
Results
SuperCow (Judge, I. McLean, Northern Ireland) Supreme, Evening Holsteins, Evening Sidekick Jennifer; reserve, E. Tomlinson, Allstar Ringer Joybell.
SuperHeifer (I.McLean) Sup., I.A. Smith and Sons and Boclair Hoslteins, Boclair Lambda Hope 18 (Holstein) res., B. and M. Yates, Logan Latenite Shania Red (Red and White).
Holstein (I.McLean) Sup., Evening Holsteins, Evening Sidekick Jennifer; res., The Lustre Syndicate, Dulais Silver Lustre; sup. heifer, I.A. Smith and Sons and Boclair Holsteins, Boclair Lambda Hope 18; res. heifer, J. Kennedy and Son, Clydeview Fuel Esmeralda.
Ayrshire (I.McLean) Sup., E. Tomlinson, Allstar Ringer Joybell; res., J. Adamson and Sons, Swaites Promise 9; sup. heifer, M. Bryson and Son, Middle Shamrock KM2; res. heifer, G.G. Baynes and Son, Marleycote Mary Rose 8.
Any other breeds (I.McLean) Sup., S. Dixon, Oxton Ric Wildeyes 970 (Dairy Shorthorn); res., T. Lochhead and Sons, Kedar Faust Esprit (Brown Swiss) sup. heifer, Lightening Holsteins, J. Wilson and A. Clough, Kedar Aldo Snogging (Brown Swiss); res. heifer, B. Lawson and Sons, Lisnamulligan Peeress Rose 7 (Dairy Shorthorn).
Red and White (I.McLean) Sup., A.H. and F.M. Wilson, Nethervalley Awesome Rosanne Red; res., R. and M. Scott, Parkend Kimball Starlet Red; sup. heifer, B. and M. Yates, Logan Latenite Shania Red (Red and White); res. heifer, M. Bryson and Son, Parkend Starlet Squared.
Jersey (I.McLean) Sup., B. and M. Yates, Logan Chrome Caribbean; res., K. Scott, Layward Divinely Victorious; sup. heifer, S. and S. Murray, Princesstillstar Chocochip Interest; res. heifer, R. and M. Scott, Nethervalley Oliver Regina.