All eyes were on Antrim Show on the 27th July, as the crème de la crème of Northern Ireland’s dairy cows gathered for the long-awaited final of the 2024 Thompsons/Northern Ireland Shows Association Dairy Cow Championship. The showgrounds at Shanes Castle always attract a large crowd of spectators and this year was no exception Ground conditions were perfect, despite the recent showery weather, and the sun shone overhead for the entire day, ensuring the ringside was packed for the afternoon showdown. Cows travelled from all four corners of the Province to compete in this year’s Final. All of the finalists had qualified as winners at their local shows, many of them as Breed and Interbreed Champions, so making it to the Final was itself a huge achievement.
The task of selecting the Dairy Cow Champion, and for the first time this year the Junior Dairy Champion, was down to the judge Mr Gary Jones, who runs the Jones Holstein Herd with his wife Izzy near Gorey in Co. Wexford. Gary expressed his thanks at being asked to judge this prestigious competition, and commended the exhibitors on their hard work in turning out such a fantastic line-up of cows for the final. With a field of twenty-two cows to choose from, it was no easy task for Gary to narrow his final selection down to just six cows and two heifers. Michael Taffe gave a detailed running commentary on every cow as they circled the ring, building suspense as Gary Jones tapped out his final line-up in reverse order, finishing with his Champion. Gary then gave an excellent commentary on his reasons for placing each animal.
After a very thorough examination, the 2024 Thompsons/NISA Dairy Cow Championship was awarded to the fourth calver, Mostragee Bomber Louise 3 EX94, from the Henry family’s Mostragee Herd, Stranocum. The judge described her as “a cow with superb dairy balance, texture and quality, tremendous mammary height and width, and great teat placement.” The Thompsons/NISA Dairy Cow title rounds off a very successful year for Louise after picking up the Holstein Championship and Dairy Interbreed titles at Balmoral Show, as well as the Dairy Interbreed title at Ballymoney. She also has excellent production figures to match, currently averaging 64 kg/day at 4.30% butterfat and 2.99% protein, having calved back in January. And completing a very successful day for Louise at Antrim, she also picked up the Best Udder and Exhibitor-bred Champion awards at the Championship Final.
Narrowly beaten into second place, the Reserve Champion award went to the fifth calver, Potterswalls Bontino Dawn EX95, from the Fleming family’s Potterswalls Herd, Seaforde. The judge described this cow as having “great balance, locomotion, and superb mammary height and width.” The 2023 Thompson/NISA Dairy Cow Champion almost succeeded in defending her title, after qualifying as the Interbreed Champion at Newry Show. Calved since March, she is currently yielding 40kg/day.
The prize for Second Reserve Champion went to the third calver, Brookroad Satrin 185 EX92, from the Beechview Herd of George and Jason Booth, Stewartstown. The Armagh Show Interbreed Champion was runner-up in the 4 year-old class at Balmoral Show this year, and impressed the judge at Antrim with her “superb length, stature, udder quality, and all-round dairy character.” She is currently yielding 55 kg/day, having calved back in February.
Fourth prize at the Championship Final went to the Fleming family’s Potterswalls Herd, Seaforde, with their second calver, Potterswalls Victorious Season VG89. The Lurgan Show Interbreed Champion won the second calver class and picked up the Jersey Honourable Mention award at Balmoral Show this year. Calved since February she is currently averaging 30 kg/day at 5.9% butterfat and 4% protein.
Fifth place in the final line-up went to another second calver, Clandeboye Everest Sarah VG88, from the Clandeboye Estate, Bangor. The Antrim Show Honourable Mention was Reserve Champion Jersey at last year’s RUAS Winter Fair. Just three weeks calved, she is currently averaging 38 kg/day at 5.90% butterfat and 3.89% protein.
Sixth place in the line-up again went to the Fleming family’s Potterswalls Herd, Seaforde, this time with their fourth calver, Potterswalls Impression Lady 6 EX94. Armagh’s Jersey Champion and Reserve Interbreed Champion finished second in her class at Balmoral this year behind the eventual champion, and was part of the winning Interbreed Group of Three. Calved since December, she is currently averaging 32 kg/day.
The inaugural Junior Dairy Champion award was picked up by Priestland 7047 Legend Charlotte VG87, from the McLean family’s Priestland Herd, Bushmills. The judge was greatly impressed by this young cow’s “fantastic bone quality, openness of rib, stature, dairy balance and excellent mammary.” Calved since October, the Ballymena qualifier is currently averaging 40kg/day.
Pipped at the post for the Junior award, the prize for Reserve Junior Dairy Champion went to Frocess Lambda Carlin D VG87, from Philip and Simon Haffey’s Glasson Holstein Herd, Portadown. The judge described this young cow as having “all-round dairy quality, with excellent mammary height and wide, and superb teat placement.” Three months calved, the Armagh qualifier is currently averaging 38kg/day.
Thompsons would like to thank all exhibitors for the time, effort and stockmanship they have shown throughout this year’s Championship, both at the Final and through the qualifying rounds. Without their hard work and dedication in bringing their cows to the local shows, and to the Final, the competition would not enjoy the success and prestige that it does. In recognition of this hard work, all cows present at the final will be rewarded with a voucher for Thompsons feed. We would also like to thank the NISA members who helped with organizing the 2024 Championship, in particular, those from Antrim Show who helped make the Final a great success once again.
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