BEST UDDER AWARD UP FOR GRABS

Fancy wins Championship at Clogher Valley

The Final of the McLarnon Feeds / NISA Dairy Cow Championship 2008 at Clogher Valley proved to be a spectacular event with a line up of cows that the judge Mr David Tomlinson described as "a fantastic class of quality animals".

Before selecting his prize winners, Mr Tomlinson conveyed "his pleasure and honour to judge such a prestigious event". He then tapped out Glaslough Charles Fancy EX93, owned by Ivan and Louise Robinson from Ballygowan, as his Champion. He described the Champion as "an excellent example of the modern dairy cow, very well balanced and in beautiful condition".

He also selected this cow for the new award of Best Udder and commented "she has one of the best udders I have ever seen!" This can definitely be backed up as she was awarded the maximum udder score of 97 when she was classified at the farm this week. Ivan and Louise brought this third lactation cow to the show ring with impressive performance to back up her good looks, as she has given over 13,600 litres of milk in her current lactation.

After choosing his Champion, Mr Tomlinson, turned to the remaining line up of dairy animals to pick his Reserve Champion. This honour went to TS Haffey & Sons Kilvergan Herd in Lurgan, with Kilvergan Stormatic Erle 2. This cow also won the prize of Exhibitor Bred Champion. She is from the famous Erle family and has excellent yield and milk quality figures with her 1st lactation completed at an impressive 4.78% butterfat!

Next in the prizes was John A Patterson & Sons, Ballginniff Jasper White Rose. This animal travelled from Crumlin to pick up Second Reserve Champion 2008. The judge felt that "although this heifer lacks the maturity of the other Champions, that she will surely have a great future as a show cow, as she has lots of dairyness and potential".

Overall it was an exceptional show with viewers around the ring truly spoiled with the quality of dairy animals on view. Harold Stevenson, McLarnon Feeds, thanked and congratulated all the exhibitors for the commitment and excellent stockmanship shown throughout the championship.

Best Udder	Champion & Best Udder
Reserve & Exhibitor Bred Champion	2nd Reserve Champion
McLarnon Sales Team
Click on a photo to see it enlarged

To view previous Dary Cow Champions Click here.