Holstein South Wales
The first event of the year for the South Wales Club was the annual dinner held at the Ashburnham Hotel in Burry Port. Indeed the Ashburnham was packed to the rafters with even a waiting list to attend the Dinner! In attendance at the dinner were the HUK President and his wife, Mr & Mrs Jimmy Wilson, along with the guest speaker for the evening, Mr Wyn Gruffydd, BBC Commentator. While we were waiting for the Carvery we were entertained by a magician, courtesy of the Club’s Chairman and his wife, Mr & Mrs Simon Davies, Castellhyfryd. We were treated to a superb meal which was followed by excellent entertainment by the band, Newshan. It was nice to hear from President Mr Jimmy Wilson, that although that he had travelled the length and breadth of the country to various dinners, he was impressed by the number of young members in attendance. The future is looking bright for South Wales!
Also at the dinner the results for the Herd Production Awards were presented:
Class A
Large Herd – The Herdwise Trophy was awarded to E & M Jones & Sons, Feithy Holsteins.
Medium Herd – The Trefigin Trophy was awarded to W P & E G Williams, Walliswood Holsteins
Small Herd – The Crewilpool Trophy was awarded to A H & F M Wilson, Tregibby Holsteins.
Class B – Highest Yielding Junior Cow – Emeraldgrove Trophy
E & M Jones & Sons – Feithy ER Grey
Class C – Highest Yielding Senior Cow – Alema Trophy
E & M Jones & Sons – Feithy Mr Sam Lilac
Class D – Highest Yielding Heifer – Abbeygrove Trophy
N & R Roberts – Dulais Goldwyn Ghost
Class E – Churchvale A.I Competition – Highest Yielding Cow
S P & S R Davies – Castellhyfryd Manat Rebecca
Monthly Holstein South Wales Show and Sale – January
On Wednesday 29 January it was the Club’s Monthly Show and Sale at Carmarthen Mart. The show took place first and Judge Elwyn Thomas (Gatrog) had his work cut out! The first class of cows provided the overall Champion with Ramshill Bolton Flora 103 VG86 from Thomas Partners, Cornhwrdd. She was a third generation VG second calver giving 36kgs of milk daily. She later sold for £2,700 to the Plas Herd in Llangynog. The Reserve Champion was a heifer, Caer Shottle Flora 128 VG85, presented by Caerlleon Farms Ltd, was giving 32kgs of milk daily and she followed the Champion Cow to join the Plas Herd for £2,550. Also amongst the leading prices was Wilson, Tregibby with three heifers over £2,000. Holmland Jordan Karen went to the Mountjoy herd, Clarbeston Road for £2,350, Clayden Bluesky Rowena joined the Marshall herd, Llanpumsaint at £2,300 and Tregibby Razor Agnes went to Linton Farm, Little Newcastle for £2,100. Also over 2k were Caer Toystory Mair 61 GP81 at £2,050 from Caerlleon Farms, Hafael Westside Jan 3 at £2,050 from Hughes, Gilfachafael, Highmast More Beechnut GP82 at £2,020 from Shepherd, Garnwen and Gelliddu Cindy 22 and Radnor Shottle Magor 2 both at £2,000 presented by Thomas, Gelliddu and Cilfeithy Farm Services respectively. The show entries averaged £2,009 throughout.
On Tuesday 18 February at Whitland Rugby Club, a panel of local ladies gathered together to give their background and to answer questions put forward by the Club members (brave ladies!)
The panel consisted of Miss Meinir Jones, presenter of the Welsh Farming programme ‘Ffermio,’ Mrs Susan Richards of Cwrtmalle Farm, Mrs Julie Thomas of Penygraig Farm, and Mrs Sian Williams of HSBC Bank. The ladies willingly answered the questions and provided us with answers to questions ranging from the CAP reforms to their most embarrassing moments! A great night was had and thank you for a great turn out.
Monthly Holstein South Wales Show and Sale – February
The monthly club show and sale for Holstein South Wales bulked up the entries for the last week of the month and a good quality throughout. Show honors went to Robert and Diane Evans, Derimoelion with Deri Topshot Diana by Woodmarsh Topshot and out of the 12,135kgs Aliann Shottle Diana VG87. Bidders at ringside must have been in agreement with the judge for the day, Chris Thomas of the Mountjoy herd, Haverfordwest as she sold for the top price of the day £3,150 purchased by Gatrog Holsteins. Reserve Champion Heifer came from Tregibby Holsteins and was also a super young heifer by End-Road Beacon and bred from 3 successive generations of dams calssified Excellent. She was Tregibby Rosina Beacon and sold for £3,000 going to the Penyback herd of R T Richards, Llandyfaelog.
Ten further heifers made over £2,000 with the pick of those being Caer Design Flora 130 from Caerlleon Farms, Llanboidy fetching £2,600 also to Penyback Holsteins and a second Deri heifer, Deri Capricious 18 made £2,500 and was purchased by the judge, Chris Thomas (MountJoy).
Top prices
Lot 59, Deri Topshot Diana (Overall Show Champion), £3,150 to Evans (Derimoelion)
Lot 65, Tregibby Rosina Beacon (Reserve Champion Heifer), £3,000 to Wilson (Tregibby)
Lot 64, Caer Design Flora 130 (2nd Junior Heifer), £2,600 to Caerlleon Farms Ltd
Lot 61, Deri Capricious (2nd Senior Heifer), £2,500 to Evans (Derimoelion)
Lot 60, Deri Topshot Cha (3rd Senior Heifer), £2,300 to Evans (Derimoelion)
Lot 54, Cathen Pilot Celyn, £2,250 to Lewis (Fronun)
Lot 58, Llancourt Preference Bequest 2, £2150 to Rowlands & Lewis, (Caerforiog)
Lot 63, Caer Inquirer Lovely 65 GP83 (3rd Junior Heifer), £2,120 to Caerlleon Farms
Lot 57, Llancourt Preference Princess, £2,100 to Rowlands & Lewis (Caerforiog)
Lot 55, Hafesp End-Story Elizabeth, £2,020 to Evans (Noddfa)
