Winter Herd Competition 2014
A very successful Winter Herd Competition was held in February 2014 with a total of fifteen herds competing. Thanks must go to David Williams for giving up his time to judge the competition and also to Richard Francis for organising once again. A big thank you also goes to the sponsors Norton & Brooksbank, Cooper & Tanner/Frome Livestock Auctioneers, Richard Francis, Gwilym Richards and Bill Handy.
Results
Group of six heifers – Semex Trophy
C & S Rogers (Longmoor)
Group of six cows – John Veltom Trophy
B & P Hann (Cedcott)
Champion heifer – Stanley Pottow Trophy
C & S Rogers – Longmoor Vekis Elsa
Champion cow – Tithe Barn Trophy
C B Cooper Partnership – Noremead Rockafella Present
Spring Visit
Holstein South & Wiltshire’s Spring visit this year was to the Royal Farms at Windsor where twenty eight members were introduced to and welcomed by Andrew Buckland, the Herd Manager. The Jersey herd are housed in a new building which was erected five years ago with cubicles, a slatted floor for slurry storage and three robot milkers. There has been a noticeable health improvement of the herd since moving into the new building. The one hundred and seventy cows graze three times per day for a period of one hour and then return to the building. AI is used most of the time with a Sussex bull being used as a sweeper.
Jeff Daw proposed a vote of thanks to Andrew for a most interesting morning.
After the farm visit, some members returned home, but the remaining, plus some friends (once again back to twenty eight), made their way to Windsor Racecourse for the afternoon meeting where we were entertained in a hospitality suite. It was a thoroughly enjoyable day with some members returning home with a few extra pounds in their pockets!
Richard Walker
