Unfortunately towards the end of 2016 we had two high producing cows leave the 550 cow herd in Coverdale. However both had been efficient milk producers over many lactations.

 

Gilderbeck Outside Rachel 3 (941) was one of 78 Comestar Outside daughters we registered in the herd. Sired by one of the most influential bulls in our herd over the last 20 years Rachel was a medium sized, robust cow with substance who largely went unnoticed but averaged 10964kg over 10 lactations. Her best lactation was her 5th when she gave 13,683kg at 3.78% fat and 2.94% protein in 353 days while she accumulated a lifetime yield of 113,015kg. She scored VG87 as a 6th calver and was herself from a Ricecrest Marshall dam and her grand dam was a Hanoverhill Inspiration daughter. 

 

Rachel has also been a relatively prolific heifer breeder, with six natural daughters registered from her by Talent, Baxter, Bolton, Langdon and Alliance. Without doubt to date her best daughter is 2347, Gildersbeck Bolton Rachel VG89, who is just finishing her 4th lactation, she has four 11,000kg plus records and calved an Iota daughter last January having since yielded 11,049kg at 3.92% fat and 3.22% protein. 

 

This is taking nothing away from her stablemate, Gildersbeck Bam Gina VG88, who would be one of the first UK daughters of Braedale Bam Bam, from his first crop born in 2005. Gina is from a 13,000kg plus Ectavia dam and herself has a lifetime yield of 109,994kg over a mere eight lactations at an average of 4.27% fat and 3.34% protein. Her best record was in an extended 6th lactation when she amassed 16,859kg in 477 days, while unfortunately she has only had two daughters over the eight calvings by Mr Sam and Drake. 

 

Both cows epitomise our beliefs at Gildersbeck, where we strive for productive efficiency.