Page 130 - Shorthorn Magazine

JUDGE: SION THOMAS
The Dairy Show I 4th October 2023
Firstly, I’d like to thank the South West Dairy Show for asking me to judge this fantastic show. It was a true honour. I’d like to thank the stewards for their swift work and exhibitors for turning their cattle out to perfection, it was pleasing to see a good number exhibited and quality throughout the classes.
Churchroyd Bronte Wildeyes 63 VG88
Maiden Heifer – My first maiden heifer was cleaner, finer and walked with more style around the ring. She had a long neck blending well into a hard top line and the main advantage over my second heifer was the depth of the fore rib that followed through. She also paraded well with a better leg set than my sweet balanced heifer in second.
In Calf Heifer – Placed first in the in calf heifer class was a Shaunlea Gangster daughter which oozed dairyness throughout. She was longer and deeper in the body than my heifer in second which paraded very well on her legs and feet.
Heifer in Milk – Topping the
heifer in milk class was a fresh Churchroyd Koala daughter which showed greater dairyness and a tremendous mammary system. The main advantage over my heifer in second was the way she carried her neat rear udder, higher and wider than than my deep bodied heifer
in second. The heifer in second had
a beautiful frame and an excellent rump structure, I’m sure she will be a picture when calved again.
Junior Cow - Three forward in an excellent class of second calver
cows. The cow in first caught my eye as she walked in being a tall upstanding cow with excellent dairy qualities. Deeper rib and cleaner boned than
my two lower placed cows, with a welded on youthful udder with superb teat placement. Second over third, a stronger loin and a level hook to pin setting parading on a more correct set of legs and feet.
Churchoryd Fay VG87
Intermediate Cow – By far the best class of the day with two Churchroyd Wildcard daughters. My cow in first
had everything I was looking for in a third calver. She was balanced, sharp shoulders with plenty of power in the front end that followed through. The main advantage on my decision was the fore and rear udder attachment with greater front to back teat spread due to the length of the udder.
Senior Cow – A competitive class with three forward. Cow in first had the a dvantage with greater dairy strength and a deeper fore rib which blended nicely into the bottom line. Main advantage was the fore udder attachment and the depth of udder. Second over third was the overall dairyness but taking nothing away from a sweet, balanced more compact cow in third.
Championship – What a great selection of dairy shorthorn heifers and cows. My champion was the intermediate cow.
A worthy champion being faultless in every way and I’m sure every breeder would dream of having such cow in
the herd. I tapped out the junior cow Reserve Champion over my Honourable Mention senior cow for the style and bloom of udder which carried higher and wider. I’d like to thank the South West Dairy Show team for the invitation to judge and for super hospitality.
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