Page 44 - Shorthorn Magazine

JUDGE: SARAH SLADE
North East Shorthorn Breeders Association Herd Competition Results 2022
It was a real privilege to be asked to judge the North East Herds and NMR Competitions and to spend a few glorious summer days travelling around herds from Northumberland to Nottinghamshire.
The hospitality and welcome we had from everyone was second to none
– thank you to everyone, it was so much appreciated! However, what really stood out was the quality of the cattle in all those herds – a real credit to breeders.
Our first stop was the high open country of Northumberland and Paul and Ann Harrison’s magnificent Breckney herd. The Shorthorns have to compete with tall robust Holsteins on a simple grass and self-fed silage system. The cattle are powerful, milky, well-balanced cows. The Goldie family was well represented and among several outstanding cattle was Breckney Goldie 23, a standout winner in the in-calf junior cow class for her power, balance
and udder quality. However, as we progressed to the youngstock, it
was the maiden heifer, Breckney Goldie 42, sired by Marleycote Triple Blend that set the standard (in a
very large and competitive class) that proved impossible to beat. This eye-catching heifer exuded quality throughout – a heifer I would happily have taken home!
From the open expanses of Northumberland we wended
across the North Pennines down
to Weardale to Dennis and
Margaret Craig’s New Park herd,
the home also of Victoria and Michael Bowman’s Parkhouse
herd. It is very encouraging to see the establishment of a new herd already showing consistency of type. Although Dennis no longer sells his milk, we saw the herd just before they were milked – with the milk being used on farm. It was a beautiful sight to see the shorthorns
waiting in the stone walled collecting yard and heartening that the dairying link with the past continues. Both herds showed consistency and quality with robust, hardy cattle that live on steep banks. The maiden heifer, New Park Barbara 8, a very correct roan heifer, stood out, as
did Parkhouse Pansy 9, a Glenbrook Queens Prince daughter.
At Deirdre Throup’s the following morning, we saw the last of
her herd before it is sold. The Blackwood Park Butternut-sired Ellerghyll Pauline 4 (one of three
expecting her 4th, had depth and capacity in spades. Bilbro Tulip 9, an in-calf heifer, also exhibited that same capacity and stretch over the rib.
Continuing our journey around Yorkshire, we arrived at Oxton to see this renowned, long-established herd. This was the largest of the herds with around 200 cows – a
real picture grazing the parkland. Although it was not so easy to pick out the cows when they were all sheltering under the trees out of the
Paulines still in the herd) was a stylish, clean boned heifer showing tremendous rib, a worthy second
in this competitive class. Sadly we were on a tight schedule and from Ellerghyll we travelled to Thirsk
to Martin Jackson’s Bilbro herd.
This was a small herd but with the full age range of cattle. Martin’s enthusiasm for his cattle brimmed over, and justly so with some milky, upstanding cattle. The Tulip family particularly impressed here. Bilbro Tulip 2, by Churchroyd Wild Card and
New Park and Parkhouse Heifers
sun! It was particularly interesting to see the impact of American breeding with cows by Oceanbrae Logic’s Plato being tall, stretchy and clean over the shoulder. We saw many groups of heifers, both
in the sheds and grazing. The consistency and quality throughout the youngstock was particularly impressive. The senior cow, Oxton Reagan, was an excellent example of all that shorthorns are about –
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