Page 50 - Shorthorn Magazine

JUDGE: WILLIE WHITEFORD
North West Region of Dairy Shorthorns – Herd Competition
Having accepted the invitation to Judge the North West Shorthorn Competition, my first visit was to Mac Findlay’s Redhouse herd in the small herd category. I was surprised to see a herd of Normande cattle alongside his Shorthorn, all very well suited to his farming system of robotic milking and 12hr grazing paddock fields in beautiful scenery.
His Shorthorn herd comprised a small group of well selected families, Rose, Vi ,Wren and Jill bloodlines. I saw very smart twin heifers, Jill 2 and 3, whose sire is Oxton Finnan. Mother and Daughter class entry was a good pair from the Wren Family.
Next we moved on to the Harrison’s Crossrigg herd to view two calves born in 2023. Crossrigg Fever Pauline & Crossrigg Jazz Alice, both very stylish calves, sorry that the girls were at school so weren’t able to show them as they wished. We left Crossriggs to go to David Jacksons Tahuna herd, but just along the road we met the legendary Fred Harrison, he invited us in for a cuppa which we enjoyed and then made our way to Davids. David took us around his cattle, his Bull entry was Moorriggs Stanley, and his purebred heifer entry a very stylish red heifer, Tahuna Lady Rose 9. David and myself did a bit of reminiscing and up came the name of Wilson Moffit.
Our next stop was at Armstrongs Moorriggs, who are in the large herd category, we had lunch with Phil
& Caroline, Ann being gluten free particularly enjoyed Mrs Armstrongs gluten free Chocolate buns and is delighted that she was given the recipe! After lunch we went out to see his herd and also see David Jacksons mother & daughter entry that are housed here. Dam Tahuna Millness Rosebud 2, a powerful dairy cow,
and her daughter Rosebud 3 was
very dairy-like. Phil showed us round his herd we looked the young stock first, all looking well, then moved
on to see the milking ones mixed in with his Fresian herd. The heifer in milk was Ellerghyll Pauline from the Throup Family. The twice calved cow Moorriggs Lacey, very good cow. Bull Progeny entry was Winbrook Claridge
we saw a large group of very sound cattle. Dam & Daughter were from the Wildeyes Family, both a great kind of milky shorthorns.
Next we made our way to David Dents Winbrook herd in the small herds category, but darkness was beginning to fall and David had 3 entries in the heifer in milk class Empress, Peers- Rose & Kathleen, being milked by
a near neighbour, he hoped they
will sell well at the next Shorthorn sale. We viewed all the young stock groups with light fading, then saw
the young ones in the buildings. I
also noticed an Ayrshire in calf heifer with back breeding to Bankend Wren! Homeward bound first day completed.
Day 2: A drizzly wet morning just a short journey from home to Jonathan Fishers Mossrigg Herd, in the small herds category, his Shorthorns were separated from the rest of the herd. The Pigmy Goats took Ann’s eye when we arrived!! Great start, seeing his heifer in milk Mossrigg Lady Barrington Iris 16, upstanding and very much
like doing the business. His second calver Mossrigg Barrington Duchess is outstanding, full of dairy quality. Bull Progeny Bushmills Jazz this bull seems
Grace Moscrop collecting award for best calf born in 2023’
to be breeding well among Shorthorn Breeders. Cow on inspection Mossrigg Barrington Iris 8, a great cow. Dam and daughter, the Iris family two pairs Iris 3 & 8 and Iris 8 & 13, two great pairs from only three animals, we then went to view the young stock
all looking well, my choice of in calf heifer Mossrigg Barrington Iris18 by Bushmills Jazz. Calf born in 2023 Iris by Amber Firefox.
Mossrigg Barrington Duchess 15
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Shorthorn