Page 94 - Demo

UK Dairy Expo Dairy Shorthorn
8th December 2022
It is always a pleasure to be invited to officiate at a major dairy showcase and I was delighted
to have been selected to judge the Dairy Shorthorns at the 2023 UK Dairy Expo. All breeds
were very well represented, and I was happy to see a good show in numbers with exceptional
quality in the Dairy Shorthorn section.
JUDGE: DUNCAN HUNTER
When the first class of maiden
heifers entered the ring, I knew
we would be in for a good show
as all the young heifers exhibited
really impressed me. Two heifers
immediately caught my eye. I led
the class with a superb individual,
Mossrigg Barrington Iris 18, a heifer
with so much presence, who was
particularly well balanced with
strength and width throughout,
great bone quality and had superb
legs and feet. Following on in
second place was the very dairy
and correct Shaunlea Geri 28. These
two were exactly what any judge
could wish for to stand at the top of
the line to enthuse you for a good
judging experience for the rest of
the show! I later proceeded to tap
them out as Junior Champion and
Reserve respectively. Later in the
evening, with a public vote online
to determine the supreme Junior
Champion of the show, Mossrigg
Barrington Iris 18 was announced as
the overall champion ahead of some
outstanding individuals from other
breeds to end a great evening for the
Fisher family.
On day two the quality continued
with very impressive milking animals
throughout the day exhibiting
tremendous breed character. The
2-year-old class was represented
with heifers who all had admiral
qualities and my winning heifer had
Shorthorn
94
Champion - Churchroyd Bronte Wildeyes 63 VG88
superb potential to develop into
something special. It was her dairy
frame and clean bone which easily
took her to the top of the line.
The winning four-year-old was a
young cow who would not fail to
impress any dairy cow enthusiast.
Churchroyd Bronte Wildeyes 63
was a cow I have seen before, and
I greatly admire for her overall
balance, dairy quality throughout,
correctness through her rump,
freedom of movement and an
excellent mammary system. When
a cow like this is exhibited before
any judge, they can be assured that
a superb breed champion is on
the cards! Another very impressive
individual won the senior cow class.
Shaunlea Geri 13 is an obvious
great production cow with so many
admiral traits.
When it came to the breed
championship, I had no hesitation
in tapping out that great young cow
from the Collins family, Churchroyd
Bronte Wildeyes 63 as my Champion,
with the senior cow from Shaun
Dixon and Grace Holiday as Reserve
Champion.
It was an absolute pleasure to have
had the opportunity to judge the
Dairy Shorthorn breed. I appreciate
great cows of any breed, and I
certainly was not disappointed
with the animals shown before me
at the 2023 UK Dairy Expo. I would
also like to express my thanks to
your breeders for their politeness
and friendship and who conducted
themselves so professionally and
took the time to promote their herds
and the Dairy Shorthorn breed.