Thomas family on top at Welsh Dairy Show

Elwyn, Cheryl and daughter Anwen Thomas, Kidwelly, took their first ever senior championship at the Welsh Dairy Show, Carmarthen scoring the much sought after 40 out of 40 from the judging panel and making it their second major autumn dairy show championship this year.

Earlier this month this fourth-calved Holstein, Gatrog Bolton Jingles, was named reserve breed champion at the South West Dairy Show to its herd mate Normead Baxter Kansas, but under the judging of Shrewsbury-based Mick Gould, the two females changed places at Carmarthen.

Out of Gatrog Merchant Jingles 8, it is from five generations of ‘excellent’ and ‘very good’ cows. Home-bred, it calved in August with its fourth and is giving 55kg daily. It was also crowned champion of champions at Llandyfaelog Show.

The Thomas family also took the champion group of three title, where the champion and reserve stood with Gatrog Nickalodean Pansy.

Raising a score of 37 from the panel was the day’s reserve and champion Jersey, Bluegrass Sams Dreaming from the Wilson family, Cardigan, on its first time out. Two months fresh after its third calf, it is giving 32kg/day and also took best udder in the breed.

It was purchased privately as an in-calf heifer from the Daw family, Hertford who have bred 15 of the Wilsons’ Tregibby herd’s Jersey residents.

Reserve Jersey champion was Gatrog Tequila Dream, a heifer in-milk from Anwen Thomas, Kidwelly.

In the Ayrshires, pick of the day was Willholme Ristourn Mary 2 from Philip and Stuart Williams, Haverfordwest. Calved with her third in April, it is giving 34kg/day at 4.29 per cent butterfat and 3.48 per cent protein. It was second in its class at this year’s Royal Welsh Show and reserve breed champion at Pembrokeshire.

The same exhibitors also took reserve with Sandyford Reality Punch, which is jointly owned with James Lawrie of Cuthill Towers Ayrshires,
Kinross.

Making the journey over the bridge from Yeovil was Guernsey champion, Lucky Cow Lavender from Richard Norman who milks 30 of the breed.

Having had its second calf in August, it is giving 36kg at 6.2 per cent butterfat and 3.34 per cent protein. Last year it was the breed’s heifer champion at North Somerset. Mr Norman

also took the reserve ticket with Bourton Fiona 13.

Making it five consecutive Brown Swiss championships at Carmarthen for locals Mark and Sian Williams was Elite WR Lovely. A third calver, it last calved in May 2016 as it has been on a flushing programme but is due in February with twins. In its three lactations it has given a staggering 65 tonnes and at this year’s Royal Welsh it took the production inspection
inter-breed championship. In 2016 at the same show, it stood reserve in the Fitzhugh pairs with Elite Blooming Mair, the day’s reserve.