Jersey cow wins all-breeds title

Press, 9 November 1984, Page 21

Jersey cow wins all-breeds title

A Jersey cow from the Pineleigh Stud of R. W. Frost and Son, Rangiora, won the Skellerup AllBreeds competition for dairy cows at the Canterbury Show yesterday. The winning cow was Pineleigh Verns Victoria, and it was the second year in succession a Pineleigh cow has won the award. The all-breeds competition is run in three sections — for cows three years old and over, two-year-old heifers, and yearling heifers. The competition is decided on combined points from each of the four breed judges.

A Friesian from J. J. and J. A. Geddes, Greenpark, took second place in the cow class and Legg and Company, Lakeside, was third with an Ayrshire. The all-breeds heifer section for two-year-olds was won by a Friesian, Tahora Star Laurie, exhibited by J. J. and J. A. Geddes, and a Friesian from J. G. Stewart, Wailuku, was second. Two heifers, an Ayrshire from C. H. Green and Son, Leeston,

and a Jersey from Clover Nook Farm, Leeston, were third equal.

Friesians from N. J. Sherriff and Sons, Temuka, filled first and third places in the all-breeds yearling heifer section and an Ayrshire, from Legg and Company, was second.

Another all-breeds competition for cows, the Market Milk Award, was won by J. J. and J. A. Geddes with Tahora Star Jewel, a 'Friesian. This competition was judged on production records and type.

Friesians from R. G. and K. T. Mclntosh, Springston, were second and third, and another Friesian from D. H. Leslie, Ohoka, was fourth.

The thirty-seventh Canterbury Holstein Friesian Oaks, for three-year-olds, was won by R. G. and K. T. Mclntosh, Riverbrae Label Tackle, Melrose Friesian Farms, Temuka, was second, and J. J. and J. A. Geddes, third. The Oaks is decided on production as a two-year-old and type.

Holstein Friesian One of the busiest judges at the show on Wednesday was Mr Des Simms, Auckland, who officiated in the Holstein Friesian section which attracted 353 entries, the largest individual cattle total. The Canterbury show is the biggest in New Zealand for Friesians. Mr Simms, who is a former field officer and classifier for the Holstein Association, said the Holstein Friesians were of an excellent standard.

In the last six weeks, Mr Simms had attended the Adelaide, Melbourne, and Waikato shows and judged at Manawatu. He said the standard at the Canterbury show was vastly superior to the other shows.

The outstanding classes included those for the yearling senior and junior heifers, three-year-olds, mature cows and vessels, said Mr Simms. Overall the best features of cattle in the show were their confirmation and vessels. The competition for

champion cow was very close between the top two animals and the decision could have gone either way, said Mr Simms. Jersey The champion and reserve champion cows were the two feature animals in the Jersey section, said the judge, Mr Neil Irwin, of Edendale. The champion cow, shown by R. W. Frost and Son, Rangiora, was a big animal with a good udder and had all the qualities looked for in a Jersey cow, said Mr Irwin. The reserve champion from T. I. and P. C. Gilbert, Ellesmere, was also' well uddered. Mr Irwin said there was some variation in the quality of the top and bottom placed cattle. Some at the lower end could have carried more condition. The winning animals in each class were of a good standard and would measure up to other shows, said Mr Irwin, who milks 160 Jerseys.

Ayrshire Good, clean boned cows were what Mr R. W. T. Hill, of Palmerston North, was looking for in this section, and although the number of entries was small he was pleased with the stock presented. They were in good order with good dairy quality, he said. He was particularly pleased with the champion cow, Lakeside Fern, owned by Legg and Co. This cow was chosen as North Island champion in the 1980-81 season, was the Royal champion in Christchurch in 1982, and is the new South Island champion this season. She was probably the only cow of this breed'to achieve all three honours. Mr Hill said the champion bull, Lakeside Cherry’s Last, owned by Legg and Co., was a reasonable specimen. Milking Shorthorn Mr L. N. Sandrey, of Ashburton, said there was a bigger entry in this section than previous years and he was pleased with the lineup.