The Dairy Show sponsored by Dairy Crest, Genus ABS, DairyCo and Pearce Seeds Ltd was hailed as a great success at the Bath and West Showground on Wednesday 5th October, with over 6200 visitors on the day and a superb show of the finest Dairy Cattle.
The Supreme Championship went to Bluegrass Heritages Lovely Lady, a 5 year old Jersey owned by Mr W JP Wilson from Dyfed in Wales. With reserve going to last year’s Supreme Champion the Ayrshire Haresfoot Simply Red Pamela.
The Interbreed Heifer Championship was won by the Ayrshire Castern Tornado, owned by C&L Window from Hunnington, West Midlands.
The South West Herdsperson of the Year Award, sponsored by ADF Milking was won by Emma Martin from Bodmin in Cornwall who milks 1000 cows, with the runner up John and Pam Taylor who look after Glastonbury Festival founder Michael Eavis’s herd at Pilton, Somerset. The awards were presented by Sir Henry Elwes, President of the Royal Bath and West of England Society.
The Dairy Industry Dinner held on the eve of the show with 370 guests from across the dairy industry hosted the announcement of the Dairy Industry Award, sponsored by Dairy Crest and Lloyds TSB Agriculture which went to John Allen for his outstanding contribution to the industry. John has worked within agriculture his whole life and has almost three decades experience of consultancy. He is currently a managing partner for Kite Consulting, a business that he set up. Under the direction of John, Kite now provides business services to the entire food supply chain and is widely recognised as a specialist in the UK dairy industry. John is well known throughout the industry and regularly takes a leading role in dairy conferences and events. He is also highly respected as a dairy spokesperson and commentator. John works across the UK and the EU as well as having undertaken projects in the US and Eastern Europe. In addition to dairy farming, his areas of expertise include strategic planning, carbon reduction project management, supply chain management and change management. John works closely with some of the UK’s leading farmers as well as major food and dairy processors and retailers.
The Dairy Show attracts top class trade stands from all parts of the industry, with the very latest equipment and technologies in the farming industry on show. The Show Tradestand awards went to Cow Care Systems for the Best Outside Stand and the Best Inside Stand went to GEA Farm Technologies, South West Dairy Services, Partners and Dealers . Judge Ollie Allen, Show Manager of Devon County Show commented “Cow Care Systems had a small stand but made use of all the space and the gentlemen manning the stand was informative and helpful to all customers”
The Lecture Theatre held topical seminars throughout the day which were enjoyed by many. The new Lely Robotic Milking display also went down a storm with visitors who were able to watch cows being milked by robots during the Show.
Plans and ideas are already underway for next year’s Show which will take place 3rd October 2012.
For further information and pictures please Julie Kitching 01749 822235