By Meyrick Brown

PUTTING political arguments, downward trends in milk prices and bTB eradication aside the well sponsored Welsh Dairy Show, held at Carmarthen, focused breeders attention on the presentation and exceptional quality of the superb pedigree cows, heifers and calves being exhibited.

Completing a remarkable double were Holstein breeders Richard and Bethan Thomas, their daughter Nia and son, Iwan of Llancwm farm, Llandyfaelog who, just a fortnight previously had taken top honours at the South West Dairy Show in Somerset, and then to win supreme again with their junior cow in milk, Moorshard Dude Paradise.

Commenting on this highlight of their breeding careers with the Churchvale herd Richard said “It doesn’t come better than this!”

Taking reserve supreme were Mark and Sian Williams of Clomendy, Llangain with their Brown Swiss breed champion, the in milk third calver Elite W R Lovely.

Officials: President – Brian Thomas, President elect – Mansel Raymond, Chairman and Chief steward – Lynn S Davies, vice Chairman – Colin Evans, Assistant Chief steward – Robert Evans.

Championship awards:

AYRSHIRE – P and S Williams (Willhome Ristourn Crummie).

BROWN SWISS – M and S Williams (Elite WR Lovely).

DAIRY SHORTHORN – S V B and E A Thomas (Drisgol Dinnie 13).

GUERNSEY – M and C Moody (Latifa Princess Leia).

HOLSTEIN – R and B Thomas ((Moorshard Dude Paradise).

JERSEY – A H Wilson & Son (Tregibby Tequilla Panama).

Breed awards-

Holstein: heifers, in calf – E M, E and I Morgan, in milk, born before April 2014 – S P and S R Davies & Sons); born after March 2014 and champion – A H Wilson & Son. Cows, in milk after second calf – R and B Thomas (champion), in milk after third calf – E and C Thomas, senior cow in milk – A H Wilson & Son. Group of three – A H Wilson & Son.

Dairy Shorthorn: heifers, in calf – L V B and E A Thomas, in milk – M and C Moody. Cows in milk after second calf – M and C Moody, Senior cow in milk – L V B and E A Thomas (champion).

Jersey: heifers in calf – D and H Cox, in milk – J Evans. Cows in milk after second calf – A H Wilson & Son, Cows in milk after third calf – A H Wilson & Son (champion), senior cow in milk – E M, E and I Morgan, group of three – D and H Cox.

Ayrshire: heifers in milk – G R Thomas. Cows in milk after second calf – P and S Williams, in milk after third calf – P and S Williams (champion), senior cow in milk – G R Thomas, group of three – P and S Williams.

Brown Swiss: heifers, in calf – M and S Williams, in milk – R and B Thomas. Cows, in milk after second calf – M and S Williams, in milk after third calf – M and S Williams (champion), senior cow in milk – R E and J S Jones, group of three – M and S Williams.

Special classes:

Supreme champion heifer – A H Wilson & Son.

Inter breed group of three – Jersey, pair – Jersey.

Production and Inspection – M and S Williams.

Cow progeny – A H Wilson & Son.

Bull progeny – D and H Cox.

Premier breeder – D and H Cox.

Calves: Holstein – born after March 2016 – E M, E and I Morgan, born between 1 October 2015-31 March 2016 – S Powell (champion), born between1 April 2015 – 30 September 2015 – A H Wilson & Son. Coloured – born after 1 April 2016 – A and C Davies, born between 1 October 2015-31 March 2016 – G R Thomas (champion), born between 1 April 2015 – 30 September 2015 – J Evans.

Calf handlers: under 12 years of age – Enfys Wheeler, 12-16 years of age – Sophie Powell, 17-21 years of age – Ifan Wilson (champion).

Crops: most points – Gareth Richards.

Trade stands: indoors – Kiwikit Ltd, outdoors – deLaval.