MEET YOUR NEW JOURNAL EDITOR
Katie Davidson
There’s a new face in town for The Journal and, by her own admission, Katie Davidson is fi lling some big shoes, but she’s relishing the challenge. Chrissie Long gets to grip with what’s behind the bubbly personality and feisty red locks
Get to know Katie in two minutes: What’s always in the fridge? Tonic water. How do you relax?
Ideally spend time on my horse, Chalky, or out on the family farm. I should say spending quality time with my partner Drew, but that normally involves working with his Limousin cattle!
Best fi lm? The Holiday.
Best cow you’ve ever shown? Holstein – Richaven Radar Squaw and Ayrshire - Halmyre Urr Louise.
Fantasy famous fi ve for dinner?
Robbie Williams, Brendon O’Carroll (Mrs Brown), Bradley Wiggins, Sharon Osbourne and Davina McCall.
Tell us something many wouldn’t know.... Being ginger was a big secret until I was about three as I had no hair until then!
So Katie, for those of you who don’t know you, give The Journal readers a quick rundown of your own pedigree? I’m a farmer’s daughter and have grown up on the family farm at Halmyre, Haugh-of-Urr, Castle Douglas, with our pedigree Ayrshire herd. I fi rst started showing dairy cattle in 2002, a little later than many young enthusiasts do, but prior to that I was concentrating hard on my ponies.
Since then I’ve shown our own cows at various national and local shows, culminating in two breed championships at the Royal Highland. I’ve also shown for a number of other breeders including Richaven, Hillhead, Errolston and Gwynnog. From a career point of view, prior to working for Mooandbaa, I worked for Harrison and Hetherington as their pedigree dairy assistant alongside auctioneer Glyn Lucas and then World Wide Sires
20 THE JOURNAL OCTOBER 2014
as a genetic consultant for their WMS mating programme, so have a fairly strong grasp of the fundamentals of what makes an excellent dairy cow, irrespective of breed and show ring success. My role currently sees me based from home where I’m responsible for a range of pedigree dairy, beef and sheep clients for PR and marketing agency Mooandbaa, as well as a contributor for Farming Eye.
Many will have seen you on the halter of dairy cattle....what are your biggest show accolades to date?
Winning the Ayrshire showmanship at the All Britain All Breeds Calf Show in 2005 and 2008 has to be up there. I’ve also won breed championships at the Dairy Event and in 2013 lead the Dairy Event interbreed champion, both for Richaven. I’ve also won the Highland Show interbreed championship in 2012, a year that will never be forgotten. I’ve also had the pleasure of leading Richaven Shottle Squaw to win her class at the National Holstein Show 2009 before her glittering career in the show ring which culminated in being the super cow at Agri Scot in 2012.
You’re Holstein herd may be small, but what’s your aspiration for your Skyfall herd?
The plan has always been to run just a few cows and of course I’d love to breed a show heifer. I’ve purchased Richaven Goldwyn May in partnership with Connor Morley from Southern Ireland who now has two daughters by Million and Glauco
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