RESERVE CHAMPION EASTERN WINNER: Whinchat herd, Andrew Birkle For the second year running Andrew Birkle’s Whinchat herd has
fi nished reserve champion in the Premier Herd. The herd - which refl ects Andrew’s preference of tall, capacious cows - has created success and gained many admirers over the years. Andrew feels the Premier Herd competition raises the profi le of the herd having hosted several visits as a result of the herd’s success last year. “This has been a great way of benefi tting from the recognition we miss from not exhibiting in the show ring.”
It is very much a family-run business at Whinchat with Andrew and son Leo managing the cows while Andrew’s wife Mimi rears the calves and their other son Sean runs a 2500 pig unit. There is also one employee who helps across the farm with general work.
Number of cows: 204; Milk yield: 10,200kg at 3.8%bf and 3.15%p; Number of staff: Five Breeding goals: To breed balanced cows with good udders, feet and legs – they have to be able to walk well to cope with grazing during the summer. Andrew has always preferred tall cows, but regardless of stature they have to have strength and be well balanced; Families: Farrah, Savoire Fare, Pamela and Sara. Best cow currently on the farm: Whinchat Shottle Savoire Fare, classifi ed EX95 in her fi fth lactation she is currently eight weeks fresh and on top form. This cow has a fantastic pedigree with nine generations of EX cows averaging 94 points. She has two bulling heifers which are looking promising for the future; Sire which has worked best in the herd: Shottle has worked really well and is still being used as he has and is breeding great cows; Sire selection: Number one is high type, but also looking at the pedigree, particularly lately when outcross sires have been required; Current AI Sires: Shottle, Seaver, Fever, Zelgadis, Artie for red cows and outcrosses Dorcy and Monument Impression; Achievements: Winning Master Breeder in 2011, breeding the 2005 Great Yorkshire Show champion Whinchat Gibson Lulu and Whinchat Fred Kelly, who was honourable mention at the National Holstein Show; Number of times the herd has been a regional winner: Four times coming reserve in 2013 and this year; Herd classifi cation: 78 EX, 84 VG and 26 GP averaging 88.1 points for 188 scored.
HONOURABLE MENTION WESTERN WINNER: Richaven herd, Richard Bown
The Richaven prefi x was established by Richard Bown in 1993 and, with his passion for quality cows, he has bred an elite herd. In recent years the Richaven herd has had success in the show ring, but this quality is refl ected right through the herd. Focus has always been on cow families and Richard prides himself on the depth of strong pedigrees in the herd. He now has the sixteenth generation of Very Good or Excellent cows in Richaven Wisconsin Papoose Red who just classifi ed VG88 as a heifer. Alongside the dairy herd Richard and his family run a livery yard, contracting and haylage business. Richard and son Dan are assisted in day to day running of all enterprises by two other full time employees.
Number of cows: 79; Milk yield: 10,698kg at 4.18%bf and 3.18%p; Number of staff: Four Breeding goals: To breed an elite herd of cows with combined pedigrees and conformation; Families: Squaw is the main family in the herd with 35% of the herd related to this line; Best cow currently on the farm: Richaven Raider Squaw has done it all - breeding, showing, production and sales. For the past two years she has been the highest earner on the farm with embryos and progeny always in demand. She is breeding consistently with her four milking daughters in the herd classifi ed VG or EX. She is going to leave her legacy in the herd. Sire which has worked best in the herd: Goldwyn; Sire selection: They have to have a sire stack that will breed the cow I aim for with wide chests, deep open ribs, good feet and legs and great udders; Current AI Sires: Explode, Doorman, Glauco, Shadow, Goldwyn, Atwood, Saviour, Resolute, Smokin, Sid and Richaven Squawbuck; Achievements: Winning the Premier Herd in 2009; Richaven Shottle Squaw winning Supercow in 2011, having four homebred three-year old cows receive All Britain nominations and winning the section all three years. Also, winning All Britain mature cow with Richaven Goldwyn Adrienne; Number of times the herd has been a regional winner: Twice on the only two occasions entered; Herd classifi cation: Every cow in their second lactation or older is classifi ed VG or EX with only three GP84 heifers.
22 THE JOURNAL DECEMBER 2014
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