four of them multiple EX including the first, Alicia 15 EX92-3E
by Astre who first scored EX as a second calver. These siblings
also filled the tank – five were SP, five LP50 or more and with
some still on the yard, Alicia 12 could yet add more stars to her count. Is this
a record? Whilst there are 150 cows who score 11 stars or more with Holstein
still in use after putting a strong
UK, it is doubtful that any others have achieved this without the aid of ET.
base to the herd. Expected to
The youngest of Alicia 12’s brood is a 2000-born EX92-5E Hanover-Hill-R
provide frame and longevity,
Spirit daughter who was scored again in 2009 milking her seventh. She
current service sires also include
has already added to the count of EX Alicias with her impressive Canyon-
Regancrest Design, Drake,
Breeze Allen daughter Alicia 49 who scored a maximum 93 points in her
Frontrunner, Shottle, Bolton and
third lactation in December after milking 10,821 kg at 4.41% fat and 3.35%
rising star Woodmarsh Metalic,
protein and calving a Dolman heifer in October in under a year. It seems this
whilst the young bulls in the
family bodes well for the future.
pot are Aintree Norlee (Nugget
Another family that cannot escape mention is the Present family, which
family) and Denmire Molton
again came to Gelliddu in the ‘60’s. Ajax Present 2 BFE came from Claybury
(Marie family). Success was
origins and has given rise to 115 descendants with equally as impressive
achieved early through the UK
classification and production records as their herdmates.
sire testing scheme when three
Foreign blood entered the Welsh countryside at Cwnffrwd in the form of
Gelliddu daughters of Cogent,
Rose Vega Warden Penny, bought at Comely in 1993. After a set of mixed
then test bulls, Courier, Dictator
twins, Warden Penny left six viable daughters at Gelliddu. A natural EX93-
and Design were used in the
4E Tesk daughter was followed by two Luke’s and three Leader’s in 1997/8
company’s marketing material.
after flushing. Each of these also ended up scoring EX – an impressive 100%
All these test daughters and
hit rate for a modest investment resulting in another 11 star brood cow.
another by Picston Shaker, have
One daughter, Penny 4 by Leader, is still on the farm milking her ninth
since scored Excellent. More
and looking at Star Brood status herself whilst a granddaughter of the
recently, Aintree Newman (Morty
original cow joined our President’s Gornal herd in 2004 where the family is
x Victor Nugget Red EX92-4E
establishing itself well.
20*) was resident at Gelliddu
The other international investment made was after Bryan travelled to
and his daughters are calving in
Canada and had the opportunity to see members of the renowned Calbrett
as a great group of tidy heifers
Amanda family. When the opportunity arose, three full Outside sisters were
with neat udders and strength.
purchased from Threelimes. A flush from Skychief daughter Threelimes April
Gelliddu bulls are also sold off
VG86 3* off Calbrett Valiant April EX 17* resulted in six full sisters, four of
the yard. Pensaer (Penny) was
whom have been classified, all EX, three of them at Gelliddu. There are now
used before moving on and
six progeny at Gelliddu, including a VG87-2yr Igniter daughter. Her dam,
the family are impressed with
Threelimes Outside April 7 SP EX92-4yr, was nominated All Britain Third Calver
his early milking daughters.
2008 and this year, won the highest yielding cow in the Carmarthenshire
Recipient herd, Maesygarreg,
Herd Competition with a third lactation of 14,754kgs at 4.86%BF and 3.13%P,
are over the moon with their
1178kgs CFP.
daughters and others to benefit
Aside from these recent introductions, the Thomas family are cautious with
from Gelliddu genetics are
their available funds and only buy into families within their budget. Miss
Tryol (Gelliddu Challenger) and
America, Fawn, Gail, Meg and Kitty lines are all now present on the yard,
Gornal with a Talent son of their
but the bulk of Gelliddu success has been based on the best of their own
purchased Penny. Around 40
stock and confidence in UK breeding, which also extends to bulls. Young
heifers are also sold fresh every
sires have always played a significant
year which makes a difference to
role, including stock bulls selected
TOP LEFT Gelliddu youngstock
to run with bulling heifers as they
have to be reared away from the
by Allen, Conformer, Dolman,
yard and with a 20 mile round trip
Outside, Shottle and Tennyson are
to feed the groups, they are left to
already demonstrating the width
conceive as nature intended. The last and frame of their dams.
two bulls enjoying this responsibility
ABOVE Threelimes Outside April
were sons of the bought-in Bilsrow
Emerson Fantee EX92-3E (the Fawn)
7 EX92, one of three full sisters
family by Gibson and Igniter, both the
purchased to establish the Amanda
type of bull that is used on the cows.
family at Gelliddu.
Summershade Igniter especially has
LEFT Bilsrow Emerson Fantee
done a fantastic job at Gelliddu and is
EX92-3E has provided two of the
current Gelliddu stock bulls.
16 THE JOURNAL FEBRUARY 2010
e1-10 Gelliddu.indd 4 27/01/2010 19:50:05
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