YOUNG BREEDERS
Colin Laird’s essay: Holstein Young Breeders and
their role in the Dairy Industry
I feel strongly that the Holstein Young Breeders are definitely the
future of the Dairy Industry – they are a shop window to any other dairy
enthusiast and an ideal stepping stone for anyone wanting to enter the
industry.
It is a fact that 31% of job vacancies within the dairy industry are hard to
fill due to the lack of skills. Talking from my own experience, anyone who
has been through the Young Breeders programme should be more than
capable of filling any post on a dairy farm. As the bank rates are the lowest
they have been for the past 300 years and the CAP payments are readily
available to young entrants, now is the ideal time to expand or improve
an existing business. In conjunction with population growth and demand
for milk, it would appear to be a good time to consider fixing the cost of
borrowing to provide capital for long-term investment projects. The likely
ABOVE Colin Laird who works at home with the
demise of the CAP payment by 2013 confirms that these resources should
Blythbridge herd secures the Presidents Medal
be taken advantage of whilst they are still readily available.
for Scotland South, their second winner in three Many opportunities arise through HYB to travel to other countries as
years. well as within the UK to events such
as rallies, stockjudging competitions,
a partner on the family farm,
farm visits, shows and conferences.
he manages the milking herd
Attendance at these events should be
including the flushing, breeding
encouraged to see how other systems
decisions and foot trimming. operate and to provide visitors with
Colin was National Holstein information to form their own ideas,
Show Champion Showman in perhaps to implement on their own
2000 and 2009 and with his farms. It also builds confidence for
Club, has been a part of the young members in for looking at and
winning Rally team four times. selecting stock, such as for purchasing.
Colin’s essay submission entitled The HYB can play a key role in
‘Holstein Young Breeders –
combating the bad press that seems
Their role in the Dairy Industry’
to be attracted on the Holstein breed,
is published on the right.
as some reports suggest the lifespan
Another finalist was South
of the breed is decreasing. The UK
Wales’ Iwan Thomas. Iwan has
continues to implement the highest
been farming with his family
level of animal welfare standards in the
since 1994 and they purchased
world. Young breeders must maintain
their first pedigree cow in 1995
this standard and continue improving
ABOVE The finalists, Izzy Whitaker, Colin
when they graded up the whole
it and should therefore embrace the
Laird and Iwan Thomas are congratulated by
herd. Iwan takes responsibility
information readily available through
Gordon Miller (Semex) and Ken Proctor.
for breeding decisions for the
media such as the HYB website. On a
family’s Paith herd as well as his
practical level, many skills can be learnt
own Bryn herd. He completed
from experience, such as selecting a calf at a young age, rearing it, understanding the
his degree in Agriculture at the
importance of its diet and behaviour, right through to preparing it and turning it out
University of Wales in 2006 and
at a show and these lifelong skills are learnt from knowledgeable peers.
alongside his work on the farm,
The HYB provides common ground and a great community spirit to encourage
Iwan works for BOCM Pauls as
socialising and the discussion of experiences. By sharing knowledge, we can help to
an account manager. Iwan has
keep improving the dairy industry.
held various roles in HYB as
well as YFC, where he is serving
family’s Knowlesmere Herd, Izzy
his second term as chairman
registered her own prefix Touchdown
and has been particularly
at the age of ten and now has ten
successful in linear assessment
registered animals which she has
competitions. This is Iwan’s
successfully shown at county shows.
second time as a finalist in the
Izzy graduated this summer and is now
President’s Medal.
working in the marketing department
The Western Club’s
of Cogent Breeding and relishes the
nomination Izzy Whittaker
challenges that this role brings. It has
completes the final line-up. Izzy
been a particularly good year for Izzy
has been involved with showing
as she was awarded Champion Handler
Holsteins for as long as she can
at the All Britain Calf Show in October.
remember and the breed is a
It is always with pride that we report
major influence on her social,
on the achievements of our Young
work and leisure environments.
Breeders and this year is no exception.
Congratulations to all the nominated
ABOVE The seven finalists of the Presidents Medal
Keenly committed to the
members in each of the competitions.
with Peter Arthur, Mike Miller and Phillip Davies.
THE JOURNAL FEBRUARY 2010 73
e01-10 President's Medal; Walk of Fame.indd; Italy trip.indd 3 26/01/2010 13:32:03
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