RIVERDANE HOLSTEINS A PEDIGREE PARADISE
I
wake to an early alarm call and spring out of bed. I’m excited because today I’m heading a short distance north to Cheshire to visit Mark and Sue Nutsford’s Riverdane herd.
With the Nutsfords having such a busy schedule, I’ve had this date in the diary for weeks and I can’t wait to arrive and learn about all things Riverdane.
Coming from a Type-focused background naturally I am eager to see how the cows are looking and what females they are currently developing in their elite show cow group. Mark and Sue have to be one of the best breeders the UK has ever seen; over 45 All Britain nominations, two All- World nominations, nine VG89 two-year olds, 13 Excellent second calvers and numerous national champions.
Being one of the most passionate people about the Holstein breed, Mark just loves good cows and his top-notch Riverdane herd reflects this passion. Not only is he a Holstein fan, he is also committed to developing youth and nurturing young talent – the industry’s future – and being born and bred in Cheshire I have been lucky enough to experience this dedication first-hand.
History You may know or have heard of ‘Mark Nutsford’ or the ‘Riverdane herd’ but do you know how he got into cows and started the prefix?
10 THE JOURNAL AUGUST 2014
One of the most successful breeding herds in the country carries the Riverdane prefix. Passionate about pedigrees, Mark and Sue Nutsford have built up their leading herd from scratch. Izzy Whittaker shares this inspiring story I am familiar with Sue’s
background – being the daughter of respected breeder Bill Nadin of Sterndale fame – so I want to take this opportunity to find out more about this leading show man. Given Mark’s list of credits, you would be forgiven for thinking that he would come from a top genetic herd – but it couldn’t be much further from the truth. Growing up in Northumberland, Mark’s dad wasn’t a farmer, he was an engineer – but Mark showed an interest in agriculture as his granddad had a non- pedigree British Friesian dairy farm.
During college Mark took a placement on John and Jeremy
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118 |
Page 119 |
Page 120 |
Page 121 |
Page 122 |
Page 123 |
Page 124