WORMANBY HERD AIM FOR UK DAIRY EXPO
UK Dairy Expo has encouraged local breeders Harry and David Hodgson to take the step to National level as Katie Davidson finds out
LEFT Fresh with her second Wormanby Atwood Linda stood third in the senior two year old class at UK Dairy Day.
BELOW Wormanby Aftershock Gloriette during judging at UK Dairy Day where she finished second in the junior three year old class.
T
he Hodgson family of Harry, Margaret, David and Louise who run the 170-head
Wormanby herd at Burgh by Sand, Carlisle, have taken the step up to competing at National level since the first UK Dairy Expo in 2011. “We had never really competed at National Level before, but having a show like this on your doorstep at a quiet time of year is something breeders have been crying out for as a National Show. We’ll certainly continue to support it.
“It has been great to exhibit in strong competition and we’ve been delighted to be standing at the right end of the classes pick- ing up a couple of seconds and thirds in the past. Hopefully one day we will secure a red rosette,” says David.
“UK Dairy Expo is up there as one of the big two shows in the country. With UK Dairy Day in September now added to the calendar, there are two high profile events either end of the year where the best of genetics are on display,”
Outside of successes at the Cumberland Show – where the family have taken the interbreed title six times - The Wormanby herd has been runner up in the RABDF Gold Cup and have also won the Northern region of the Premier Herds twice.
“The Gold Cup, Premier Herds and showing are all great ways of getting publicity for the herd. We aim to breed a balanced herd of cows with deep pedigrees that will be sought after by other breeders. Ideally, we’d like to breed a cow that has everything, a strong pedigree, good type, production and genom- ics – show cows just come along. “I think because we don’t just have an elite few for the show ring, we’ve been successful in the Premier Herds and also, the Gold Cup highlights the business side is being run well behind the scenes.”
THE JOURNAL FEBRUARY 2015 83
David is hoping to take a team of four cows to the show in March, including the VG88 Wormanby Atwood Linda who was third at UK Dairy Day as a senior two year old and calved again in December. She is out of Wormanby Shottle Linda EX94, who is backed by two more EX scored dams. Feizor Knowledge S Melody is another second calver, owned in partnership with Stephen and Ann Morley. Classified VG87 as a heifer, she stood third at Agri-Scot 2014 only four weeks fresh with her second. She is out of the EX92 Feizor Shottle L Melody, who is the fifth generation of EX dams. Aimed at the senior two year old class will be Wormanby Artes Mahala, an August calved heifer who classified VG87 and will be on her first outing.
Other possibilities for the team include Wormanby Atlas Sheri. Classified EX93 as a third calver, she will be fresh in her fourth in March and is the seventh generation of straight EX cows with her dam being Wormanby Talent Sheri EX93.
Another possible for the team is Willsbro Lauthority Rose, she will be fresh in her second lactation and is out of Sanigar Shottle Rose VG88.
“There are always enquiries at shows about cattle and their family members, so we tend to find we reap the benefits further down the line whether it is selling individuals, batches of heifers or bulls,” he adds.
UK Dairy Expo is on Saturday 7th 6th
March with heifer classes held on Friday
March at Borderway Mart, Carlisle. Last year’s event attracted 86 Hol- stein heifers and 94 milkers and the event has grown each year and with new exhibitors already entered.
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