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WELSH WINNER: LAN HERD, ROBERT AND EMYR BOWEN
he Lan herd is very much a family focus having been registered in 1924 by Robert’s grandfather. Now in to the third and fourth generation, run across 200 acres by Robert and Emyr this pedigree herd has a commercial focus on the bottom line in order to survive. Previously surplus heifers have been sold but latterly they have been retained as numbers in the herd are increased gradually.
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Number of cows: 125 Milk yield: 9600kg
Number of staff: Father and son Rob and Emyr
Breeding goals: Profitable, functional, easy care, long lasting cows.
What do you feel makes a good cow family? Consistently highly classified, long lasting cows- consistent type regardless of what bull you use.
Best cow currently on the farm: Lan Wendy 118 EX93-6E 95 tonnes and has bred two EX daughters.
NORTHERN IRELAND
WINNER: SIMLAHILL HERD, NICOLAS MCCANN
Sire which has worked best in the herd: Boss Iron and Mr Sam
Sire selection criteria: Bulls pedigree must be all VG and EX, no high Pins, plus on milk, high type.
Current AI sires: Goldfarm, Pirate, Iota, Grafeeti, Gillette, Caviar.
Achievements: 2014 highest % EX cows in UK, 2009 Master Breeder, twice regional winners in the Premier Herd competition, five times South Wales Herd winners.
What was your last purchase in genetics? Penrikka Major Cinderella and Feithy Rachel Atwood.
Number of cows: 170
Milk yield: 10,700kg at 3.92%bf and 3.28%p
Number of staff: One member of staff
Breeding goals: Our aim is to breed a herd of consistent cows with plenty of strength and capacity, good legs and feet and tight well attached udders that will last.
he Simlahill herd has risen to the top of Northern Ireland Premier Herd competition for the third time in four years. Run by Nicolas McCann and his father Jim at Bangor the 180-head herd has received a Master Breeder Award, as well as being recognised as one of the highest classified herds in Northern Ireland. Nicolas has placed a strong emphasis on breeding cows with type and longevity as well as focussing on prolific cow families.
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What do you feel makes a good cow family? We feel that consistency makes a good cow family, breeding true to a variety of sires.
Best cow currently on the farm: Simlahill Outside Dallas EX95, she has won the senior cow for the past three years in the herd competition. Now in her sixth lactation, she looks as youthful as ever.
Sire which has worked best in the herd: Outside and Shottle have bred extremely well, breeding late maturing cows that last, our best young cows are predominately out of Shottle dams.
Sire selection criteria: Bulls must be positive for chest and rump width, breeding tight udders, good feet and legs.
Current AI sires: Doorman, Commander, Dempsey, Solomon, Dude.
Achievements: We have won the Northern Ireland herd competition for three out of the past four years and were awarded Master Breeder in 2014.
What was your last purchase in genetics? Doorman embryos from Larcrest Carlin an 87 point 2yr robust from the Cosmopolitans with 5.8%bf and 3.6%p.
Numbers of times the herd has been a regional winner: Three
Herd classification: 71 EX, 92 VG the remainder GP
What do you feel in your herd’s appearance helps their performance? Our cows have a lot of strength, youthful udders, strong legs and feet. I feel cows that are made the correct way perform a lot more naturally with less problems.
What is the most recent investment you have made in the farm? Our most recent investment is a 30/30 Fullwood milking parlour.
Numbers of times the herd has been a regional winner: Two
Herd classification: 45 EX, 50 VG, 17 GP- all 2 yr olds, 13 not yet classified.
What do you feel in your herd’s appearance helps their performance? Hard topped cattle with good legs and feet and well attached udders.
What is the most recent investment you have made in the farm? Slurry pit
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