Newsletter November / December 2024

Perhaps it is a little early to wish our Members and Supporters the compliments of the season, but it has been a busy Autumn for Competitions and there are results to be shared. However, as we come to the end of yet another challenging year, it is pleasing to end with some good news.

British Friesians are on the UP!

We have seen an increase in British Friesian qualifying breed code 20 milk recorded animals, as produced by the NBDC for 2023. Although much fewer in number than mainstream black and whites, this is an interesting development as all other breeds decreased in number.

Will we see this trend continue? Much will depend on how farmers approach the challenges that changing weather patterns foist on them. Maize was introduced into the UK to feed a high yielding cow with a tendency to lose weight. To rely so heavily on a crop with only one opportunity to harvest, and in the Autumn, has certainly proved nerve-racking, for many. The less said the better about the parking of slurry/manure on fields during the winter! For our cows, arable whole-crop provides an alternative option. Combined with good quality silage (for some this will be multi-cut) and with a wider harvesting period, whichever route is followed, we know our cows are bred for grazing and grass-based systems.

Interestingly, a report commissioned by the Animal Welfare Council (AWC) back in 2012 recommended that breeding should be focussed on the selection of genetics to match the environment for which they are intended. Sound familiar?

Committee News

The Club would like to thank Ewart Grant who has decided to step down from the Committee after many years of service, particularly as Treasurer. He was a very wise and helpful member and will be much missed. Thank you so very much, Ewart. Many members of the Committee voluntarily give up their time and we are grateful to them all.

Tracy Rockett too, feels she is unable to continue to serve on the Committee. Tracy and her family have been an excellent advertisement for our breed as they take their show team around the country, with great successes in the Any Other Breed classes with their cattle much admired in the lines. We well understand the demanding nature of this effort and thank her very much for the support. Congratulations to her for taking both the Championship and Reserve in the Any Other Breeds Class at the SW Dairy Show with Greenway Bombardier Billie Jean and Greenway Jackpot Liv respectively.

New Committee members are always welcome, so perhaps you could think about it in time for the AGM next March. Most meetings now take place via Zoom.

Please express your particular interest, for example, if you have participated in the HYB judging schools as Sally Howarth, our judge for the British Friesian ABAB classes, did. Thank you Sally!

2024 has been a year for the Herd Competitions on Inspection. This used to be held in alternate years with the Bull Progeny Competition, but it was decided to hold them in the same year for logistical purposes. The organisation of the visits across the UK from Northern Ireland via Scotland to Suffolk, with accommodation and transport for the Judge, fell to our Chairman, Patrick Davies, and we owe him and his helpers, a huge thank you.

HUK Dairy Day Sept 11th

We very much welcomed the opportunity for the Club to be included on the main HUK stand. We need to encourage pedigree registration, as demonstrated in our latest advertisement, Stronger Together. Through the Breed Societies, we can retain control over our animals using real time data to balance the cow best suited to the individual farm conditions and the HUK open herd book provides many options. As part of our move to introduce different bloodlines, you will find details of the next Club test bull, Oakalby Breakaway, which in addition to Lismulligan Einstein, is now available through UKSS. Although the PLI looks ridiculous for these outcross bulls, examination of their ancestry tells another story more favoured by farmers who choose instead to breed from proven backgrounds, keeping the inbreeding % low. We are grateful to those of you who are prepared to trial these and other outcross sires, introducing genetics well proven in the past but lost in the break up of the MMB. The Irish Pure Friesian Club are also interested, as we are, in some of their bulls. They must, of course, be registered, milk recorded and type classified please.

Email addresses please!

In order to save time and costs for the Club, please may we have your email address if you are receiving the Newsletters in the post, when it could be emailed to you instead. Of course, your details will not be shared with anyone else. Please reply to the Secretary, david@temraa.plus.com

All Breeds All Britain Calf Show Results - 22nd Sept 2024 Judge: Sally Howarth (Leasbeck) .

British Friesian Showmanship Championship

Champion: David Oultram

Reserve Champion: Orlaith Lawson

Honourable Mention: Struan Lawson

British Friesian Calf Classes 

Calf born on or after 1st March 2024

  1. Lismulligan Honeyschaap 6 - B Lawson & Sons

  2. Greenway Jay Olive Oyl - L & T Rockett

  3. Gwynfaes Linda 103 - Melissa Fletcher

Calf born between 1st December 2023 & 29th February 2024

  1. Lismulligan Dora 22 - B Lawson & Sons

  2. Irthingelt Grandslam Spirit 2 - TW & AM Moscrop

Calf born between 1st September & 30th November 2023

  1. Lismulligan Aster 12 - B Lawson & Sons

  2. Irthingelt Grandslam Spirit - TW & AM Moscrop

Calf born between 1st May & 31st August 2023

  1. Greenway Samson Billie Jo Jo - L & T Rockett

  2. Lismulligan Poppy 7 – B Lawson & Sons

Calf born between 1st January & 30th April 2023

  1. Lismulligan Empress 83 - B Lawson & Sons

  2. Greenway Judd Livvy - L & T Rockett

  3. Walwyn GTW Cora Rita - Melissa Fletcher

British Friesian Calf Championship

Champion: Lismulligan Aster 12 - B Lawson & Sons

Reserve Champion: Lismulligan Honeyschaap 6 - B Lawson & Sons

Honourable Mention: Greenway Samson Billie Jo Jo - L & T Rockett

British Friesian Herd Competition (on Inspection)

This was kindly judged by Paddy Quealey from the Irish Pure Friesian Club.

This Competition for the Buckhurst Cup is held in alternate years and includes the best 50 tonne and best heifer class.

Paddy commented, ‘a few things worthy of mention were the beautiful Deangate Prince daughters on display at Lismulligan. Also, the Polly family at Parkin were a really lovely family of cows, while the Castledale Dean progeny group in Castledale are a very good example of what is best in the breed. I wish the club, breeders and commercial farmers using British Friesians continued success on their farms.’

RESULTS Herd Competition Winner- Castledale (Gavin Stockdale)

2nd, Parkin (Will Williamson)

3rd, Inch (Cleland & Morrison)

50 tonne Cow (home bred)

1st place Oakalby Eiger Red Buttercup 194 (E S Burroughs and Son)

2nd place Barncluth Arrival Prim (J Dunbar)

Heifer (home bred)

1st place Nerewater Chad Awesome Mistress (Richard Bell)

2nd place Lismulligan Tina 13 (Adam Lawson)

3rd place Parkin Flash Duchess 4 (Will Williamson)

Bull Progeny Competition

1st place Castledale Dean (Gavin Stockdale)

2nd place Nerewater Reliant (Richard Bell)

British Cattle Breeders Club Jan 20th-22nd 2025 - Telford

The 2025 Conference was held at the Telford Hotel & Golf Resort with the theme ‘The Herd of the Future’ as chosen by current Chairman, Andy King.