MERESIDE WINS EAST MIDLANDS LIMOUSIN PEDIGREE HERD COMPETITION
- Messrs Hazard go forward to National Final
Details of the winning herds in the regional finals of the 2011 National Limousin Pedigree Herd Competition have now been announced by the British Limousin Cattle Society (BLCS). The National Limousin Pedigree Herd Competition is a one-off unique event and is being held as part of the British Limousin Cattle Society’s 40th Anniversary promotional programme. Supported and sponsored by Pfizer Animal Health, this new event is an extension of the coveted annual herd competitions held annually within the nine Limousin regions around theUnited Kingdom.
The regional competitions, open to all pedigree Limousin herds in the respective areas, saw the appointed judge in each region put forward an overall winning herd. With regional judging completed through August, the nine winning herds now go head-to-head in a National Final judge-off to determine the 2011 National Limousin Pedigree Herd Overall Champion. Currently moving around the UK and judging the National Final is noted breeder, and current Hon BLCS President, Mr Sam Coleman of Glarryford, Ballymena, N. Ireland.
Commenting on the task at hand Mr Coleman said: “It is a great honour to be judging such a prestigious event and it is clear that the level of competition is of the very highest order. What I am looking for is a combination of such things as the overall presentation of the herd, the up-and-coming youngstock, the breeding policy, sires used, the breeding females, herd health, and herd successes. Herd size won’t be the overriding determinant.”
Winning the East Midlands title were RM Hazard & Sons who run the Mereside Herd at Saltby Heath Farm, Skillington, Grantham, Lincs. Numbering 140 breeding females, the herd was established in 1983 and is managed by Roger & Susan Hazard and their two sons Duncan and James. Well known in Limousin circles, Roger was Honorary President of the British Limousin Cattle Society 2008-2010 and James is currently serving his first term on the Council of Management.
Having gradually expanded over the years, the Mereside Herd has firmly cemented itself as one of the most successful in the Eastern region. With French-bred females at the core, the emphasis is very much on building up the genetic base of the herd through the use of AI with the stated aim being to push the numbers up to 200 cows within the next five years.
On the regional herd competition front, Mereside has been Champion Herd in nine of the last eleven years entered. Judge Richard Bartle, Dinmore,Hereford commented: “It was the strength of the cows across the herd that particularly impressed me. There were good, evenly matched calves in every group and a very nice batch of in-calf heifers, with the byword being consistency.”
When the final judging is completed, the Overall Winner of the 2011 National Limousin Pedigree Herd Competition will be announced, by Mr Coleman, at a dinner being hosted by the British Limousin Cattle Society and Pfizer Animal Health in Carlisle on Friday 14th October. The dinner, at the Shepherd’sInn, Borderway Mart, is being held on the evening prior to the Society’s 2011 October Bull Sale at Carlisle.
THE NINE REGIONAL FINALS WINNERS ARE:
East Midlands RM Hazard & Sons, Mereside Herd
Judge: Richard Bartle, The Cottages,Upper Dinmore, Dinmore,Hereford
Scotland Mr J Nimmo, Maraiscote Herd
Judge: Brian Jones, Bailea, Sennybridge, Brecon, Powys
NW Midlands & N Wales Messrs KI & E & HI Jones, Garnedd Herd
Judge: John Phillips, Esgerddeugoed, Cwmfelin-Mynach, Whitland, Carmarthenshire
S Wales & Mid West ED Griffiths & Co, Mynach Herd
Judge: William Cowx, Hudscales, Hesket New Market,Wigton,Cumbria
South East Buriton Estates Ltd, Miscombe Herd
Judge: Jim Bloom, Scorborough, Driffield,East Yorks
South West Messrs EW Quick & Sons, Loosebeare Herd
Judge: Martin Bull, Warminster, Wiltshire
Northern Ireland WJ & J McKay, Ampertaine Herd
Judge: John McInerney, Clonmoney West,NewmarketOn Fergus, Co Clare
North West Messrs Ridley, Haltcliffe Herd
Judge: Derek Hulme, Randalstown, Co. Antrim, N.Ireland
North East Messrs JM & SP Cooper, Tomschoice Herd
Judge: Gary Swindlehurst, Procters Farm,Woodhouse Lane, Slaidburn, Nr. Clitheroe, Lancs
