TOMSCHOICE WINS NORTH EAST LIMOUSIN PEDIGREE HERD COMPETITION
- Messrs Cooper 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 the United 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 theUKand 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.”
The North Yorkshire Limousin herd of James & Sarah Cooper, Tomschoice Limousins, Hill Top Farm, Dacre are the North East regional herd competition winners and now go forward to the National Final. The North East region has over 220 registered members and the Coopers faced strong competition from within the area said James Cooper. “We’re delighted to have won the North East regional award and to be nominated nationally is a tremendous achievement. We have a small farm of 32 acres and run a herd of 25 Limousin cows and followers. Our breeding programme is therefore focused on producing top quality pedigree animals owing to the limited acreage involved,” he said.
Judging the regional element was Mr Gary Swindlehurst of the Procters Herd, Slaidburn, Lancs who commented: “The overall standard of the Tomschoice cattle is very good with particular attention paid to the quality of genetics, predominantly AI, being used purposefully and with good results across the herd. This is very much “quality over quantity” with a good understanding of what the market wants and where the Limousin breed is going. Particular attention is also paid to the high health status of the herd.”
National Judge, Mr Sam Coleman this week visited the nine UK regional winners and was accompanied around the Coopers’ Tomschoice herd by Pfizer representative Rob Smith.
“Pfizer is delighted to sponsor this major UKaward as part of the Limousin Society’s 40th Anniversary celebrations. The competition was originally open to all the Society’s 3,000 members and James & Sarah Cooper are very worthy representatives of the North East region,” Rob said.
The Coopers established the Tomschoice herd in 1996 and have achieved success in the show ring as well as at auction. Amongst several noteworthy homebred show winners are Tomschoice Elgar, the Great Yorkshire Supreme Male Champion 2010.
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 Carlisleon 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 Hume, Randalstown, Co. Antrim, N.Ireland
North East Messrs JM & SP Cooper, Tomschoice Herd
Judge: Gary Swindlehurst, Procters Farm,Woodhouse Lane, Slaidburn, Nr. Clitheroe, Lancs
