MARAISCOTE WINS SCOTTISH LIMOUSIN PEDIGREE HERD COMPETITION
- Ian Nimmo goes 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 pedigreeLimousinherds 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.”
After some strong competition from over 30 herds across the length and breadth of the country, the winner of the 2011 Scottish title has gone to the Maraiscote Herd of Ian Nimmo and family at Bogside Farm near Wishaw, Lanark. The 90-cow Maraiscote herd was founded in 1992 and runs alongside a 60-cowLimousin-cross suckler herd. Of the pedigree progeny, high genetic merit bulls are sold for breeding whilst the best 20% of females are kept to enter the herd. The remainder are reared to slaughter weight along with the suckler herd’s Limousin crosses.
The 2011 Scottish Limousin Pedigree Herd Competition was judged by Brian Jones of the noted Bailea Herd, Heol Senni, Sennybridge, Brecon, Powys who commented: “Production for me is the most important factor because it is calves which provide the future for the farm and keep the herd going. At Maraiscote, I found both the production of female breeding offspring as well as future sires excellent. In addition, the senior herd sire, Virginia Andy, was one of the best bulls I saw during judging.”
Commenting on his win Ian Nimmo said: “TheLimousinbreed is very strong inScotlandwith a lot of quality herds. As such I am absolutely delighted to have won this title and to go forward to representScotlandin the National Final.” 2011 has been another big year for the herd with the Scottish Pedigree Herd title being won in addition to the 2011 Royal Highland Supreme Limousin title that was secured in June with the yearling bull Maraiscote Floyd. This young bull also went on to win a red ticket at the 2011 National Limousin Show held in Carlisle in July.
At the forthcoming BLCS October Bull Sale at Carlisle, to be held on 14th– 15th October, Ian Nimmo will be the man in the middle when he judges the pre-sale show ofLimousin bulls. “I’m very much looking forward to judging such a prestigious BLCS Sale and am honoured that my fellow breeders in the Society have seen fit to invite me.” At the close of judging duties Ian will be back in the role of vendor and will have his team of bulls for sale including of course Maraiscote Floyd.
In 2009, it was Virginia Andy that gave Ian Nimmo his first Royal Highland Supreme Overall title; making it two Supreme wins in three years in 2011 was Maraiscote Floyd. In between in 2010 another homebred bull, this time in the shape of Maraiscote Ember, picked up the Male Championship and contributed toward a unique and consecutive hat-trick of Royal Highland Limousin Male Championship titles. Maraiscote Ember went on to sell at the October 2010 Carlisle Sale for 15,000gns.
When the final judging is completed, the Overall Winner of the 2011 National Limousin Pedigree Herd Competition will be announced, by Sam 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 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
