Genus ABS Long Life Cow Competition 2010

And the winner is...

Stardale Royal Stella 3

The Genus ABS Long Life Cow Competition 2010 was again a huge success. "We received over 120 entries with many farms entering more than one cow averaging 10.5 lactations giving 97,000 KG of milk." Commented Mr Rutter, Genus ABS breeding programme manager.

The competition attracted some fantastic cows, show-casing the fantastic UK dairy industry. The results were debated around the judges table with each cow having their own fantastic reasons to be a Genus ABS Long Life Cow 2010. From all the entries they were whittled down to just five regional winners

"While there are many competitions which seek out the a top cow, the Long Life Cow Award was created to celebrate those cows who have made an outstanding lifetime contribution," continues Mr Rutter. "There are many attributes which mean a cow will last longer.  She will suit the management system, she will get in calf regularly over several lactations, and she will be a high producer with good compositional and hygienic milk quality."

However, a Long Life Cow means different things to different farmers so the criteria were deliberately left open so participants could describe what made their cow a worthy competitor.

The Winner of the 2010 Genus Long Life Cow Competition 2010 is Stardale Royal Stella 3 owned by Mr. J Burrow and Son announced at this year's dairy event.

  
Stardale Royal Stella 3  
 

In her 13th lactation, Stardale Royal Stella 3 was born in October 1994 and has a lifetime yield of over 141,000 litres with 11 tonnes of combined fat and protein.  Her average calving interval is just over 400 days but the average for the first 10 calves was a stunning 365 days!  Cell count has averaged around 230.  Stella is classified EX96.

Northern Ireland

Killrocllick Betsy 4,was born on December 1997 and is in her 11th lactation cow with a lifetime yield of 98,570 kg with just over six tonnes of combined fat and protein.Owned by Mr D Taylor from Portglenone, Co Antrim. Sired by Maizefield Bellwood, Betsy is  she is out of Killrollick Betsy 3 and is described by David Taylor as "a high production, low maintenance, trouble-free cow ;the ideal modern Holstein."Over her 11 lactations she has had three sets of twins, with an average calving interval of 382 days. Betsy has been classified EX94 six times.

West

Cimarron Even Jenny, a 13 year old Brown Swiss currently in her 11th lactation who has produced over 106,000kg and is owned by The Cimarron Partnership, Malmesbury, Wiltshire. Born In March 1997 she is dry and in calf with her 12th calf, she has an average calving interval of just 369 days an average cell count of 142, she has produced just over 8 tonnes of fat and protein within her 106 tonnes of milk. She was named breed champion at the dairy event 2004 and has just been classified excellent at 13 year of age for the 3rd time, with three generations milking in the herd.

East

Deangate Queenie 9, owned by J S Robotham & Son from Burton-on-Trent is in her 13th lactation and has already produced 111,000 kg, with just over seven tonnes of fat and protein and an average cell count of 89. Born in September 1994,she has just turned 16 years old. Queenie has an average calving interval of just 389 days. She has been classified excellent six times most recently in her 14th lactation. "Queenie 9 is very much a member of the herd"commented Mr Robotham, "she doesn't receive any special treatment" . Deangate Queenie has bred Deangate Tarquin currently in the Genus ABS Friesianstud.

South

Maurward Pamela 35, owned by Kingston Maurward College, Dorchester has produced 130,000kg in 10 lactations with eight tonnes of fat and protein. Born in October 1997, sired by Sunnyboy she has an average calving interval of 381 days with an average cell count of 152 "This hassle free cow has a willingness to milk" commented Mr Allen "she has never had mastitis, a real cow with passion".