Almost 300 cattle competed for top honours at the Dairy Show on 7 October, with last year’s interbreed champion heifer stepping up to claim the supreme title.
Rivermead Lambda Missy VG89, owned by the Davis family from Westcott Farm near Tiverton, Devon, caught the judges’ eyes, with the panel scoring her 191 out of 200. A homebred by Farnear Delta-Lambda and out of Willsboro Milestone Missy EX90, this second calver is yielding 53kg/day having calved six weeks ago.
“What makes her stand out is her frame, power and mammary system,” said owner Emily Davis. Shown by Will Horsley, Missy was also second at the National Holstein Show at UK Dairy Day in 2025.
The Davis family milk 200 pedigree Jerseys and 25 Holsteins at home, and also celebrated winning the interbreed heifer championship with their Jersey, Rivermead Victory Pixie. Born in March 2024, this River Valley Victorious daughter is out of the well-known homebred cow, Verdi Pixie. In reserve was Kevin and Sian Rickard’s Holstein heifer, Starlet Has It All Rae, from their farm in Gwent.
Scooping the reserve interbreed championship was Robert, Henry and Anita Cornish’s senior Ayrshire cow, Butterbesley Precison Daffodil. This homebred fifth calver is by Tristar Precision and out of Butterbesley Winston Daffodil. Having calved in July, she’s giving 42kg/day having peaked at 50kg, and builds on her interbreed championship at Honiton Show last year.
“She’s a herd cow,” said Robert Cornish. “She gets no special treatment and is just picked out ready to go. It’s a very special feeling – I’m almost choking up.” The family milk 57 pedigree Ayrshires at Higher Besley Farm, Holcombe Rogus, just down the road from the Davis’ in Devon.
“The judges liked her number of lactations, her power and her general dairyness,” said Anita. The family also claimed the reserve champion Any Other Dairy Breed calf as well as top junior cow.
Seminars
Meanwhile, over 5,000 visitors flocked to the show to watch the cattle competitions, listen to the expert seminar speakers and catch up with exhibitors. In the Mole Valley Farmers breakfast seminar, visitors heard how dairy producers are facing a challenging winter due to tight margins, lack of forage and huge variability in silage quality. But by taking a holistic farm approach to forage, feed and minerals, producers could boost returns by up to 5p/litre of milk, said Dr Chris Bartram, head of nutrition at Mole Feed Solution.
For those facing forage shortages, a new moist feed featuring TraffordGold, cider yeast and straights is a very useful substitute, he added. “It increases dry matter intakes and offers very cost-effective energy and protein with a very low carbon footprint – so it fits wonderfully with environmental incentives from milk buyers.”
Bradley Causey, Rural Adviser at Old Mill, said the combination of increased input costs and the hot, dry summer means cash flow could be tight this winter. “If you are moving towards overdraft limits, using up cash reserves, and struggling to meet any loan agreement, it is crucial to take action,” he warned Bradley. “Volatile trading conditions can quickly tighten cash flow, so taking action early can help producers remain in control of their finances and make informed decisions about the future.”
In the longer term, many farmers remain concerned about the Inheritance Tax changes brought in by Rachel Reeves – and one seminar panel considered the impacts of this. “The government has no idea on the impact of these changes,” stressed Mike Butler, agricultural partner at PKF Francis Clark. However, seeking advice on how to prepare for succession and subsequent tax can help mitigate the issue.
“Farm businesses are feeding our country at a time of global uncertainty,” he added. “I would actively encourage people to look at planning sooner rather than later. There are a number of options on the table that can help protect your farming future.”