Yorkshire Holstein Club Invites Members to Join in National Celebration & AGM - Cowsmo

Yorkshire Holstein Club Invites Members to Join in National Celebration & AGM

This June farmers, cattle breeders and Holstein lovers are being invited to Yorkshire for a showcase of the fabulous British breed for its annual Holstein Celebration & AGM. Hosted by the Yorkshire Holstein Club on the 12th & 13th June, guests are being encouraged to book now for a two-day extravaganza exploring local heritage and cultural hotspots, enjoying the glorious Yorkshire countryside and of course, dropping in on two of the county’s leading Holstein herds.

Andrew Birkle - low res
Andrew Birkle, Holstein UK Chairman

The celebration event will include a morning discovering the historic streets of York and an action-packed display from Atkinson Action Horses. There will also be the chance to take in the sights of Beverley, Creskeld Hall and the Yorkshire Wolds before returning to Cave Castle Hotel & Country Club for a relaxing and tranquil stay. As part of the trip two fantastic on-farm visits have been organised to view the award-winning Newbirks Herd by kind permission of D & C Lawson and the spectacular Winton Herd owned by the Waring family.

Farm Visit: D & C Lawson, Newbirks Herd

Nestled on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales, Mill Farm is home to Newbirks Holsteins, owned by David, Claire and daughter Suzy Lawson. The award-winning herd was established in 1948 and recent accolades include winning the Yorkshire Large Herd competition in 2016 and taking second place in 2017. Emphasis is placed on a strict breeding policy focused on achieving strong lactation. To help achieve this, only a few genomic bulls are used, with the majority of the bulls being proven aiming to breed heifers that suit the commercial market. Families within the 220-head herd include Jazz, Blueblood, Heliotrope and Raven with annual averages of 9,463l, 4.64%bf and 3.22%p per cow.

Farm Visit: P & J Waring, Winton Herd

The 160 cow Winton Herd is owned by Peter Waring in partnership with wife Judith and son James. Set in 300 acres of Yorkshire countryside, the herd is grazed for six months of the year, whilst spending the winter months housed in cubicles and straw yards. Whilst most of the farm is down to grass, 60 acres is planted with cereals and 50 acres to maize. The herd produces an average yield of 10,000l per cow at 4.0%bf and 3.2%p, with milk being sold to a local dairy. The farm is home to a wide range of some of the best cow families, with breeding concentrated on high type genomic sires with good health traits; these sires include Dempsey, Unix and Secretariat. Peter frequently buys and sells stock, annually selling around 60 cows and heifers along with six to eight breeding bulls.

After a packed first day of local sightseeing and an afternoon admiring the Newbirks Herd, guests will be invited to wind down at an evening dinner and entertainment. Day two will follow a similar format closing with the official AGM, three course dinner and guest speaker. The two days will be a superb mix of local sightseeing, on-farm visits, and a chance to break away from busy farming lives to enjoy some summer socialising.

The Holstein UK AGM will conclude the Holstein Celebration on Wednesday 13th June and trustee positions for the Scotland and North Midlands regions will be open for election and West Midlands for re-election.

Andrew Birkle, Chairman for Holstein UK, commented; “Holstein UK is delighted to extend an invitation to members, pedigree breeders and farmers for our annual Holstein Celebration & AGM in Yorkshire. The AGM will be a focal point of the event with new Trustees being elected and critical and topical issues for British Holstein breeding being tackled.”

He adds; “The Holstein Group remains the largest independent cattle herd book in Europe and is wholly owned and run by its members. The Society is helping to ensure British Holstein cattle remain at the forefront of global breeding and profitable production. Please join us this June for an insightful and enjoyable celebration of our brilliant British breed. Reserve your space before the 27th April 2018 by contacting the Holstein UK events team on 01923 695200 or email [email protected].”

To view the Itinerary click HERE.

 

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