Harrison and Hetherington have today announced a trio of judges from across the world to officiate at Borderway UK Dairy Expo, the UK’s leading winter dairy event. Heralding from Canada, America and Scotland together they will judge the 62 classes including a number of young farmer classes all in front of the global audience.
Taking place at Borderway Exhibition Centre, Carlisle, Borderway UK Dairy Expo is to be held on Saturday 12th March 2016. Once again it will bring together the very best of talent from the UK dairy industry and international dairy genetics.
Judging the Holstein show, Brown Swiss and Dairy Shorthorns is Michael Heath from Maryland in the USA. Canada’s Jeff Stephen will judge the Ayrshire, Jersey and Red & White classes. The International Dairy Youth Championships will be judged under the careful eye of David Gray of Drumtall Farm near Glasgow.
On announcing the judges David Pritchard Event Organiser and Operations Director for Harrison and Hetherington, said: “We are absolutely delighted yet again to be welcoming such esteemed members of the international dairy industry from across the world to judge. Each year we are attracting the very best of exhibitors, and it is only fitting that the judges match their quality.”
Holstein show, Brown Swiss and Dairy Shorthorns judge Michael Heath from Spring Valley Jersey Farm, Maryland has grown up with cattle on his family farm. He spent 14 years as a professional cattle preparer which provided him with the opportunity to build many industry connections and lead him to a successful career as a dairy cattle merchandiser and breeder.
He has owned, bred and marketed many elite Holsteins, Jerseys and Red & White Holsteins, most notably the Atlee family, Starmark Ad Hotstuff-Red and Ms Apples Ainsley. No stranger to judging Michael has judged dairy competitions across the world.
In addition to judging he also shows and was owner of the Junior Champion Holstein for two of the past three years, and currently owns 60 head of Holsteins and 60 head of Jerseys.
Judging the International Dairy Youth Championships is the UK’s very own David Gray. David based at Drumtall Farm near Glasgow runs and owns Hoof and Hyde Ltd a farm service business providing farmers with an excellent hoof trimming and freeze branding service.
David’s reputation to breed, rear and develop top quality show animals is well known having prepared many Champions across the world. He owned the 2013 All-Britain heifer Drointon Tabwyn Holly, as well as judging at many major shows in the UK and Ireland.
David talking about the honour of being asked to judge Borderway UK Dairy Expo, said: “I am absolutely delighted to have been asked to judge at the 2016 show, as I know the young breeders that exhibit at the expo are some of the very best in Europe. I have actually attended Dairy Expo as an exhibitor every year and it has been a pleasure to see it grow from strength to strength, and to now be known as one of the best dairy events in Britain. On the day I will be looking for a young handler that has the ability to know their animal’s faults and correct them to the best of their capability.”
Jeff Stephen who farms in Troy, Ontario, Canada will be rounding off the judging panel by judging the Ayrshire, Jersey and Red & White classes. Jeff has 120 head of Ayrshire Jersey and Holstein herd under the Yellow Briar prefix. The Yellow Briar prefix has had over 20 All-American and 30 All-Canadian Ayrshires.
Jeff’s interest in the Jersey and Holstein breeds, and his love of buying, developing and selling has given him a chance to own many house hold names such as the two times Royal Champion Vanderburg Amedeo Gorgeous ex97, and this years Holstein Champion at the RWF Charwell attic Marcy.
For the second time the major industry seminar, Total Dairy Expo will present their industry forum as part of this Spring Event. This will be held on the afternoon of Friday March 11th at premises adjacent to the event.
Borderway UK Dairy Expo has grown rapidly in size since the inaugural event was launched in 2012 to reflect the continued importance of the industry and organiser Harrison and Hetherington’s commitment to it. Within the region of 60 show classes, last year the event attracted over 400 livestock entries, with Richard Bown’s Richaven Goldwyn Squaw 6, taking the overall Champion of Champions crown. Around 7,000 people visited the event, which included 135 trade stands sharing educational, commercial and innovation development.
