Dairy Burke to be competed for at new National All Breeds Show
The Dairy Burke Trophy, the most prestigious award competed for in the national dairy showing ring, is to feature at the inaugural National All Breeds Dairy Show to be held at Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire on February 16 and 17th 2010.
The National All Breeds Show has been created by Holstein UK by opening their annual spring show to participation by all dairy breeds. The Dairy Burke will be competed for under an initial one-year licensing agreement between the Royal Agricultural Society of England and Holstein UK. The agreement has the blessing of the Burke family who donated the trophy to the RASE in 1951 and it has been competed for as the premier all-breeds dairy trophy since then – missing only the year that the Royal Show was cancelled because of foot and mouth in 2001.
Welcoming the agreement, Henry Cator, RASE Chairman, said: "We are delighted that this agreement will enable the Dairy Burke Trophy to continue as a perpetual competition even though the Royal Show will be no more. The Burke will be competed for in open competition between all dairy breeds – in the tradition that has been upheld for so many years. The arrangement is initially for one year as RASE has not yet finalised all its future event plans. However, both ourselves and Holstein UK will monitor the event in February and a statement about the future of the competition will be made as soon after the National All Breeds Show as possible. It is a pleasure for the RASE to be working in close partnership with Holstein UK in this National event. This is what the industry needs and clearly demonstrates the importance of the Dairy industry in the UK."
The news was also given a warm welcome by Greg Ward, Chief Executive of Holstein UK. He said: "We are really pleased that the RASE and the Burke family have considered the National All Breeds Show to be the most appropriate way of continuing to stage this very prestigious award."
"The National All Breeds Show promises to become a major event in the agricultural calendar, with a broad attendance from both pedigree and non pedigree dairy farmers, seeking out the best in breeding feeding and management for health, welfare and productivity. Adding the Dairy Burke to the mix is a real bonus."
