Canterbury A&P On-Farm Competition

Judge: Corey Ferguson, Otorohanga

When people talk about cows Down Under, the assumption is often Australia.

However, last week New Zealand defied Covid-19 to showcase some of the quality North American genetics residing in the Canterbury region of the South Island. And, the results were enough to underscore the quality at the top end.

In the end, it was an exciting young Holstein – sired by Goldwyn – and an Ayrshire with a special story who stole the show in the Canterbury A&P On-Farm competition.

More than 90 entries were tabled for the competition, which replaced the cancelled dairy judging at the annual Canterbury Show in the wake of Covid-19. Instead, the exhibitors prepared their cows on-farm, exactly as they would have done at the show. And, the judge – Corey Ferguson, from Ferdon Jerseys at Otorohanga – moved between farms pointing and placing the animals from November 11 to 13. All the entries were paraded on-farm for Corey.

And, Corey proved he wasn’t afraid to make the big calls when he named a senior three-year-old Grand Champion Holstein and Supreme Champion of the show.

And, he then backed it up by crowning the Grand Champion Ayrshire, Supreme Senior Champion and Supreme Senior Best Udder.

A young cow with a big future

The Supreme Champion of all breeds was Sherraine Gold Charm-ET, owned by Sherraine Holsteins, at Ohoka (30 minutes north of Christchurch). Charm is one of four ET sisters in the Sherriff family’s 150-cow herd. Sired by Braedale Goldwyn, Charm came into the competition with runs already on the board after winning the national two-year-old title in the New Zealand Semex On-Farm competition in June.

Olivia Cahill, who runs Sherraine Holsteins with her husband, Jared, and father Peter Sherriff, said they were thrilled when Charm won Intermediate Champion and Intermediate Best Udder. But when judge Corey Ferguson then took Charm all the way to Supreme Champion of all breeds, it was the icing on the cake for the young cow with a big-ticket future.

“She’s always been such an exciting cow for us,” Olivia said. “And, she’s probably always been the pick of the sisters. And, she’s probably one of the most exciting young cows we’ve had.”

Charm is on her second calf and currently producing more than 32 litres at a 3.5% milk fat and 3.3% protein. Out of an EX Damion, Charm’s granddam is Sherraine Windstar Charm EX3, one of Sherraine’s best brood cows, whose family traces back to the 1930s.

Olivia – the fourth generation of her family to farm – said while it was a little different not being able to show as usual at Canterbury, they were grateful to the on-farm competition’s organisers for the opportunity to bring their cows out.

“It was probably easier on us preparing them at home, in terms of not having to be away from the farm,” Olivia said. “But at the same time, it was hard to concentrate solely on the show cows, because we still have to run the farm.

“And, we really did miss having the cows at the show and having the competition right there with us, and doing it all together with everyone else.”

Ayrshire is so much more than an Ayrshire

It turned into a redemption show for the Gilbert family – who had reluctantly chosen to stand down from showing over the last two years – because of concerns about Mycoplasma bovis*.

The Ashburton-based family is well-known for its Jerseys, and the combined family effort under Glenalla Jerseys secured all three championships in their breed show.

The family’s single Ayrshire entry then proved you don’t need many to pack a punch. Pukekaraka Elle Delilah – who they bought for $2500 in a group of five cows from the Robinson family’s dispersal at Atiamuri in April 2019 – easily walked away with Grand Champion Ayrshire. However, where the six-year-old really left her mark was when she won Supreme Senior Champion of All Breeds, and Supreme Senior Best Udder of All Breeds. She is the first Ayrshire to do so since 1981.

Cresslands back on-board

The inclusion of another family whose annual trip to the Christchurch Show had also been thwarted by the threat of M.Bovis also added some welcome weight to the competition.

Cresslands Holsteins, at Rangiora, won three championships. Graham Stewart said while it was lonelier preparing at home on-farm, they were thrilled to be involved and for their cattle to once again be seen.

“Under the circumstances, being able to at least have the on-farm worked brilliantly,” Graham said. “To me, it was easier showing but you miss the social part which is why you go to the show to a degree.

“But we love trying to get the cows looking as good as they can, and having them out there for people to have a look at one way or another.”

Graham acknowledged the efforts of his nephew, Josh Norton, who has worked overseas in some noted show herds for his interest, knowledge and the finish he brought to the Cresslands Farms’ team.

Wakelins were awake

The Wakelin family didn’t show last year’s Supreme Champion, Clover-Lane Aftshk Sue-ET EX. However, they proved there is plenty of depth in their herd, taking home four broad ribbons. They also tellingly won seven of the eight classes they entered. It was a complete performance, and confirmed them as a force in the registered industry.

At the pointy end of the business, the Rangiora-based herd won Senior and Reserve Senior Champion with Belbrook Smokin Piper and Belbrook Alonzo Jamie respectively. They also won Reserve and Honourable Mention Junior Champion.

First-time exhibitors

The Ackerman family were first-time competitors in the Ayrshire section. While they initially entered simply to get more points for an Ayrshire young breeders competition, Ali Ackerman, enjoyed the experience.

The US-born dairywoman and her family are milking 380 Ayrshire and Ayrshire-cross cows. Ali wasn’t born on a farm, but her father is a large animal vet in New York State, and her uncle runs an 800-cow dairy in western New York.

“I think I would have picked a different heifer if I had my time again,” Ali said. “I definitely felt horribly unprepared, and super out of my element but it was still good to do, and I’m glad we got to be a part of it. I would do it again.”

*M. bovis is a pathogen that causes respiratory disease, otitis media (middle ear disease), arthritis, mastitis and a variety of other diseases in cattle worldwide.

SUPREME CHAMPIONS ALL BREEDS

SUPREME JUNIOR CHAMPION ALL BREEDS: Cresslands B52 Peggy – Holstein – Cresslands Farms (Rangiora)
SUPREME INTERMEDIATE CHAMPION/INTERMEDIATE BEST UDDER ALL BREEDS: Sherraine Gold Charm-ET – Holstein – Sherraine Holsteins (Ohoka)
SUPREME SENIOR CHAMPION ALL BREEDS/SUPREME BEST UDDER: Pukekaraka Elle Delilah – Ayrshire – Gilbert family (Ashburton)
SUPREME CHAMPION ALL BREEDS: Sherraine Gold Charm-ET – Holstein – Sherraine Holsteins (Ohoka)

HOLSTEIN

SENIOR CALF

1^st – Cresslands B52 Peggy (Cresslands Farms, Rangiora)

JUNIOR YEARLING

1^st – Belbrook Sidekick Carrie (Wakelin family, Rangiora)

2^nd – Cresslands Laua Delia (Cresslands Farms, Rangiora)

SENIOR YEARLING

1^st – Belbrook Kick Lizabeth-ET (Wakelin family, Rangiora)

2^nd – Cresslands Lavant Cici (Cresslands Farms, Rangiora)

3^rd – Stormrose Bee Shari (Stormrose Holsteins, Rangiora)

4^th – Fermanagh DL Sheila (Stormrose Holsteins, Rangiora)

JUNIOR CHAMPION: Cresslands B52 Peggy (Cresslands Farms, Rangiora)
RESERVE: Belbrook Sidekick Carrie (Wakelin family, Rangiora)
HONOURABLE MENTION: Belbrook Kick Lizabeth-ET (Wakelin family, Rangiora)

JUNIOR TWO YEARS

1^st – Belbrook US Seisme-Red-ET (Wakelin family, Rangiora)

2^nd – Snowfed Unix Nelda (Gilbert family, Ashburton)

3^rd – Cresslands Bytes Paris (Cresslands Farms, Rangiora)

4 – Glenalla Salt Cappie (Gilbert family, Ashburton)

5 – Riverbrae Control Julia (Riverbrae Dairy Farm Ltd, Springston)

SENIOR TWO YEARS

1^st – Belbrook Bardo Plum (Wakelin family, Rangiora)

2^nd – Stormrose BM Solar (Stormrose Holsteins, Rangiora)

3^rd – Riverbrae Windbrook Cara (Riverbrae Holsteins, Springston)

4^th – Sherraine Solomon Lime (Sherraine Holsteins, Ohoka)

JUNIOR THREE YEARS

1^st – Belbrook Solomon Sierra (Wakelin family, Rangiora)

2^nd – Paretai Mogul Pandora (Stormrose Holsteins, Rangiora)

SENIOR THREE YEARS

1^st – Sherraine Gold Charm-ET (Sherraine Holsteins, Ohoka)

2^nd – Cresslands Bankroll Trish (Cresslands Farms, Rangiora)

3^rd – Sherraine Gold Charas-ET (Sherraine Holsteins, Ohoka)

INTERMEDIATE CHAMPION/BEST UDDER : Sherraine Gold Charm-ET (Sherraine Holsteins, Ohoka)
RESERVE: Cresslands Bankroll Trish (Cresslands Farms, Rangiora)
HONOURABLE MENTION: Belbrook US Seisme-Red-ET (Wakelin family, Rangiora)

FOUR YEARS

1^st – Belbrook Alonzo Jamie (Wakelin family, Rangiora)

2^nd – Sherraine McCutch Emily (Sherraine Holsteins, Ohoka)

3^rd – Brookview Lau Duvel (Gilbert family, Ashburton)

4^th – Cresslands Solomon Chloe (Cresslands farms, Rangiora)

5^th – Paretai McCutch Kenzie (Stormrose Holsteins, Rangiora)

6^th – Taonui Doorman Lavana (Taonui Holsteins, Rangiora)

7^th – Riverbrae Numero Uno Ivy (Riverbrae Dairy Farm Ltd, Springston)

FIVE YEARS

1^st – Cresslands Doorman Karla (Cresslands Farms, Rangiora)

2^nd – Sherraine Doorman Carrie (Wakelin family, Rangiora)

3^rd – Paretai Beemer Ingrid S3F (Stormrose Holsteins, Rangiora)

4^th – Tararua Seaver Serena (Taonui Holsteins, Rangiora)

SIX YEARS

1^st – Belbrook Smokin Piper (Wakelin family, Rangiora)

2^nd – Cresslands Impression Lily (Cresslands Farms Rangiora)

3^rd – Cresslands Corvette Daisy (Cresslands Farms, Rangiora)

4^th – Belbrook Smokin Explosion (Wakelin family, Rangiora)

5^th – Sherraine Genesis Lucy (Sherraine Holsteins and Dylan Lynch, Ohoka)

6^th – Snowfed Legend Tonio (Gilbert family)

7^th – Sherraine Atw Charque-ET (Sherraine Holsteins)

SEVEN YEARS

1^st – Cresslands Windbrook Dana (Cresslands Farms)

2^nd – Belbrook Lobby Penny (Wakelin family, Ashburton)

3^rd – Riverbrae Talent Tulip (Riverbrae Dairy Farm Ltd, Springston)

SENIOR CHAMPION HOLSTEIN: Belbrook Smokin Piper (Wakelin family, Rangiora)
RESERVE: Belbrook Alonzo Jamie (Wakelin family, Rangiora)
HONOURABLE MENTION: Sherraine McCutch Emily (Sherraine Holsteins, Ohoka)

GRAND CHAMPION HOLSTEIN/BEST UDDER HOLSTEIN/SUPREME DAIRY COW ALL BREEDS

Sherraine Gold Charm-ET (Sherraine Holsteins)

JERSEY

SENIOR CALF

1^st – Lilac Grove Tequila Vinnie (Lilac Grove Jerseys, Rangiora)

JUNIOR YEARLING

1^st– Lilac Grove Recharge Riviera (Lilac Grove Jerseys, Rangiora)

SENIOR YEARLING

1^st – Glenalla Hired Wendy – Gilbert Family

2^nd – Glenalla First Eva – Gilbert Family

3^rd – Lilac Grove Colton Ring (Lilac Grove Jerseys, Rangiora)

4^th – Glenalla Winning Belle-ET – Gilbert Family

JUNIOR CHAMPION: Glenalla Hired Wendy (Gilbert family, Ashburton)
Reserve Junior Champion: Glenalla First Eva (Gilbert family, Ashburton)
Honorable Mention Junior Champion: Lilac Grove Colton Ring (Lilac Grove Jerseys, Rangiora)

JUNIOR TWO YEAR OLD

1^st – Belbrook Joel Lulu – Wakelin Family

2^nd – Lilac Grove Recharge Rehma (Lilac Grove Jerseys, Rangiora)

3^rd – Glenalla Celebrity Glee (Gilbert family, Ashburton)

4^th – Lilac Grove Recharge Cameo (Lilac Grove Jerseys, Rangiora)

SENIOR TWO YEAR OLD

1^st – Calmtide Royal Viola (Lilac Grove Jerseys, Rangiora)

JUNIOR THREE YEAR OLD

1^st – Glenalla Apple Maggie – Megan Thomas & Michael Gilbert

2^nd – Glenalla Rudolph Courtney (Gilbert family, Ashburton)

3^rd – Lilac Grove Tequila Ring (Lilac Grove Jerseys, Rangiora)

INTERMEDIATE CHAMPION/INTERMEDIATE BEST UDDER: Glenalla Apple Maggie (Megan Thomas & Michael Gilbert, Ashburton)
RESERVE: Glenalla Rudolph Courtney (Gilbert family, Ashburton)
HONOURABLE MENTION: Belbrook Joel Lulu (Wakelin family, Rangiora)

FOUR YEAR OLD

1^st – Premier Tequila Sweet (Gilbert family, Ashburton)

SIX YEAR OLD

1^st – Glenalla Dons Nemo (Gilbert family, Ashburton)

2^nd – Glenalla Black Luna (Joanna Owers, Springston)

SEVEN YEAR OLD & OVER

1^st – Lilac Grove Imp Chanel (Lilac Grove Jerseys, Rangiora)

SENIOR CHAMPION JERSEY: Premier Tequila Sweet (Gilbert family, Ashburton)
RESERVE SENIOR CHAMPION/SENIOR BEST UDDER: Glenalla Dons Nemo (Gilbert family, Ashburton)
GRAND CHAMPION JERSEY: Premier Tequila Sweet – Gilbert Family

AYRSHIRE

SENIOR YEARLING

1^st – Broadlea HOB Crystal (Cheryl Ford & Geoff Chapman, Leeston)

JUNIOR CHAMPION

Broadlea HOB Crystal (Cheryl Ford & Geoff Chapman, Leeston)

JUNIOR TWO YEAR OLD

1^st – #274 (I & J Ackerman Ltd, Leeston)

2^nd – #162 (I & J Ackerman Ltd, Leeston)

3^rd – #145 (I & J Ackerman Ltd, Leeston)

JUNIOR THREE YEAR OLD

1^st – Broadlea Starbright (Thomas Lilley, Springston)

SENIOR THREE YEAR OLD

Broadlea Burs Princess (Cheryl Ford & Geoff Chapman, Leeston)

INTERMEDIATE CHAMPION/INTERMEDIATE BEST UDDER: Broadlea Burs Princess (Cheryl Ford & Geoff Chapman, Leeston)
RESERVE : Broadlea Starbright (Thomas Lilley, Springston)

FOUR YEAR OLD

1^st – Burnlee Jumper Violet (Thomas Lilley, Springston)

SIX YEAR OLD

1^st – Pukekaraka Elle Delilah (Gilbert family, Ashburton)

SENIOR CHAMPION/BEST UDDER: Pukekaraka Elle Delilah (Gilbert family, Ashburton)
RESERVE: Burnlee Jumper Violet (Thomas Lilley, Springston)
GRAND CHAMPION: Pukekaraka Elle Delilah (Gilbert family, Ashburton)

COMBINED BREEDS

SENIOR YEARLING

1^st – Stormrose CDNC Violet S3B (Stormrose Holsteins, Rangiora)

JUNIOR CHAMPION: Stormrose CDNC Violet S3B (Stormrose Holsteins, Rangiora)

JUNIOR TWO YEAR OLD

1^st – Bluemoon Allure Lotto (Stormrose Holsteins, Rangiora)

INTERMEDIATE CHAMPION/BEST INTERMEDIATE UDDER: Bluemoon Allure Lotto (Stormrose Holsteins, Rangiora)

FIVE YEAR OLD

1^st – Blac Olive Zephire Janey (Stormrose Holsteins, Rangiora)

SENIOR CHAMPION /BEST SENIOR UDDER: Blac Olive Zephire Janey (Stormrose Holsteins, Rangiora)
GRAND CHAMPION COMBINED BREEDS: Stormrose CDNC Violet S3B (Stormrose Holsteins, Rangiora)

Search

Canterbury A&P On-Farm Competition

Recent Articles

News