Experts from US, Canada and UK chosen to officiate at 2015 event
An international line-up of judges has been confirmed to officiate at Borderway UK Dairy Expo 2015, which will bring together the cream of British dairy genetics and talent from the industry’s next generation.
The industry showcase event at Borderway Exhibition Centre will comprise 59 show classes on Saturday March 7, including the Dairy Youth Championships on Friday evening, and Supreme Championships overall.
Harrison and Hetherington’s Operations Director and Event Organiser David Pritchard said: “Borderway UK Dairy Expo is now in its fourth year and has grown hugely since we first staged the event.
“We are attracting the very best dairy exhibitors and this year, we have secured the services of three internationally-renowned judges to appraise what we’re confident will be the very best of British dairy breeding and performance.
“It’s a big job with almost 60 classes on the card, which requires a major commitment of time and effort from our judging team. We’re delighted they have accepted our invitation to officiate and we’re looking forward to a competitive show, which will demonstrate the very best of the British dairy industry.
The 2015 judging team has been drawn from the US, Canada and the UK. Hank Van Exel, from California, will be judging the Holstein classes and speaking at the Total Dairy industry forum organised as part of this year’s event; Stephen Borland from Quebec will appraise the coloured breeds; and Lancashire-based Claire Swale will act as showmanship judge.
Hank Van Exel and his family manage 1,800 acres and operate two dairies in Lodi and Hanford, California, with a 1,700 strong milking herd of 1,400 Holsteins and 300 Jerseys. Hank is a member of the Holstein Association USA board of directors and he has judged at the Central National Jersey Show, Eastern National Jersey and Holstein Shows, the Royal Winter Fair Holstein Show, Midwest Jersey Spring Show and the All-American Jersey Show in Louisville twice. As an exhibitor, is successes include having a partnership in the Reserve Grand Champion in both the Holstein and Jersey shows at the World Dairy Expo.
Coloured Breeds judge Stephen Borland from Quebec owns Rapid Bay Jersey Farms Inc., an elite herd of 50 milk cows, of which 30 are classified as Excellent. He also heads Rapid Bay International Sires, which has won Premier Sire at World Dairy Expo, with semen distributed in more than 30 countries. Stephen has judged in 12 countries, including prestigious Jersey shows in Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Mexico and the UK. As an exhibitor, he has won 15 Premier Breeder and Exhibitor banners at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair over the last decade and earned more than 200 All-Canadian nominations.
Showmanship judge Claire Swale from Lancashire has dairy farming in her blood, having grown up around the family’s Castlerhydd herd, which is now farmed by her brother Richard Bown under the Richaven prefix. Today, she and husband David run Joylan Farms, milking 550 registered Holsteins, rearing their own replacements and retailing all their own milk. Claire’s own prefix Heavenly totals more than 30 cows and delivered the #1 Proven Type bull in Italy- Heavenly Golden Dreams. Since 2010, she has run Heavenly Genetics, specialising in supplying elite breeding bulls into AI, which sources bulls from the UK, Ireland, Europe and North America to fulfil the requirements of international breeding organisations.
The showmanship classes are an integral part of Dairy Expo and Claire’s background makes her the ideal choice to judge them. Prior to completing a degree in Dairy Herd Management, she travelled clipping and showing and was actively involved in YMA and HYB. Today, she judges showmanship across the UK and Europe.
She said: “Since having children of my own, it has really brought home to me how important it is to nurture and encourage the next generation. I’m looking forward to appraising the Dairy Youth Championships and seeing the development of key skills among our young producers.”
The Dairy Youth Championships and the Heifer Show will dominate proceedings on the Friday evening, with the Milking classes and Championships taking place on the Saturday. Around 7,000 people from the UK and internationally visited the 2014 event and similar numbers are expected in 2015, where more than 130 trade stands will also be sharing educational, commercial and innovation developments.
As part of Dairy Expo’s growth, the first Dairy Seminar will be staged on the Friday afternoon at Carlisle Racecourse, in partnership with Total Dairy. It will provide a forum for discussion of new developments in the dairy sector.
Borderway UK Dairy Expo 2015 will be supported by seven mainline sponsors: HolsteinUK, CIS, Clydesdale Bank, Norbrook, Farmers Guardian and two new sponsors, Carrs Billington and Pickstock.
The livestock schedule and entry forms are available to download online or by contacting the Harrison & Hetherington Event Office on 01228 406 230.
