WEST Wales breeders enjoyed extraordinary successes at the South West Dairy Show organised by the Bath & West Society at Shepton Mallet where industry leading cattle, top innovations and new technology were noteworthy features.

The show attracted an enthusiastic crowd, with over 6,300 visitors through the gate which fully demonstrated that farmers were keen to see the showmanship and learn about the latest developments and products in the industry.

Show executive, Alan Lyons, remarked afterwards: “The future of dairying was on display at this year’s Dairy Show, with outstanding cattle, new developments in robotics and advice on changing policy – with over 300 trade stands, there was no lack of innovation on display and in excess of 300 cattle entries saw a wealth of championship quality dairy cattle on show.”

The interbreed championship saw some of the best cattle from around the country pitted against one another, with last year’s reserve taking the top spot for Elwyn, Cheryl and Anwen Thomas’s Gatrog Holstein herd at Pontantwn, near Carmarthen.

Their junior cow, Noremead Baxter Kansas, due to produce her third calf in February, had in previous years been champion inter-breed heifer and breed champion.

The Thomas’s also won the homebred pairs trophy with Gatrog Bolton Jingles and Gatrog Nickelodean Pansy.

The quality of animals really impressed breed judge, Robert Jarrell, who flew over from Ontario, Canada, to attend the event.

Standing in reserve were the Llewellin family, George, Ben and Nia, of Lower House, Clarbeston with their homebred intermediate third calver, the Jersey Riverside Tequila Hazelnut, which had earlier taken the breed championship.

For the first time in over 10 years, the Jersey Cattle Society hosted its national show and it proved to be a roaring success.

There were other outstanding achievements including Richard and Bethan Thomas of Llandyfaelog whose brown Swiss champion, the in milk second calver Moorcroft Manchester Agatha, was placed third in line.

Hefin Wilson of Cardigan claimed three class winners with his home bred Holsteins and James Evans of Meidrim – the Future Dreams Partnership – also claimed an exhibitor bred award with his Jersey entries.