From UK Dairy Day to the city that never sleeps

Becky Hynes showing Panda Pepsi Gem RC at UK Dairy Day

My God, the house is quiet with the girls away, but it is nice to see them enjoy life and follow their passion whilst also working with great people, having wonderful mentors, and most importantly, forging their own way forward in life.

No doubt Georgie misses her sisters but it also gives her the opportunity to step up and I have noticed her take a little more responsibility around the farm.

Calving has really progressed this week with all but one heifer calved, Lenora had a Midas Touch Jakers heifer calf early in the week, she’s a really smart heifer with lots of milk and I think Jakers will add a lot to her, his daughters have very correct conformation with super udders. Petal followed suit with another Jakers heifer calf. Petal was a really good junior heifer for us, taking Holstein champion in Midleton show in 2022.

A good friend of ours stepped in for calving duty midweek while we were in the UK and then as the heavy rain set in at the end of the week, we were sure calving would go quiet but true to form, a heifer decided to brave the elements and give birth to a Yamaska heifer calf as the rain bucketed down. Natural instincts kicked in fast though as the calf walked with her mother to take cover under a big tree while we grabbed the cattle trailer to move the duo down to a cosy straw bed.

All the newly arrived calves are going onto the urban calf feeder after five days of transitional milk, I love the data that is available on the calf feeder and it is really simple to see how the calves settle onto it, just looking at what time they drink, how much and how fast they drink and also how much they drink over 24 hours gives great peace of mind that they are all doing well.

We also offer calfage to all the calves from one day of age, a simple way to get them eating and developing their rumen. I always feel with calves, that keeping it simple,and doing the simple things right makes life so much easier and the calves so much healthier.

We headed off to UK Dairy Day late Tuesday night. Becky had been at the show with Molly since Sunday, she wasn’t aware we were coming over, telling all our friends early Wednesday that Mom and Dad were too busy to make it. A nice opportunity to surprise her but also a great chance to catch up with friends.

UK Dairy Day is one of the very best dairy shows on the circuit, record entries in 2023 saw every class have good entries and a packed ringside to watch the proceedings unfold. 

Becky was on the halter for Panda Holsteins showing an intermediate two-year-old heifer, a big occasion to step into a show ring with an electric atmosphere, whilst the heifer was placed down the line, Becky will have gained a huge amount of experience from showing at that level, she is still very young at 16 years but nothing phases her.

Panda Holsteins also won the tidiest lines in the cow barn which will also stand to Becky, learning that attention to detail in keeping the cows right at a big show whilst also keeping the line organised and clean. 

Molly has been a phenomenal mentor to Becky, it is like one knows what the other is thinking the whole time, she has given Becky a lot of responsibility but there is always a detailed strategy behind the responsibility which eliminates any errors.

Judge Iwan Morgan was officiating over the Holstein classes at UK Dairy Day, with the very best dairy stock in front of him all day, he had his work cut out, and as all the class winners walked into the ring for the Grand Championship that evening, it was clearly evident how high the standard was.

An outstanding lineup of cows, Iwan tapped out his final five, who lined up in the centre of the show ring, his final comment being that the final five could be placed in any order, and you wouldn’t be wrong. 

With hands clapping, he finally tapped out Evening Sidekick Jennifer, owned by the Wilsons, as his Grand champion with Colin and Izzy Lairds Mag Pandor as reserve.

It was a late escape for us getting out of the show and we didn’t arrive home until 3.30am, with a busy few day getting the farm reorganized. 

Next stop is the All Britain, All Breeds calf show in early October, Molly and Becky are busy with preparations, it is the UK's leading calf show, so standards are going to be high.

For me, I am not overly concerned with the rosettes and placings there; it is simply an honour to have a daughter and heifers competing there.

I know Molly and Becky will give it all they have got so win, lose or draw, I know they will have tried their absolute best.

Chloe arrives home Sunday and no doubt will have lots of news and chat from Cavan, but as one arrives home, another leaves, Pete has an early Monday morning flight out to New York; not sure he will have much time for sightseeing as he has a packed schedule in the States, but it's a huge opportunity on a huge global stage