Dairy animals back in the show ring after two-year M.Bovis hiatus

Dairy animals were back in the show ring at the Waikato A&P Show this year after a two-year hiatus due to Mycoplasma Bovis.

For the last two years dairy showing enthusiasts from around New Zealand have had to primp and preen their bovines for On-farm shows, within the confines of the farm gate, in a bid manage the spread of the bacteria that can cause a range of serious conditions in cattle – including mastitis that doesn’t respond to treatment, pneumonia, arthritis, and late-term abortions.

MPI’s latest update, as at October 29, shows there are now only five properties in New Zealand with active cases of M.Bovis. All the properties are listed in Canterbury, the site of the largest outbreak, which had 122 active properties listed at its height.

With the hold on public showing lifted, there was an impressive turnout of animals at the Waikato show including a good number of entries in the Holstein Friesian categories.

Supreme Champion Holstein Friesian cow, Co-Coch Armni Roma-Red-ET VG89, a red Holstein. She also went on to win the Supreme All Breeds title.

The five-year-old red Holstein was bred by John and Anne Cockrem, Te Awamutu and is currently owned by Tony and Serena Jenkins, Y-Not Holsteins, Huntly.  Her sire was Mr Apples Armni-ET and her dam, Shoremar Can Rose-Red-ET.

Last season she produced 5945.8 litres over 305 milking days and 461.7kg of milk solids.

Tony and Selena sharemilk 580 cows just out of Huntly with about 40 of their herd Holstein Friesians.

Tony says they bought her as a yearling and she had previously won Reserve Champion Junior Heifer at the show. They decided to enter her this year as Tony says she was looking good in the herd following calving and she has a great pedigree.

“Her dam is sister to Semex sire, Ladino Park Talent and her grandmother was Stooky Elm Park Blackrose, a well known American cow. We are only using Canadian and American sires over our herd,” says Tony.

“We entered this year as we also wanted to raise our profile a little bit as winning titles like these is a good advertisement and marketing for our animals when it comes to sale time.”

Reserve Senior Champion Cow went to Waipiri Mogul Kristy, who also went on to win the All Breeds Best Udder. An Honorable Mention went to Te Hau Windbrook Cleo-ET in the Holstein section.

Waikato A & P Show Results

2 year old in-milk:

1. Okawa Jedi Marcy,  Barclay Family – Okawa Ltd 
2. Okawa Mogul Lexa, Barclay Family – Okawa Ltd 
3. Waipiri Kingboy Gerda, D & P Fullerton & Family 

3 year old in milk:

1. Charbelle MWB Prancer S2F, Gabrielle Scherer 
2. Charbelle Salt Trixie S2F, Charbelle Farms Ltd
3. Okawa Fever Luka-ET, Barclay Family – Okawa Ltd

Intermediate Champion – Charbelle MWB Prancer S2F 

Reserve Intermediate Champion – Okawa Jedi Marcy

Honorable Mention – Charbelle Salt Trixie S2F

4 year old in milk:

1. Waipiri Mogul Kristy, D & P Fullerton & Family
2. Pincots Doormans Angel-ET, C Robertson/S Johnston
3. Locknee Power Robyn S3F, Te Hau Holsteins 

5 & 6 years old in milk:

1. Co-Coch Armni Roma-Red-ET, Y-Not Holsteins, Tony & Serena Jenkins 
2. Te Hau Windbrook Cleo-ET, Te Hau Holsteins
3. Ferdon Sid Jay Jay S2F, Ferdon Genetics 

7 years & older in milk:

1. Lucerne Guthri Cherry 28, Lucerne Holdings, Michael and Holly Jenkins
2. Ferdon Shottle Chi, Ferdon Genetics 
3. Te Hau Guthrie Lee S1F, Te Hau Holsteins

Best Udder – Waipiri Mogul Kristy

Senior Champion Cow – Co-Coch Armni Roma-Red-ET

Reserve Senior Champion Cow – Waipiri Mogul Kristy 

Honorable Mention – Te Hau Windbrook Cleo-ET 

Supreme Champion Holstein Friesian Cow – Co-Coch Armni Roma-ET-Red