Canada 2010 ( 4)

The post-conference tour is coming to a close with a visit to Prince Edward Island today and has proved to be physically tiring as the roads of Quebec and the bus used by the tour company have not proven to be compatible. With just 15 on the tour a change from the coach used in the first week was expected, but the bone shaker chozen has left us exhausted at the end of some long days. The Australians and New Zealanders have remained on tour with 3 from England, two different couples from the US and Rob Forster from Canada.

Which is the best Guernsey Bull ?

The question of which has been the best Guernsey bull has been the topic on the WGCF Tour bus today as we travelled from Frederickton to Moncton New Brunswick. The question was posed by Bernie Heissner who used to work for the AGA and now works for COBA/Select Sires. He and Blaine Crosser had made a list  score whilst at the conference, triggered by the “genomics” debate and wondering which of the most successful bulls had the “least” relationship and could therefore offer “outcross” genetics.

The Perfect World

 I am delighted that there have been some “comments” made as a result of the article about the Guernsey World Conference and thank you to those who made them. This website is open to anyone interested in Guernseys and the more dialogue the better.

Mike Cox in his inimitable way has suggested that all maiden heifers should be mated to the best young bulls and quotes the Dutch method whereby all 2nd calvers are so treated. The Dutch dairy industry are much better organised than we are in the UK. The Government subsidize the data collection for all cattle species and both vets and inseminators are required by law to report all of their interventions to the database.

13th Guernsey World Conference

The 13th Guernsey World Conference has just finished in Toronto and as at the last two that I attended the general feeling is of an opportunity missed, but there did seem to be more awareness of the challenges around to our breed.

Canada 2010 ( 3)

The Ontario part of the tour gave the chance to get back among Guernsey cows and it is a joy to be looking at cows in the company of some real Guernsey heroes from around the world. The judging competition started in British Columbia resumed but with the addition of a Canadian team Peter White and Canadian Guernsey Field Officer Rob Forster. Also the American Dream team of Seth Johnson and Brian Schnebly the two outstanding young men who are employed by AGA. After each visit I would total up the points from each of the 10 competitors and also of the teams and it became a keenly contested competition with the “wild colonial boys” from Australia taking an early lead and never being headed although the “dream team” did eventually win the final round.

Canada 2010 ( 2)

The “Pre-tour” has now ended with the Americans in the party leaving at Calgary, but having arrived in Toronto, several couples who were in Australia in 2007 have joined the tour, as well as the Guernsey Island representatives.

Canada 2010

Carol and I flew out to Vancouver to join the 2010 World Guernsey Conference Tour, which is in three stages the first tour starting from British Columbia crossing to Calgary. There are 21 tourists, 5 from Australia, 2 from New Zealand, 6 from the UK and 7 from the USA.

High Prices for USA Guernseys

The Annual Sale at the US Guernsey Convention in Pennsylvania was held on Monday and achieved an average of over $4000 for 41 live lots. The catalogue and sale results are online within the US Guernsey website.

The top priced Lot was Lot 1 a choice of either a Lang Haven Decision Natural or a Edge Water Meadows Yogibear heifer from the 2008 Interbreed Champion at Madison, Indian Head American Pie Ex 94, and she sold for $15,000 (£10,000) and it was the LH D Natural calf that was chosen.

Royal Cornwall Show 2010

Six exhibitors with 15 Cows and Heifers as well as 12 calves made a high quality turnout for the Cornwall show and Philip Cox to sort out.

Class 1 7 calves saw a first win for a young man Ian Rowe, who has been buying a Guernsey calf to show for each of the last 6 years and has finally produced a home bred heifer calf Rowan Chandelier by Hercules that traces via Trengwainton to the Design family at White Ladies. In second place was a Yogibear from Tredinney but my eye was caught by a pair of Amir calves from Trewarnevas.