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The Dairy Show at Shepton Mallet, Somerset, on 1st October 2008 was the first show of the season that was not effected by the Blue Tongue restrictions. 23 Guernseys from 10 exhibitors were competing in the breed classes. In addition 10 Guernsey calves competing in the calf show.
The evening before the Dairy Show sees the young people of all breeds competing in Handling classes with one class for young Holstein handlers followed by three classes that are open to all breeds split by the age of the handler.
David and Rosie Paull and family invited me to an Open day at Overton Farm on the 27th September where they entertained about 100 people, mostly parents with young children and explained about the farm, the herd, their own Hurdlebrook products and the Guernsey cow.
The Paull’s have been putting on a display at the Bath and West for the last 5 years which has involved a Guernsey milk tasting with Milk from Nick Gosling’s Artis herd as he can supply 4 gallon pergols of milk.
On the afternoon of the EGCS AGM 10th September 2008 the meeting was shocked and saddened to hear of the death that morning of Mrs Sheilagh Andrews.
Sheilagh had travelled to Cornwall on the Tuesday afternoon to be present at the AGM but had suffered a stroke and died. Her death brought home to all of us that there are more important things than Guernsey politics.
A report of what was seen when not in the Pub in Cornwall, The Programme for the EGCS AGM allowed for three herd visits but a few of us managed find 4 more local herds to view, whilst i made two calls on the way down on Monday.
Guernsey milk in the News:
Channel 5 News contacted me a few weeks ago as they were interested in the A2 properties of Guernsey Milk. Derek Moody of Prosperous Home Farm at Hungerford had put them in touch as they wanted to know about the background information.
88% of the protein in milk is Beta Casein and the varients are A1, A2, B, C, D and E. But in practical terms the important Casein’s are A1 and A2. Genetically cows can be one of 3 Genotypes A1xA1, A1xA2 and A2xA2 but the genes are codominant so that a cow that is A1xA2 will give half her milk as A1 protein and half as A2. For more information regarding the science take a look at the A2Corporation website.
Recent figures that have come to hand suggest that the fortunes of the UK Guernsey may be in a serious decline. In recent years there have been between 1100 and 1400 heifers registered. Registrations of heifers so far in 2008 are only 436 and bulls only 9 and only 2 of those …
I apologise but the pictures in this article are not those taken during the 2008 show season, I was unable to attend the shows and hoped to use current photos but this has been vetoed. Blue Tongue restrictions severely restricted competition in 2008, with competitors unable to travel outside of the …
Every time I switch on the radio, there are tidings of gloom and doom these days and it is easy to get depressed, but meanwhile in the real world, cows need milking twice a day and fortunately the next generation of calves are arriving and the kids involved with the …
This website is dedicated to the promotion and, hopefully, improvement of the UK Guernsey. This will help you in making an informed choice when choosing the right Semen for your herd. Here you will be able to research and study various Guernsey cattle families. We have access to many pictures …