Firstly I’d like to say what a nice friendly lot you fellow guernsey breeders are, very helpful and in quite a few instances very kind.
Having bred pedigree Dairy Shorthorns for 41 yrs I did dabble in Jerseys but have now got the bug for the pedigree Guernsey. I had a Stroxworthy cow some yrs ago, who was no oilpainting but a worker, with me till 16yrs then a house cow to a friend for a further 4 yrs.
Im a traditionalist in cattle breeding dont follow all this new nonsense pins and such. I look for families of cows that have stood the test of time and breed from good bloodlines, build on that.
This obsession with big cows, you only sell a cow for the chop once. If its lasted 10 yrs plus does it matter if its smaller as long as its earned well.
Now to breeding, BIRCHWOOD/ROBINSFIELD cattle have caught my eye in older journals, I’ve managed to purchase over 60 straws of ROBINSFIELD BEAUTY’S ROBERT, 20 straws BIRCHWOOD MONTROSE 20TH and some INSTEAD BARMAIDS NELSON. A beautiful cow I went especially to buy was OATFIELD SERENA at the NUTHURST SALE safely incalf to B.MONTOSE 20TH I hope.
I have a very attractive BICKFIELD DOLLY bought at Coopers Court has done 7000 litres 2nd calf.
Another favorite is CLAYHILL ALICE a real attractive little cow bought from the Foords. Very nice people to deal with. I had from them a lovely SUNNINGHILL PARK SARNIA cow just calved a charolais bull calf thats huge.
A pre 1996 cow a NUTHURST GLEAM I’m very fond of, by PETUNIA’S COUNTRY MAN OF MONKSMEAD.
I’m still looking for semen from ROBINSFIELD MONTROSE 7TH if any body has any to sell, a daughter in an old journal is perfection in my eyes CHELMSCOTE BEAUTY MOLLY IVY 3RD.
Also any PETUNIA’S COUNTRYMAN OF MONKSMEAD semen too.
I have about 40 guernseys plus my D Shorthorns now happily grazing in Norfolk. I’m just looking for a couple of females tracing to the ROBINSFIELD BEAUTY family and im complete.
Look forward to a long association with the Guernsey breed in the future.
KEN PRESTIDGE
KENPREST HERDS