Our 2023 Dairy Stock Judging event was held on Thursday 6th July, at Manor Farm, North Poorton by kind permission of Messrs. Fooks and Simon & Lauren Goringe.

Dairy Stock Judging is an important event and skill for Young Farmers.  Its purpose is to train them to look for and assess the type of traits that are beneficial for long lasting, healthy cows that will also produce plenty of milk.  Every dairy wants a herd of cows that will be able to produce the milk but will be able to have a calf and maintain a good level of health throughout the lactation.  Being able to visually evaluate dairy cattle based on the physical traits that are desired in the animal for their health, longevity and high milk production levels is an especially important skill and one that takes practice.   Young Farmers’ Dairy stock judging competitions play a significant role in developing these skills and understanding.

For every breed of cow, there is a “True Type Model” which is the ideal cow.  The competitor must keep this in mind as they assess each animal.  They need to look at functional traits such as good legs and feet leading to good locomotion, a well attached udder with enough width and height to hold the high milk yields expected, with a body capacity sufficient to support the milk and a growing calf.

Working in teams of two, the Junior Young Farmers are tasked to assess four cows whilst the Intermediates and Seniors assess six cows and place them in order [best to poorest] giving the reasons for their decision.   They then present their findings to the judges in a two-minute presentation giving both a description of what they have seen and comparisons between the animals.  The judges then mark them using a complex marking system to  who marks them using a complex marking system based on accuracy of observation and comparisons.

 

2023 Results

Thanks to our judges, father and daughter, Terry and Becky from Sturminster Newton who shared their knowledge and expertise on why he had placed the animals in the winning order.  Their dedication to supporting the younger generation is very much appreciated by our Society.  Ten teams entered from Wedmore, Beaminster, Sherborne and Marshwood Vale Young Farmers clubs.

Results

Juniors

1st  and Winners of the Melplash Agricultural Society Junior Shield – Millie Carson and Grace Wilcox – Wedmore YFC

2nd – Enya Hayball and Harry Curtis, Beaminster YFC

3rd – William Fooks and George Goringe – Beaminster YFC

 

Intermediates

1st and Winners of the Melplash Agricultural Society Shield – Joanna House and Lauren Hutchings, Marwood Vale YFC

2nd – Elizabeth Bell and Emily Bell, Wedmore YFC

3rd – Sophie Raymond and Owen Swatridge, Beaminster YFC

Seniors

1st and Winners of the Francis W Hunt Trophy – Jasper Love and Henrietta Love, Sherborne YFC

Best Newcomer – George Goringe, Beaminster YFC

Highest Placed Individual – Elizabeth Bell, Wedmore YFC

The prizes were presented to the winners by the Melplash Agricultural Society President, Michael Fooks, who was proud to host the event (as one of the Fooks Brothers).

The Society Chairman, Philip Hardwill thanked the competitors for taking part, Fooks Brothers and Simon & Lauren Goringe for hosting the event, Terry and Becky Cox for undertaking the judging, the stewards for all of their assistance throughout the night and Pam Fooks and family for providing the refreshments.

Philip commented that the Young Farmers stock judging competition had, as an ex YFC member, always been a very important fixture in the Melplash Show Calendar. He was very impressed by the high standards shown by the competitors.

The competition was particularly poignant this year as the Francis Hunt Cup, presented to the winners of the Senior class, celebrated the 50th anniversary since it was first presented to the Society by Mr F. J. Hunt (the grandfather of Philip’s wife – Sarah Hardwill) in memory of his Son (and Sarah’s uncle) Francis Hunt, after whom Francis Fooks, one of the evenings’ hosts, was named!