Canadian judge Pierre Boulet, described his 2022 Royal Ulster Agricultural Society (RUAS) Winter Fair interbreed champion as a “very special cow".

The animal in question is the Jersey 4^th calver, Potterswalls Chrome Glamour.

Bred and exhibited by the Fleming family from Seaforde in Co. Down, she gave 8,000L at 6.25% fat and just over 4% protein in her third lactation. Glamour was reserve Jersey breed champion at the 2021 Winter Fair.

She calved down for the fourth time four months ago and is currently giving 37L/day day. Boulet described his interbreed champion as an elite cow.

“She has an excellent mammary system with tremendous feet and legs,” he confirmed.

A native of Quebec, the Winter Fair judge milks a selection of Holstein, Jersey and Brown Swiss cows.

The reserve interbreed champion from the event was Sterndale Colt Rae, exhibited by Liam and Sandra Murphy from Co. Carlow.

The sixth calver was also selected as the event’s Holstein champion. She was purchased from the UK’s renowned Sterndale Holstein herd.

Pierre Boulet described the cow as a tremendous example of the Holstein breed with tremendous stature, a fantastic udder, plus great feet and legs.

He specifically highlighted the production ability of the cow. This is the second time that the Murphy family has won the black and white championship at the Winter Fair.

They described the show as the best dairy event of the year.  

A third calving Holstein cow, bred and exhibited by Co. Meath-based John Dowling, was selected as the Winter Fair interbreed championship - honourable mention.

The judge described Baldonnel Soloman Ebony as an excellent young cow with a tremendous future.

This year’s Winter Fair attracted tremendous crowds from across the island of Ireland and further afield.

The event is fast-turning into an all-island dairy spectacular with approximately half the cattle breeders and commercial trade stands hailing from the Republic of Ireland.

Despite the significant strengthening of all input costs across the dairy sector over the past 12 months, recent research confirms that farmgate milk returns have increased at rates well above the impact of input cost inflation.

Trade exhibitors at the 2002 RUAS Winter Fair confirmed that they did significant levels of business at the event.

Many of the stands had a strong focus on sustainability and the need to introduce management systems that can and will reduce the carbon footprint of dairy farming businesses.

The full results from the RUAS Winter Fair 2022 are as follows:

Best exhibitor-bred animal: McLean family. 

Heifer champion: McLean family.

Junior champion: Sunrise Shorthorns.

Champion: Fleming family;

Reserve: Fleming family.

Maiden heifer class

Heifer in-calf class

Heifer in-milk class

Junior cow in-milk class

Senior cow in-milk class

Best exhibitor-bred animal: Fleming family.

Heifer champion: Fleming family.

Reserve heifer champion: J and C Richardson.

Junior champion: G and D Simpson.

Reserve Junior champion: Fleming family.

Champion: Raymond Stewart;

Reserve Champion: Raymond Stewart.

Maiden heifer class

Cow in-calf class

Heifer in-milk class

Cow in-milk class – second lactation

Cow in-milk class – third or later lactation

Best exhibitor-bred animal: Raymond Stewart.

Heifer champion: Christian Keenan.

Reserve heifer champion: R and C McConnell.

Junior champion: McLean family.

Reserve Junior Champion: Baxter, Stewart and Nyree.

Champion: Liam and Sandra Murphy;

Reserve champion: John Dowling.

Heifer class - born or before June 1, 2022 and on or after December 1, 2021

Heifer class - born or before December 1, 2021 and on or after June 1, 2021

Heifer class - born or before June 1, 2021 and on or after December 1, 2020

Junior heifer class

Intermediate heifer class

Senior heifer class

Cow in-milk class – two calvings

Cow in-milk class – two calvings (B)

Cow in-milk class – three calvings

Cow in-milk class – four or more calvings

Best exhibitor-bred animal: John Dowling.

Heifer champion: Jones Holsteins and Knowlesmere Holsteins.

Reserve heifer champion: Hallow Holsteins.

Junior champion: Gary and Isobel Jones.

Reserve junior champion: William and Alan Paul.

Junior handlers class

Intermediate handlers class

Senior handlers class

Mature handlers class