AgriScot 2025 Dairy Classes
Please click here for the 2025 Dairy Cattle Classes results.
Down load the AgriScot Dairy Cattle Classes Catalogue here.
Watch the Dairy Cattle Classes livestream here.
2025, promising even more excitement and opportunity for the UK’s leading dairy competition, taking place in the main ring.
The event will once again feature the nation’s largest dairy prize fund of £25,000 and additionally, will introduce two new classes, specifically aimed at celebrating and encouraging the next generation of UK dairy breeders. The Youngstock Classes will be kindly sponsored by The Saskatoon Colostrum Company Ltd.
Robert Hunter, Director of AgriScot and long-standing Jersey Steward confirmed the dairy section judge for 2025 is Iwan Morgan of Nantybwla, Carmarthen and commented on the board’s decision to open the new classes:
“Each year, AgriScot witnesses a growing enthusiasm from young breeders. The talent and dedication among young handlers is truly extraordinary. By introducing the Youngstock Classes, we’re creating a spotlight for the next generation to shine.
“The new classes are open exclusively to handlers under 30 years of age with Youngstock, to open the opportunity to the growing eagerness of talented young people in the UK dairy sector.”
Also returning for another year are the ever-popular SuperHeifer and SuperCow titles, each boasting a £1,000 prize and attracting some of the finest animals in the industry. Classes will once again be held for the Ayrshires British Red and White, Holsteins, Jerseys, and Other Breeds.
Last year’s SuperCow title went to Evening Holsteins with Evening Sidekick Jennifer EX95 by Walnutlawn Sidekick:
“Winning AgriScot last year was a huge achievement and a real buzz for the whole family and team involved. The hard work, the early mornings and long hours all culminates in this one moment.
“Evening Sidekick Jennifer also won AgriScot the previous year in 2023. We are very excited to see what this year brings as she will back in the ring competing for the hat-trick of champions.
“We are a family run dairy farm milking 450 pedigree Holstein cows located on the outskirts of Carlisle and started showing many years ago. The buzz and the ability to compete against the best in the country is second to none and making friends along the way brings the industry together through uncertain times. AgriScot is one of our favourite shows and it is great to see it so well supported by the farming industry.”
The entire programme of judging ring activity will be webstreamed, allowing audiences to tune in and witness the action. Meanwhile, a packed ringside is expected to deliver the same vibrant atmosphere that has become a ‘hallmark’ of the AgriScot experience.
AgriScot Chairman, Gilmour Lawrie commented:
“As AgriScot continues to grow and evolve, offering something for every farming business, the prestigious dairy section continues to hold a particular significance for me as a dairy farmer. I wish all our exhibitors the very best of luck in the competition and strongly encourage early entry to avoid disappointment for this ever-popular event. I look forward to seeing you all in the main ring during my first year as Chairman.”
AgriScot 2024 Dairy Classes
AgriScot, the UK’s leading farm business event, has now opened entries for its dairy competition ahead of the judging at the event on 13th November 2024. With a prize fund of £25,000 – the largest of any dairy competition in the UK – and a broad range of classes, AgriScot’s Dairy Competition attracts some of the best breeders and competition from across the UK and Ireland.
The prize fund for each of the classes was increased last year to reflect the rise in costs of showing and to continue to attract a wide range of competitors. The classes include the traditional Ayrshire, British Red and White, Holstein, and Jersey categories as well as ‘Any Other Dairy Breeds’ class, with entries including Brown Swiss. The prize money and expanded categories is to attract and showcase the best dairy genetics from across the UK and Ireland, explains Robert Hunter, AgriScot Director and Chairman of the Scottish Dairy Cattle Association:
“We’ve evolved the competition to include a wider range of dairy categories, set a date that allows for time between other national competitions and are proud to offer one of the largest prize funds in the country across a number of categories. It’s always a great event with excellent competition and we look forward to the entries coming in and seeing some of the UK’s top exhibitors in every class in the ring in November.”
Judging of the dairy classes will culminate with the Interbreed Super Heifer and Interbreed Super Cow awards, each carrying a £1,000 prize. For the second year, the competition includes the Best Udder category.
The judging for the competition at AgriScot 2024 will be led by Iain McLean, a renowned pedigree breeder from near Giant’s Causeway in Northern Ireland. Iain farms at Priestland Farm with his wife Joyce and son John and together they developed the dairy business with emphasis on breeding for show winning type. This element of the business has encouraged the next generation, with all having taken an active role in Holstein and Ayrshire Young Breeders. They have also been an integral part of the Priestland show team helping to win 47 Holstein breed champions to date, and a similar number for the other breeds.
The 180-cow herd includes Holsteins, which makes up most of the herd, alongside a few Jerseys, Ayrshires and Dairy Shorthorns, and over 200 followers. The herd was upgraded to pedigree status in the 1990s.
In 2008, the family invested heavily in Canadian and American world-class embryos. Their best purchase was probably embryos from a daughter of Thrulane James Rose as these, along with their offspring make up some of the best cows and heifers in the Priestland herd.
“I am over the moon to be invited to judge the AgriScot dairy competition,” says Mr McLean. “It draws the best dairy breeders from across the country and I feel very privileged and am really looking forward to it.”
A copy of the AgriScot 2024 Dairy Classes Catalogue is available to download here.
