Guernseys made a welcome return to the Welsh Dairy Show after an absence of three years thanks to the effort made by Richard Norman and Catherine Mills to bring their cows from Somerset and they were in competition with Daffyd and Helen Cox and Colin and Hilary Evans from Laugharne and Bancyfelin in Carmarthenshire.

The Welsh Dairy Show organise a very competitive Calf and Showmanship competition on the evening before the show and with 50 calves entered from all six dairy breeds a lot of whom had been winners at the All Breeds All Britain show it was a considerable achievement for Colin and Hilary Evans to provide the Champion with the May 2010 born Hilcol Delta Gwawr, she traces back to Bickfield via Rhandir and Lodor.

The Showmanship Championship was awarded to Jessica Hall following up on the Jersey title won at the All Britain, she now helps Helen and Daffyd Cox but grew up with the Thornton Guernsey herd now owned by her parents Andrew and Michelle and made her debut at the All Britain in 2006 with a Guernsey calf

The In Calf heifer class had three forward and Colin and Hilary Evans  took first place with Hilcol Delta Dot and second place with Hilcol Khan Hollyhock and Daffyd and Helen Cox were third with Tredinney Yogis Gabrielle 5 the full sister to the Dairy Show Champion and it was good to see James Warren at the show helping the Cox's in return for the help Helen had provided to him at at the Royal Cornwall and the Dairy Show.

 There were 4 In Calf cows forward and Cadbury Hawk Violet 2 from Richard Norman and Catherine Mills was placed first with Hilcol Coriander in second place, Lodor Haul in third place and Cadbury Hawk Onyx 2 in fourth place.

The two Junior cows saw Cadbury Hawk Pretty 86 at her third Dairy Show of the autumn and looking better on the day than the Cox's Tredinney Prince Lillian. Pretty is the fourth generation to be classified VG and is a daughter of White Ladies Pretty 85 who was the top priced lot at the White Ladies sale and produced over 9000 kgs for Richard.

Bickfield Rainbow 51 was the only third calver present for  Judge George Davies and she is still milking heavily but is back in calf to Yogibear for Colin and Hilary. 

Hamps Valley Tempest Fiona was the only Senior Cow forward but was an impressive sort  and gave 9000 kgs in her third lactation and is one of 3 Ex daughters of Leighgrange Troy Tempest who was in the original group of GGBP sires, Fiona has another Excellent sister at Hamps Valley and is out of Bulkeley Fiona 42 who had 11 calves high on the Stafforshire hills.

George placed Pretty as Champion with Rainbow as Reserve a repeat of the Dairy Event placing but the quality of the cows forward was better than up there. 

This years Dairy Show at Shepton Mallet maintained its reputation for quality but quantity across all breeds, but the Jersey, was much reduced, this undoubtedly reflects the problems caused by TB and the economic pressures that beset the industry. It dissapoints me that exhibitors attend shows with just a single animal when I know that they have left quality animals at home.

Our Judge David Mann made as always a first class job of placing his classes and also impressed during the Interbreed classes.