YORKSHIRE dairy farmer Ian Collins enjoyed huge success with his Dairy Shorthorn cows at the Dairy Show, taking home numerous ribbons and the interbreed pairs award.
Mr Collins, from Lower Dewsbury, took top honours in a number of classes, including the breed championship with his cow Churchroyd Heather 50, and the prestigious interbreed pairs championship, sponsored by Old Mill accountants.
Andrew Vickery, head of rural services, presented the trophy and prize money to handlers Rebecca Jarvis and James Young, alongside Bath & West president Michael Eavis and judge James Warren.
Mr Vickery said: "The dairy industry is going through some difficult times at the moment with milk prices on the floor, but the atmosphere at the Dairy Show was fantastically upbeat. With the nation’s best dairy cows on display and top speakers from across the country, it really was an unmissable event."
Judge James Warren said he was looking for uniformity and balance between the two animals, which demonstrated good breeding within the herd. "The pairs can really show uniformity in a way that a single animal cannot. Exhibiting a bred pair of excellent cattle is much harder than pulling out one good animal to show," he said.
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