THE annual Holstein Celebration and annual meeting takes place in Yorkshire this summer.

Hosted by the Yorkshire Holstein Club it takes place on June 12 and 13 and includes farm visits to two of the county's leading Holstein herds – the award-winning Newbirks Herd owned by D&C Lawson and the Winton Herd owned by the Waring Family.

David, Claire and daughter Suzy Lawson own the Newbirks Herd at Mill Farm, Wharfedale.

The herd was established in 1948 and recent accolades include winning the Yorkshire Large Herd competition in 2016 and taking second place in 2017.

Emphasis is placed on a strict breeding policy focused on achieving strong lactation. To help achieve this, only a few genomic bulls are used, with the majority of the bulls being proven aiming to breed heifers that suit the commercial market.

Families within the 220-head herd include Jazz, Blueblood, Heliotrope and Raven with annual averages of 9,463 litres at 4.64% bf and 3.22% p per cow.

The 160 cow Winton Herd is owned by Peter Waring in partnership with wife Judith and son James. Set in 300 acres near Beverley, the herd is grazed for six months of the year, spending the winter months housed in cubicles and straw yards.

While most of the farm is down to grass, 60 acres is planted with cereals and 50 acres to maize. The herd produces an average yield of 10,000l per cow at 4.0%bf and 3.2%p, with milk being sold to a local dairy.

The farm is home to a wide range of some of the best cow families, with breeding concentrated on high type genomic sires with good health traits; these sires include Dempsey, Unix and Secretariat.

Mr Waring frequently buys and sells stock, annually selling around 60 cows and heifers along with six to eight breeding bulls.

The first day of the event includes a morning discovering York, an action-packed display from Atkinson Action Horses, and an afternoon at the Newbirks Herd.

There will also be the chance to take in the sights of Beverley, Creskeld Hall and the Yorkshire Wolds before returning to Cave Castle Hotel & Country Club for evening dinner and entertainment.

Day two will follow a similar format closing with the annual meeting, three course dinner and guest speaker.

Andrew Birkle, chairman of Holstein UK, said: "The AGM will be a focal point of the event with new Trustees being elected and critical and topical issues for British Holstein breeding being tackled.

"The Holstein Group remains the largest independent cattle herd book in Europe and is wholly owned and run by its members. The Society is helping to ensure British Holstein cattle remain at the forefront of global breeding and profitable production. Please join us this June for an insightful and enjoyable celebration of our brilliant British breed."