The Royal Cornwall Show: Interbreed championships

By Olivia Cooper

Homebred Devon bull Yeomadon Ferdinand made it a triple crown at the Royal Cornwall Show, claiming the beef interbreed for the third time in a month.

Tony and Julie Benneworth’s five-year old bull was beaten into reserve interbreed spot at last year’s Cornwall Show, having won the interbreed at both Devon County and the Royal Bath & West, but managed to claim all three titles this time round.

We really didn’t expect to get the triple – I’m just gobsmacked, said Mrs Benneworth. “He’s now won 21 breed championships on the trot.” The 1.32-tonne bull, by Glebe Universe 3^rd, was breeding well at home with his daughter winning the Devon heifer born in 2009 class and taking home reserve female Devon champion.

Beaten into the reserve spot was Penny Lally’s Simmental bull Chyanhal Amos 09, which was breed champion at the Devon County Show. With only six breeding females at Rose Farm, Penzance, Mrs Lally accepted an offer at the show to sell the bull to Semex. “Hopefully semen will be available from him at some point,” she said.

In the dairy rings, Yorkshire judge Rebecca Jarvis chose Roland Ley’s Holstein cow Thuborough Zenith Verey Light as her interbreed champion, making it the Ley family’s fourth interbreed championship at the show.

“This show has been a real highlight – we’ve brought a large team of 10, and have won six classes, as well as the interbreed, breed and reserve breed champion,” said Mr Ley.

The second calver by Ocean View Zenith gave 8600kg in her first lactation, at 4.63% butterfat and 3.4% protein, and is now yielding 40kg a day, having calved in March.

Treginegar Dairy Farm’s Ayrshire cow, Pam Ayrs Dream Hawaii EX93 was reserve champion, having claimed the interbreed prize at last year’s show. At five years old she has calved three times, producing a heifer calf for owner Dawn Coryn in February. She is currently yielding 44kg, and gave 9600kg in her last lactation, earning a special production award for the breed.

The Quick family from Loosebeare Manor, Zeal Monachorum, Devon, swept the boards in the sheep rings, despite a record entry of more than 1,000 sheep. Their Texel shearling ewe followed her interbreed win at the Devon County Show with another interbreed championship, as well as the interbreed pairs.

Father Bill Quick said: “She’s quite a natural shower – she was even chewing the cud in the ring.”

Son Paul’s two year-old Charollais ram took the reserve prize at its first major outing.

*Pig interbreed championship results and pictures to follow